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Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS 38th BN, Post 2008
Both photos are Charles Barkell No 811 C Coy 38th Bn AIF. Enlisted 29.2.1916 age 21 years 11 months, embarked for England 20.6.1916, hospital at sea with Chill, embark for France 22.11.1916, hospital 7.1.1917 with Mumps, rejoin unit 30.1.1917, made L/Cpl 4.6.1917, Cpl 7.10.1917, WIA 19.5.1918 SW shoulder contusion severe, rejoin unit 4.9.1918, RTA 27.5.1919, discharged from the AIF 4.9.1919.Photos sepia tone rectangular shape, same soldier in uniform, studio background. .1) Soldier standing hands behind his back. .2) Soldier sitting astride a small table, Cpl stripes on arm.photographs, 38th bn, c coy -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Uniform - Shirt, US Army fatigue
Typical United States Army issue fatigue shirt worn by soldiers in the Vietnam War. this item was collected by National Serviceman R A Laing, Royal Australian Corps of Signals, 110 Signal Squadron, Vietnam 1969.A green United States Army issue fatigue shirt with four pockets on the front. Pockets have slanted flaps. Shirt is fastened by 5 plastic buttons. United States cotton badges on the left side of the shirt and on the top of the left sleeve. One is Airborne. The soldier's name is above the pocket on the right shirt front. On the right side of the shirt above the pocket appears the word "SPEIGHTS". Above the left side pocket appears 3 cloth badges. One says US Army. On the front left side pocket is a material badge of a winged torch with flames.united states army, fatigue shirt, u s uniform, laing -
Bendigo Military Museum
Memorabilia - PHOTOGRAPHS, 1954
All photos relate to Francis William (Dinky) Dean BEM, VX 93960 2nd AIF, 3742 1 RAR 1943 - 1975. Refer Cat No 124.2 for his service history. Frank Dean is in all 4 photos.(.1) Photo, B & W showing 4 soldiers in a Jeep. (.2) Photo, B & W showing a soldier standing beside a sign . (.3) Photo, B &W showing 2 soldiers at a kitchen mess. (.4) Photo, B & W showing 5 soldiers sitting under a small tree.(.4) On rear in black pen. “John Peters, B Coy, Martin Winterburn HQ Coy, Self D Coy, Don Nurcombe C Coy and Stevo SP Coy, A Ech Korea 1954” Ech, (Echelon)photography, military, korea -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Booklet - Digger Cookery Book, George Robert Riley, Brennan-Baldie Collection, c1948
Published in c1948 by Wightons Print, 215 Moreland Road, Coburg. These chapbooks were sold door to door after WWII by members of the Partially Blinded Soldiers Association in Victoria to fundraise for the association. The Association was established in 1924 to serve the interests and welfare of partially blinded returned soldiers. The author, George Robert Riley (late AIF and AMF) was born in Drouin in 1890; died in 1952. He trained as a compositor. Served in France and was partially blinded during WWI. He also enlisted during WW2 when he seems to have lowered his age. There do not appear to be many copies of this publication that have survived. It does not appear in either the State Library of Victoria or the National Library of Australia catalogue. The Museum of Victoria may have a copy. Apart from its significance as a fundraiser for returned soldiers, it documents culinary fashions in the post-WW2 period. Although a number of the recipes in Part 1 have exotic names, they are yet to be influenced by post-war migration to Australia.A 32 page booklet held by 2 metal staples. The paper is stained and embrittled but was probably originally cream. The cover depicts a soldier at rest under a palm tree dreaming of home and a hearty meal. Printed in shades of green and grey-black. This is Part One of Two. The chapbook contains 140 recipes, mostly broadly Anglo-European. Nilchapbooks, ww2, wightons print, mrs kate brennan, partially blind soldiers association, george robert riley -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOK, BIOGRAPHY, BOER WAR & GREAT WAR, Paula ASTRIDGE, "BECAUSE OUR FATHERS LIED"
"BECAUSE OUR FATHERS LIED" "FROM BOER/ TO WORLD WAR:/ AUSTRALIA'S/ BAPTISM BY FIRE". "Australian soldiers sent needlessly to their death during the Boer and Great War"Soft cover - cardboard, white and red print on front, spine and back. Black background, illustrated black and white photograph, view through an arched window of a graveyard, soldier in uniform, church and buildings in background - on front. "Book Illustration "Monochrome black and red colour indistinct archway with poppies. 292 pages, cut, plain, white, No illustrations. Signature on Title Page.Title page - handwritten in blue ink "Paula Astridge"books, military history, boer war, ww1, biography -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS WW1, 2) 29/08/1916
