Calling Card Cases were used by the aristocracy in 18th Century Europe as it was requirement in genteel society to leave a calling card when visiting a household. According to the Hallmarks on the case it was made in 1774 by the Adie Brothers Ltd. in Birmingham, England.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A silver rectangular case that features an angled hinged lid.LID: Lion symbol / B (Hallmarks) LIP: A BROS LTD/ Anchor symbol / Lion symbol / B (Hallmarks) CASE BACK: A157418th century, european

Calling Card Cases were used by the aristocracy in 18th Century Europe as it was requirement in genteel society to leave a calling card when visiting a household. According to the Hallmarks on the case it was made in 1904 by the Williams Birmingham Ltd. in Birmingham, England.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A small rectangular silver calling card case that has an ornate pattern etched into its front.FRONT: WB LD/ Anchor symbol/ Lion symbol/ e (Hallmark)early 20th century

Coin cases were commonly used in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a way to easily organise and carry money. These coin cases were often given as gifts.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A silver-plated coin case that is embossed with a floral design. The top of the case features 5 spring-loaded compartments where coins are stored. Each compartment is denoted a particular coin value: Florin, Half Crown, Sixpence, Shilling, Threepence. 2/~ 2/6 6 D~. 1/~ 3 D~.coins, numismatics, 19th century, 20th century

Specific historical and contextual information pertaining to this object is unknown. There are no hallmarks or documentation to indicate provenance or historical significance. This coin purse appears to have a covering made of mother of pearl. Evidence of interest from over 20,000 years ago mark Aboriginal groups in Australia as some of the first people to value the power and beauty of pearlshell, while evidence of Australian pearlshell being taken across the sea to other countries dates back as early as the 1500s. The 1850s-60s saw the beginnings of the Australian pearling industry. Following the popularisation of plastic for items such as buttons the pearlshell market waned in the mid-twentieth century but was soon after began to re-forge in Australia with a new industry of cultured pearl farms. Most of Australian's pearling industry was initially located in Western Australia and off the Torres Strait Islands. The Australian War Memorial notes on their website that many tokens made from mother of pearl were sent home to loved ones throughout World Wars One and Two from the Middle East, England, the South West Pacific, Australia and elsewhere, but that unfortunately provenance such as the manufacture and sale of many of these items is not recorded.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A small rectangular purse with silver edging and half clasp, covered in white and cream coloured shell (mother of pearl?)A01154burke museum, social history, accessories, mother of pearl, nacre, australian industry

The hallmarks on this silver cigarette case indicate that the object was made in Birmingham (anchor hallmark), is Stirling silver (lion hallmark), and was made 1900 (a hallmark) by the Alexander Clark Manufacturing Co. (makers mark hallmark). The Alexander Clark Manufacturing Co. was established in 1890-1891 at Fenchurch Street, London, forming an alliance with Sheffield cutler R F Mosley in 1900 before later moving to Birmingham. Dates of the exact move to Birmingham differ from site to site.The hallmarks on this object make it significant in the representation of silver wares made by the Alexander Clark Manufacturing Co. which, when added to the other pieces of information available about this manufacturer, add to the information and history available. As the Alexander Clark Manufacturing Co. was based in England, this is of international significance. The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A small rectangular case silver in colour, with gold wash on the inside. The case has a clasp along one edge, a swirling floral design on its top, and two brown elastic straps on the inside.AC [over] MCo / Anchor symbol / Lion symbol / a [Hallmark inside case, lower LHS] Lion symbol / a [Hallmark inside case, upper RHSD]accessories, social history, burke museum, silver

