Image depicting the explosion of a ship, filled with TNT and ammunition, hit during the first Japanese air raid on Australia's mainland, at Darwin on 19 February 1942. In the foreground is HMAS Deloraine which survived unscathed. On that day, 236 people were killed when 242 Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the town, ships in Darwin's harbour and the town's two airfields in an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasion of Timor and Java during World War II. MV Neptuna was a 5,952 ton cargo motor vessel. and was 1 of 11 sunk during the Japanese air raid on Darwin on 19 February 1942. In January 1942 HMAS Deloraine evaded an attack by the Japanese submarine I-124 north-west of Darwin and was jointly credited with the submarines' sinking after she inflicted the initial damage. The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. Brown timber frame containing blue black and white print of ships being bombed.February 19th 1942, Darwin Harbour In the foreground the corvette HMAS Deloraine. Smoke billowing in the background is from burning oil tanks on shore, the mushroom cloud is from the explosionof the ammunition ship Neptuna. Watercolour by Tom Offordbombing of darwin, battle of darwin, 19 february 1942, ww2, mv neptuna, hmas deloraine

Combined operations plaque - designed and carved by Petty Officer Joiner 3rd Class A W VENABLES on behalf of the Commanding Officer of HMS Northney attached to Combined Operations in the Second World War.Combined Operations made a huge contribution to the successful outcome of the Second World War by undertaking dozens of Commando raids and landings, mostly against the Axis forces, from Norway in the north to Madagascar in the south and from North Africa and the Mediterranean in the west to the Far East, culminating in the D-Day Invasion on the 6th of June 1944.Round solid timber plaque with eagle over sub machine gun over anchor carved in centre.Combined Operations - United We Conquercombined operations, ww2

HMAS Sydney built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend on Tyne, United Kingdom Launched 22 September 1934 Engaged and sunk Bartolmeo Colleom 19 July 1940. On 19 November 1941 South West of Carnarvon Western Australia she was lost at sea with all hands after engaging the German raider Kormoran. On 19 November 1941, HMAS Sydney, a light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy with an impressive record of war service, was lost following a battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran in the Indian Ocean off the Western Australian coast. The loss of the Sydney with its full war complement of 645 remains Australia’s worst naval disaster. The Kormoran was also sunk, but 317 of its crew of 397 were rescued. The fate of the Sydney remains one of Australia’s greatest wartime mysteries; even the location of the wrecks was not established until 2008.Black plastic frame with moulded pattern with grey mount containing photograph of ship and Sydney Harbour BridgeBanner - HMAS Sydney HMAS Sydney built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend on Tyne, United Kingdom Launched 22 September 1934 Engaged and sunk Bartolmeo Colleom 19 July 1940 Lost at sea with all hands 19 November 1941 South West of Carnarvon Western Australia after engaging the German raider Kormoran. hmas sydney, ww2

Battle of Australia poster commemorating the Bombing of Darwin on 19th February, 1942 and includes facts and defence resourcesThe Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia.Brown timber frame of poster featuring map of top end of AustraliaThe Battle for Australia 1942-1945 bombing of darwin, ww2

On the night of 30-31 January 1942 this small force of 1131 Australian soldiers were stationed at Ambon, an island which formed part of the Netherland East Indies (now Indonesia). An invasion of approximately 20,000 Japanese overwhelmed Gull Force and the majority of the Australian soldiers were taken prisoner. The execution of 229 at Laha, starvation, over work, disease and the absence of medical supplies led to horrific loss. At the cessation of hostilities only 352 of the original 1131 had made it back to Australia. 779 members of Gull Force made the supreme sacrifice and now lie in foreign fields. The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942) occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), during World War II. Japan invaded and conquered the island in a few days, facing Dutch, American and Australian forces. The chaotic and sometimes bloody fighting was followed by a series of major Japanese war crimes. Allied casualties in the battle were relatively light. However, at intervals for a fortnight after the surrender, Japanese personnel chose more than 300 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war at random and summarily executed them, at or near Laha airfield. In part, this was revenge for the sinking of the Japanese minesweeper, as some surviving crew of the minesweeper took part.. Three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Of the 582 who remained on Ambon, 405 died. They died of overwork, malnutrition, disease and one of the most brutal regimes among camps in which bashings were routine. Blood Oath, a 1990 Australian feature film is based on the real-life trial of Japanese soldiers for war crimes committed against Allied prisoners of war on the island of Ambon, in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), such as the Laha massacre of 1942.Brown timber frame with gold coloured inner edge containing badge and tribute on grey backgroundGull Force 2/21 Battalion Ambon Laha In memory of and tribute to the Officers and Men of "Gull Force" comprising of 2/21 Battalion and attached Units.gull force, 2/21 battalion, ambon, ww2

