This round, bronze memorial plaque was presented to the family of Private Richard Evans Harkness, service number 3426, of the 37th Battalion, (8th Reinforcements) who was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux on 12th August, 1918. Colloquially known as 'Dead Man's Penny' or 'King's Penny', this plaque was given to the next of kin of service personnel who died on active service in WW1. 1914-1918 Memorial Plaque In early 1920 it was announced that the next-of-kin of all Australian servicemen and women whose deaths were attributable to the First World War would receive a memorial plaque and scroll "as a solace for bereavement and as a memento". The memorial plaques were not uniquely Australian. In fact they were designed and produced in Britain and issued to commemorate all those who died as a result of war service from within the British Commonwealth. The idea for the plaques was originally conceived mid-way through the war. In 1917 a competition was announced to obtain a suitable design and 800 entries were eventually received. The winner, Mr. E. Carter Preston of Liverpool, England, was chosen in 1918. He was awarded a prize of 250 pounds. Mr Manning Pike directed the manufacture of the memorial plaques at the Memorial Plaque Factory set up at Acton, London. Some later plaques were also made at the Woolwich Arsenal. The cost of manufacturing so many plaques must have been considerable. Each plaque had the name of the soldier commemorated individually embossed (some were engraved) as part of the design. The full name was given without any indication of rank or honours to show the equality of sacrifice of all those who had lost their lives. The scroll designed to accompany the plaques was of thick paper, headed by the royal coat-of-arms, and bore the following message: "He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those that come after see that his name is not forgotten". Underneath the message the serviceman or woman’s name, rank, honours and unit were written by hand in red ink. Because of the late arrival in Australia of the plaques many scrolls were sent out separately. A message from the King, "I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War", was included with the scroll. The first plaques were distributed in Australia in 1922. Each plaque was sent out from Base Records Office at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne by second-class mail. Approximately 60,000 plaques were issued in Australia. Families of deceased members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army Nursing Service also received plaques and scrolls This plaque is significant because it commemorates the death of an Australian soldier on active service in World War 1. It is representative of some 60,000 issued to next of kin of soldiers killed in World War 1. Although Richard Harness was living at 52 Victoria Street, Abbotsford when enlisted, together with a scroll from the King, it was donated by a Frankston Family.This round, bronze memorial plaque was presented to the family of Australian Army private Richard Evans Harkness, service number 03426, of the 37th battalion, 8th re-inforcement. Harkness was killed in action on 12th August, 1918, near the French village of Proyart, during the 3rd Division's advance along the Somme Valley. further details can be found here: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51477 Colloquially known as 'Dead Man's Penny' or 'King's Penny', these plaques were awarded to the next of kin of service personnel who died on active service during WW1. refer to link for further information : http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/memorial_scroll/plaque.aspAround the edge are the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' On the righthand side of the plaque is the name of the soldier, in this case Richard Evans Harkness.commemorative, memorial, plaque, dead, man s, penny, king s, richard, evans, harkness

Standard issue United States M1 pattern steel helmet, olive drab in colou, stretch cotton cargo type net, with fibreglass liner. On the inside of a strap in the liner '8415-153-6671' is printed in black ink. This number would appear to be the "Federal Stock Number (FSN)" which was used 1949 to 1975 when ti was replaced by "National Stock Number (NSN)' by additional of 00 after the first 4 numbers. this would indicate that it was made in USA. The chin strap and liner are both complete and fully operable. These helmets were first issued in 1941 to the United States Armed Forces. They were adopted after the Korean War by the Australian Defence Force. In the 1990s they were replaced by the Kevlar based Personnel Armour System-Ground Troop (PASGT) type helmet. However, as evidenced by this helmet, some M1 Steel helmets were not replaced in-service by the PASGT helmet and survived into the early 21st Century. Used by Royal Australian Army in Vietnam in areas where mines were significnat, such as Long Hai's mountains (together with US flak jackets), and also by Royal Australain Navy.An example of an Australian Army issue M1 steel battle helmet complete with fibreglass liner. This helmet type was issued to Australian defence personnel during the Vietnam conflict. The inner line has a transfer on the front " Australian Military Forces" with rising sun badge. The steel outer has an olive green elastic cover (similiar to cargo net) to hold camouflage material. The M1 is two "one-size-fits-all" helmets: an outer shell made of metal and a hard hat-type liner that is nestled inside the shell and contains the suspension system that would be adjusted to fit the wearer's head. Helmet covers and netting would be applied by covering the steel shell with the extra material tucked inside the shell and secured by inserting the liner. The helmet is 7 inches in height, width is 9.5 inches and length is 11 inches. The weight of a World War II era M1 is approximately 2.85 pounds including the liner and chinstrap. (From Wikipepedia) the inner line has a transfer on the front " Australian Military Forces" with rising sun badge.steel helmet

1914-1918 Memorial Plaque In early 1920 it was announced that the next-of-kin of all Australian servicemen and women whose deaths were attributable to the First World War would receive a memorial plaque and scroll "as a solace for bereavement and as a memento". The memorial plaques were not uniquely Australian. In fact they were designed and produced in Britain and issued to commemorate all those who died as a result of war service from within the British Commonwealth. The idea for the plaques was originally conceived mid-way through the war. In 1917 a competition was announced to obtain a suitable design and 800 entries were eventually received. The winner, Mr. E. Carter Preston of Liverpool, England, was chosen in 1918. He was awarded a prize of 250 pounds. Mr Manning Pike directed the manufacture of the memorial plaques at the Memorial Plaque Factory set up at Acton, London. Some later plaques were also made at the Woolwich Arsenal. The cost of manufacturing so many plaques must have been considerable. Each plaque had the name of the soldier commemorated individually embossed (some were engraved) as part of the design. The full name was given without any indication of rank or honours to show the equality of sacrifice of all those who had lost their lives. The scroll designed to accompany the plaques was of thick paper, headed by the royal coat-of-arms, and bore the following message: "He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those that come after see that his name is not forgotten". Underneath the message the serviceman or woman’s name, rank, honours and unit were written by hand in red ink. Because of the late arrival in Australia of the plaques many scrolls were sent out separately. A message from the King, "I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War", was included with the scroll. The first plaques were distributed in Australia in 1922. Each plaque was sent out from Base Records Office at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne by second-class mail. Approximately 60,000 plaques were issued in Australia. Families of deceased members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army Nursing Service also received plaques and scrolls First World War Memorial Plaque, bronze, in recognition of Private Sydney Frederick TURNER, from C Company, 9 Battalion who was KIA at Pozieres on 25 July, 1916. it is housed in a wooden surround with pattern embossed in the margins with a liking of the rising sun at the top. He is recorded on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial and is listed with an Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau File, a copy of which is attached.Embossed around the edge of the plaque "HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOVR". The name of the serviceman is embossed on the plaque, right of centre, SYDNEY FREDERICK TURNER