Henry Thomas Ridge initially enlisted in September 1934 No V57996, 8th Australian Infantry Battalion CMF. He rose to Sergeant then qualified as a Lieutenant on 8.10.41. He was stationed in Darwin during the bombing 19th Feb 1941. He was discharged and the re enlisted as VX148845 AIF on 9.3.44. He served overseas and was discharged 29.7.46 in 8MD Papua. Refer 473P.1) Pay book No 257028, brown covers re H.T Ridge. .2) Drivers Licence No 214206, Army issue, brown fabric covers, folds in three re H.T. Ridge Lieut. .3) Drivers Licence No 592440,civilian, yellowish paper, red, blue, black writing re H.T. Ridge. Feb 29-1941. .4) Army "Final Statement account," form W.F.88 re VX149945 Ridge HT, 20.10.44. Paper, black and white, stamped 21 october 1944. .5) Typed note re Lieut H. Ridge, yellowed paper dated 10.3.44, red lettering at top of page " CUTSA New South Wales". .6) Letter, dated 2.5.1942 to Mrs E. Ridge re H. Ridge "Seriously ill with appendicectomy.", letter yellowed. .7) Cardboard , yellowed, typed and hand written re brief description V57996 and VX148845 H.T. Ridge, military and medical history. .8) Telegram Re " V57996 H.T. Ridge seriously ill 30th April." Double sided, front Blue with message, rear red, stamped 1 May 1942. .9) Telegram re " V57996 H.T Ridge removed from ill list 7th May 1942, double sided, front blue with message, rear red, stamped 18th may 1942. .10) Pay book No 195734, yellow covers re H.T Ridge.documents - licences / letters, communication - telegraphic, photography - photographs

Black and white photograph showing a group of personalities seated and standing during opening ceremony.Written on back of photograph: "Lionswood opening, May 1963." Attendees include Sir Henry Bolte second (from) RHS. Mayor of Ringwood Max Deuter and Mrs Deuter.

Royal Princess Theatre - A Sequel to Marjorie in Wonderland. Saturday, 1st September 1917. Australian Children's Pantomime. Price of Programme, One Penny. Matinee Performance. In aid of 'Fruit & Vegetables Fund For Our Soldiers In The Trenches.' Produced by Miss Girlie Mackay and Miss Norma Moorhead. Musical Director: Mr. Stanley Upton. Stage Manager: Mr. J Dunphy. Lighting Effects: Mr. W Wenborn. Hon. Sec.: Mr. Norman Howell. Inside cover Synopsis of Pantomime. The First act is Marjorie's Dream of Fairyland. The curtain rises showing Marjorie asleep in cot from which Brownies entice her away. The curtain is. . . . Sale of Sweets supervised by Miss Nita E Weller and Assistants Rose by Mrs. A T Mackay. Dresses designed and made by Mrs. McQuie, Misses Lena Weller, Norma Moorhead, Girlie Mackay, assisted by Mrs. Ralph Ross, Mrs. Robert Mackay, and the Misses May Germann, Carola Iser and Hilda Meurer. Programme. Songs sung throughout Performance. Overture-'Marjorie in Wonderland; Specially arranged by Mr. Upton. Overture Synopsis-This is descriptive of Marjorie's Dream of Fairyland; at first mystic and subdued, tending to convey the impression of the mysterious movements of the Spirits of the Night intermingled with the occasional calls of birds, a vision of Elfland; from that the music develops in an expression of the coming of morn, and the stirring of forest nature into the active life of day, with the distant sounds of the anvil and of bells; and as the day wears on, the chiming of the hours again denote the approach of eventide, the melody throughout being that of the song 'Marjorie Sunbeam.' Instrumental Soloists are Messrs. J Collins & H M Hall. Act 1. 'Moonstruck' Myrtle Glanville. 2 Moonboat, by the Fairies. 3 'Fairy Revel' by the Bunnies. 4 'Bunnies Adventure' by the Bunnies.5 'Catching Birds' by the Goblins. 7 'Fairyland' Ruthie Murphy. Act 2. 1 'Fairy Song'. 2 'Kookaburra Mel Wearne. 3 'Marjorie Sunbeam' the Brownies. 4 'Kangaroo' the brownies. 5 'Autumn Winds' 6 'As I went o'er the Paddocks' Jean Walker. 7 'Sea Serpent' Jim Walker & Jim Long. 8 Swing Song, The Playmates. 9 'Belle Bird' Jean & Jim Walker. 10 'Baby Bear' Stella Coghlan. 11 'Coo-ee' Myrtle Glanville & Marie Hamilton. 12 Butterfly Dance Sheila Shannon.13 'The Mushroom Affair' Ruthie Murphy & Jim Nabbs. 14 'Corroboree' by the Aboriginals. 15 'The Boomerang' Ken McQuie. 16 Chorus-Wattle. 17 'In Two's & Three's' Brownies & Goblins. 18 'Bull Frog & Coon Stella Cook & Sid Whitelaw. 19 In a Fairy Boat' Rose Murphy. 20 Chorus-'Good Night'. _God Bless Our Splendid Men_ Cast of Characters: Jean Walker, Myrtle Glanville, Marie Hamilton, Thelma Thomas, Stella Coghlan, Jim Long, Jim Walker, Enid Webster, Lily Brown, Una Grelis, Biddie Bulley, Ellie Colcough, Dorothy Fullerton, Maud Clark, Una Leggo, Sheila Shannon, Ken Skewes, Jack Long, Bruce Barnier, Roger Horbury, Douglas Pain, Tom Henderson, Ruthie Murphy, Jim Nabbs, Tom Green, Douglas McQuie, Mel Wearne, Laurence Skewes, Sid Whitelaw, Ken Moore, Alma Jorgenson, Geoff Schultz, Doris Reed, Nancy Cahill, Hugh Long, Edna Spencer, Don Walker, Jack Schultz, Ken McQuie, Jack Weddell, Berni and Allan Monaghan, Reg Trevean, Stella Cook, Joyce Ross, Margaret Long, Olive Thomas, Margaret Macqie, Rose Murphy, Molly Robertson, Lorna Weddell, Minnie Harley, Jean Moran, Merle Nagel, Decima Hotorf, Myra Greasley, Vera Arundel, Joyce Long, Elma Jordan, Gwen Morley, Emmie Arthur, Lorna Parker, Ziska Ross, Ena Wright, Mary Rymer, Cecil Gleeson, Thelma Cairns, Dorothy Batchelder, Maudie Ferguson, Marion Henderson, Lorna Cattran, Alice Murphy, Essie Whitelaw, Eileen Coghlin, Thelma Ross, Jean Miller, Mavis Tozer, Monnie Fattorini, Vivian Reed, Lily O'Connor, Alice Evans, Jean Barlow (Names of parts were included). Columbine Ballet: Alma Day, Kathleen Smithwick, Margery Greaves, Wilma Martin, Roma Cook, Dot Cravino, Alma Reardon, Jean Cairns.Cambridge Press, Print.program, theatre, royal princess theatre

