The great tank battle of Kursk took place in 1943, when the Germans mounted a huge attack on the Soviet army with a force f some 900,000 men, 2,700 of their most fearsome tanks, 10,000 artillery pieces and 2,000 aircraft. Codenamed 'Operation Citadel', the attack was Adolf Hitler's plan to avenge the disaster that befell the German 6th Army at Stalingrad.DVD in caseThe War File - The Great Tank Battle of Kursk

"Fort Queenscliff, in Victoria, Australia, dates from 1860 when an open battery was constructed on Shortland's Bluff to defend the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The Fort, which underwent major redevelopment in the late 1870s and 1880s, became the headquarters for an extensive chain of forts around Port Phillip Heads. Its garrison included volunteer artillery, engineers, infantry and naval militia, and it was manned as a coastal defence installation continuously from 1883 to 1946. The other fortifications and armaments around the Heads were completed by 1891, and together made Port Phillip one of the most heavily defended harbours in the British Empire." (from Fort Queenscliff History website)This is a useful reference tool.A light blue covered book, titled, "History of Fort Queenscliff and the Australian Staff College". It has a daker blue spine and black print.fort-queenscliff cunningham-c.a.

This is a photograph of a group of students of the Orbost Higher Elementary School dressed in costume performing "The Poppy Song:" on a stage. In the photograph are: Dolly Broome; Mary Reynolds; Lily Perry; Hilda Guy; Rene Parker; Madge Grose; Audrey Cameron; Annie Gibbs, Zenie Irvine and Violet Gibbs. This is probably the song connected with a poem called “In Flanders Fields” written by Major John McCrae, a Canadian surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade and stationed at Ypres salient, Belgium, in the spring of 1915. During 1910-11 the first approaches were made to the Department for the establishment of a HES in Orbost and this became a reality in 1912. Orbost HES supplied post-primary education in the district until a high school was built in 1948. Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its history.A black / white photograph with a label attached. It is of a group of students in costume on a stage. Each figure has been numbered 1 - 13.on label attached to bottom - "POPPY SONG ORBOST HES ?1915" with a list of names.education-orbost orbost-higher-elementary-school poppy-song

The history of the Thunderchild gun is not known. It was presumably manufactured in Torquay in the second half of the 19th century. Such guns were often attached to a ship’s rail through the holes in the swivel base, as in the base of this gun. The guns fired grapeshot and were originally used on ships to repel boarders. They were also used to launch whaling harpoons and were sometimes employed for signalling. The relatively late date makes the latter application most likely. This Thunderchild gun is complete with ramrod and wad remover. It is in good working order and easily assembled. It is used locally for special ceremonies and for Whaleboat Races as a starting gun. (Guns and Cannon, South Wester Victoria, May 2008, ref W/F/03) The small bore cannon is part of a collection of nineteenth century Flagstaff Hill Guns and Cannon, which is classified as being a high level of significance, on State, National and World The nineteenth century artillery pieces are a very rare and representative collection of artillery of this era. The artillery pieces, individually and as a collection, are highly significant for historical, scientific and aesthetic reasons at the state, national and world levels. The artillery pieces are excellent examples of nineteenth century artillery designed for the shore defence of western Victoria in the mid to late 1800s. The collection demonstrates the system of nineteenth century Imperial Defence implemented by Britain and of the recycling of obsolete technology to the colonies by Britain. The collection represents the methods of artillery technology, its advancement and its modifications in order to remain active. It also illustrates the transference of defence technology from Britain to Australia and demonstrates the level of reliance Australia had on British defence equipment. The artillery pieces form prominent elements in their landscapes and, together with the batteries and sites in which they are located, create a strong visual link to the region’s defence history. Importantly the artillery pieces, individually and as a collection, represent a very rare and intact group of nineteenth century artillery. Very few examples of nineteenth century artillery have survived worldwide, the largest collections being sited in Canada. The collection is a rare collection of artillery which demonstrates the advancements made in artillery technology during the nineteenth century, and is one of the largest collections of nineteenth century artillery in Australia. Further, the collection is extremely intact, with most pieces retaining original carriages and many located within their original emplacement. This collection of artillery, with their carriages and in their locations, are of exceptional national significance as they represent the largest intact collection of artillery within a single defensive network, outside of major colonial ports. The collection of nineteenth century carriages and slides are in themselves an extremely rare and important collection, however their significance is enhanced by their placements within batteries and with guns. (Conservation Management Plan for Victorian Guns and Cannon, South Western Victoria, May 2008) Cannon; small 1pdr cast iron, smooth bore muzzle loading swivel gun, painted glass black. 19th century cannon has polished wood handle, two detachable metal stirrups and metal swivel base with cuff, attached to block of wood by four bolts. Accessories are a wood tamper and wood ramrod. Name on gun is Thunder-Child, Torquay, Vic. There are Maker’s Marks on the gun and base, and a number on the cannon.. Marks; Barrel "Thunder/ Child". Base cuff " THUNDER / -CHILD / TORQUAY / VIC ", Trunnion "2825/H"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, cannon, torquay, thunder child cannon, thunderchild cannon, signal cannon, muzzle loading cannon, ordinance, munitions

