Depicting the boarding of Australian Troops from Vung Tau, Vietnam for return to Australia following active service in Vietnam. HMAS Sydney was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was built for the Royal Navy and launched as HMS Terrible (93) in 1944, but was not completed before the end of World War II. The carrier was sold to Australia in 1947, completed, and commissioned into the RAN as Sydney in 1948. Sydney was the first of three conventional aircraft carriers to serve in the RAN, and operated as the navy's flagship during the early part of her career. From late 1951 to early 1952, she operated off the coast of Korea during the Korean War, making her the first carrier owned by a Commonwealth Dominion, and the only carrier in the RAN, to see wartime service. Retasked as a training vessel following the 1955 arrival of her modernised sister ship, HMAS Melbourne, Sydney remained in service until 1958, when she was placed in reserve as surplus to requirements. The need for a sealift capability saw the ship modified for service as a fast troop transport, and recommissioned in 1962. Sydney was initially used for training and a single supply run in support of Malaysia's defence policy against Indonesia, but in 1965, she sailed on the first voyage to Vũng Tàu, transporting soldiers and equipment to serve in the Vietnam War. 25 voyages to Vietnam were made between 1965 and 1972, earning the ship the nickname "Vung Tau Ferry". Sydney was decommissioned in 1973, and was not replaced. Despite several plans to preserve all or part of the ship as a maritime museum, tourist attraction, or car park, the carrier was sold to a South Korean steel mill for scrapping in 1975A pictorial image of troops returning to Australia from Vietnam.Timber frame with mount containing print of ship at sea and soldiers in a barge in foreground.Homeward Boundhmas sydney, ran

Photograph of Private later Corporal Sperry Bodsworth born 27/8/1909. In 1940 aged 30 years he enlisted in the Army and assigned to the 2/21 Battalion. On 13/12/1941 the Battalion was deployed from Darwin to Ambon in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, to form part of "Gull Force". The Battle of Ambon occurred between 30 January to 3 February, 1942. In April 1942 Bodsworth was listed as missing and on 1/6/1942 was reported as a Prisoner of War. Bodsworth was awarded a Mention in Despatches.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 containing black and white photograph of WW2 Soldier wearing slouch hatww2, gull force, ambon, sperry bodsworth, pow

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

Watercolour painting of Catalina Flying Boat - Attached to rear of frame is a short history of the Catalina Flying Boat together with the service history of Owen and and his younger brother Roy MORTIMER who both served in the Royal Australian Air Force in the South West Pacific area during WW2 Developed as a naval patrol aircraft, the Consolidated PBY Catalina was a widely exported flying boat during World War II. Over the course of the conflict it served with a number of different nations in a variety of roles. In the Royal Australian Air Force, PBYs and PB2Bs (a variant built by Boeing in Canada) served as multi role bombers and scouts, the type eventually earning great renown among Australian aircrews. The motto of the Catalina squadrons was "The First and Furthest." Gold painted embossed metal frame with cream coloured mount containing watercolour painting of plane on waterCatalina Flying Boat Royal Australian Air Force catalina flying boat, raaf, mortimer, ww2

A limited edition framed collection with service medals presented over the past one hundred years to our dedicated service men and women, meticulously mounted and displayed on quality backing. Includes: 36 medals, 53 current bars and 12 World War II barsBrown timber frame with gold painted inner edge containing a poster headed with two springs of wattle either side of three flags above four rows of medals and ribbons on a white background edged with photograph negatives of soldiers and wartime.Australian Service Medals Centre of bottom edge - Christie's Pty Ltd Registered Design Number 1/2500australian, service medals

Kittyhawk Fighter. One of a collection of 25 model aircraft made by Brian Anthony DOWD The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The British Commonwealth air forces used the name Kittyhawk for models equivalent to the P-40D and all later variants.The Kittyhawk was the main fighter used by the RAAF in World War II, in greater numbers than the Spitfire. Two RAAF squadrons serving with the Desert Air Force, No. 3 and No. 450 Squadrons, were the first Australian units to be assigned P-40s. Small khaki plane with blue & white spots on top and sides, red nose.model airplanes, kittyhawk fighter.

