Transcript of a talk by Peter McPhee on Mitcham RSL and his ancestors, to a General Meeting of the Whitehorse Historical Society 12 April 2008.Tape at NP3442.Talk by Peter McPhee on Mitcham RSL and his ancestors, to a General Meeting of the Whitehorse Historical Society 12 April 2008.mitcham returned servicemens league, mcphee, peter, whitehorse historical society inc

The booklet contains two reports tracing the history of Mitcham RSL and the building of the Mitcham Memorial Hall. The first, by Mr.A.C. Cook in 1951 covers the period from 1919. The second, by R. Morgan, J. Phillips and R. Harry covers from 1952 to 1969. The reports emphasize the building and use of the Memorial Hall but include general information on activities of the Mitcham and Nunawading Sub-branches of the RSL. Lists are included of Presidents, Secretaries and Life Members of the Mitcham RSL between 1919 and 1968.mitcham returned servicemens league, mitcham memorial hall, exservice organisations, cook, a, morgan, r., phillips, j, harry, r

Used by Robin Da Costa in 'Blackburn - A Picturesque History'.Black and white photo of Blackburn College opened 1914. Local Blackburn Girls entertaining soldiers during 1914 - 1918 war. Joe Sword's Hall in the Background is now located in Lake Road as a Scout Hall. The first meeting of the Blackburn R.S.L. was held in Sword's Hall in 1927.|See page 81 of Da Costa book.sword, joe, blackburn college, blackburn returned servicemens league

The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA) was the forerunner of today's Returned and Services League (RSL). Formed after the First World War, the organisation was a veterans' association formed by returned servicemen to care for and advocate for the returned service community. The organisation later changed its name to the RSL. This badge is dated to the 1920's by the name of the organisation. It is significant because it has the capacity to represent an earlier incarnation of today's RSL.Small blue, white and red enamel and metal badge. Inset embossing of two soldiers advancing. Words enscribed on the front. A white shield shape with a crown mounted on the top.Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League Australia.rsl, rssila, returned services

Various Historical significance.Australian returned from active service badges. 2 x Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League Badges. (1919 - 1947.) 2 x 1971 to 1990 Life Member Badges. Maralinga & Monte Bello Association Badge. Boomerang with Rising Sun badge. Royal Australian Engineers 1930 - 1942 badge. Silver badge "To the Women of Australia. Vintage Turkish Medal. Inscribed To The Women of Australia Crown surrounded by Laurel Leaves with Map of Australia in centre. Returned From Active Service. Two or Three Servicemen shown. RAAF #A1102 - 1942. Boomerang with Rising Sun below Crown. Royal Engineers Badge inscribed "FACIMUS ET FRANCIMUS" encircling GviR in centre Crown over Laurel leaves.

In the 1960s the R.S.L. hall was used for plays, infant welfare, dancing classes for children and the like, also for use with parties and weddingsEarly black and white photograph of the Mitcham R.S.L.. Telegraph poles on left and right. Demolished in the 1980s.mitcham returned servicemens league, returned servicemens league

This object relates to Hugh Forrester BETHUNE. He was born on 15/11/1924 in Sydney, NSW. Hugh Forrester served in the RAAF (430155) enlisting on, 01/01/1943 in Unknown before being discharged from duties with the 9 AIRCREW HOLDING UNIT as a RAAF Non-Commissioned Warrant Officer (WOFF) on 26/02/1946. Hugh Forrester BETHUNE was not a prisoner of war. Hugh Bethune was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Australia Service Medal 1939-1946, Defence Medal, France and Germany Star, War Medal 1939-1945. The RSL badge represents readiness to serve the crown, country and former comrades. It can be purchased however it should only be worn by returned service personnel.Metallic badge with enamel sections depicting a white shield with a red and gold coloured crown and the number "95" at the head of the shield. In the top corners of the shield are images of a leek, rose, thistle and shamrock. An image of a red ribbon with the words "Australia" is at the base of the shield. In the centre of the shield is a blue circle with the words "Returned Services League", encircling an image of three servicemen in gold coloured relief.Inscriptions on the back: "V Property of League Swann & Hudson Vic." "91382" And another inscription that is partly obscured and includes "Bad.....ns" ballarat, ballarat rsl, badge, returned services leage badge, rsl badge, uniforms

Buff coloured book containing typed Rules and By Laws of The Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia. The Bendigo Sub Branch Rules and Bye Laws. Stapled to the inside front cover is a small booklet titled Rules of the Bendigo Returned Servicemen's Club Bendigo dated 1958.clubs, social, book of constitutions, r.s.l. bendigo collection - constitution bendigo r.s.s.a.i.l.a.

The Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia was formed in 1916 to support servicemen returning from World War 1. In 1940 its name was changed to Returned Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia and again in 1966 to Returned Services League of Australia. Arthur Ernest Beard enlisted in the 10th Battalion in 1914 and was discharged as medically unfit in 1918. His service included three years and 115 days of overseas service. He was gassed during his war service, resulting in ongoing health issues. Beard received an incapacity pension. Despite his ill health, Arthur dedicated many years of service to the committee of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia Wodonga branch. At various times he served as President and secretary. He was on the committee when the branch was lobbying for the construction of a Soldiers' Memorial and also a Soldiers' Memorial Hall for Wodonga. Arthur also participated in groups and community activities, including the Wodonga Boys’ Club, Wodonga Public Library Committee and the Wodonga and District Progress Association. Arthur died on 29 Jun 1940 in Wodonga, Victoria, aged 46 years. This certificate is significant as it recognises service to the Wodonga Branch of the RSSILAA coloured certificate on heavy card presented by the Wodonga Branch of the Returned Sailor and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia. It features an archway imprinted with the name of the RSSIL with the League emblem surrounded by the flags of England, Australia and the Royal Australian Navy. It is adorned with an anchor and rifle and the words "Great War 1914 - 1919. An image of Anzac House, the headquarters of the R.S.S.I.L.A. in Melbourne is on the lower left hand side. The words of appreciation are printed in the centre of the archway. The insignia of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces is in the centre at the bottom. WODONGA BRANCH / Presented to A. BEARD As a token of esteem and in grateful recognition of valuable services rendered as PRESIDENT Year 1922 - 23 A. A. Reid President R. S. Benson Secretaryreturned sailors & soldiers imperial league, wodonga rssila

Ian Darnton Watson was a member of a prominent family of civic leaders in Wodonga. He was born on 6th July 1925 in Albury, the first son of Kenneth Darnton Watson and Phyllis Lenore Emily Austin. He completed his primary education at Albury Grammar School, and later became a boarder at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. He enlisted for military service at Albury on 25th January 1944 and commenced full time service on 8th February 1944 at Royal Park in Melbourne, Victoria and was allocated to the 2nd Medium Artillery Regiment. He embarked on overseas service in Borneo on 30th July 1945 and disembarked in Australia on 15th April 1947 after serving with the Australian occupation forces in Japan. Mr Watson was discharged on 22nd April 1947 at which time he was a member of the Australian 2nd Medical Regiment. On discharge he returned home to help his father farm his property, de Kerilleau in Wodonga which was classified by the National Trust in 1974. Ian described his father, Kenneth as a hardworking, practical man, who for two years from 1929 - 1931, had been the Wodonga Shire President. Cr K. D. Watson was again elected to the Council in 1943 and served until he died in October 1951. In March 1957, he married Miss Lesley Buttfield, of Sydney, NSW. They had three children, Fiona, John and Rowena. John was later to become a member of Wodonga Council and served as Mayor. Ian was President of the RSSAILA (Returned Sailor's, Soldier's and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia) branch at Wodonga from 1953 to 1955 and remained as a member after that time. The League was renamed to the Returned Services League in 1965. Mr Ian Watson died on 14 December 1981, aged 56.This certificate is significant because it recognises the service of Ian Darnton Watson in support of Returned Servicemen in Wodonga.A framed certificate mounted on card. The frame is plastic with a wood grain finish.On Certificate:- R.S.S.A.I.L.A. VICTORIAN BRANCH Presented to Ian D. Watson, As a token of esteem and in grateful recognition of valuable services rendered as President of the Wodonga Sub Branch Years 1953 to 1955.wodonga rssaila, ian darnton watson, watson family wodonga, rsl wodonga

