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

Australia Post 4 x 45c Stamp Pack issued 1995 Contents are a collection of 4 stamps showing people who made a valuable contribution and service. This pack includes : Sir Edward " Weary" Dunlop (1907-1993) AC, CMG, mentioned for Medical Treatment rendered to World War 2 prisoners of War. Jessie Vasey (1897-1966) CBE awarded for founding and service to The War Widows Guild. John "Diver" Derrick (1914-1945) VC, mentioned for his being awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in New Guinea during World War 2. Rawdon "RON" Middleton (1916-1942) VC mentioned for his service during World War 2 RAAF The Stamp Pack consists of 4 pages : front page Australia Remembers 1945 with picture of V.C.Mostly black and White with Orange and Red. Second page Australia Remembers 1945 with details of stamps light brown back ground Third page 4 stamps with details of personnel light blue background. Last page small advertisements Orange back ground.australia post 4 x 45 cent stamp pack "australia remembers" 1994

Set of four DL size pamphlets giving details of specific areas of the Ballarat Botanic Gardens, published by the Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and the POW Memorial Trustees. .1 - The Prime Ministers' at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - giving details of the Prime Ministers busts and their short history, the sculptors, the history of the avenue. .2 - Statues of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - 4 fold DL - includes a list and a map of the various statues and conservation issues. .3 - Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - 2 fold DL - information and membership application form along with contact information. .4- The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial - 3 fold DL - giving details of the war memorial and contact information.trams, tramways, gardens, botanical gardens, prime ministers avenue, statues, ex prisoner of war memorial

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.Enamel medallion in red, white and blue featuring three circes (blue outer, white inner and red centre) with text and a eagle motif; medallion attached via a ring to a bar shaped badge in similar enamel style with pin for attachment to garments on the reverse. Bar shaped badge: “PAST-PRESIDENT” Medallion: “1939-1945/ RAAF EUROPE”uniforms, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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.uniforms, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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.Brass coloured lapel pin with motif on one end: a lit torch surrounded by a wreath. Pin appears to be soldered on to the cast motif backing to form lapel.uniforms, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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.Diamond shaped medallion hangs at the end of a red, white, and blue coloured lanyard. The medallion has a smaller red diamond at the centre with the MCC logo (Melbourne Cricket Club). The perimeter of the bottom half of the medallion has writing on either side of a smaller blue diamond, which forms the bottom point of the medallion - "MELBOURNE" on the left side and "CRICKET CLUB" on the right.Front of medallion: "MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB" Back of medallion: "PERFECTION BADGES" / "(03) 417 1220"souvenirs, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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 an unknown location 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.Star shaped silver medallion attached to a blue, navy and red ribbon with one badge attached. The badge is silver and depicts an anchor, rope, rifle and eagle. The medallion features a triangular silver section with blue enamel and reads: "Award of Merit". This loops onto a large silver star with a crown sitting above the centre star point. Withing the star is an enamel decoration of a blue circle with the text: "Corps of Commissionaries" and three small stars. Within this blue circe is a lighter blue shield depicting the southern cross.Engravings on the back of the Medallion read: "1197" "H.F. Bethune" "10.3.71" Also a faint hallmark including the letter Mballarat, ballarat rsl, medals, australian service medal

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.medals, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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.medals, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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.medals, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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.medals, ballarat rsl, ballarat

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.medals, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Ian Ernest STADUS. He was born on 09/11/1922 in Dimboola, VIC. Ian Ernest served in the RAN Reserve (PM3734) enlisting on, 15/10/1941 before being discharged from duties with the HMAS Lonsdale on 21/02/1946. Ian Ernest STADUS was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is Bessie Agnes STADUS (mother). Ian Ernest Stadus was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Australian Service Medal 1945-1975, Defence Medal, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945.first world war (ww1), 1914 - 1918, medals, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Gordon Powell STEWART. He was born on 29/12/1900 in Buninyong, VIC. Gordon Powell served in the Army (VX61776) enlisting on, 20/08/1941 in Buninyong, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 13 AUST GEN HOSP as a RAAF Non-Commissioned Corporal (CPL) on 30/11/1945. Gordon Powell STEWART was a prisoner of war. His next of kin is William STEWART. Gordon Stewart was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Australia Service Medal 1939-1946, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945.photo/pictures, ballarat rsl, ballarat