Soldiers of the 2/24th Battalion C Company.The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour.Reproduced black and white photograph of large group of unknown soldiers in four rows, standing and sitting on the ground in front of open structure with corrugated roof. Partial C Company2/24th battalion, wangaratta

In July 1940, the 2/24th Battalion was formed in Wangaratta. On the 27th September, after weeks of hard training the Battalion marched out to Bonegilla to continue training prior to overseas deployment to the Middle East in November, 1940. This image depicts soldiers resting during the 60 mile march.The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour.Reproduced black and white photograph of 4 unknown soldiers sitting on the ground with four rifles upright in foreground. Resting during march Wangaratta to Bonegilla2/24th battalion, wangaratta

The three cards are from 3 Brothers. Ernie is Ernest Stanley Webb enlisted No V325801 in the CMF with 26th M.G. Btn on 16.12.1941, discharged from the CMF on 19.12.1942 and join the AIF on 20.12.1942 No VX132668, served in Darwin with 19th M.G. Btn from 12.1.1942 to 1.2.1944, transfer to "Z" Special unit and serves in N.E.I and Borneo from 29.3.1945 - 17.12.1945, discharged from the AIF on 23.6.1946. Ron is Ronald Ormand Webb enlisted in the CMF No V26051 in the 26th M.G. Btn, discharged from the CMF on 28.6.1942 and joins the AIF No VX89115 on 29.6.1942. Served in Darwin with 19th M.G. Btn from 3.2.1942 - 23.3.1944, transfers to "Z" Special Unit and serves in Morotai and Borneo from 27.3.1945 to 17.12.1945, discharged from the AIF on 30.1.1946. Mervyn is Mervyn Herbert Webb, enlists in the CMF No V26035 on 7.11.1941 in 26th M.G. Btn, discharged from the CMF on 28.6.1942 and joins the AIF No VX134519, serves in Darwin with 19th M.G. Btn from 12.1.1942 - 24.5.1944, serves on Morotai with 16th Aust Inf Btn from 15.6.1945 - 25.12.1945, discharged from the Army on 9.1.1946. Due to illness Mervyn would most likely have gone with his brothers into "Z" Special Unit. Items in the collection re W.P. Fawcett, refer Cat No 9627. The brothers were related to Fawcett. White cream colour cards folded across to make two sheets. On cover at top is a triangle coloured red and blue. At bottom is a picture of a small hut next to a couple of palm trees (in army green) and in the middle is the unit identification "19th Australian M.G. Battalion", inside on page 3 is "Xmas 1942". Cards from different people but to same people.1. Message " To Grace, Percy and John with Kind Regards from Ernie". 2. "To Grace, Percy and John with love from Mervyn". 3. "To Carrie, Percy and John wishing you all the best from Ron".christmas cards, m. g. battalion, christmas card, fawcett 1

TARAKAN, BORNEO, 1945-05-08. GENERAL SIR THOMAS A. BLAMEY, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ALLIED LAND FORCES, SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA, (4), DRINKING COFFEE WITH SENIOR OFFICERS OUTSIDE THE SALVATION ARMY RED SHIELD HUT DURING HIS INSPECTION TOUR OF THE 2/23 INFANTRY BATTALION. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- BRIGADIER D.A. WHITEHEAD, COMMAND 26 INFANTRY BRIGADE, (1); LIEUTENANT COLONEL F.A.G. TUCKER, (2); LIEUTENANT COLONEL DWYER, (3); LIEUTENANT GENERAL F.H. BERRYMAN, GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING 1 CORPS (5). Brigadier David Adie Whitehead had a distinguished and decorated career in both First and Second World Wars. He joined the Citizen Military Forces when it was raised in 1947 and commanded the 2nd Armoured Brigade (4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse and 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiments) till 1953 The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honourReproduced black and white photograph of four Army Officers having a brew under roof of thatched hut and in front of banner of The Salvation Army/Australian Comfort Fund Handwritten on note attached to rear -Whitehead on L Blamey on R - Qld tablelands (?)general blamey, brigadier whitehead, 26th brigade

Image depicts soldiers of the 2/24 Battalion Band - Winners of the 7th Division Band Contest in Palestine February 1941 The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour.Reproduced black and white photograph of band of soldiers with musical instruments Handwritten on rear - 2/24 Bn Band Winners of 7 Div Band Contest Palestine 19412/24th battalion, wangaratta, palestine, 1941, 7th division band contest

Image depicts a group of 3 soldiers who served with the 2/24 Battalion VX32810 William John McKILLOP DOB 23/11/1914 POW May 1941 Italy- 2/24 Battalion VX31847 George Cecil OLLEY DOB 14/7/1917 - 2/24 Battalion. The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour.Original black and white photograph of 3 soldiers standing Handwritten on rear - Geo Olly centre, McKillop R & L, Frankston, 2/24 Btn2/24th battalion, wangaratta, george cecil olley, william john mckillop