.1) Is re Evan. EVANS No. 3114 in 6th Batt. 10th Reinforcements then transferred to 1st Pioneers. .2) "To Joe & Linne from cousin Leslie 3rd/38th Batt." .10) Letter is to Joe & Linne from apparently "Jim" .1) Re Evans. There is an Evan Owens No 3114 enlisted in 10th reinforcements 6th Batt AIF on 10.7.1915 age 21 years. Em bark for Egypt 29.9.1915, transfer to 1st Pioneer Batt 12.3.1916, embark for France 2.3.1916, WIA 22/27 .7.1916 GSW head, rejoin unit 16.10.1916, discharged from the AIF 3.8.1919. .2) Re Leslie. This possibly Albert Leslie Owens (brother to Evan) No 953, enlisted in the AIF in C Coy 38th Batt on 21.2.1916 age 24 years. Embark for England 20.6.1916, hospital with Measles 18.8.1916, embark for France 22.11.1916, detached to 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery, WIA 6.5.1917 GSW to face and left eye, while recovering he was admitted to hospital 13.8.1917 with Retinitis (eye), returned to Australia and discharged medically unfit 5.2.1918..1) Photo, sepia colour showing large group of soldiers (46) seated on a hill side. A small dog in the front row. .2) Postcard photo of soldier in pith helmet beside palm tress, B&W. .3) Postcard photo of soldier standing with crop, B&W. .4) Postcard photo of soldier standing with officers cane, B&W. .5) Postcard photo of soldier standing with riding crop, B&W. .6) Postcard photo of 11 soldiers outside a hut, B&W. .7) Photo postcard of soldier with "Red Cross" on arm, B&W. .8) Photo postcard of soldier, portrait, B&W. .9) Photo, postcard of group of soldiers (10) outside tents, B&W. .10) Photo, postcard of soldier standing outside building holding a crop, B&W. Letter written on the back in ink, B&W.photography-photographs, military history - army -
Ringwood RSL Sub-Branch
Photo Album, Capt. A. Greig, C. WW1
Captures a soldeirs experiences in Egypt including rare photos of the everyday life and experiences of a soldier.Possibly a rare collection of a WW1 soldiers experiences captured in photographsBound album with cardboard front and back covered in aqua fabric. Greek scroll decoration on bottom, KODAK gold lettering, frontleft. 11 pages plus one cut in half. Each pages contain four photo pockets with black and white photos. Each photo has handwritten description on bottom of pocket. Photos depict Mena Camp, Egypt.1914 /1915, warships in Mudrus harbour, hospital ship and photos of soldiers with local people. Photos missing.Each photo inscribed below image with information about location. Top Right inside cover Donated by R.F. Ormaton, Box Hill. Photos belong to Capt. A. Greig Dec. 1988. Also written top left ‘J. Crowley / 105 Ocean Street/ Rosebud/ (059) 861246world war 1, ww1 -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS WW1, 1917 - 1919
.1) James Worland MILLS; .2) & .3) James Worland MILLS 1st on L; .4) James Worland MILLS 2nd on L front row; .6) James Worland MILLS on R in rickshaw. James Worland MILLS No 3441 59th Battalion. Refer Cat No 169P for his service details..1) Photo, sepia, showing a soldier in uniform standing outside a tent. .2) Photo, sepia, showing 5 soldiers, 4 standing, 1 kneeling. .3) Photo, black / white, showing 6 soldiers standing in a wood. .4) Photo, sepia, showing a soldier sitting with 3 stripes on arm & no hat. .5) Photo, sepia, showing 8 soldiers on deck of a ship. .6) Port card photo, black / white, showing 8 soldiers standing with a native & a rickshaw. Average size listed..6) On rear in black pen: “Taken at Durham 11.8.17 while on leave from Troopship A16 Port Melbourne”photographs, 59th -
Ithacan Historical Society
Print, Harbour of Vathi, 1821
The print, a reproduction of an etching of the port of Vathi in Ithaca as it would have appeared in the nineteenth century, when the island was a British protectorate. A variety of sea vessels are depicted in the print, including the large sailing ship. The smaller boat could be a caique used for fishing or transporting people and goods between the islands. The soldiers appear to be in the British uniform worn during the 1800s.A reproduction print of a black and white etching of a harbour scene. Four larger sailing ships are in a bay with a smaller craft in the foreground near the shore. At the water's edge there are soldiers and other people looking out to the ships in the harbour. Mountains loom up in the background. -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOK, SOLDIERS PAY, Australian Army, 1939- 1945
The NR V122126 implies he was a CMF soldier not AIF. He enlisted 16/9/41 - embarked 10/3/43. The last pay issue was on 27/2/45. His NOK, Mother, lived in Shelbourne via Maldon.This booklet has a brown buckram cover. It is a pay book NR 468363. It is for V122126, "Douglas Arthur Edward". On front cover, the printing is in black ink. The crest of Australia is in the centre, flanked by the words "Australia - Military Forces". Thgere are 24 pages of soldiers details - pays - non and a twin Black and white photo.Front cover is stamped "Cancelled - Discharged"ww2, aust army -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
