The embroideries were machine chained onto colourful cotton sateen (often mistakenly thought to be silk) and usually bear the words 'Souvenir of Egypt' and a year date. Most have a distinctly Egyptian flavour and show the pyramids, camels or date palms. Others show images associated with different armies (such as the Australian Rising Sun Badge, New Zealand General Service Badge or British unit badges) or nations (such as the Australian coat of arms). However, during WW2 they were usually embroidered on black velveteen and the variety of images was not as great as had been available during the First World War. These types of souvenirs were very popular with Australian troops; they were easy to send home and were colourful. The vendors would have a number of designs for sale already machine embroidered, from which the soldier could select and then personalise with a date or message.Black and gold timber frame containing rectangular black cloth edged in light blue fringe. Machine embroidered on the cloth is image of rising sun badge with a camel and pyramids either side. Souvenir of Egypt 1941 Australian Commonwealth Military Forces1941, ww2, embroidered souvenir, egypt

Trench art letter opener cut into the shape of a scimitar from a section of a shell case. The handle for the letter opener is made from a discharged British or Australian MK VII .303 calibre rimmed cartridge. The blade of the letter opener is attached to the handle via a bullet which has been sliced through the middle HMAS Uralba was an auxiliary minefield tender and armament stores carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. She was launched in 1942 by Ernest Wright, Tuncurry, New South Wales as Uralba for the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. Requisitioned by the RAN while under construction on 13 July 1942 and commissioned on 22 November 1942. After being returned to her owners and being sold and used for a number of purposes she was sunk on 4 November 1971 to create an artificial reef off Carrum Creek, in Port Phillip Bay.Stainless steel blade with handle made from 303 round/cartridgeHMAS Uralba inscribed on bladehmas uralba, ran, ww2, letter opener, paper knife

Brown vinyl wallet containing various papers including identity card, receipt for 60 pounds deposit for 1929 Dodge dated 23/12/1947, Ministry of Food vouchers, postcard, newspaper cutting, black and white photograph of two young boys with a bicycle - handwritten on rear from Mrs T A Karnatz Tawonga Roadside Wodonga Victoria Australia to Private Thomas Karnatz Prisoner of War No 139745 ARB KDO 7001 Stalag 11B Germany. Item belonged to Thomas Allan Karnatz VX 48290 2/24 Battalion - born 16/7/1916. Enlisted Albury 22/7/1940 - Caulfield 8/8/1940 aged 24 years 17/10/1940 posted from 2/23 to 2/24 Battalion. Embarked 16/11/1940 and disembarked Middle East 17/12/1940. Reported missing in action on 6/5/1941 and officially prisoner of war on 8/7/1941. 26/4/1945 arrived UK recovered POWBrown vinyl wallet containing assorted military and personal papersInside printed in gold lettering - Good wishes from the Australian Red Cross Societyww2, pow, 2/24 battalion, t a karnatz, tobruk

Red Enamelled Australian Women’s Legion AWL Service (World War 2)stawell, ww2

Collection of World War 2 Badges (4) Includes Liberty Loan Badge and Red Cross Members Badgestawell, ww2

57th Battalion A.I.F. Association Membership Badges (5) Tinplatestawell, ww2

Blue and White enamelled Fathers Sailors Soldiers Airmen Association, Women's Auxiliary stawell, ww2

Blue Enamelled Badge, Civil Defence South Aust.south australia, ww2

Banner, H.M.A.S. Stawell 1943-1946stawell, ww2

Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Badges. stawell, ww2

Army Issue Housewife” 1939 – 1945 Sewing Kits. Pte Geoff Hallstawell, ww2

Heavy Duty Canvas Naval Hammock, H.M.A.S. Stawell. Used by Able Seaman R.C. Gilbertstawell, ww2

Freedom Medallion ANZAC Day 1995stawell, ww2

Blue White & Red Enamelled, World War 2 1940’s Fathers Sailors Soldiers Airmen's Association (2) stawell, ww2

Army Service Rising Sun Badge 1940’s - Oliver Family stawell, ww2

Naval Issue Brown Water proof Kit Bag, H.M.A.S. Stawell. Used by R.C. Gilbert HMAS Stawellstawell, ww2

Certificate - Welcome Home to Stawell c1946-47 war service recognitionstawell, ww2

Badge - Australian Commonwealth Military Forcesstawell, ww2

Domestic - Tea Cup made by Mr Len Collins at Stawell Brickworks during WW2 shortages of china. Project not an unqualified success as Saucers tended to warp.)stawell, ww2

Pennant - H.M.A.S. Stawellstawell, ww2

Red and White Enamelled Badge - Australian Women’s Legion – Service Badgestawell, ww2

Significant historical record of WW2 and connection with family see sheet attached to Catalogue WorksheetThe types of envelopes were issued to the troops to write home to their families. two of the envelopes were used by Bruce McKean's father who was stationed at Kapooka near Wagga to write to his wife. The other two were used to keep papers, one being marked identity card.Four small envelopes (two addressed), each having coloured cartoon type drawingsSee photosww2

Part of Mitcham RSL collection (WW2)Brass shell casing inscribed with Chinese and Japanese characters forming a vase,See Supplementary file (5303)ww2, trench art, japan, mitcham rsl, vase

WWII historical significance from the African CampaignWWII African Campaign brass tankard from 1943 describing various battles carried out by the 8th Army. Possibly trench art.Engraved with various battles carried out by the 8th Army. Also engraved with The North African Campaign ends on the 13th May 1943.ww2, second world war, world war 2, world war ii, tankard, mug, african campaign