Medal set and insignia from the uniform of a Czech Lieutenant who served with the British Army at the Siege of Tobruk.His medal ribbons show that he served during the First World war and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

The bleuet de France is the symbol used in France to finance War Veterans, very similar the the Poppy. The bleuet de France is available for sale on 11 November and 08 May each year. Similar to the poppy this flower continued to grow in land devastated by shelling and military activity.This pin is an original.A Blue metal flower (cornflower) on a metal lapel pin.bleuet de france, poppy like flower

Collection of personal effects that belonged to Private SIdney Spencer Plum, 3431 1st Pioneer Battalion. SIdney was born on 3/1/1894 at Dockers Plains via Wangaratta. He attended both North Wangaratta and Dockers Plains schools. He was a Blacksmith aged 21 years when he enlisted on 12/6/1915 and embarked on 11/10/1915 on board HMAT Nestor. He was wounded three times and was discharged from the AIF on 16/3/1919. Items include oval photo of Sidney Plum in the centre surrounded by four post cards, one embroidered post card of a dove with an envelope in it's beak with the Union Jack and French flag, a Greetings From The Front" booklet, "The Armour of Light" bible, "A Form of Prayer for open air services" book, Soldier's Pay Book, a "To my dear Mother" card, a black leather pouch, a rising sun badge, round gold medallion. A framed montage of personal items belonging to Private Sydney Spencer PLUM compiled by his family to honour his memory and service. In addition to general military issue the remaining items were most likely purchased whilst on leave in France and England during the first world war. Postcards particularly embroidered postcards were sent home to loved ones and friends.Framed Collection of personal effects - Private Sidney Spencer Plum, 1st Pioneer Battalion. Includes oval photo of Sidney Plum in the centre surrounded by four post cards, one embroidered post card of a dove with an envelope in it's beak with the Union Jack and French flag, a Greetings From The Front" booklet, "The Armour of Light" bible, "A Form of Prayer for open air services" book, Soldier's Pay Book, a "To my dear Mother" card, a black leather pouch, a risen sun badge, round gold coloured medalion. Frame has a donation plaque.Front: Pte Sidney Spencer Plum, 1st Pioneer Battalion. Donated by Max & Hilary (Plum) Ryan and Sylvia Reed (Plum) of Wangarattaa Back: Wangaratta Picture Framers 9 Oct 2003. Also has messages from front postcards; Dear Mother, Just a few lines to let you know that I am alright hoping that you and all the rest is well too. We have had three fogs over here and it is very cold at night. I was picked in Cairo and they had some Turkey Officers an a German spy in gaol there. I wrote to Aunt Nelline. I got two letters from Alf. Maude Saxby hasnt wrote to me since I was up there on final leave. I get the letters quicker. I got Alf photos all right. I will be having Christmas in London. Well I think this is all this. I remain you son Sid. Tell Alf to send me over the Age so I can see how the war is going. I suppose Dad and the rest is busy harvesting now. Glad to hear that you got the photos all right. I think this is all this time from Sid same address as before. Dear Mother, Just a few lines to let you know that I am keeping well hoping that you and every body is the same. We have some great fogs over here, it rained all one night. We had a very good Christmas we got a billy issued to us and it had every thing in it. The Captain of our company gave me a Christmas pudding. All the same I wished I were back in Australia again. I think this is all this time. Yours truely son Sid, 25/12/15plum, sidney, world war 1, postcards, embroidered postcard, soldier's pay book, leather pouch, bible, prayer book, sydney

FrenchComic Strip, Process Engravingimagerie d'epinal album d'images

Memorial to Reginald E Sims (killed in action France 10/08/1918, buried at Proyart France) in Plot# O4 or O5 Greensborough CemeteryGreensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many early settlers in the district. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.reginald emerson sims, greensborough cemetery

A post card sent from France to Australia in 1918, presumably from a soldier son to his mother while on leave from the fighting in France.A record of correspondence from France to Australia in 1918. Postcards were a very common form of communication in the first World War. This postcard also records places for those who didn't have cameras. This type of souvenir would have been familiar to the first Legatees as they had served in World War 1.Post card with a coastal panoramic view and beach houses. At the back of the post card is the written wishes. Front side: Printed, 35 / LE CROTOY. - La Plage. / Edition de la Menagere / ND. Phot. Back Side: handwriten mark, x / printed, Carte Postale / IMP. PHOT. NEURDEIN ET CIE. - PARIS. / Correspondance / Adresse, Stamped Postal Sticker from the Republique Francaise valuated in 10c Postes. / Handwritten text: 13/1/18 Dear Mater This is a snap of where I am now. We are in the house marked x, and are very comfy. Love to all Lee / Mrs W. Elsum 42 Parker St. Williamstown Victoria Australia. war correspondence, souvenir