... soldiers ...Taken during World War I on the Western Front, this photograph depicts four soldiers dressed in full uniform and kit walking through muddy trenches on wooden duckboards.On the Western Front, the war was fought by soldiers in trenches. Trenches were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground where soldiers lived. They were very muddy, uncomfortable and the toilets overflowed. These conditions caused some soldiers to develop medical problems such as trench foot. There were many lines of German trenches on one side and many lines of Allied trenches on the other. In the middle was no man's land, which soldiers crossed to attack the other side. 'Duckboards' (or 'trench gratings') were first used at Ploegsteert Wood, Ypres in December 1914. They were used throughout the First World War being usually placed at the bottom of the trenches to cover the sump-pits, the drainage holes which were made at intervals along one side of the trench. This made it easier to pump out the pits when necessary. The raised edges of the boards in theory helped protect men's feet from accumulated water; walking along them (especially at night and in the wet) was something of an art as it was easy to lose one's footing and slip or trip on the fequently misaligned sections.Sepia rectangular reproduced photograph on matte photographic paperReverse: 6528/ (A copyright and reproduction notice from the Australian War Museum, printed in blue ink)/burke museum, military album, trench warfare, duckboards, soldiers, ww1, wwi, world war 1, world war i, western front -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Photograph - Returning Home after WWI aboard HMAT Port Sydney, Victor Cycril Smith, c 1919
... soldiers ...Photos taken by Victor Cycril Smith on his journey home after serving overseas in World War 1. Victor embarked on the HMAT Port Sydney in England on 22 September 1919. The vessel carried 1,307 men. The first home port was Fremantle where 170 disembarked before continuing the trip stopping at Adelaide where 101 soldiers disembarked. The next port was Melbourne and arrived in Melbourne On 12 November 1919, the ship arrived in Melbourne where 340 Victorians and 35 Tasmanians disembarked. They were motored through the city by the Royal Automobile Club and were greeted in the usual hearty fashion, crowds of men, women and children congregated at various points along the way to shout and cheer and wave flags in welcome. The soldiers from New South Wales, 430 and Queensland, 515 boarded special trains to take them home.Victor Cycril Smith was the son of a pioneering family in the Shire of Moorabbin. Six black and white photographs taken on board HMAT Port Sydneywwi, hmat port sydney, soldiers, victor cycril smith, moorabbin, world war one, bentleigh -
Melbourne Legacy
Photograph - Photo, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, 1919
... soldiers ...A large photo of soldiers from the first World War. It is almost identical to one in the AWM. From the AWM record it is the 2nd Pioneer Battalion before they returned to Australia. From Wikipedia the 2nd Pioneer Battalion was tasked with digging trenches, labouring, constructing strong points and light railways, and undertaking battlefield clearance, the troops assigned to the pioneers required construction and engineering experience in addition to basic soldiering skills. After the Armistice personnel were repatriated to Australia in drafts as part of the gradual demobilisation of the AIF, the battalion's strength dwindled until finally it was disbanded on 18 May 1919 while in the Charleroi area of Belgium. The men are standing on the steps of the Palais de Justice in Charleroi. The lion is one of a pair made by Antoine-Felix Boure a Belgium sculptor, who was renowned for his portrayal of lions. This pair is called Totor et Tutur. The Palais de Justice was replaced by a new building in the 1960s and the lions now stand in the garden of the Palais de Justice. The soldiers wear different uniforms depending on their rank. This photo is a good example of some of them. Legatee Philip E Potts who was president in 1927-28, was a Captain in the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and is likely to be in this photo. Or the photo belonged to him. Another photo of L/ Potts is labelled Charleroi 1919 and mentions a 2nd Division Concert Party and his war record at NAA says he was assigned to the Concert Party at that time.Legacy was founded by returned soldiers from World War 1, hence some founding legatees may be in this photo.Sepia photo of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on the steps of a building.soldiers, world war one, lion, charleroi, 2nd pioneer battalion, uniforms, philip e potts -