Lieutenant Albert Sargent VX15290 was born on the 3rd of November, 1918 at Wangaratta in Victoria. He was a member of Z Special Unit and involved in Operation RIMAU. when he was captured and executed by the Japanese in Malaya on the 7th of July, 1945 during WW2. Operation RIMAU - In September, 1944, 23 British and Australian members of Z Special Unit travelled from Australia by submarine to the outskirts of Singapore Harbour then under Japanese occupation. Their mission was to attack and destroy enemy shipping from small submersible boats using magnetic limpet mines. Official Japanese records state that the ten men of the contingent captured were beheaded at Pasir Panjang on 7 July 1945, approximately one month before World War II in the Pacific came to an end.Brown timber frame and green mount containing a copy of photograph of soldier and map showing RIMAU battles and listing RIMAU personnel.Lt Albert Sargent Operation RIMAUoperation rimau, albert sargent, z special unit, vx15290, wangaratta, ww2

Demobilization Procedure Book issued to Private John Brian MURRAY VX142238 of Moyhu VictoriaThe Demobilization Procedure Book was developed and issued as a handbook by the Australian Military Forces to service men and women once they became available for dispersal. The handbook was used to facilitate the action necessary for demobilisation following the end of World War II in 1945. The completion of the handbook and instructions were required before a Certificate of Discharge could be issued.Brown cardboard covered book with black printNo 145950 VX 142238 Pte MURRAY John Brian - Moyhu Victoriaprivate john brian murray vx142238, demobilization procedure book, ww2

Gift from the Government to the children of Victoria on the occasion of the 1954 Royal Visit This medal was issued for schools to commemorate the visit of the Queen visited to Victoria from 24 February to 9 March 1954. The first reigning monarch to tour Australia, she arrived in Sydney with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh on 3 February 1954 and departed the country from Fremantle on 1 April. In 1954 Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to tour Australia. She arrived in Sydney with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh on 3 February 1954 and departed the country from Fremantle on 1 April. The visit was tremendously popular. The Queen was the first royal to tour Australia in twenty years. She graciously endured a grueling schedule visiting approximately 70 country towns, all capital cities except Darwin.Round Gold coloured medallion attached to rectangular barBar - Presented to the Children by the Government of Victoria Medallion - ER Royal Visit 1954 Victoriamedallion, royal visit, 1954, australia

Wartime memoirs of Werner Buschmann, a German Merchant Seaman, captured on the "Hohenfels" and brought to Australia for internment, later classified as a prisoner of war. Printed material in black plastic folder, comprising of 62 pages of A 4 size pages in clear plastic sleeves. mv hohenfels, german merchant seaman, ranji tiki, dhurringile pow camp, hohenfels, werner buschmann, ralf taeuber

Thesis by Lucilla Lentini, "Australian Nazis: An evaluation of National Socialist support amongst Tatura's first 42 internees before, during and after World War II". Thesis for Postgraduate Diploma in Arts, School of Historical Studies, Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne.Thesis, 52 x A4 pages (56 inclusive). Bound in plastic. tatura, bahlsen, fritz alfred, boelter, reinhold, bruelle, wilhelm, dehnel, werner, fent, otto carl, froelich, gustav karl, grasle, kuno hans, hahn, fridolin, haslinger, franz joseph, hemerich, otto, hempel, walter erwin, herbst, otto albert wilhelm, kiessling, walter paul, klenk, karl friedrick, kuldschun, lewandowski, siegfried, luckemeyer, wilhelm ludwig, maltz, otto paul, mayer, gustav adolph, meister, gottlieb friedrick, muffler, karl, pecher, johans, rammstedt, otto joseph, renz, hans, reutter, paul, ritter, konrad, werner kurt, rohling, adolph, schauer, willi, schoeller, ralph, schultz, rudolf, schwarz, strothe, christian, suchting, hans johannes, thierfelder, kurt oswald, utermohle, herbert, ventur, erich august, weber, fritz, weiss, karl friedrich, wildermuth, emil otto, zachen, friederick, documents, reports

