Western Front. Photo by Les Chandler.western front, soldiers, ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

Western Frontsnow, winter, soldier, ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

Photo by Les Chandler.hand coloured photoww1, soldier, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

Rows of graves from the Battle of Fromelles, then called Flerbaix. Among the graves is that of Captain Norman Gibbins, 55th Battalion, born in Ararat Victoria. A Gallipoli veteran, at Fromelles, Gibbins fought a desperate rear guard bombing action while under heavy German attack. It allowed many Australians including the wounded to get back to the safety of their own lines. When his path was blocked by dead and wounded Gibbins stood up and was fatally shot. His body was recovered and moved seven kilometres behind the lines where his grave was one of 111 Australians initially buried at Sailly-sur-la-lys. ww1, world war 1, cemetery, fromelles, flerbaix, norman gibbins, aif, a.i.f

Photo by Les Chandler.ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

Les Chandler. Pacifist who was a stretcher bearer on the Western Front. Photo by Les Chandler. photoww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f, soldiers

Les Chandler was an avid bird watcher and naturalist who taught himself every aspect of photography so he could capture his obsession.hand coloured photoww1, woman, field, world war 1, aif, a.i.f, soldier

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Les Chandler. Training at Seymour Army Camp.photoseymour, seymour army camp, training camp, ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

Stretcher bearers (possibly some of Les Chandler’s own unit) carry a wounded soldier along ‘duck boards,’ wooden planking that allowed them to traverse the shell-holes and hellish mud of the Western Front. stretcher bearer, ww1, western front, world war 1, duck boards, aif, a.i.f

Les Chandler. Pacifist who was a stretcher bearer on the Western Front. Photo by Les Chandler. portrait, soldier, ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

Les Chandler was an avid bird watcher and naturalist. A pacifist who was a stretcher bearer on the Western Front. Photo by Les Chandler.ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f, uniform, native

Les Chandler. Pacifist who was a stretcher bearer on the Western Front. Photo by Les Chandler.camp, ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

On the Western Front.photowestern front, resting, trench, ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

Staff Sergeant Philpott among the medicine at Seymour or Broadmeadows Army Camp. Les Chandler spent some months gaining medical training before sailing to war in 1916.medicine, ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f

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John James Barnes , 23 year-old labourer of Marong Victoria enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) 8 September 1914 and was allocated to 8th Light Horse Regiment. He had two years pre-war service with the light horse. He served on Gallipoli, was evacuated ill and subsequently returned to Australia. The 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. Good studies of soldier in World War One light horse uniformTwo black and white photographs of soldier of the 8th Light Horse Regiment (AIF) being No 487 Trooper John James Barnes, Machine Gun Section. One photo is more formal than other.John James Barnes / 8th Light Horse Reg / Reg No; 487barnes jj trooper, 8th australian light horse (aif), uniform, military

John Alexander Spence was born in Fremantle 2nd July 1893. In 1912 he joined the Australian Navy as a Stoker and was posted to H.M.A.S. Australia. He was on this ship when it sailed at the head of the convoy into Sydney Harbour in 1913. At the outbreak of WW1, his ship was sent to German New Guinea where he saw conflict with the enemy and received a gunshot wound to his hand. This required him to be returned to Australia and the Naval doctors considered him unfit for further Naval service. When his hand healed Spence joined the AIF on the 2 August 1915 and was posted to the 52nd Battalion and embarked on the “Benalla” on the 1 November 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 1 June 1916 on 9 September was promoted to Corporal and the next day to Sergeant. At Messines Ridge he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. At Dernancourt, a village near Villers he was awarded the Military Medal on 6 April 1918. Subsequently he was badly injured. He had captured four German soldiers and one Officer. While marching them back to the Allied lines the Officer grabbed one of the patrol member’s gun and fired three shots at Sergeant Spence which smashed his hip. Despite his injuries Spence managed to bring the Officer down with a revolver shot. On the 30th April he was repatriated to England and admitted to the Alexandria Hospital at Cosham. He did not return to the western front as his injuries were too severe. He returned to Australia on board the Somalia arriving home on the 21st December 1919. Before joining the forces he was a prominent amateur boxer, a pupil of the renowned heavyweight Bill Doherty. During WW1 he won the Army lightweight championship, competing against professionals as well as amateurs. He defended the title successfully for three successive years. On his discharge from the Army he fought under the name of Sonny Kidson. He also turned to coaching and had remarkable success having coached the Army and Navy boxing teams. John Spence died on the 20 November 1962 at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital aged 69. Post card sized photo of 3400 Sergeant John Alexander Spence DCM, MM, 52 Battalion AIF. Photo shows medal ribbons of Distinguished Conduct Medal (awarded June 1917) and Military Medal (awarded April 1918), 2 wound stripes, 5 service stripes, 52 Battalion AIF colour patch and soft style forage cap.spence, 52 battalion, aif, dcm, mm

Returned from Active Service badges were issued to all Australian service personnel who saw active service. Issued to Mr ??? Service No:- 251845SignificantRound badge with crown on top. Brass. Front centre:- Rising sun emblem with AIF underneath. " Rim:- Issued by Dept. of Defence. Returned from Active Service. Rear:- 251845. Amour Sydney

Honour to the AIF. Gallipoli, France, Palestine. 1918 Issued to state school childrenmedals, ww1

Percy Nuttal was born in Kyneton.Framed picture Lieut Percival Edward Nuttall M.C, M.M 50th Btn AIF Including his medals and uniform badges. A second item associated with this is a framed written history of Nuttals war service. Military Colours & badges with replica medals - Military cross, Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 War medal, M.I.D. Victory medal, Italian bronze medalnuttal, ww1, military medal, military cross