Bendigo Military Museum
Booklet - BOOKLETS PAY AND RECORDS, C 1915 - 1919
WWI Service & Pay Books for John Stanley HOWLETT No. 2676 AIF 59th Battalion. Refer 41 medals, 48.4P photos..1) Soldier's Pay Book, AIF. .2) Soldier's Pay Book, for use on active service. .3) Record of Service Book..1) Pay Book NR 59072 for John Stanley Howlett No 2676 AIF 59th Batt. .2) Active Service Pay Book 59072 59th Batt. 2675 Pte John Stanley Howlett. Attested Aug 15th, 1916. .3) Record of Service Book issued to John Stanley Howlett . Year of birth 1895.documents, military records, military history -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Photograph
A black and white picture on black wood of a medic taking care of an injured soldier while the other two soldiers are waiting to be treated.photograph, 5 rar -
Lakes Entrance Regional Historical Society (operating as Lakes Entrance History Centre & Museum)
Postcard, 1915-17
Sepia toned postcard of unidentified WWI soldier in AIF uniform . Soldier has plain ring on little finger left handworld war 1914-1918, military history -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Candle Holder, 1930s
This is a china candle holder which is a souvenir of Warrnambool with an image on the item of the Warrnambool War Memorial. Czechoslovakia was established as a country in 1918 and began to export china goods in the 1920s and 30s when the label ‘Victoria China’ became well known. The Warrnambool War Memorial at the southern end of Liebig Street was unveiled and dedicated in 1926. It was designed by John King, the Headmaster of the Warrnambool Technical School and erected by the local stonemasons, Wooles and Carpenter. This candle holder is of some interest as an example of the tourist souvenirs that were popular in Warrnambool pre-World War Two. This is a china candle holder with a circular base in brown-orange and white tonings and a fluted edge. The candle holding section is also circular with the same colour tonings and a slightly fluted edge. Inside this are the hardened remains of a candle. The base has a handle attached. On one edge of the base there is a colour image of the Warrnambool War Memorial. The maker’s name at the back has a crown symbol. ‘Soldier’s (sic) Memorial, Warrnambool’ ‘Victoria China, Czechoslovakia’ victoria china czechoslovakia, warrnambool war memorial, history of warrnambool -
Bendigo Military Museum
Badge - BADGE, DEMOBILISED SOLDIERS, Post WW1
Metal badge with blue enamel inserts around the side. Yellow metal crown on centre top.On front: "DEMOBILISED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION" On back Badge No: "428"badge, demobilised, association -
Red Cliffs Military Museum
Handkerchief, Prisoners Of War
A Note with the Handkerchief. A relic of Nakompaton This frame contains a linen handkerchief on which many of the prisoners of war of the Japanese have signes and recorded their unit identityLinen Handkerchief on which many of the Prisoners of War of the Japanese signed and recorded their unit identity.Many signatures of soldiers including "Edward Weary Dunlop" -
Numurkah & District Historical Society
Administrative record - Identification disc
Australian Soldier's identity disc from Vietnam war -
Charlton RSL Sub Branch
Badge - RSL badge
Badge mounted on light coloured timberReturned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen Imperial Australia League -
Charlton RSL Sub Branch
Badge - Australia Imperial League members badge, Small metal members badge with '44" on top for the Australia Imperial League
Small metal members badge for the Australia Imperial LeagueAustralia Imperial League. 44. Returned Sailors and Soldiers. -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, 21/09/1914
... soldiers ...Mounted sepia photograph of 3 soldiers - identified as follows (L to R) R. S. Gregor, T. Gardner, R. Punshon (seated). They are with their rifles and there are tents in the background.Handwritten on paper: T. Gardiner, R. Gregor, V. R. Punshon. Handwritten on back: 21-9-14 with compliments to A. F. Boardman, from R. S. Gregor Expeditonary Force 7th Battalion E Company on the eve of Departure for the Front under Colonel Elliott / R. S. Gregor, T. Gardner, Roy Punshon Stamped on back: Hewitt, Photographer, 92 Regent St. North Richmondgardner, t., gregor, r., punshon, v. r., boardman, a. f., r. s., armed forces, roy, soldiers, gardiner, elliott, - (col.), photographers, hewitt, george evans collection -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph - Sergeant JP Smith 20LH Tocumwal Troop