Sent to an Australian soldier serving in the Middle East in WW2WW2 Canteen Order - Australian Defence Canteens Service Value Five Shillings Issued at Healesville Post Office V108878Sent to VX5414 C. L. Cowley 22nd May 1941. Sent by Mrs E. A. Humphries C/O N. L. Taylor.

Gordon Spittle was the youngest of Three brothers. He grew up in Creswick and attended Creswick Grammar School. Gordon purchased 'Mt Cavern' in 1912. It had 4 years of a 10 year lease to run. His mother and father took delivery of it on 1 April 1916. They lived there and farmed it until Gordon returned from active service in May 1919. S. Gordon Spittle married Violet Holmes and both lived at "Mt Cavern" until their deaths. Gordon died in 1942 aged 51. Violet Holmes-Spittle died in 1949 aged 56. Handwritten lower front 'Do we look down hearted?' Handwritten verso 'Egypt, March 23rd 1916. Dear Mrs Troup. Your very fine and interesting letter dated Feb 15th came to hand to-day and needless to add was delighted to receive it, and can promise you that I'll answer it at my earliest opportunity. We are now having a better time since we came to this part, as we are able to enjoy a little of city life, although we have a good deal more work to do, & which is mostly carting goods to & from the ships & railway stations etc, all of which is interesting & quite a change from our life on the Desert. Hope this card finds you in good health. I will now have to say au revoir for the present with kindest regards to Mr Troup, self and family. From your very sincere friends, A. Gordon Spittle."Two uniformed Australian soldiers pose for a photograph during World War One.chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, spittle, gordon spittle

Back Row: Bob Clark, Jessie Clark, Mrs Sherwell, Major ? , Mavis Vince, Ken Barnet Front Row: Florence Vince, May Clark, Avis Reeve, Kath ReeveThree Men and Eight Women in Slavation Army in two rows front row seatedJ. Richards Stawell Eileen W.J. Chapman Photo Artist Stawell