Bernhard Gerstle & his family (parents & siblings) were German nationals working in Tehran, Iran upon the outbreak of World War II. In 1941, after the installation of a pro-British ruler to the Persian throne, all German nationals were targeted as threats to national security. The women and children evacuated to Stuttgart, Germany via Turkey, while the men were handed over to British forces. Bernhard was taken by ship (the SS Rona) to Bombay & then to Australia (on the SS Rangitiki). He was then marched in to Loveday internment camp 10, South Australia. In January 1945 the German & Italian internees at Loveday were transferred to Tatura Camp 1. Bernhard remained there until after the war & his eventual release, on 29th August 1946. Bernhard chose & was granted permission to remain in Australia post-war, as did many civilian internees, after their examination by a Committee of Inquiry which investigated their political leanings & other criteria for their supposed suitability as Australian residents. The biography also recounts his employment post-war, marriage in 1952 & his later naturalisation as an Australian citizen. Other material includes Gerstle family history from the perspective of Bernhard's sister & family, who remained in Stuttgart; background on the Gerstle family's Russian origins; and a biography of Oskar Speck, famous kayaker, amongst other things, who was interned along with Bernhard & who became good friends with the family; a brief historical background of the Allied forces/Persia invasion; and extracts of Tatura Camp 3 internee Helga Griffin's book, "Sing Me That Lovely Song Again". Black plastic A4 display folder. CD soft case with CD. Folder contains printed biographical information regarding Bernhard Hermann Gerstle. CD contains copies of same documents and also copies of photographs of Bernhard & the Gerstle family. Folder: Bernhard Hermann Gerstle/ Gerstle Family/ Loveday and Tatura Internment Camps 1941-1946/ Sydney 1946-1978/ Compiled by Mary Henderson 2013 CD: BH Gerstle; 1941 - Interned by British/ 1941-1946 - Internee at Loveday SA, Tatura VIC/ Sydney 1946-1978. camp 1, tatura, loveday, world-war-two, internment-camps

The Wied family were settled in Palestine upon the beginning of WWII. Being of German nationality, they were considered a threat to security by Allied forces & were interned in temporary camps, before being shipped to Australia. In Australia they were interned in Camp 3, Tatura, a family camp for enemy nationals. Many of the internees came with few possessions. This item is just one of the handmade domestic items fashioned in the camp from largely scrap materials to give some home comforts in the initially barren surroundings of the camps, particularly to those interned with families and young children. Butterfly shaped brooch made from Paua shell. Fixed to a brass safety pin. world war ii, camp 3, palestine, tatura, jewellery, internment camps

The ring was made for the donor by her father in Camp 3, Tatura. The Wied family were settled in Palestine upon the beginning of WWII. Being of German nationality, they were considered a threat to security by Allied forces & were interned in temporary camps, before being shipped to Australia. In Australia they were interned in Camp 3, Tatura, a family camp for enemy nationals. Many of the internees came with few possessions. This item is just one of the handmade domestic items fashioned in the camp from largely scrap materials to give some home comforts in the initially barren surroundings of the camps, particularly to those interned with families and young children. Small brown metal ring, with a small heart soldered to the ring. camp 3, tatura, world war ii, internment camps

(From back cover): "The Weintraubs Syncopators, international musical celebrities of the 1930s, embarked on a four-year journey across Europe, Russia and the Far East in exile from the antisemitic ideologies of the German Third Reich. This band of mainly Jewish musicians arrived in Sydney, Australia, in 1937. The decision of some of them to stay brought them into conflict with the aggressively protectionist Musicians’ Union of Australia. They gained employment at a high-end Sydney nightclub but when war came, were forced to come to terms with a change in their status – from celebrities to enemy aliens. Denounced for alleged espionage activities in Russia, three were interned and the band broke up. In this major recounting of the experience of the Weintraubs Syncopators, Kay Dreyfus pieces together the complex personal, social and political forces at work in this story of migration at a time of insecurity, fear and dramatic conflict." The Tatura group of camps were built after the beginning of World War 2, and held prisoners of war (enemy military) and civilian internees (enemy nationals, regardless of political affiliation, either living in Australia or in Allied territories overseas). The Weintraubs Syncopators' members were just some of the civilians caught up in the conflict. Paperback book. Glossy black front cover, black & white photo of group of musicians. Blue & white text. Back cover glossy white, black & white photo group of men standing over bass drum labelled "Weintraubs Syncopators". 305 pages. Dewey no. 781.65092weintraub, camp 1, tatura, internment camps, civilian internees, jazz, jewish community, world war ii, musicians, stefan weintraub, horst graff

In possession of James Colliver. Australian Military Forces Army Rehabilitation Booklet. Advice to Army personnel awaiting discharge 1944. Small paper booklet. A.A. book 84, Revised January 1944. tatura, army, colliver, rehabilitation, world war ii