During World War II, the RAAF established twelve Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) to meet the rapid demand for pilots in an expanding Air Force.Due to a shortage of pilots, observers, wireless operators and gunners, the Dominions of the Commonwealth agreed to establish a co-ordinate scheme to train 28,000 air crew each year to help England fight the war in Europe. It was known as the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). The Dominions would supply the trained aircrew and the mother country would provide the aircraft. Brown timber frame with cream mount containing print of two planes flying over landA17-468 cavorts over a RAAF EFTS airfield during World War Twoa17-468, raaf, ww2

On the night of August 24, 1941 HMS Kanimbla, with 300 Indian troops on board led a flotilla in a surprise attack on the Iranian port of Bandar Shahpur capturing eight German and Italian merchant vessels all containing valuable cargoes, as well as two Iranian gunboats and a floating dock. Kanimbla went alongside the burning Italian tanker Bronte and fought the fires while engaging a train with her main armament and with her 3-inch guns. She remained in the region until October 11, supervising the port and carrying out salvage work on the captured vessels, including salvage work on the German freighter Hohenfels. After further work in Indian waters during the latter part of October and November, Kanimbla proceeded to Singapore and escorted the first convoy out of that city after the Japanese attack on Malaya. She arrived in Melbourne on Christmas Day. She carried out further convoy work off the Australian coast and in both the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. At the end of the war HMAS Kanimbla was employed in repatriating Australian servicemen from the Pacific Islands and also in returning Dutch dependents to the East Indies (Indonesia). Between October 1946 and June 1948 she sailed between Australia and Japan transporting British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. MS Kanimbla was unique for many reasons, she was the only passenger liner in history to have a fully operational radio broadcasting station built into the ship at the time of construction. The equipment was manufactured by AWA in Australia and had been shipped to Ireland for installation whilst the ship was still under construction.Brown timber frame housing white mount and dark blue print with grey ship in the centre above list of names below and top right and left corners.THE GREAT GREY RAIDER Captured 22 Ships, / Floating Dock, / 1Train Ships captured: Weissenfels, Wildenfels, V. Mayakovsky, Sheng Wha, Marienfels, Karakoram, Hathor, Winford, Sturmfels, Hohenfels, Store Nordiske, Tonjer, Chahbaaz, Barbara, Talisman, Corona, Carboto, Dah Pu, Sygna, Gabon, Bronte, Agnes Pre War: M.V. Kanimbla, McIlrath McEachern Line, 12000 Tons War: Commissioned as H.M.S. & Later H.M.A.S as armed Merchant Cruiserkanimbla, great grey raider, hohenfels, bronte, ww2, 1941

Wangaratta Comfort Fund final Meeting Report dated 18th December 1945 and 2 x Lists of Camouflage Nets sent to CWA Headquarters dated 24th and 31st of August 1943 2 x newspaper cuttings 3 page photocopy of handwritten notes dated 13th August 1941 detailing gift of Autoclave (medical apparatus) for use by the AIF presented by the then Mayor of Wangaratta Cr J F Dundas and President of the Wangaratta Branch of RSSILA Mr W Law The ACF provided a source of comfort, support and encouragement for the troops abroad and offered a means for women at home to contribute to the war effort and identify with the men in the trenches. The ACF acted as a vital link between home and the battlefields. The Australian Comforts Fund officially closed on the 27th June 1946. Typed and photocopied handwritten notes.Wangaratta Comforts Fund.comfort fund, wangaratta, ww2

MARSH VX132480 was born on 8/1/1915 at Bendigo and joined the Army May 1941, served with Survey Battery Unit at Buna and Finschaven New Guinea. Joined Wangaratta Sub-Branch 1946. Delegate to the 34th Dist. Board and delegate to State Conference on several occasions. Received Life membership in May 1970.Timber framed photograph of Sydney MARSHJOHN S. (Syd) MARSH john s. (syd) marsh, new guinea, wangaratta rsl, ww2, australian army

Image of Frederick James "Jack" McIntosh VX34544 who served with the 2/24th Infantry Battalion during the Second World War He was born on the 9th May 1905 at Beechworth. He joined the Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch in 1946. He was Vice President for 15 years and in 1963 attained Life Membership of the RSL McINTOSH joined the Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch in 1946. He was Vice President for 15 years. As Chairman of the Building Committee he was mainly responsible for many improvements to the clubrooms. In 1963 he was presented with his Life Membership Badge by Sir Charlies McKay, then President of the Victorian Branch.Timber framed photograph of male in suit.JACK McINTOSH enlisted in the 2/24th Inf. Battalion in 1943. Joined Wangaratta Sub-Branch in 1946. Jack was given his life membership in 1963 .2/24th battalion, jack mcintosh, life member, wangaratta rsl, ww2