Caricature image of war hero and Australia's most decorated servicewoman Nancy Wake Australian born Nancy Wake AC, GM, was the most decorated servicewoman of the Second World War. She was nicknamed the 'White Mouse' for her ability to consistently evade and outmanoeuvre the Gestapo as a secret agent for British forces.Brown timber frame containing caricature of female in uniform wearing a beretMedals and Decorations: France: U.S.A War Hero - Australia's most decorated woman Great Britain - George Medal/1939-45 Star Legion de Honneur Freedom Medal France & Germany Star Croix de Guerre Defence Medal/Victory Medal Medal de Resistancenancy wake, ww2, white mouse, australian servicewoman

Black and White Postcard of a model of a 32 gun frigate, built in Bristol in 1779 H.M.S Cleopatra. She was captured by the French in 1805 and retaken with her captor six days later. (SH 056 [1] Ships C - E).flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, h.m.s cleopatra, post card, postcard

An example of the standard issue French infantry battle helmet used during WW11. Painted matte black and manufactured from steel, complete with a brown leather chinstrap, inner liner missing. It has a dent on the righthand side of the crown.B3 stamped on the inside of the crown.helmet, french, ww1

An embroidered postcard which was sent to an Australian family during World War I. The postcard is intricately and colourfully embroidered on silk framed with a cardboard backing. The design is of flowers, foliage and the French and English flags with the words "happy new year".

Provenance unknown, found in a box with five other pelvimeters, marked "PELVIMETERS ( not accessioned)" in the hand of the previous curator, Melissa Campbell pre 2006.A French model of pelvimeter,external and internal,with two flexible arms, nickel plated steel, graduated 20-45 centimetres. Refer to Down Bros. catalogue 937/6/, page 9387. Manufacturer's stamp or initials of owner "M.S."pelvimetry

A black and white photograph of the French manager of the Duc Trung "Gallia' rubber plantation, complains, through an Australian Linguist interpreter about the 5th Battalion holding up production conducting the cordon and search of Operation Bondi. The complaint was fruitless.photograph, duc trung "gallia" rubber plantation, 5 rar, operation bondi, gibbons collection catalogue, 5th battalion

A black and white photograph of the French owners house at the 'Gallia' rubber plantation becomes a shady nook for the staff and workers as they await to be interrogated and undergo identidy checks during Operation Bondi. (note text is missing from the bottom of the photograph)photograph, duc trung "gallia" rubber plantation, operation bondi, gibbons collection catalogue

June 1917. HM The King at the 5th Division Sports Day, Hennecourt, Somme , France. Infantry soldiers negotiating a palisade in full marching order. Digital copy of photograph from a personal album of Lieutenant General JJT Hobbs.hennecourt, somme, 5th division, world war 1

Two copies of French family magazine, 'La Mode Illustree',dating from 1903. Issue: No. 15, 12 April 1903; and, No.24, 14 June 1903. Issues feature tennis fashions. Materials: Paper, Ink, Stringtennis

Taken in the 1950s, this picture is of two veterans of the First World War, Colonel Sir William Leggatt and Brigadier Sir Lionel Harris who fought together in France over 30 years prior. The two men were invested by the Queen at Buckingham palace as Knights, a prestigious honour for Australian soldiers, who for another 20 years would have no official recognition by the Australian government through the 'Order of Australia.' This image showcases the role of Australian service members who fought during the first world war being honoured by the British Government, personally meeting the Queen. Black and white photograph accompanied by text below taken from a NewspaperObverse: VICTORIA'S Agent-General, Colonel Sir William Leggatt (right) and his old / cobber's Brigadier Sir Lionel Harris, outside Buckingham Palace yesterday after hav- / ing received the accolade form the Queen. Thirty-two years ago as sergeant and private / they shared a trench in France. Yesterday as they waited to be knighted by the / Queen, Sir William said, "if anyone had told us then that we were ever going to / meet like this, we would have thought he was off his block. - Today's radiophoto / Reverse: 6539 (in pencil) / burke museum, beechworth, beechworth museum, world war one, military album, trenches, nighted, queen, buckingham palace, wwi, sir william leggatt, sir lionel harris

Bertie Ernest Albert Henderson was born at Naringal in 1891 and was 24 at the time of enlistment. He fought in France and died from injuries in France on June 1, 1918. The entries relate to matters which relate to military procedures and duties, places visited in France and England, time spent at the front and on leave.For Australia, as for many nations, the First World War remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.* Australian War Memorial Website Bertie Henderson was but one of these casualties and this diary gives an insight into the life of the average soldier. He records events from the mundane to conditions common to the war experience. Front page has photograph and typed enlistment details, followed by copy of enlistment paper and numerous pages of typed diary entries dated from July 1916. Other entries give day only with no year. Back cover has basic family tree.warrnambool, naringal, ernest albert henderson, 5th pioneer batallion, world war 1, amiens, crouy-sur somme