Mauve and Pink cover with a painting of a large brown lace up boot. The book title is depicted on a wrought iron sign. non-fictionBerlin, 2010: A deathbed promise launches Kathy Giuliano on a quest for the truth about her family during World War II. Alone, she travels to Berlin in search of an enigmatic octogenarian who holds the keys to the past. The only clues to his identity and whereabouts and are a black-and-white photograph and an outdated address in Reinickendorf. England, 1938: After fleeing Nazi Germany for the safety of England, a teenage boy is captured when Churchill gives the order to 'collar the lot'. One of 2,000 prisoners on the hell-ship Dunera, he is sent to Australia. At the 'family camp', he makes footwear and forms life-long friendships. Eight years later, what does he find when he returns to Berlin? Victoria, 1943: With the Japanese at Australia's doorstep, a mother and daughter are arrested at their cane farm in far north Queensland and sent 'down south'. Their crime? Teaching the Italian language to school-children. The internment camp at Tatura changes everything. The secrets they share must be kept for the rest of their lives.ww2 italians, internment, tatura, queensland, debbie terranova, berlin

This camera has a moulded plastic body; optical direct vision finder; screw and pin flash contacts. This model continued as the "Brownie Bullet II" camera from 1961. It uses 127 film. Product Indentifier: E130.00055Front: Brownie (red print) / DAKON LENS / STARLET CAMERA / 13 COLOR / B & W 14 Bottom: Made in Australia by Kodak Australia Pty Ltd. Lock - open - use 127 film. Wind.camera, kodak, dakon lens, brownie starlet

John Curtin, Australia's 14th Prime Minister served 1941-1945 and during World War II. The Prime Ministers Avenue is a collection of bronze bust portraits of the Prime Ministers of Australia, located at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in Ballarat, Victoria. The Prime Ministers' portraits are commissioned after the incumbent term of each Prime Minister by the City of Ballarat. The City of Ballarat has taken responsibility for commissioning the busts after funds set aside by politician Richard Armstrong Crouch were exhausted in 2014. Crouch originally donate money to pay for six busts, the first of which was unveiled in 1940. The collection of prime ministers' busts are unique in Australia, representing the only sculptural portrait collection of all past Australian Prime Ministers. The different styles used reflect the unique artistic practices of the selected artists; textures, sizes and features and proportions are used by the artists to interpret the characteristics of each of the subjects.The artwork is of historic and aesthetic significance to the people of BallaratBronze bust cast on granite plinthJohn Curtin Born Creswick Prime Minister 1941-45prime minister, john curtin, world war ii, richard armstrong crouch, ballarat botanical gardens

Eternal Flame was created by Ballarat sculptor Peter Blizzard as a marker of the end of WWII in the Pacific. Engraved into the bluestone shaped tile across the base of the statue is details about conflict areas where Australian Troops were active. The metal structure mimics a moving flame with it's polished golden hue, a feature included in many war memorials around the world. Peter Blizzard also designed the Prisoner of War Memorial in the South Gardens, Ballarat Botanic Gardens. The metal structure mimics the moving flame of polished golden hue that is present in war memorials around the world. Eternal flame is aesthetically and historically significant to the people of BallaratMetal construction on bluestone tile baseConflict areas for Australian Troops are engraved into bluestone shaped tile across the base of the statue. eternal flame, world war ii, conflict, peter blizzard, australian sculpture