Group of sixteen Salvation Army Troup No 64 c 1920s. Year on the bottom of photo has changed to 1927. 1926 on another copy of same photo. Front Row Avis Reeve, Margaret Banfield, Mrs. Chandler, Ensign, Mrs. Beck, Mr. Edwards, Glad Lee, Amy Clark 2nd Row Pearl Reeve, May Clark, Joyce Reeve, Lily Banfield Back Row Florence Vince, ? Cornwall, Jessie Clark Sepia photograph of a group of sixteen people in uniform. A banner with Stawell Troup No. 64 is held by 2 people seated in the middle of the group.Stawell Troup No 64 Stawell Troup, 1927 (but this year has been changed) or 1926 on copy. Stamped on back W.J. Chapman Photostawell religion

Salvation Army Corps Cadet Brigade Group 1927. Females in the group are wearing hats and those seated are holding tambourines. Stawell Corps Cadet Brigade Back Row, Mavis Vince, May Clark, Charlie Carter, Ruth Parry, Joyce Reeve, Kath Reeve. Centre Row, Margaret Frazer, Amy Clark, Adj. & Mrs. Barnes, Eunice Perry, (Mrs. Colonel Wright), Mabel Mackay. Front Row, Don. Reeve, Pearl Reeve, Robert Clark. Photograph of a group of Salvation Army band people with musical instruments. All females have hats on and those seated are holding tambourines. stawell religion

Salvation Army Barracks Main Street Stawell. Weatherboard building part roof corrugated iron - remainder wooden shingles. Picket fence in foreground. Large group of people standing and seated on the footpath. The original Salvation Army Barracks is now at the rear of the present Citadel a red brick building. Stawell Corps was opened in the year 1884 in the month of May. The first meeting was conducted in a Church but afterwards the old market (area present Library) was secured for meetings. Captain Furbur and Lieutenant Quick were the first officers appointed. Photograph of a weatherboard building with a group of people standing and sitting in front of a picket fence. Part of the roof of the building is corrugated iron - remainder wooden shingles. The group of people standing and seated on the footpath, are a mixture of adults and children, some in uniforms, women in long dresses. Salvation army Barracks above the building door. Written in handwriting Stawell Barracks Mrs. R.J. Reeve.stawell religion

