non-fictionA detailed history of the Mortlock family, from their convict and then successful settler ancestor, Thomas John Mortlock, through succeeding generations of high-country settlers. Later branches of the family settled in the Castlemaine area, Wagga Wagga and Bethanga near Wodonga, Victoria. The history is profusely illustrated with maps, family photographs provided by Maud Cadman. There is some detail of the methods of settling the high country of the Monaro before the new Land Acts of 1861 and anecdotal reference to one family member running the Post Office at the Prisoner of War Camp at Cowra during World War IImortlock family, high country, bethanga, thomas mortlock, monaro

This photograph depicts flooding of Ozone Avenue in Beaumaris, located off Balcombe Road. Roads in the Beaumaris area lacked sufficient drains to clear surface water. In many cases streets were unsealed and without footpaths and some were dirt tracks. Gutters and road surfaces were made of clay and in the wetter months of winter, unsealed roads and tracks became impossible quagmires that were unnavigable for vehicles and pedestrians. In the first decade after World War II there was rapid expansion in construction of new houses in the suburb of Beaumaris. Utilities and infrastructure to support the growth of housing was inadequate and not provided for prior to the development of the area. Without rudimentary drainage, flooding was frequent. Storm water runoff, domestic sullage and septic tank overflow would form large pools and families were sometimes marooned within their homes. The frequent flooding caused isolation and hardship and residents endured difficulties with accessibility to facilities. These disadvantages had the potential to cause social issues for the new residents.Black and white photograph of flooding in Ozone Avenue, Beaumaris. The image shows floodwaters with boggy and rough terrain on an unsealed road with housing in the distance.Handwritten in blue ink: 2124 circled Handwritten in red ink: 80% Handwritten in blue ink on yellow Post-It note: Chap 6. underlined, 2194 Ozone Ave Beaumaris 1958beaumaris, ozone avenue, balcombe road, flooding, roads, infrastructure

Members of the local community have gathered to plant an avenue of honour. Through community fundraising, funds for over 140 trees had been raised.An avenue of honour was planted after World War I (WWI) to commemorate those from the area who had died during service. The arboreal Avenue of Honour has been an enduring and highly popular form of public commemoration of military service in Australia. With a significant groundswell of community endeavour, as a nation, Australians have chosen to recognise service, sacrifice and suffering through community plantings of memorial Avenues of Honour. The earliest recorded Avenues of Honour were created in response to Australia’s participation in the Boer War, but the majority were established during and after World War I and, to a lesser extent, World War II. (https://avenuesofhonour.org/about/)A group of about eleven (11) people, including children and a baby, have gathered to plant trees along to create an avenue of honour for the fallen of World War I (WWI). From left to right: Moss Daff, Mr Stratford, Alice Edwards, Len Alln with Ron Allan, Mrs Wood (sen), Mrs Wood (jnr) with baby, name unrecorded, Mr McKittrick and Maud Edwards. White round sticker with black printed text on reverse: 99 Handwritten in red ink: 50%cheltenham, world war i, commemoration, avenue of honour

Ill, p.200.non-fictionThe Royal Australian Navy during World War Tworoyal australian navy - history, world war 1939-1945 - naval operations - australia

Sarah Coventry Pty. Ltd. was a North American jewellery company that was established in 1949 by the Stuart family as part of Emmons Jewelry, Inc. It began operations in England and Australia in 1968, and in Australia it moved from Carlton in Melbourne to Wodonga in 1969. The premises were originally on High St. in Wodonga, but a new warehouse was built in Melbourne Rd in 1969. It was a direct selling jewellery business using a party-plan model similar to Tupperware and Avon. The sales reps or 'Hostesses' were provided with jewellery samples in demonstration kits, which they displayed at jewellery parties in their homes. The designs for jewellery such as brooches, necklaces, earrings, chokers and bracelets were purchased from freelance designers and jewellery manufacturers rather than in-house designers. In 1979 Sarah Coventry Pty. Ltd. in Wodonga was bought by three Australian businessmen, including Wodonga local Jim Sawyer, and continued to sell jewellery under the name "Sargem Pty. Ltd”, for several more years in the 1980s.As part of the Sarah Coventry collection, this item has local significance with the decentralised commercial development of regional centres such as Wodonga in NE Victoria, as well as national and international significance from the perspective of social and economic developments for women after World War II. The direct selling party-plan business model Sarah Coventry was based on is also considered the first of its kind for jewellery.A small silver plate elephant on a double linked chain. A diamond shape at the end of the chain bears the company logo. A trademark is also imprinted underneath the bottom of the feet.Under foot: SARGEM On Diamond shaped link: SARAH COV/ CANADAsarah coventry, sarah coventry wodonga