The bronze statue of a horse commemorates poet and horseman Adam Lindsay Gordon and the horses and mules killed during WWI. The statue depicts a horse going into battle known as a 'charger' mounted on a base of Warrenheip granite. During World War II the artist, Raymond Ewers was made an official war artist with the rank of lieutenant. Funds were raised from visitors to the Adam Lindsay Gordon cottage for the artwork which was unveiled on the centenary of the poet's arrival in Ballarat. Adam Lindsay Gordon the English born Australian poet spent some time in Ballarat, at one stage owning and running Craig's Stables in the city. He was not a very good businessman and his ventures left him in financial ruin. However his ballads and poems were recognized around the world as strong lines that told the story of the Australian bush. He is the only Australian Poet to be memorialized in Westminster Abbey, UK. The Queen quoted his work in 1992 Queens message..."Kindness in another's trouble, courage in one's own.."The artwork is of historic and aesthetic significance to the people of BallaratBronze horse on granite plinthERECTED BY/ THE ADAM LINDSAY GORDON SOCIETY/ TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF/ THE POET'S LIVING IN BALLAARAT,/ ALSO AS A MEMORIAL TO THE 958,600 HORSES AND MULES/ KILLED IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR/ INCLUDING 196,000/ THAT LEFT THESE SHORES NEVR TO RETURN./ "THE LAY OF THE LAST CHARGER"/ FORWARD, THE TRUMPETS WERE SOUNDING THE CHARGE./ THE ROLL OF THE KETTLEDRUM RAPIDLY RAN/ THAT MUSIC, LIKE WILDFIRE SPREADING AT LARGE/ MADDEN'D THE WAR HORSE AS WELL AS THE MAN./ WHERE ARE THEY? THE WAR-STEEDS WHO SHARED IN OUR GLORY/ THE "LANERCOST" COLT AND THE "ACROBAT" MARE,/ AND THE IRISH DIVISION "KATE KEARNEY" AND "RORY" AND RUSHING "ROSCOMMON" AND EAGER "KILDARE"./ WE TOO, SPRUNG FROM THE LOINS OF ISHMAELITE STALLIONS,/ THE RENDERING OF BLACKTHORNS AND RATTLE OF RAILS./ AND WHAT THEN? THE COLOURS REVERSED, THE DRUMS, MUFFLED/ THE BACK NODDING PLUMES, THE DEAD MARCH AND THE PALL/ THE STERN FACES, SOLDIER-LIKE SILENT UNRUFFLED,/ THE SLOW SACRED MUSIC THAT FLOATS OVER ALL/ BY A.L. GORDON/ UNVEILED BY/ HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF BALLAARAT,/ CR. M.J.BROWN/ 1969/ PRESIDENT CR.W.E.ROOF C.B.E. SECRETARY P. ABSOY. ESQ.horse statue, adam lindsay gordon horse statue

The Battle of Tarakan was the first stage in the Borneo campaign of 1945. It began with an amphibious landing by Australian forces on 1 May, code-named Operation Oboe One. While the battle ended with success for the Allied forces over the Japanese defenders, this victory is generally regarded as having not justified its costs. 225 Australian soldiers of the 26th Brigade, 9th Division, 2nd Australian Imperial Force were once buried here. They were killed in the Battle of Tarakan (1 May - 21 June 1945) or died due to their wounds until 15 August 1945.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 1996 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour. Reproduced black and white photograph of a monument/cenotaph and lawn grave sites with white crosses.Handwritten on rear - Tarakan Cemetery2/24th battalion, wangaratta, tarakan

September 30,1945 - The official dedication service and unveiling of the Cenotaph at Tarakan War Cemetery The Battle of Tarakan was the first stage in the Borneo campaign of 1945. It began with an amphibious landing by Australian forces on 1 May, code-named Operation Oboe One. While the battle ended with success for the Allied forces over the Japanese defenders, this victory is generally regarded as having not justified its costs. 225 Australian soldiers of the 26th Brigade, 9th Division, 2nd Australian Imperial Force were once buried here. They were killed in the Battle of Tarakan (1 May - 21 June 1945) or died due to their wounds until 15 August 1945.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 1996 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour. Reproduced black and white photograph of monument/cenotaph and catafalque party2/24th battalion, tarakan, cenotaph

The famous Tobruk Fig Tree was named because it marked the entrance to a network of underground caves used to treat wounded soldiers. It became known as the Fig Tree Hospital. The caves became a place where wounded soldiers could be stabilized before being transferred to the Australian General Hospital. The Fig Tree was the only feature in an otherwise barren desert and an easy target for German artillery who heavily shelled the site for several hours per day. A cutting from the tree was brought back to Australia and planted at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.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 1996 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour. Reproduced black and white photograph of four soldiers under large tree - one soldier in dugout under tree watching two stretcher bearers carry out wounded soldierHandwritten on rear - Fig Tree Tobruk 2/24th battalion, fig tree, tobruk

Unit colour patches on uniforms indicate soldiers are members of the 2/24th 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 1996 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour. Reproduced black and white photograph of group of armed soldiers at rest in open barren landscape Stamped on rear - resting en route2/24th battalion, wangaratta, middle east