Stamp cases/holders began being produced in the late 19th century, commonly made of gold, wood, and silver. In this case, the item is made of sterling silver and has patterns and details etched into the metal sheets that make up the case. Sterling silver is the standard alloy used in jewellery and detailed metalworks with its physical properties making it maleable and corrosion resistant, therefore a favourable metal to work with both across many centuriesn the past and present. Stamp cases where popularised by James Allen of Birmingham who created and registered the stamp holders he made. As they gained popularity, it was common for stamp holders to consist of multiple compartments holding various small items such as matches, strikers and of course stamps. Metalwork and silverwork has been a prominent proffession and artform historically and socially for many years. There are many different types of metal work to specialise in and distinct patterns and inscriptions for identifying the provenance of the item. Hallmarking is this proccess of inscribing the item, and consissts of four main components (including assaying) which can indicate the date of creation. Unfortunately this item has no hallmark, therefore it is relatively unknown where, what, when and who created it.This item is of social and historic significance as it highlights the importance of preserving histoical items. This item display's the intricate and highly skilled trades of the past with a glimpse into the social and cultural aspects of the beechworths' history.A small, silver stamp holder with decorative details etched into the metal. It has a small loop on the left side of the case, indicating it could be connected and held by a chain or ring. A01145 (obejct number): A01145 [object number inside stamp case] / STERLING SILVER [inscription inside stamp case]metalwork, silver, silverware, sterling silver, stamp holder, stamp case, burke museum, social history, burke museum collection, beechworth

The hallmarks on this vesta indicate that the vesta was made in Birmingham, England in 1901 by Minshull & Latimer. Vesta cases are small containers used to keep matches dry and prevent them from being ignited. There three types of vesta cases but the most popular design was the pocket vesta which could be hung from a chain and featured a ribbed bottom to strike a match.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A small silver container with a hinged lid that has a ring attached to the top of it. There is an engraved pattern across the surface with a set of initials on the obverse of the case. The bottom of the case features a ribbed design.TD/ [initials engraved on obverse] M/ &/ L/ anchor symbol/ lion symbol/ b/ [hallmarks] A1194/vesta case, birmingham, 20th century, minshull & latimer, matchbox

Vesta cases, also known as match safes, are small boxes that are used to carry matches and keep them safe from the elements. In the early 1800's, it was common to carry matches, since some type of portable fire was needed to light lanterns and stoves. The matches of that day were crude compared to today's standards, and were known to light when making contact with each other, and sometimes even spontaneously. In order to alleviate this potentially hazardous situation, it made good sense to utilize a Vesta case or match safe. One of the more interesting features of the vesta case or match safes is that they almost always include some type of rough or ribbed surface, usually on the bottom of the case that is used for striking the matches. This vesta case is a portable pocket vesta. These cases take their name from the virgin Roman goddess of fire, home, hearth and family. Usually Vesta was depicted as the fire in her temple. Only Vestals (her priestesses) were allowed into her temple. Her association with fire made her name the natural choice for British companies that manufactured matches. The hallmarking of sterling silver is based on a combination of marks that makes possible the identification of origin and age. The town mark identifies the Assay Office where the item was verified. The town mark on this piece is an anchor, so it is from Birmingham, England. The lion passant certifies the silver quality, as at least 925. The maker's mark, identifying the silversmith presenting the piece to the assay office is D&LS for David and Lionel Spiers. The date letter identifies the year the piece was verified, this item was verified in 1885. Lionel Spiers was a significant figure in the Jewellery Quarter and in 1906 was chairman of the Jewellers and Silversmiths Association. The item also has NHILL 1928 engraved on the front, this is likely a recent addition to the piece. Nhill is a town in Victoria so it could be that the previous owner lived here or it was gifted in commemoration. The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.Silver vesta case with ribbed strike plate at the end and an etched design. D&LS/ lion symbol/ anchor symbol/ l/ Sovereign head/ [hallmarks] CHH/ NHILL 1928/ [obverse inscription] A01198/burke museum, silver, vesta, fire, silversmiths