This compass is the type used by an artillery unit of the Australian Military Forces during World War 2 and made by J W Handley. Although having owned the factory site since 1935 at 657 Victoria St J W Handley began to produce various items for the Australian Military forces after purchasing and expanding the factory to 655 Victoria St. It appears that he, or some one else may already have been occupying the site for industrial purposes, such as (Manufacturing, Foundry and Electroplating) since at least 1929. J W Handley Pty Ltd was actively producing items for the Military during the war years, a newspaper article from 1939 shows the factory in production and employing 420 people during 1939. J W Handley after the war moved into producing other non military items including a range of fishing reels. The company ceased trading in 1987 and was deregistered as J W Handley Pty Ltd in 1990.The item demonstrates the industrial capability of Australia at the start of World War 2, this item is actively sort by collectors of Australian Military memorabilia and represents a time in Australian history when the country was at war and the general population was concerned about an invasion from Japanese forces. It also therefor is of social significance as many Australians served in the Military forces at that time and the item is complete and in very good condition.A plane table compass, sometimes referred to as a trough compass, used by surveyors and artillery crew to accurately establish magnetic north. The compass is precision machined of brass material with a long needle to ensure accuracy. The compass scale is marked with a centre zero (for magnetic north) and graduations indicating plus and minus five degrees. The compass is housed in a protective wooden case with a sliding lid. The lid has a brass slide which locks the compass needle during periods when the compass is not in use.J.W.H./V Mark 11 D�D. Made by J W Handley Richmond Melbourne, Victoria. Serial number 1333 on boxflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, trough compass, navigation instrument, surveyor's instrument, j w handley, artillery, australian army, trough, plane compass, world war 2

This little book has been designed to fit into a small space such as a pocket, backpack or trunk. The brass book lock helps keep the pages and covers together, preserving them from being bent, torn or damaged in handling.The book includes four of ten parts of the Manual, published for use in training the garrison troops, including the placement and firing of cannon. The four parts included in this Volume I are: - Part 1 - Gunnery Part 2 - Ammunition Part 3 - Siege Artillery Part 4 - Garrison Gun Drills The remaining six of then parts are: - Part 5 - Material and Appliances Part 6 - Elementary Instruction Part 7 - Machines Part 8 - Mounting and Dismounting Ordnance Part 9 - Sleighs Part 10 - Sheers and DerricksThe book is significant to both British and Australian history, being issued for the training of the garrison defense of both countries in the late 10th Century. It is also significant for its connection with other historical military items within the Collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village.Manual of Siege and Garrison Artillery Exercises Vol 1 [Parts I, II, III, IV] Publisher Her Majestys Stationery Office Date 1879, Corrected June 24th 1882 Small, red, hard-cover book with embossed gold letters and British Coat of Arms on the front. The book has a brass closure or locking clip across the text block. There are diagrams and a foldout table within the text. flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, training manual, book, british garrison, garrison artillery, siege exercises, british government training book, technical book, pocket book, manual of siege and garrison artillery exercises vol 1, garrison exercises, military training, defense training, british artillery, royal artillery, gunnery, gun drill, brass book lock, british war office, locking clip, reference book

Photograph from the Australian War Memorial website of Harold Athelstane Abbott in an A.I.F uniform of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, aged 26Studio Portraitperson, individual, harold athelstane abbott, harold athelstane abbott, 4th field artillery brigade

Hard cover book with dustjacket titled On Target, written and illustrated by men of the front line forces with the American and Australian Ack-Ack brigade in N.Guinea. Grey cover with yellow dustjacket and red writing showing illustrations of artillery guns and logo of American Australian brigade, containing black and white photographs and cartoons. Published by Angus and Robertson Ltd Sydney printed by Halstead Press Sydney.books, military, australian

Bill did not return from the war. More information in "World War One - a history in 100 stories" by Bruice Scates, Rebecca Wheatley and Laura James.Black and white photo of William Johnstone Knox (Bill), Lieutenant (later Captain) 13th Field Artillery Brigade, World War I. The Brigade is shown marching up Beach Street, Port Melbourne, probably 28.06.1915 (the date of sailing). Bill is at the front on the left hand side of the march. (RHS of photo) Photo shows Beach St commercial buildings.built environment - commercial, war - world war i, william johnstone (bill) knox, harper's starch factory, bayview hotel