Recruitment poster urgently calling for enlistments to the AIF during World War Two. The poster depicts a man donning a uniform, rifle in one hand, his civilian clothes lie in heap on the ground behind him.Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Second World War recruitment poster released in 1941 before Japan had entered the war, at a time when many Australians were reluctant to enlist to fight on the other side of the world. Dark timber frame containing poster of a soldier JOIN THE A.I.F THIS IS SERIOUS ENLIST NOWrecruiting, oster, ww2

Item donated by Eric Hamilton VX42389 who served with the 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion in the Middle East and at the battle of Tobruk which lasted 241 days in 1941. Brown timber frame containing poster with Map in centre and circles in each corner with images of soldiers and one symbol on light blue background Siege of Tobruk April- Dec 1941tobruk, ww2, 1941

Poster displaying colours and symbol patches of A.I.F Units who fought at the Seige of Tobruk between APRIL-DEC 1941A chart showing the "Tobruk T" patches of the Australian units that took part in the siege of TobrukTimber framed poster of Army colour patches with AIF Badge and two flags centered at topSeige of Tobruk A.I.F April-Dec 1941seige of tobruk, ww2, unit colours and patches, army, rats of tobruk

Collection of assorted Army standard issued books and personal papers including hand sketch of camp 'Kilo 89' in Palestine belonging to Private Alfred VONARX VX29295 who was born on 5/1/1901 at Docker Plains near Wangaratta. He enlisted on the 4/7/1940 at Seymour and assigned to the 2/7th Battalion which was deployed to the Middle East and later New Guinea.Soldiers Pay Book X 2, Bible & Meal Card, The Australian Soldiers Pocket Book, Clothing ration book and note book camp kilo 89, private alfred vonarx, vx29295, ww2, palestine

Aircraft Gyroscope Horizon Indicator is a flight instrument that informs the pilot of the aircraft orientation relative to Earth's horizon.Aircraft Gyro Horizon Indicator - silver metal instrument of comprising of multiple parts housed in black metal oblong unit.INDICATOR GYRO HORIZON MANUALLY CAGED ELECTRIC TYPE H . 6B (1945)aircraft gyro horizon indicator, raaf, ww2, world war two, gyroscope, flight instrument, sperry gyroscope co

Pocket Book gifted by the Australian Comfort Fund to George Denis Parker VX123730 who served with the 6th Australia Infantry Training Brigade. He was deployed in February 1944 to New Guinea and assigned to HQ New Guinea Force Details Depot. Based in Buna, in Papua, they carried out garrison duties as well as patrols around the areas surrounding Milne and Nassu Bay. In May 1944, they moved to Lae. Parker returned to Australia in June 1944.An example of a small pocket book gifted by the Australian Comforts Fund (ACF) to soldiers and other servicemen during WW2. This pocket book has a bright red cover and was given as a morale boosting gift. The book contains details of relevant information considered useful to serving service personnel.Red canvas covered pocket book The Australian Soldiers Pocket Book Gift from the Australian Comforts Fund 1942australian soldier's pocket book, george denis parker, ww2, png

The WWII US civilian gas mask for children was issued in a cardboard box. It came with a canvas carrying bag which had a shoulder strap sewn to the sides. This US Civilian home front item was issued during World War two. Gas masks were distributed among the general population because of the fear of Japan, and even Germany, being able to reach the main landCardboard box containing child size rubber and metal gas mask with green canvass bagModel MIA2-1-1non-combatant child's gas mask, ww2

Map of the Kokoda Trail terrain to scale with approximate travel times depending on fitness and conditions.Black frame containing map of terrain in black on white paperThe Kokoda Trailkokoda, new guinea, ww2

Sketch Map of Bulldog-Wau Road New Guinea drawn to scale by 2/1 Aust Fd Coy dated 23.7.43 and signed by soldiers together with related newspaper article. Hand sketched by Peter Muncey VX10042 a Draughtsman who served in the Middle East Ceylon and New Guinea with the 2/2 and 2/1 Field Coy Royal Australian Engineers. The sketch contains 26 signatures including:- S/Sgt Raymond Hector Ibbotson NX14112 who served in the Middle East and New Guinea Lt Col Jack Graham Wilson NX 130646Bulldog Track also known as Bulldog-Wau road was longer, higher, steeper, wetter, colder and rougher than Kokoda Track. In 1943 Australian Army engineers; the 2/1 and 2/16 Field Company RAE, 9th Australian Field Company (AIF), veterans of Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Greece and Crete, the 1st and 3rd Australian Pack Transport Companies and local Papuan labour cut the road with pickaxes and dynamite over a period of eight months. During five months of operations over seventy per cent of the 2/1 Australian Field Company contracted malaria.Seventeen bridges were constructed; mostly single, but at least one with multiple spans. More than two thousand Australian army personnel and over two thousand Papuans and New Guineans were involved during nine months of construction. Thus the road, acclaimed as the greatest military engineering feat ever, was completed and for the only time in history motor vehicles crossed the high rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea. Carved brown timber frame with cream mount containing hand sketched map with soldiers signatures and two newspaper articles.Sketch Map of Bulldog-Wau Road 23.7.43 2/1 Aust Fd Coy Newspaper - Diggers pushed on with pick and shovelbulldog-wau road, map, new guinea, ww2