No 1: Matron Eagleton with Nursing Staff, Ballarat & District Hospital. Priscilla Wardle, far right - trainee nurse 1905-1908. No 2: This could be a group of trainee nurses at Ballarat Hospital. Circa 1906/1907. The nurses with the grey looking sleeves in this black and white photograph may be wearing the lilac uniform of Trainee nurses. The sitting nurse on the far right may already be qualified because she appears to be wearing the white of a trained nurse. Sitting in the middle with the cheeky grin could be Priscilla and the standing nurse on the far left could be Edith Popplewell. No 3: This photograph is labelled 1907 and Priscilla would have just commenced her training. She appears to be “fanning” a female patient presumably to cool her down. This could be upstairs in the Queen Victoria’s Women’s Ward. Priscilla graduated as a nurse in 1908. In this photograph Priscilla was at age 23 years. No 5: Sheila Kelly (left) and Priscilla Wardle. This photograph is labelled 1909 and shows Priscilla in an all white uniform indicating she has qualified as a nurse. Sheila Kelly appears to have darker sleeves/blouse (lilac) and may still be a trainee. No 6: There is a very good chance that this photograph is Edith Popplewell, standing left, Lily MacKenzie , standing on the right and Priscilla seated. Writing in her album is very hard to read but it appears to be “Pop McK & I”. The arm bands with the St John Cross denote they are “charge nurses” maybe in charge of a ward. Taking all this into account the photograph could be circa 1909/1910. No 8 & 9: Priscilla painting what appears to be a gate while wearing her nurse uniform. She has a big grin on her face. Together with Lily MacKenzie they were the principals in the Mount Stuart Private Hospital at 18 Duke Street. Daylesford. This property is now known as Mount Stuart House. Priscilla appears to be on Central Spring Road with the Daylesford Post Office in the background. Photograph 9 is labelled 1914 which would make it near the end of their tenancy between 1911 and 1914. No 10: This photograph raises some questions. Priscilla appears to have darker sleeves /blouse (lilac) which may indicate she is still a trainee however Priscilla is also wearing a “charge nurse” arm band. While my research shows trainee nurses can be a “charge nurse” this is not common practise. The scene appears to be at the door of a house/home. I am not sure if the children’s ward/orphanage at the Ballarat Hospital at this time was in such a building. It could be that it is at the Mount Stuart Hospital but this would mean Priscilla and Lily have duplicated the wearing of the “charge nurse” arm band. The St John’s logo looks different too. Priscilla Isabel “Pearl” Wardle (1884-1967). The armband indicates Priscilla is a Charge Nurse at the Ballarat Hospital. Nothing else known. No 11: Mary & I at Mount Stuart – House Daylesford – This is probably the nursery at the Mount Stuart House Private Hospital being run by Priscilla Isabel “Pearl” Wardle (1884 – 1967) and Selina Lily (Lil) MacKenzie or McKenzie (1882 – 1975) between 1910 and 1914. Mary is certainly Mary Young MacKenzie or McKenzie (1865- 1942) Lily’s stepsister who trained at Ballarat Hospital as “Mary Young “at the same time as Priscilla and Lily. Mount Stuart House still stands at 18 Duke Street Daylesford. Photo date 1912. No 12: Priscilla wearing her distinctive Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve cape and badge. Possibly while nursing in London for a month in 1919 after the war. No 12A: Priscilla Wardle - WW1 Diary, OCR enabled. No 13: Priscilla and friends at No. 7 General Hospital, Malassises, Saint Omer, France in July 1915 The old monastery being used as a hospital can be seen in the background. The tents are the nurses quarters. This photograph may have been taken at the same time as the group photograph on page 250 of the diary transcription. Priscilla is thought to be the nurse at the centre in the QAIMNSR uniform. The nurses quarters at the No 7 General Hospital in Saint Omer in France where Priscilla worked for most of the first year of her Diary. Their Monastery (Hospital) at Malassises can be seen in the background. No 15: Priscilla is an Acting Sister working at the 2nd General Hospital for Officers in Havre, France, between March and July 1918. The nurses were enjoying their “tea party”. (see also page 253 of the Diary transcription) No 17: Priscilla at Havre - at 2nd General Hospital (Officers Hospital) in Havre., France Friday 29 March 1918 to Monday 29 July 1918 note the two dark bands on her right sleeve denoting that she is an “Acting Sister”. Priscilla is 34 years of age in this picture and in the three weeks prior to this posting she met Cyril Terence Charles Kirby (1892-1968) her future husband at the 42nd Stationary Hospital in Flixecourt while he was serving with the British Army during the battle and evacuation of Amiens. No 18: Priscilla Wardle at No 8 Stationary Hospital Wimereux, France - from Saturday 24 June 1916 to Tuesday 18 September 1917, Priscilla worked at this hospital for 15 months her longest time in one hospital. during the war. While at Wimereux on Sunday 1 July 1917 she was appointed an Acting Sister. Priscilla once said she disliked nursing in her cape and badges and here she is in her favourite “uniform” for work “the robe” as she called it. She may be leaving the “operating theatre” at Wimereux in this photograph. No 19: Priscilla worked in various operating theatres throughout France. This could be after she became an anaesthetist in 1918 and worked with this team. She is wearing her favourite uniform which is more comfortable. She did not like the collars and capes that were required to be worn. No 20: Priscilla and Sister Michael Meeke? (details not found) are having a quiet drink at the 2nd General Hospital for Officers in Havre, France. Note the dark bands on their sleeves denote their rank as nursing “Sisters”. While it looks like they are smoking look more closely they are in fact holding a “flute” style probably “cocktail” glass. Tea parties and cocktails, Havre could almost have been fun. No 22: 1913 – Ballarat