This felt rat is significant because it is a unique, handmade mascot carried by an Australian soldier at Tobruk. The soldiers were called 'the rats of Tobruk'. He gave it to an ambulance driver, a local Frankston woman, who treasured it.This is a handstitched felt toy rat. It is made from light brown and pale green felt with pink embroidery thread blanket stitching. The facial features are made from felt. It has a pale green grograine ribbon neck tie. The stuffing is very firm.This item is handmade with no inscription or markings.1942, england, trench art, australian soldier, rat of tobruck, felt toy, handstitched, blanket stitch, ambulance driver, j pickles, f a n y

The lapel badge was worn to signify membership of the Ladies' Harbour Lights Guild. This badge was issued to honorary workers. In the earliest days this status indicated the member as a 1 guinea subscriber to The Harbour Light Guild. "Worker" members subscribed just a shilling but were required to contribute time at the Mission with hosting and facility maintenance. The form of logo indicates this badge as possibly dating back to the 1930s. Donated by Rosalea GreenwoodThe Ladies' Harbour Lights Guild was instrumental in securing funds to construct the current building at 717 Flinders Street. They were also dedicated volunteers who organised many social functions and events to offer visiting seafarers an opportunity to relax, have fun and socialise away from the ship. The LHLG which became known as the harbour Lights Guild after WW2 amalgamated with the Flying Angels in the 1960s, therefore these badges are primarily of historical interest. Small round lapel badge denoting Ladies Harbour Lights Guild and its association with Mission to Seamen (Mission to Seafarers). The badge incorporates the logo flag of Mission to Seamen. This badge is for an "honorary worker".Gold lettering around the edge of the badge: "HONORARY WORKER" Gold lettering inside central Mission flag: "THE MISSION/TO SEAMEN" enamel, metal, volunteers, badges, social, functions, visits, lhlg, ladies harbour lights guild, mission to seamen, rosalea greenwood, father hatters, david greenwood, station officer, honorary worker, membership, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission, rats of tobruk, madang, papua new guniea, png, a.i.f.

A poem written during the Tobruk campaign of WW2.This is an example of the humour displayed by Australian troops during the siege of Tobruk.An A4 photocopy of an article.Nilrats of tobruk, poems, ww2, world war 2, north africa

HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970's.This photograph depicts a typical soldier portrait of WWII. Mervyn was a patient and died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.Replica sepia toned portrait photograph of WWII soldier Mervyn Hutchins. mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, caulfield, 2/23rd battalion, vx27912

HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970's.Mervyn Thomas was a patient at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital Four medals with ribbons. Star (.1), Star (.2), Silver (.3), Silver (.4) awarded to Mervyn Hutchins56.1 Front Crown Emblem. GRJ / VI / The 1939 - 1945 STAR 5.1 Back VX27912 M.A.T. HUTCHINS 56.2 Front Crown Emblem. GRJ / VI / The AFRICA STAR Back VX27912 M.A.T. HUTCHINS 56.3 Bare head effigy King George VI facing left. GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP. Back shows the Royal Crown resting on an oak sapling, flanked by a lion and a lioness above waves. At the top left is the year "1939" and at the top right the year "1945". The exergue has the words "THE DEFENCE MEDAL" in two lines. 56.4 Front crowned effigy of King George VI, facing left and signed "PM" below neck. Around the perimeter is the legend "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP:" Back The reverse shows a lion standing wanton on the body of a double-headed dragon. Top right are the years "1939" and "1945" in two lines. "ECRP" near the rim at the nine o'clock positionmervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, caulfield, 2/23rd battalion, vx27912, 1939-1945 star, star of africa, defence medal, war medal, wwii

This items identify Mervyn Hutchins war experience. Mervyn served in the 2/23rd Battalion, was sent to Tobruk and was a patient at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.Ring "TOBRUK", tie pin and button with pin fastenermervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, 2/23rd battalion, tobruk ring

These items were made as part of an occupational therapy group at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital post WWII. Two matching stuffed toy bears in cream coloured lambswool, with button eyes, handsewn. One smalller than the other.mervyn hutchins collection, rats of tobruk, heidelberg repatriation hospital, occupational therapy

A white banner with three coloured emblem/badges printed on it. Left to right - Badge of Royal Australian Engineers in gold and silver. Gold wreath and crossed swords, Latin blue/purple ribbon top, red/god crown, RAE and red ribbonbanner, royal australian engineers, rae, tunnel rats

Australian tunnel rat in full combat uniform standing holding a rifletunnel rats, tunnel

There were hundreds of kilometers of tunnels and the Viet Cong used them for living and sleeping quarters, hospitals, arms factories and storage depots. Diorama of Viet Cong tunnel system over four levels in cut away aspectBrass plaque - Manufactured by members of the North West Sub Branch Education Team. P. Austin, J. Forster, M. Zukowski, G .O'Donovan. Presented to the VVAA Museum by the members of the North West Sub Branch, Melbourne. Vietnam Veteran's Association of Australia.diorama, tunnels, tunnel rats, viet cong, cu chi

An original painting of s soldier holding a torch looking down in a tunnelpainting, vietnam lest we forget, tunnel rats