Vesta cases, also known as match safes, are small boxes that are used to carry matches and keep them safe from the elements. In the early 1800's, it was common to carry matches, since some type of portable fire was needed to light lanterns and stoves. The matches of that day were crude compared to today's standards, and were known to light when making contact with each other, and sometimes even spontaneously. In order to alleviate this potentially hazardous situation, it made good sense to utilize a vesta case or match safe. One of the more interesting features of the vesta case or match safes is that they almost always include some type of rough or ribbed surface, usually on the bottom of the case that is used for striking the matches. This vesta case is the portable pocket vesta which also has a bale (ring) near the hinge so that they can be suspended from a chain. These cases take their name from the virgin Roman goddess of fire, home, hearth and family. Usually Vesta was depicted as the fire in her temple. Only Vestals (her priestesses) were allowed into her temple. Her association with fire made her name the natural choice for British companies that manufactured matches. The hallmarking of sterling silver is based on a combination of marks that makes possible the identification of origin and age. The town mark identifies the Assay Office where the item was verified. The town mark on this piece, three wheat sheaves and a sword identify Chester, in Cheshire, England as the town of creation. The lion passant guardant certifies the silver quality, as between 925 and 1000. The maker's mark, identifying the silversmith presenting the piece to the assay office is W.N. for William Neale. The date letter identifies the year the piece was verified, this case being verified in 1903. William Neale and Sons was a firm was established by William Neale in 1850 in Birmingham. His mark was entered at the Birmingham assay office in April 1862 and in the Chester assay office in September 1882. The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A silver vesta case with a ribbed strike plate at the end, a ring to attach the case to a chain and a cover that can be pushed up to open. W.N/ lion symbol/ Three Sheaves of Wheat and Sword/ C/ [hallmarks] A01169/silver, silversmith, burke museum, england, fire, vesta, william neale

While the date of when this box was made is unknown, there is an inscription on the lid that indicated that the item was owned by a J. E. Huderric in 1767. A snuffbox is a small decorative box used to store scented tobacco powder and were commonly used by men and women in the 17th and 18th century.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A decorated small black box. It is rectangular and opens up with a lid. The lid is decorated on the outside corners and a centre diamond shape using opal coloured flaked gems.J. E. Huderric 1767/ [inscribed on the lid] A01197/box, drugs, tobacco, 18th century

Vesta cases are small containers used to keep matches dry and prevent them from being ignited. There three types of vesta cases but the most popular design was the pocket vesta which could be hung from a chain and featured a ribbed bottom to strike a match. It is unknown when this vesta case was created but the lettering on the front of the case suggest that it was create in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Boulogne-sur-Mer is a costal city in Northern France and is known for its maritime and trade history.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A small white rectangular box. There are 6 nails both on the top and bottom keeping it closed. There is a small inscription on top in cursive lettering. One end is covered in a material used for crating sparks.Boulogne smer/ A01148/matchbox

Scent bottles are vessels used to store perfume. Humans have used scent bottles throughout history with the oldest scent bottle dating back to 1000 BCE Egypt.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A square brass bottle with a spheric lid featuring a geometric embossed pattern.A01193perfume, scent

The markers hallmarks on this match case have become illegible, however the remaining hallmarks show that the case was made in Birmingham, England in 1901. Match cases are a decorative case that houses a cardboard matchbox.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A silver rectangular match case with an embossed top.[?]/ [?]/ anchor symbol/ lion symbol/ b/ [hallmarks] A01168/matchbox

This detailed example of a match holding Vesta was owned by someone with the initials GBW but is otherwise difficult to identify ownership. Vestas are the historical name for what are now known as matches. They were named for the Roman goddess Vesta whose domain was the hearth and home. The Swan company began production of short matches, mostly useful for lighting pipes and cigarettes due to their deliberately short length. Due to their small size it became convenient to carry these Vestas within a Vesta Case kept somewhere on the person, large enough to contain enough matches for a days use. The cases prevented their contents from becoming damaged and damp while also stopping them from accidentally striking if held loose in a pocket. This example of a Vesta case is particularly ornate.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A decorative silver coloured vesta or match book. It has detailed engraving across the obverse and reverse sides with delicate scrollwork and a monogram set in a circular setting in the centre. The vesta has a hinged top and side loop to allow for attachment.GBW/ A01171/burke museum, vesta case, vesta, matches, silver, social history, luxury