This photograph depicts a soldier, credited on the reverse as Fred Foster. The young man is dressed in military attire and is standing tall with a gun beside him. He is located in the Australian bush and the date of the photograph is unknown. Frederick “Fred” Arthur Foster was nephew to famous Bushranger Edward “Ned” Kelly. He was born on the 15th of March 1889 in Forbes, New South Wales. He was the eldest son of Catherine “Kate” Kelly and William Henry “Bricky” Foster. After the death of his mother in October of 1898 from apparent drowning, Foster (then aged 9) was raised by his grandmother Ellen Kelly (née Quinn) at Eleven Mile Creek in Victoria. On the 29th of June 1915, 26 year old Foster travelled to Melbourne, Victoria and enlisted in the Australian Army. He was a Private in the 17th Infantry Battalion (originally C.Company, 47th battalion). He previously was attached to the 55th Battalion but transferred in 1916. Prior to enlisting in the army, Foster worked as a Bee Keeper and served in the 16th Light Horse regiment at Benalla. Foster had blue eyes, brown hair and was of Presbyterian faith. On the 28th of February 1917, Foster travelled to France aboard SS “Golden Eagle”. He was killed in action in Lagnicourt, France on the 15th of April 1917 at 28 years old. The Battle in Lagnicourt France, on the Western Front, occurred from the 1st of March to the 30th of April of 1917 and was the location of fierce fighting between Germany and the British Empire. Germany became aware of a weakness they had along the Hindenburg Line, one of these weaknesses was located in Lagnicourt which is a small village in Northern France. Therefore, the Germans decided to launch a counter-attack in this area on the 15th of April at dawn. During this fight, German forces captured several batteries of the 1st Australian Division’s artillery but the Australians led a strong counter-attack by four of their battalions and recaptured the village and most of the guns from the German forces. German forces were forced into a premature withdrawal. This battle was not undertaken in typical WW1 “trench” style warfare. Instead, the battle was up on the ground in what was described as “old open style warfare”. In this battle, slightly more than 1000 casualties were Australian, with 300 of these prisoners of war. German forces suffered a loss of over 2300 casualties with 360 taken captive. Foster was one of 43 in his regiment who died, 87 were wounded and 51 reported missing. Foster was buried at location in Lagnicourt and whilst the grave was initially marked, it is now unknown. Foster’s service, alongside those who fell at Lagnicourt, is commemorated at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France along with other national Australian memorial sites.Photography played an important part in World War 1. Photographs of men in their military uniforms served as propaganda during the Great War to reassure civilians back at home of the military prowess of their nation and the bravery of their men. It did this while hiding the true horrors which faced the men in battle. These photographs, which includes those taken at home prior to embarking overseas like Fred Foster’s, act as censored memory for those who have lost a loved one at war. It enables families to remember their relatives in their youth and standing proudly rather than having to face the actual danger and horror which faced these men at the front line. The battle of Lagnicourt France was a victory for the European Empire and therefore, men who lost their lives protecting their countries became heroes and were awarded posthumous medals for their service. Photos of soldiers in their uniforms, were undertaken by men like Foster, so their families would be able to retain their memories and likeness before they embarked for war. Many men were killed or horribly wounded so these images were important for reminding families about their sons/ husbands/ brothers/ cousins and friends. This photo is a part of the Burke Museum Kelly album which includes numerous photographs relating to the Kelly Gang. As the son of Kate Kelly and William “Bricky” Foster, Fred Foster is an important part of the Kelly story after the execution of Edward “Ned” Kelly which has information it can impart relating to the history of the family after 1880. Whilst an important element of the Kelly Album, Foster’s photograph is also historically important in its own right for its connection to the Great War and the experiences of a soldier at the Western Front.Original sepia rectangular photograph developed on matte photographic paper, unmounted.Reverse: (Top right corner of reverse:) FRED FOSTER/ (Top centre of reverse:) Kate Kelly's son.kelly album, fred foster, kate kelly, photograph, australian soldier, the kelly gang, australian bush, burke museum, sepia photo, gum trees, family of the kelly gang, world war i, langnicourt, france, great war, 1917, ned kelly, frederick foster, william "bricky" foster, ellen kelly, military history, australian military

Items in the collection relating to Lt Col Jack Swatton Regt No 4905, refer Cat No 6719.2P for his extensive service records and RSL. Refer to 6683.7P.This is a set of black and white photos showing scenes from WW1. A lot of snow can be seen in most photos. They depict small group of soldiers, civilians, church, cemeteries, trains and farms.passchendaele barracks trust, ww1, france, belgium

Soft cover book. Soft cover cardboard. Blacks, blue and white print on front, spine and books. Front and back covers illustrated montage of black and white, sepia photographs of battle scene. 176 pages - cut, plain, white. Illustrated black and white photographs and maps.Book on the Battle of Hamel.books, ww1, battle, france

Postcard,WW1, sepia photo of what could have been a battle field with a forest in the background. Smoke is seen rising above the trees. Location not known. Handwritten in pencil on the back - G37 and GSpostcard, ww1, france, battlefield

Postcard, WW1, B&W photo of a field bakery. Piles of timber next to a row of ovens. Several bakers standing next to ovens, one carrying a tray of bread. Other loaves sitting on trestles. Three army officers standing to the left. All men facing the camera. Location not known. Handwritten in pencil on the back - Feldbackerei (twice) and GSpostcard, ww1, france, bakery

Postcard, WW1, B&W photo of a group of 8 soldiers inside an office room. Seven standing and one sitting at tables in foreground. Folders on shelves in background. Location not known.postcard, postcard, france, soldiers