Certificate of appreciation dated 30/6/1946 presented to Wangaratta Comforts Fund by RSS & AILABlack plastic frame containing certificate with black and red writing below two symbols and picture of a buildingThe Returned Sailors Soldiers and Airmen Imperial League of Australia Presented to Wangaratta Comforts Fund in grateful appreciation of meritorious service rendered to the RSL War Service Fund during 1939-1945.comfort fund, ww2, wangaratta, certificate

Two service medals awarded to Lt Allan Robert Stewart VX114312 of 124 Aust. Special Hospital Unit. He was born on 29/5/1906 at Hamilton and enlisted at Ballarat. Military service records not available/examined.Two metal medals with ribbon above black engraved plaque mounted on timber framed red felt Plaque: VX 114312 Lt Allan R Stewart 124 Aust. Special Hospital Enlisted 23rd October 1942 Discharged 15th May 1946allan robert stewart, ww2, service medals, 124 aust. special hospital unit

Three service medals with ribbons belonged to Herbert Roger HORNE VX42461 who was born at Traralgon on 8/10/1908. He enlisted at Caulfield on 8/7/1940 and served with the 2/11 Field Regiment in the Middle East during the second world war. He was discharged on 28/9/1944 and later died on 12/9/1961.Timber frame with three metal medals and ribbons on red velvet background."Donated by the family of H R HORNE'herbert roger horne, ww2, 2/11 field regiment

One of a collection of 25 model aircraft made by Brian Anthony DOWD. The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. Bearcat F5F. Dark blue with white stars, writing & markings. G8model airplanes, bearcat, ww2

Two canvas shoulder straps believed to be used during the assault and battle for Tarakan by ROBERT HENRY SLOAN : Service Number - VX94408 : Date of birth - 01 Dec 1925 at WANGARATTA VICTORIA Two long canvas straps with felt shoulder padding, metal buckle and canvas pocket ww2, robert henry sloan, army, australia, tarakan

This watch belonged to Alan Robert WEBSTER who was born on 11-1-1923 at Wangaratta. He enlisted in Melbourne and served with the RAAF 30 Squadron. He was killed on the 11-8-1944 when his Beaufighter A19-194 was hit by AA fire at Cape Simork, Dutch New Guinea while on a bombing mission. He is buried in the LAE Cemetery in Papua New Guinea. Gold coloured metal watch with square face and white plastic watch band.Engraved on rear of watch - ARW 409630 RAAFalan robert webster, raaf, 30 squadron, ww2, lae, png

This badge is an example of 'sweetheart' jewellery from the Second World War. Often worn by female relatives, girlfriend or wife, the brooches were a symbol of pride, support and affection for a loved one serving in the armed forces. They could be purchased by the women themselves or given as a gift by servicemen Silver coloured metal brooch depicting soaring eagle with pin at backOn rear of tail stamped STG SIL - sterling silverbrooch, airforce, raaf, ww2

1939-45 Australian Service Medal belonging to A BRYCE 56793Round silver coloured metal medalAustralian Service Medal 1939-45 56793 A Bryceservice medal, ww2, a bryce

Anzac Day Parade Wangaratta - photograph said to include Reg Montgomery second from left front row -MONTGOMERY REGINALD MICHEAL : Service Number - VX89817 : Date of birth - 29 Dec 1920 : Place of birth - WANGARATTA VICTORIA Served with the Australian Army as a Signalman between 1942-1945. Died in 2012Black and white photograph of men in suits wearing medals standing in front of building along tree lined street.Rear of photograph - Reg Montgomery second from left front row.anzac day, wangaratta, reginald montgomery, ww2

Photograph of William Edward EMERY Born at Wangaratta on 6/1/1919 who was killed in action in Belgium during Second World War. Flying Officer William Emery 410593 lost his life serving with 460 Squadron RAAF over Belgium on 15 June 1943. He is buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, near Leuven, Belgium. Black and white photograph of male wearing forage hatwilliam emery, wangaratta, ww2, raaf, 460 squadron

Book is a register of the names of those who fell in the 1939-1945 War and are buried in cemeteries in Belgium.Grey coloured paper book with black type on cover.1939-1945 The War Dead of the British Commonwealth and Empire Heverlee War Cemetery Heverlee Churchyard Top right hand corner handwritten Mavis E Emery 1958ww2, register of deaths