Vestas are the historical name for what are now known as matches. They were named for the Roman goddess Vesta whose domain was the hearth and home. The Swan company began production of short matches, mostly useful for lighting pipes and cigarettes due to their deliberately short length. Due to their small size it became convenient to carry these Vestas within a Vesta Case kept somewhere on the person, large enough to contain enough matches for a days use. The cases prevented their contents from becoming damaged and damp while also stopping them from accidentally striking if held loose in a pocket. This is a simple example of a Vesta Case.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A decorative silver coloured vesta or match book. It has a raised crosshatch pattern in a circular pattern on the obverse side. The vesta has a hinged top and side loop to allow for attachment.A01199/burke museum, vesta case, vesta, matches, silver, social history

The exact creation of this Cigar Cutter is unknown, however the vintage nature and style of this cutter indicate that it was made in the early to mid 20th century. This cutter closely resembles the V-cut style of cigar cutter. These cutters are the most common type of cigar cutters and have been historically widely used. They cut a 'wedge' into the cigar cap rather than removing the whole cap like guillotine cutters do. This type of cut allows the smoker to get a deep cut into the V shaped cigar. Social history objects held in the Burke Museum help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the town's social, artistic and cultural community. This cutter shows significance through it's vintage artistic style and it's ability to show the social habits within Beechworth's history. A small bronze metallic cigar cutter with cigar insert on one side of the object and handle on the other side. A01152beechworth museum, cigar cutter, bronze, burke museum, social history

A propelling pencil is a type of mechanical pencil.The lead is manually pushed down a tube of matching diameter, and is friction-fit. A small rod inside the pencil pushes the lead forward, as needed, usually with a twist an action mechanism.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A small propelling pencil that features a stone handle.writing equipment, pencil, mechanical pencil

A propelling pencil is a type of mechanical pencil.The lead is manually pushed down a tube of matching diameter, and is friction-fit. A small rod inside the pencil pushes the lead forward, as needed, usually with a twist an action mechanism.The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.A small silver propelling pencil with a diamond patterned handle.England/ V. S. Lead/mechanical pencil, writing equipment, pencil

Taken some time between 1914-18 in France, the photograph depicts extensive wreckage of a railway train. There are collapsed buildings, debris, and helmets scattered all across the landscape. There is one unidentified soldier standing in the middle of the photograph. With research that is currently available, it can be inferred that the wreckage depicted in this photograph is from the tragic Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne derailment which occurred on December 12, 1917. The railway accident involved a troop train carrying almost 1,000 French soldiers on their way home for leave from the Italian Front in World War I. As the train descended into the Maurienne Valley, a sudden, uncontrollable acceleration caused a catastrophic crash and subsequent fire. 675 people died in the accident.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 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. Additionally, there is only limited information available about the Sant-Michel-de-Maurienne derailment. The record may be a useful springboard for further investigation into this accident and its history.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: 6530 / Destruction of train carrying / German helmets (?) to (?) prior to / his retreat at Charleroi /military album, army, war, wwi, world war i, france, charleroi, train, military, wreckage, europe, belgium, saint-michel-de-maurienne, maurienne valley