Sergeant JP Smith was a member of No 1 Troop C Squadron 20th Light Horse Regiment drawn from the farming community of Tocumwal, personifying the strength of citizen soldiering in rural Victorian and Southern NSW in the period following World War One and especially in the years immediately prior to the second World War. Building on the strength and enthusiasm of the Tocumwal Troop other Troops were raised at Finley, Berigan and Jerilderie. The Tocumwal Troop won the coveted Hutton Trophy in 1937 and 1938, defeating crack Troops from other States. The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the Regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon its return in April 1945, the Regiment was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion. It was disbanded following the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse regiment to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of photographs featuring a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria in the period immediately prior to mobilisation for World War 2 (1939-1945).Black and white photograph of Light Horse soldier on horseback. Part of a collection of 20th Light Horse photographs circa 1939.Sgt. J.P. Smith Tocumwal Troop 20th LHRtocumwal, 20th, light horse, smith -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, W C RICE, 1914 -1918
Patriotic Fund Raising days were held in order to raise money and support for the soldiers fighting overseas. In the photograph are L to R: Marion Gilbert; Annie Nixon; Jean Cameron; Hattie Nixon and Grace Cameron' The Australian Red Cross Society (ARCS) was formed just after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, originally as a branch of the British Red Cross. It came into being as a branch of the British Red Cross Society on August 13th 1914 to succour the wounded in the First World War.This is a contemporary record of a significant event in Orbost. It reflects the involvement of Orbost, a small town, in the efforts of the Australian Red Cross Society to provide comforts to soldiers during World war 1.A black / white photograph / postcard of four ladies and one little girl dressed in Red Cross outfits standing in front of a cart loaded with patriotic goods for sale. A sign on the cart has ":SOLDIERS' COMFORTS" on iton back is a list of namesorbost-red-cross ww1 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - LYDIA CHANCELLOR COLLECTION; WELCOME HOME TO GOLDEN SQUARE RETURNED SOLDIERS PROGRAMME
... soldiers ...Two carbon copies of 'Welcome Home to Golden Square Returned Soldiers' programme. The programme includes speeches, songs, recitations and the National Anthem. The Chairman was Cr. J.E. Holland. Accompanist Miss Saunders and Lydia Pethard, the Hon. Secretary. One sheet. c1945.event, official, civic, lydia chancellor, collection, war, ww ii, soldiers, event, music, ceremony -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS WW1, C.1915
.1) & .2) Albert Edward LADD (Bendigo) No. 1071, enlisted in the AIF on 1.8.15 in Mining Corps Coy 3, aged 29 years and 6 months. Embarked for England 20.2.1916. KIA 27.1.1916 while serving with the 3rd Aust. Tunneling Coy. This was at "Black Watch Sap Hill 70". The Germans were laying underground mines at the same time as the Australians. The Germans blew their mines at 12.40am, this combined with the Australian ammonal mines made a massive explosion killing over 20 Australians. Crumps & Camouflets by Damien Finlayson describes this in his book on pages 151-153. .3) In the photo are from left, Julia Ann Ladd, Rita Mary Ladd, Florence May Ladd and Albert Edward Ladd. Prewar, Albert worked at the "Coleman & Tachees Mine" in California Gully..1) & .2) Photos, sepia tone, portrait of a soldier in peak hat wearing a tie, oval shape with surround. .3) Photo, sepia tone, women with two children and soldier, one child on a setting, one on soldiers knee..1) & .2) Inset on front: "12.07.11-18.04.15" .3) Inset in front: "12.07.11-18.04.56photographs, 3rd, hill 70, kia -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, Cassell and Company Limited, The ANZAC Book, 1916
This book was originally intended as a Christmas and New Year diversion for soldiers facing a harsh winter in the trenches on Gallipoli. In November 1915 a committee was formed to produce the publication and a notice seeking contributions was circulated at Gallipoli. Prizes were offered for various categories and 150 submissions were received, although not all were incorporated in the book. After the evacuation of Gallipoli, official war correspondent Charles Bean and his assistant, Arthur Bazely, edited the contributions. The drawing on the front cover, "Gallipoli 1915" is by David Baker. Over 100,000 copies of the book were sold. About half went to the AIF and many could also be found in Australian households. It cost 2/6. The illustrations, stories, cartoons and poems for this book were cCreated by soldiers under enemy fire and in extreme hardship. This book is of great historic significance as a contemporary record of The AIF in Gallipoli.A thick 169 pp book with paper cover, titled in black text 'The Anzac Book / Written and Illustrated in Gallipoli by the Men of Anzac.It contains pages of text, some colour illustrations and cartoons. On the cover is a drawing of a determined looking soldier carrying a bayonet in front of a tattered British flag. world-war-1 literature book-the-anzac-book gallipoli -