nurse Priscilla Isabell “Pearl” Wardle (1884-1967) in Cannes on the French Riviera during leave from between Friday 20 February 1918 and Friday 6 March 1918.Priscilla is second from the left wearing her distinctive QAIMNSR cape of grey with dark “wine” coloured border. The other nurses are wearing their “travelling” army uniform. They were rudely called “Salvation Army Lassies” by American nurses for the way they were dressed. (see page 232 of Priscilla’s War Diary) The description of 1913 on this photograph is confusing. No 23: Priscilla with her best friend Edith Victoria Donaldson somewhere in the “mysterious far east” on their trip on the Orontes. Priscilla is second from left - this may have been taken at Durban during Priscilla's return to Australia in 1919. No 25: Priscilla Wardle, Ballarat nurse in her Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (QAIMNSR) uniform. Notice the distinctive grey cape with “wine coloured” border Priscilla is also wearing her QAIMNSR qualification badge (medal) on the right side. Because she has no dark (wine coloured) bands on her sleeves so this photograph may be before 1 July 1918. No 26: Priscilla met her husband to be English army Lieutenant Cyril Terrence Charles Kirby during the battle and subsequent evacuation of Amiens in France. As an army nursing “Sister” Priscilla also held the rank of Lieutenant. Priscilla was stationed at the 42nd Stationary Hospital between 7/3/18 and 23/3/18. She had just completed a fortnight break at Cannes on the French Riviera. They were married at Priscilla’s home “Waverley" at 215 Dawson Street Ballarat on Saturday 15 November 1919. Nov 15, 1919 – Mr and Mrs Kirby. The bride Priscilla Isabell “Pearl” Kirby (nee Wardle) (1884-1967) and the groom Cyril Terence Charles Kirby (1892– 1968) on their wedding day. Priscilla was 34 years of age and Cyril 27 years of age however their marriage certificate states that they were both 34 years of age. Their marriage certificate states they were married at Waverley, Dawson St, South, Ballarat in a Presbyterian service conducted by the Rev. John Walker, a Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Moderator General of the Church we think for Victoria. Was it in an outdoor setting as the surrounds in this photograph seem to indicate. Their witnesses were Robert and Olive, Priscilla’s brother and sister. Cyril signed as C. Terence. C. Kirby and Priscila signed as Priscilla I. Wardle. The certificate lists Cyril (Terence) as a Bachelor, Born at sea on a British ship and his occupation as Sailor. His father interestingly is listed as Charles John Kirby, of independent means and his mother as Emily Newman. Priscilla is listed as a Spinster, born in Ballarat with occupation as a Nurse. Her father is listed as Henry Thomas Wardle, Timber Merchant and her mother as Isabella Allan. They are both resident at 215 Dawson St. Ballarat which was Waverley the Wardle family home. No 28: Reverse in Poppy’s handwriting: “Lovingly yours Poppy, Dec 1908” Taken the year after Poppy qualified at BBH. No 29: Reverse in Poppy’s handwriting: “With much love to you Cilla, Poppy 1915” This picture was taken in the same year as the Marquette sinking incident. Edith Catheina Popplewell RRC (1884-1972) in her New Zealand Army Nursing Service (NZANS) Uniform. Poppy is at age 29 years in this photograph. Poppy was awarded the Royal Red Cross (RRC) medal for her heroism during the sinking of the Marquette transport ship. She lost her best friend NZ nurse Lorna Ratray. No 30: Taken in Cairo. Poppy is in the centre and wearing her New Zealand army badge and cape. The two nurses on either side are Australian nurses probably wearing their unique silver Australian Army sunrise badge and cape. No 31: Reverse in Poppy’s handwriting: “Ward 7 on Xmas day 1917, with my love, Poppy, A Happy New Year to you – had the sweetest letter from Bobbie”. (Bobbie is Priscilla’s brother Robert). It is thought the nurse in the centre of the three on the left is Poppy. It is 1917 two years after the Marquette sinking. Poppy appears to be a “sister” note the two dark bands on her sleeve. The uniform also matches that of Poppy 2. This photograph is in Post Card form very common during WWI. Edith Popplewell RRC is the “Sister” in the middle of the group of three nurses on the left. She is a sister not a general nurse because of the two bands on her left wrist denoting her rank. She was in fact the Charge Nurse ( in charge) of Ward 7 at this time. Note the Christmas decorations. Poppy is at age 33 years of age in this photograph.Bobbie is Priscilla’s brother Robert Norman “Bobbie” Wardle (1895-1979). No 32: Lilly MacKenzie & Poppy – Otaki - Australian nurse Selina Lily (Lil) MacKenzie sometimes McKenzie (1882– 975) grew up and trained as a nurse in Ballarat Victoria. After completing her training Lily and Priscilla Isabell “Pearl” Wardle (1884 – 1967) conducted the Mount Stuart House Private Hospital in Daylesford Victoria. In late 1913 Lily travelled to Otaki, 32 kms north of Wellington in New Zealand and worked at the Otaki Cottage Hospital with close friend Edith Catheina Popplewell “Poppy” (1884-1976) who also grew up and trained as a nurse at the Ballarat Hospital. In 1914 Lily was matron of a private hospital in Taihape 150kms north of Wellington. Both Lily and Poppy volunteered for New Zealand but as New Zealand were not accepting Australian trained nurses she returned to Australia and enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) in October 1915. Lily went on to serve in Egypt, England, France and Italy where she was awarded the Royal Red Cross (RRC) medal for her service. This photograph is while Lily and Poppy were working at Otaki Cottage Hospital in New Zealand. Circa 1914. trainee, charge sister, ballarat, hospital, 1905, 1908, ww1, mount stuart house, sleeman, wardle, popplewell, mackenzie, military, queen alexandra's imperial military nursing service reserve, daylesford, nurses, private hospital, edith popplewell, france, cairo, diary, ww1 diary, havre, lily mackenzie, eagleton, matron, otaki, new zealand, donaldson, malassises, kelly, young, kirby, priscilla