Taken some time between 1914-18, depicted is a large group of unidentified males. Four of them are dressed in Australian military uniforms. The remaining 19 men are dressed in striped uniforms. The male in the centre of the front row is cradling a football, suggesting that the group was part of a football or rugby league team. It is believed that the soldiers in this photograph were part of the Australian Imperial Force. This can be inferred by the chevron rank insignia visible on their uniforms. The placement of this insignia on the sleeve of the right arm suggests that this soldier was either a Warrant Officer or a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). Additionally, they are also wearing '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. Sport has always been entwined with war. Both sport and war demand peak physical fitness, camaraderie, strategy, and allegiance to a team collaboratively working towards a common goal: to win. The connection between sport and war is especially strong in Australia since these two concepts form the basis of our national identity. The Australian War Memorial has a number of World War I recruitment posters linking war and sport in its collection. One of the posters produced in 1915 by the State Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in Victoria attempted to shame young men into enlisting by juxtaposing the image of an Australian soldier standing guard over his deceased mate with a photograph of a Victorian Football League match. Another poster, produced in 1917, features vignettes of different sports including cricket, bowling, boxing, kayaking and golf. Its slogan reads, "Join Together - Train Together - Embark Together - Fight Together: Enlist in the Sportman's 1000".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 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. Additionally, the record presents a unique opportunity to further explore the relationship between the arts, sport and war. This statement of significance has already established that war is integral to Australia's national identity - and sport is of equal importance. Specifically, the record begs to question how the peak physical fitness and camaraderie valued in team sports were creatively translated into military recruitment campaigns during World War I. Evidently, this record and its historic context demonstrates that there is potential here, and if further research is completed on this topic, it may provide insight into Australian military recruitment tactics used in the past and present, and into the future.Sepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on card.Reverse: 6529 / hyossest (?) / (?)1/11/1 /military album, army, military, war, wwi, world war i, sport, football, rugby, aif, australian imperial force

Taken during World War I from the forecastle of a navy ship, the photograph depicts an eruption of water and smoke as a result of an underwater submarine being bombed from above.The naval war of World War I was a conflict unlike any previous one with the exception of the brief Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), with naval warfare in World War I being mainly between the German forces and the Great Britain forces. The naval war of World War I proved largely a disappointment to officials on both sides as it did not produce the decisive fleet actions envisioned in the pre-war years. Nevertheless, the war at sea was a crucial part of World War I overall. The German use of the submarine against commerce not only threatened the Allied war effort, but also drew the United States into the conflict. In addition, the British economic blockade of Germany afforded by the Royal Navy’s command of the sea inflicted great damage on the war effort of Germany. Finally, the naval war held great ramifications for the future since many practices employed in the First World War were those pursued in the Second World War.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph on matte photographic paperReverse: 6527/ (Crown copyright notice from the Imperial War Museum)/ Naval 23/ 23/ A99/ burke museum, world war 1, world war i, ww1, wwi, submarine, submarine warfare, navy, naval vessels

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

Taken some time between 1914-18, the photograph depicts an aerial view of trenches in France. The image mostly shows rural landscape, although there is a house in the bottom right corner. A dotted line has been drawn across the photograph, marking the section of trenches that belonged to British forces during World War I. It is believed that the line marking on this record denotes a section of the Western Front. The Western Front was the main theatre of war during World War I. Following the outbreak of war in August 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The German advance was halted with the Battle of the Marne. Following the Race to the Sea, both the French-British and German armies dug in along a meandering line of fortified trenches, stretching from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier with France. Between 1915 and 1917 there were several offensives along the Western Front. The attacks employed massive artillery bombardments and massed infantry advances. Entrenchments, machine gun emplacements, barbed wire and artillery repeatedly inflicted severe casualties during attacks and counter-attacks and no significant advances were made. Among the most notable of these offensives were the Battle of Verdun (1916), the Battle of the Somme (1916), and the Battle of Passchendaele (1917).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 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 photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: A.3FE.O.146 / G2R 29 . 6 . 18 (Y p.m) / F= 10 1/4 / British Line / ------------------------------------------ / P. 250 1040 / 0. 30d. 0010 / 0. 30d. 3070 /military album, military, war, wwi, world war i, france, great britain, trenches, village, rural, western front