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection
Photograph - 20th Merauke
Example of soldiers making their own entertainment while posted to remote location in New Guinea during WW11 The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the Regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon its return in April 1945, the Regiment was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion. It was disbanded following the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse regiment to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of photographs featuring a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria on active service during World War 2 (1939-1945).Four black and white photographs of soldiers dressed up as women for a concert party at Merauke, Dutch New Guinea 1944. Part of 20th Light Horse collection." Lowell French, John Cole, Ballet Girls. "20th, merauke, new guinea, wwii world war two, entertainment -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Postcard
... soldiers ...The photograph on the obverse side of the postcard was taken some time between 1914-1918. Depicted are five unidentified Australian soldiers. They are all dressed in military uniforms. It is believed that these soldiers were part of The Australian Imperial Force during World War I. This can be inferred by the 'Rising Sun' collar badges on their coats. Australia, unlike most other Commonwealth countries, did not adopt metal regimental badges during the First World War. All units were issued with the Australian Army General Service Badge, better known as the 'Rising Sun’ badge. This insignia is almost always identified with the Australian Imperial Force. Another characteristic of the Australian Imperial Force uniform are rectangular colour patches. One is visible on the soldier in the front row, first from the left on this postcard. In March 1915, a new scheme of unit identification was devised to replace the wearing of unit titles. This consisted of cloth colour patches on the right arms of a soldier’s tunic. The sepia nature of the record means that we cannot determine the colour, and therefore cannot establish which battalion this soldier was part of. Furthermore, the man seated in the middle of the front row has an Overseas Service chevron patch on his coat. In January 1918, the Australian Imperial Force approved the wearing of the overseas service chevrons which had been adopted by the British Army. These were embroidered or woven inverted chevrons worn above the cuff on the right arm. Due to a shortage of supply, some men had chevrons privately made. For each year of war service, a blue chevron was awarded, and those men who had embarked in 1914 received a red chevron to indicate that year’s service; however, the sepia nature of the postcard makes it difficult to determine what colours are on this man's patch.The record is historically significant due to its connection to World War I. This conflict is integral to Australian culture as it was the single greatest loss of life and the greatest repatriation of casualties in the country's history. Australia’s involvement in the First World War began when the Australian government established the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in August 1914. Immediately, men were recruited to serve the British Empire in the Middle East and on the Western Front. The first significant Australian action of the war was the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force’s (ANMEF) landing on Rabaul on 11 September 1914. The ANMEF took possession of German New Guinea at Toma on 17 September 1914 and of the neighbouring islands of the Bismarck Archipelago in October 1914. On 25 April 1915, members of the AIF landed on Gallipoli in Turkey with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France. This specific event holds very strong significance within Australian history. The record has strong research potential. This is due to the ongoing public and scholarly interest in war, history, and especially the ANZAC legend, which is commemorated annually on 25 April, known as ANZAC Day.Sepia rectangular postcard printed on paper.Reverse: CARTE POSTALE / hyossest (?) / 6538 /military album, army, aif, australian imperial force, postcard, wwi, world war i, portrait, soldiers