Photograph of Private later Corporal Sperry Bodsworth born 27/8/1909. In 1940 aged 30 years he enlisted in the Army and assigned to the 2/21 Battalion. On 13/12/1941 the Battalion was deployed from Darwin to Ambon in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, to form part of "Gull Force". The Battle of Ambon occurred between 30 January to 3 February, 1942. In April 1942 Bodsworth was listed as missing and on 1/6/1942 was reported as a Prisoner of War. Bodsworth was awarded a Mention in Despatches.The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942) occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), during World War II. Japan invaded and conquered the island in a few days, facing Dutch, American and Australian forces. The chaotic and sometimes bloody fighting was followed by a series of major Japanese war crimes. Allied casualties in the battle were relatively light. However, at intervals for a fortnight after the surrender, Japanese personnel chose more than 300 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war at random and summarily executed them, at or near Laha airfield. In part, this was revenge for the sinking of the Japanese minesweeper, as some surviving crew of the minesweeper took part.. Three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Of the 582 who remained on Ambon, 405 died. They died of overwork, malnutrition, disease and one of the most brutal regimes among camps in which bashings were routine. Blood Oath, a 1990 Australian feature film is based on the real-life trial of Japanese soldiers for war crimes committed against Allied prisoners of war on the island of Ambon, in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), such as the Laha massacre of 1942.Brown timber frame containing black and white photograph of WW2 Soldier wearing slouch hatww2, gull force, ambon, sperry bodsworth, pow

This photograph depicts HMAT Nestor departing Melbourne 2nd October 1916 with Australian Troops During WW1 HMAT Nestor mainly carried troops to England including the 6th reinforcements of the 57th 58th & 60th Battalions, 16th reinforcements of the 21st 22nd 23rd & 24th Battalions and 21st reinforcements of the 5th 6th 7th & 14th Battalions.During World War I HMAT Nestor was a troopship for the Australian Expeditionary Force, and in World War II evacuated British children to Australia. She completed her final round voyage to Australia in 1950. Carved timber frame containing sepia coloured photograph of ship being towed by tug boat from wharf crowded with people HMAS NESTOR Departed Melbourne 2nd October, 1916 History on paper attached to glass,hmat nestor, troopship

Index, ill, maps, p.264.non-fictionA history of the railwaymen who volunteered to work on the Commonwealth railways North Australia Railway from Darwin to Birdum in the Northern Territory during World War II.commonwealth railways (australia) -- history., railroad operations in war - australia - history

ill, maps, p.208.non-fictionThe Iron Roads of the Australian Outback - the legendary Commonwealth Railways were built through some of the harshest landscapes on Earth. They were railways like no other, where men and women battled extreme temperatures, flash floods and maddening isolation to keep the trains running. This publication is the culmination of 25 years of Outback exploration, research, photography and interviews by author Nick Anchen. The result is a diverse book which brings to life both the beauty and harshness of the Australian Outback, through a collection of fascinating and historic images, along with the memories of former Commonwealth Railways employees. Following an introductory chapter on the vastness and grandeur of the Australian interior - highlighted by the memoirs of 1950s flying doctor Macarthur Job - the book delves into the story of the Central Australia Railway. This was the line built through the 'back of beyond' - the forbidding desert country of South Australia and the Northern Territory. It was here that operators of famous trains such as The Ghan battled searing heat, dust storms and raging floodwaters to keep the trains running. The chapter includes stories by well known Ghan conductor 'Aspro' Lyons, and 'Piano Playing Chef' Paddy Greenfield - along with enginemen Wolf Markowski and John Theel, both of whom worked trains on this famous railway. The story of the North Australia Railway - 'The Line to Nowhere' - is the tale of a ramshackle railway which came alive during the dark days of World War II. The memoirs of wartime engineman Jim Prentice are eye opening, as are the hair raising accounts of surviving Tropical Cyclone Tracy, as told by rolling stock foreman Bill Donaldson. The Trans-Australian Railway was built across one of the harshest and loneliest environments on Earth - the vast Nullarbor Plain. Stories from enginemen Jack Slattery and Ron Howrie, along with Nullarbor resident and roadmaster's wife Cathy Beek, tell not only of the rudimentary living conditions and maddening isolation, but of the great camaraderie amongst the railway people who kept trains such as the Trans-Australian and the Tea and Sugar running. As well as examining the ruins and relics from the long-closed CR narrow gauge lines, the book also includes a chapter on the much-loved Pichi Richi Railway - the last surviving portion of that great Transcontinental Railway dream from another age. commonwealth railways (australia) -- history., central australia railway -- history.