Taken some time between 1914-18, the photograph depicts an aerial view of trenches in France. The image mostly shows rural landscape, although there is a cluster of houses in the top right corner. It is believed that this record denotes a section of the Western Front. The Western Front was the main theatre of war during World War I. Following the outbreak of war in August 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The German advance was halted with the Battle of the Marne. Following the Race to the Sea, both the French-British and German armies dug in along a meandering line of fortified trenches, stretching from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier with France. Between 1915 and 1917 there were several offensives along the Western Front. The attacks employed massive artillery bombardments and massed infantry advances. Entrenchments, machine gun emplacements, barbed wire and artillery repeatedly inflicted severe casualties during attacks and counter-attacks and no significant advances were made. Among the most notable of these offensives were the Battle of Verdun (1916), the Battle of the Somme (1916), and the Battle of Passchendaele (1917).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 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.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: A.3.FE.2.291 / 62D O.20bd.P.25O.C / 16.7.18 / 12 / F 8 1/4 / Reverse: 6532military album, military, army, war, wwi, world war i, france, trenches

The photograph on the obverse side of the postcard was taken in Egypt on 4 March 1916, during World War I. Depicted are three unidentified Australian soldiers part of the Australian Imperial Force. They are dressed in military uniforms. Each of these men are seated atop a camel's back. All three camels are draped in - what are believed to be - traditional Egyptian textiles, including tassels, carpets and beads. In the background, we can see a triangular pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza. The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were established by the Australian government in August 1914. This announcement marked the beginning of Australia's involvement in World War I. Immediately, men were recruited to serve the British Empire in the Middle East and on the Western Front. The first contingent of the AIF departed Australia by ship in November 1914. England was their destination. Although, their convoy was diverted to Egypt after the Australian High Commissioner in London, Sir George Reid, and the British military authorities unanimously agreed that the overcrowded military camps in England were unsuitable for so many men over winter. The AIF disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt on 3 December 1914, and the men moved to training camps near Cairo. It was in Egypt that the AIF and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) formed one united corps - the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). This group of troops trained in the desert beneath the pyramids until March 1915.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. On 25 April 1915, members of the Australian Imperial Force 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. The record's unique research potential is strengthened by its relationship to a historically significant site: the Egyptian pyramids. Since the postcard was produced in 1916, the record can be used as primary evidence for historians and conservationists studying these sites, or how these sites have evolved over time. The record may also be a useful resource for those interested in the history of Egyptian textiles. Furthermore, it may also provide insight into international relations between Egypt and Australia in the past and present.Sepia rectangular postcard printed on paper.Obverse: 172 / Reverse: 6536 / CARTE POSTALE / 4/3/16 / Rough riders under / the shadow of the / pyramids /military album, army, war, wwi, world war i, egypt, pyramid, great sphinx of giza, textiles, australian imperial force, aif, uniform

It is believed that the photograph on the obverse side of the postcard was taken in 1918. Depicted are ten Australian male soldiers. Their names are transcribed in pencil on the reverse side of the postcard. Each soldier is dressed in a formal military uniform. It is believed that these soldiers were part of The Australian Imperial Force during World War I. This can be inferred by the chevron rank insignia visible on the uniforms of nine of ten men. The placement of this insignia on the sleeves of their right arms suggests that they were either Warrant Officers or Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO). Specifically, the number of chevron stripes - here, nine men have three - are believed to signify a Corporal rank. The men pictured on this postcard are also wearing '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 the rectangular colour patches worn by all men 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 upper arms of a soldier’s tunic. The black and white nature of the record means that we cannot establish which battalion these soldiers were part of. However, one of the handwritten signatures on the reverse side of the postcard reads "W.A. Griggs". This was the signature of Sergeant William Archibald Griggs. Further research shows that Griggs was part of the 5th Australian Division Signals Company. Therefore, it is believed these soldiers were part of the ANZAC Signal Companies. The main role of the Signal Companies during World War I was the laying and maintenance of telephone cables and switchboards, used to connect various units in their area. Furthermore, the man standing in the back row, third from the left side, 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 black and white 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.Black and white rectangular postcard printed on paper.Obverse: Oh 'Serg!' / Reverse: CARTE POSTALE / 6537 / Correspondance / Adresse / w.a. Grigg / J. Fain / Ruckling / R.J Farrar / (?) / Clarke / L (?) / GFFisher / R. M. Forrest / With Compliments / Sgt's Mess / November 1918 /military album, army, aif, uniform, military, wwi, world war i, rising sun badge, william archibald griggs, anzac, signal companies, postcard, patches, chevron