One of the more remarkable but little known campaigns of the vietnam War was fought inside the 200 miles of secret tunnel networks around Saigon between Viet Cong guerrillas and special American forces known as "Tunnel Rats" guerrillas - vietnam - cu chi, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - vietnam - cu chi

The first tunnel rats: this is the thrilling, hilarious and inspiring true story of a ragtag band of Aussie Army Engineers who redefined the word heroes...and reinvented larrikin to. Amongst the first Australians to fight in Vietnam, they faced death every day defusing Viet Cong booby traps - then partied all night in a casino they'd built in secret. They led hundreds of American troops to safety, but fought the US military police to a standstill in the bars of South Vietnam. They built the Australian Task Force's base - then sabotaged a headquarters conference, booby trapped showers and blew up a generator rather than kowtow to newly arrived officers.3 field troop royal australian engineers, cpl bob bowtell, tunnel rats, royal australian engineers, 1rar battalion, booby traps, viet cong, australian task force

This is the thrilling, hilarious and inspiring true story of a ragtag band of Aussie Army Engineers who redefined the word heroes...and reinvented larrikin too.australia. australian army. royal engineers, australia. australian army. royal engineers. field troop, 3., tunnels - vietnam - cu chi (quan), tunnel rats

The tunnels of Cu Chi were the battlegound for the most harrowing campaign of the Vietnam War.tunnels - vietnam, tunnel rats 1965-1971, tunnels - vietnam - cu chi (quan), viet cong guerrillas, tunnel rats

In the Vietnam War the 'tunnel rats' became famous. It all began on 'Operation Crimp' in January 1966 when US paratroopers and Australian infantry and engineers captured a Vietcong headquarters, in an extensive network of tunnels, some going down to four or more levels, containing munitions and 100,000 documents. 1961-1975- regimental histories - australian, operation crimp, vietcong, 1st battalion, the royal australian regiment

One of the more remarkable but little known campaigns of the Vietnam War was fought inside the 200 miles of secret tunnel networks around Saigon between Viet Cong guerrillas and special American forces known as "Tunnel Rats". guerrillas - vietnam - cu chi, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - vietnam - cu chi, tunnel rats

One of the more remarkable but little known campaigns of the Vietnam War was fought inside the 200 miles of secret tunnel networks around Saigon between Viet Cong guerrillas and special American forces known as "Tunnel Rats". guerrillas - vietnam - cu chi, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - vietnam - cu chi, tunnel rats

One of the more remarkable but little known campaigns of the Vietnam War was fought inside the 200 miles of secret tunnel networks around Saigon between Viet Cong guerrillas and special American forces known as "Tunnel Rats".guerrillas - vietnam - cu chi, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - vietnam - cu chi, tunnel rats

One of the more remarkable but little known campaigns of the Vietnam War was fought inside the 200 miles of secret tunnel networks around Saigon between Viet Cong guerrillas and special American forces known as "Tunnel Rats".guerrillas - vietnam - cu chi, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - vietnam - cu chi, tunnel rats

In the Vietnam War the 'tunnel rats' became famous. It all began on 'Operation Crimp' in January 1966 when US paratroopers and Australian infantry and engineers captured a Vietcong headquarters, in an extensive network of tunnels, some going down to four or more levels, containing munitions and 100,000 documents.vietnam war, 1961-1975- regimental histories - australian, operation crimp, 1st battalion, the royal australian regiment

In the Vietnam War the 'tunnel rats' became famous. It all began on 'Operation Crimp' in January 1966 when US paratroopers and Australian infantry and engineers captured a Vietcong headquarters, in an extensive network of tunnels, some going down to four or more levels, containing munitions and 100,000 documents. vietnam war, 1961-1975- regimental histories - australian, operation crimp, us paratroopers, 1st battalion, the royal australian regiment

A Storybord on Gerard Wallbridge "Tunnel Rat" (Field engineer) Nui Dat, December 1969 - December 1970. Service Number 3796386, 1st Field Squadronstoryboard, 1st field squadron, nui dat, behind the wire, tunnel rats, gerard wallbridge

A black and white photograph Gerard Wallbridge "Tunnel Rat" (Field engineer) Nui Dat, December 1969 - December 1970. Service Number 3796386, 1st Field Squadronbehind the wire, photograph, gerard wallbridge, tunnel rats, 1st field squadron, nui dat

Storyboard of Darryel Binns "Tunnel Rat" (Field Engineer) Nui Dat, July 1970 - July 1971. Service Number 62025, 1st Field Squadronstoryboard, darryel binns, nui dat, tunnel rats, 1st field squadron

A black and white photograph of Darryel Binns "Tunnel Rat" (Field Engineer) Nui Dat, July 1970 - July 1971. Service Number 62025, 1st Field Squadronphotograph, behind the wire, darryel binns, tunnel rats, nui dat, 1st field squadron

Photograph of male soldier while stationed at Tobruk during WWII.Black and white photograph of male soldier in a desert. He is in uniform with arms and pants rolled up. He is also wearing a helmet. Back: "Tobruk / 'ello! / Bunq of ... Inn"tobruk, rats of tobruk, wwi, photograph