Two member badges from the The Returned Sailors, Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA). The number 68 on the front could be 1968 as it is detachable and could be updated each year. The badge with 1921 could be the year of membership. The member number is engraved on the rear. The shield design is symbolic of the protection provided to those who wear it. Within the badge, red represents the blood ties of war that exist between comrades; white stands for the purity of the motives in joining the league – to render service without personal gain or ambition; and blue indicates a willingness to serve a comrade anywhere under the blue sky. The wattle represents Australia, with the leek, the rose, the thistle and the shamrock standing for Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland respectively. The RSSILA was the precursor to the Returned Services League (RSL) and provided support for returned servicemen after World War One. Worn by members of the Returned Sailors, Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, those eligible being members of all services, both wars, including nurses, who have returned from active service outside Australia. These were with other World War 1 memorabilia that has come from Private John Basil McLean, 2nd Reinforcements, 37th Battalion, A.I.F. J.B. McLean (Service No. 13824) was from near Maffra, Victoria and enlisted on 22 January 1916. He embarked on 16 December 1916 for Europe. He spent time with the Australian Field Artillery (Pack Section). At the end of the war he worked for a year at the A.I.F. Headquarters in London before returning to Australia on the 'Ceramic', arriving in Portsea in 1920. His full war record is available from the National Archives of Australia (B2455, MCLEAN JBM).The RSSILA was an important organisation for ex-servicemen and many Legatees would have been members.Enamel badges from the R.S.S.I.L.A. The centre of the badge shows a sailor and a soldier in raised detail. A blue enamel circle surrounds the central detail and has 'RETURNED SAILORS & SOLDIERS / IMPERIAL LEAGUE' in gilt lettering. The outer edges of the badge are white enamel with a floral spray to the top left and right of the blue circle. At the bottom of the badge is a red enamelled scroll with 'AUSTRALIA' written in gilt lettering. On the reverse of the badge are soldered two brass lugs with a split pin attached for securing the badge to clothing. 01124.1 Front has '68' and 'Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia'. On the reverse 'V92210 Badge remains the property of League'. 01124.2 Front has '1921' and 'Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia'. On the reverse 'R 3871' and 'C.C Roeszler and Son Pty Ltd Melb.'world war one, rssila

Sir George Victor Lansell (1883-1959), businessman, politician and philanthropist, was born on 3 October 1883 in London, elder son of George Lansell, the Bendigo 'Quartz King', and his second wife Harriet Edith, née Bassford. George was educated at St Andrew's College, Bendigo, and Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. On 20 January 1910 at All Saints Pro-Cathedral, Bendigo, he married a skiing champion, Edith Florence Gwendoline Frew; they had three daughters. As a young man Lansell excelled in revolver shooting, boxing and swimming but his militia interests endured longest. First commissioned in the 8th Australian Infantry Regiment in 1904, he was a captain in 1909. In May 1916 he was commissioned captain in Bendigo's 38th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. Entering the front line in France on 1 December he was wounded two days later and invalided back to Australia next March for discharge in August. After the war he rose in 1923 to major commanding the 38th Battalion, Australian Military Forces. Lieutenant-Colonel in 1927, he retired as honorary colonel in 1942 after having organized the north-west Victorian group of the Volunteer Defence Corps early in World War II. Lansell's major contribution was his service to returned soldiers. He was president of the Bendigo sub-branch of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia for nearly thirty years. His work extended beyond grand gesture and he is remembered affectionately for his personal generosity to ex-servicemen and their dependants. Lansell was director of the powerful Sandhurst Trustees' Co., the Bendigo Mutual Permanent Land & Building Society and many other local companies. In 1926 he brought to Bendigo the overseas-based Hanro Knitting Mills (Hanro comes from the Swiss firm Handschin and Ronus which made high quality underwear and knitwear at Liestal, Switzerland) and the Australian Swiss Watch Co. Early in his business career he acquired the Bendigo Independent and amalgamated it with the Bendigo Advertiser in 1918. He had interests in the Riverine Herald, the Rochester Irrigator, the Stock and Station Journal and Central Victorian Broadcasters Ltd, and was a delegate to Empire press conferences in Canada (1920), England (1923) and Australia (1925).Lever arch folder containing Hanro black and white promotional photographs. 53 studio photographs of women's knitwear and lingerie 20.5cm x 25.2cm. 1 studio photograph of men's knitwear 19cm x 23.5cm. 2 x photo's 19cm x 23.3cm Photographer Reg Brock. 27 black and white photo's 15cm x 21cm of men's knitwear, womenswear and lingerie, were donated by Ann Peters.Reg Brock Studios Bendigo. Labels or stamps on back of photographs.business, retail, hanro promotional photographs, george victor lansell, bendigo hanro, ralph birrell collections