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

Taken in c. 1918, this photograph depicts the ruins of the French village Villers-Bretonneux. In the foreground of the image are rows of shell damaged houses and buildings. In the background of the image stands a tower of the ruined church.On 24 April, Villers-Bretonneux was captured by the Germans as they advanced towards the regional city of Amiens. If they achieved their goal and drove onto the French coast, splitting the British and French armies, the Allied cause might have been lost. The fate of Amiens hung in the balance as two Australian brigades were given the task of retaking Villers-Bretonneux through a swift night-time counter attack. One brigade would assault from the south, while another would attack from the north. The assault began at 10pm on 24 April. The 13th Brigade in the south were held up by German machine guns, before the Australians linked up east of the village. After dawn on 25 April Australian and British troops were involved in fierce fighting to clear the Germans from the village. Some Germans escaped Villers-Bretonneux through nearby woods. Later on the morning of 25 April, three years to the day after the Anzacs landings at Gallipoli, French and Australian flags were raised over Villers-Bretonneux.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on matte photographic paperReverse: (A copyright and reproduction notice from the Australian War Museum, printed upside-down in blue ink) Church x Ruins/ Villers Bretonneux/ (in pencil) burke museum, world war 1, ww1, wwi, france, australia, villers-bretonneux, ruins, military album

Taken on the 5 November 1917 by James Francis Hurley, this photograph depicts the a war damaged Ypres. The shell damaged wall of the Cloth Hall is featured in the centre of the photograph, with an army vehicle and personal are located on the street beneath the ruined wall.First Battle of Ypres, (October 19–November 22, 1914), first of three costly World War I battles centred on the city of Ypres (now Ieper) in western Flanders. Attempted flank attacks by both the Allies and the Germans failed to achieve significant breakthroughs, and both sides settled into the trench warfare that would characterize the remainder of the war on the Western Front.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on mate photographic paperReverse: 6525/ (A copyright and reproduction notice from the Australian War Museum, printed upside-down in blue ink)military album, burke museum, world war one, world war 1, ww1, ypres, belguim, ruins, first battle of ypres, james francis hurley

This photograph depicts the third battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele). Depicted is a trench battlefield that has been turned to mud. Two army tank vehicles have been buried in the mud of the trenches. A single soldier stands in the background surveying the battlefield.After mid-1917, and following mutinies in the over-strained French Army, the British Forces had to assume an even greater role in the war on the Western Front. For Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, this provided an opportunity to launch an offensive that he had long wanted. Attacking from Ypres in Belgium, he planned to drive the Germans from the surrounding dominant ridges and even hoped to reach the Belgian coast. Following on the success at Messines in June, he unleashed his great attack on 31 July 1917. Fighting went on, often in appalling weather and despite crippling losses, until November. Finally, with the army stuck in muddy fields churned up by the artillery fire, the bloody offensive came to an untidy close. Many would afterwards call this offensive, actually a series of battles, after the name of the village that had become the last objective – 'Passchendaele'. In the Battle off Passchendaele, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Australian Divisions captured Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October 1917. It was a vital victory. But, then it began to rain. Five days later the 2nd Australian Division suffered heavily in a further attack in the mud. Finally, on 12 October, another attack, involving the 3rd Division assisted by the 4th, was made against the village of Passchendaele atop the main ridge. In the face of heavy fire, the men fought in the mire while struggling to keep up with their artillery barrages. Ground was taken but it could not be held. In wretched conditions, with casualties mounting at an appalling rate, the Australians had to fall back. The troops were finally exhausted and could do no more; by 15 November they handed over to the Canadians.Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on mate photographic paperReverse: 6523/ (A copyright and reproduction notice from the Australian War Museum, printed upside-down in blue ink)/military album, burke museum, beechworth, military vehicle, trenches, trench warfare, wwi, world war one, world war 1, ypres, belgium