Lieut Percival Edward Nuttal was born in Kyneton, 14 April 1885. He served in WW1, 50th BN AIF and was decorated with both a Military Cross and a Military Medal. This framed history of his service is part of a display which includes photographs and replicas of his medals.Framed A4 page of Percy Nuttall historyPercy Nuttall made a life member in 1938nuttal, military cross

Pte Evan Edward Jones (No 276) and his younger brother Pte Edward Jones (No 1731) were both members of the 29 Infantry Battalion during World War 1. They enlisted in 1915 in Kyneton where they grew up. Edward enlisted after approval was given by his mother as he was not quite 21. He did not survive the war as he was killed by a sniper in France in 1916. It was Private Edward Jones’ love of adventure that cost him his life. In the trenches in France on 16 August 1916, beside his brother, Private Evan Edward, he raised his head and was caught by a German sniper. The brothers were side by side, and it was suggested to their sergeant that he should take a short rest; they had been 36 hours without sleep. The sergeant said “Oh no, I won’t leave you fellows.” Private Jones said “If I got a chance of a shut eye I’d take it.” He raised his head over the parapet and a German sniper caught him in the forehead, and shut his eyes forever. With difficulty his brother was restrained from rushing over the top for revenge. Evan survived the war, serving in France and Belgium. Some of his letters, together with other memorabilia, have been donated to the RSL by family members. One letter to his wife describes how a bullet hit a cartridge in his pouch but missed his body. Cartridges, the bullet and the piece of shrapnel are also included with the donated items. Part of one of Evan’s letters to his wife is re-printed here. “This bullet is the nearest thing as ever … since I have been in France. I wondered what struck me when it hit me, or rather hit the cartridge that was in my pouch. If it had been an inch or two higher it would have come through my body…the wish bone is from the fowl we had for supper last night, one of the boys bowled the fowl over with a stone so we got to work and cleaned and cooked it and it was just the thing. I got the wishbone so I thought it would be a good souvenir to send home…don’t forget to wish something nice with the wishbone.” Both boys had a strong sense of adventure and it was only natural that they fought and died for King and country. Original letters, photographs and documents have been copied for preservation. *Items donated by John and Phyllis Adams will form part of the World War One commemorative display at the Sub-Branch for Anzac Day 2015. The Jones boys grew up in the Kyneton area and enlisted in the AIF in Kyneton in 1915World War I cartridge damaged by another bullet. K15 VII on base of cartridge casingww1, pte evan jones, pte edward jones,, letters from the front

Pte Simmons was born in Kyneton. Died at the battle of Fromelles, July 1916.Fromelles. The battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 was a bloody initiation for Australian soldiers to warfare on the Western Front. Soldiers of the newly arrived 5th Australian Division, together with the British 61st Division, were ordered to attack strongly fortified German front line positions near the Aubers Ridge in French Flanders. The attack was intended as a feint to hold German reserves from moving south to the Somme where a large Allied offensive had begun on 1 July. The feint was a disastrous failure. Australian and British soldiers assaulted over open ground in broad daylight and under direct observation and heavy fire from the German lines. Over 5,500 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds and some 400 were captured. This is believed to be the greatest loss by a single division in 24 hours during the entire First World War. Some consider Fromelles the most tragic event in Australia’s history. www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/fromelles Two WW1 War service medals with ribbons in a white presentation case. With black clothe lining. On the rim of each medal is: 4899Pte N T Simmons 59 Bn AIF The medals are labelled British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal 1914- 1918. On the inside of the lid is card inscribed: Posthumus award to 4899 Pte N T Simmons 59 Bn AIF. ww1 medals, british war medal, allied victory medal 1914- 1918, n t simmons, fromelles

In 1915 Arthur Swanwick from Bendigo enlisted in the AIF. He left for overseas service in March 1916. He wrote a message to his sweetheart Jessie Campbell, placed it in a bottle and threw it overboard from HMAT A18 "Wiltshire". The bottle was found on a beach near Robe SA and the message was sent to Jessie. Arthur returned home and he and Jessie married in 1918. Arthur died on 11 April 1968. Arthur's niece sent the updated information after the story was shared with the family who knew nothing about it. A hand written letter on lined green paper sent to BHS providing an update on the story of a "Message in a Bottle" written by Arthur Swanwick to Jessie Campbell. A black and white wedding photograph of Arthur and Jessie, a black and white photograph of dedication plaques from the Bendigo RSL WW1 Honour Board and a Thank you card form Arthur's niece thanking someone for letting the family know about the story (18 October 2013). ww1, message in a bottle, swanick

Stone from Abbey ruins at Mont St. Quentin, captured by the 21st Battalion A.I.F. on 1st Sept. 1918 & presented to the Myrtleford Sub-Branch by the Twenty-First Battalion Association, 20th November, 1971.The Stone is from the Abbey at Mont St. Quentin, captured by the 21st Battalion, 2nd Division A.I.F., on the 1st Sept. 1918. A Battle described by General Sir Henry Rawlinson, Commander, British Fourth Army as "The finest single feat of the War". During this Battle Sergeant "Alby" Lowerson, from Myrtleford was awarded the Victoria Cross for leading several men to capture a group of enemy machine guns that were holding up the advance. The Stone was presented in 1971 by members of the 21st Battalion Association, (named on the reverse side) to Myrtleford Sub-Branch R.S.L. Stone mounted on wooden board.Board inscribed with details of the mounted stone, with the names of those present on the reverse.world war 1, ww1, 21st battalion aif, 2nd australian division, western front, mont st quentin, sgt. a.d. lowerson v.c., myrtleford rsl

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photoww1, officer, world war 1, trench, aif, a.i.f