With the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki destroyed by atomic weapons, the will of the Japanese leadership was tested Emperor Showa of Japan announced his intention to surrender to the Allies unconditionally over public radio on 15 Aug 1945. The date of Japan's formal surrender was 2 Sep 1945, and it took place aboard American battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. There were other surrender ceremonies including that on Sept 6 1945. At 0900 hours, sloop HMS Hart picked up Hitoshi Imamura and Jinichi Kusaka at Kabanga Bay, who would sign the surrender documents aboard HMS Glory at 1127 hours which surrendered 139,000 remaining personnel at Rabaul plus all forces in Australian territory in the South Pacific. The surrender of Imperial Japan was announced on August 15 and formally signed on September 2, 1945, bringing the hostilities of World War II to a close. The surrender ceremony at Rabaul, New Britain took place on 6 Sep 1945 aboard the British carrier HMS Glory surrendering 139,000 remaining personnel at Rabaul plus all forces in Australian territory in the South Pacific. Light brown frame with glass, of a black and white photocopy. Script is very ornate and has Japanese lettering at the bottom. Instument of Surrender of Japanese Forces in New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville and adjacent Islands. I the Commander in Chief of the Japanese Imperial Southeastern Army, hereby surrender to the General Officer Commanding First Australian Army all Japanese Armed Forces under my command in accordance with the Instrument of Surrender issued by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and Government and General Order No.1 Military and Naval issued by the Japanese imperial General Headquarters. I will henceforth and until otherwise directed by you or your successor carry out the orders issued by you or your staff on your behalf to the best of my ability and I will take action to ensure that my subordinate commanders carry out the orders issued by your representatives. Commander in Chief Japanese Imperial Southeastern Army. Received on board H.M.S. Glory off Rabaul at 1130 hours sixth day of September 1945. Lieutenant General General Officer Commanding First Australian Army.wwii, world war 2, imperial japanese army, japanese army, surrender, rabaul

Members of the 2/24th Battalion marching in Wangaratta. The Unit was raised in Wangaratta in July 1940 and the photograph was taken in late 1940 prior to overseas deployment to the middle east during WW2The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour. Reproduced photograph of soldiers marching along street lined with parked vehiclesHandwritten on rear - 2/24th Marching in Wangaratta late 19402/24th battalion, wangaratta, ww2

Black bound book with silver writing on spine. Dust jacket has collage of photographs on front, spine is black with white writing on it.non-fiction'Mercy trains - Australian Army Ambulance trains during World War II recounts the hitherto untold story of trains provided by Australia's State railway departments to convey the tens of thousands of the armed force's sick and wounded needing transportation across the continent. Conceived as large-scale ambulances to evacuate battle casualties suffered on Australian soil in the event of a landing by enemy forces, their role changed when Australia was spared the trauma of invasion. Instead, the trains becam mobile hospitals: their task to convey invalids from all allied (and enemy) forces to medical centres throughout the nation. One major assignment was to bring south from Queensland casualties evacuated from the battlefields of Papua-New Guinea, whose numbers reached crisis proportions at the close of 1942 and into early 1943. The trains were operated by United States Army personnel for twelve months, one in New South Wales and one in Queensland. Author Jim Harvey spent three years searching through Army (both Australian and U.S.) and railway department files and what he found was a story of demanding military, a penny-pinching government prepared to endanger the lives of train staff rather than permit necessary improvements, some railway operating problems, fires, more than a fair share of floods, a bombing attack, examples of a generosity from caring local communities, a dexicated staff of doctors, nurses, medical orderlies and cooks, supported at all times by sympathetic railwayment of all grades.' [from inside front dust jacked]australian nurses, world war two, wwii, ww2, papua new guinea, pacific theatre, homefront, australia

251 p. : blue-green cover with brown spine. Section of original dust jacket pasted to front, summary of story pasted inside front cover.fictionRomantic fiction set during World War II.fiction, romance, carol gaye

One of a series of sketches in 1943 by war artist Geoffrey Mainwaring while covering the war in the Pacific. Mainwaring went on to take charge of the Art department at the School of Mines Ballarat, SMB now Federation University.war, landing craft, mainwaring, ballarat smb, sketch, war in the pacific, new guinea, war artist

Gloss hard cover, no book jacket with illustration of ships under attacknon-fictionTracing the history of hospital ships from the Spanish Armada to the Gulf War, but with special and detailed reference to the Australian hospital ships in World War II: Manunda, Wanganella, Centaur and Oranje. [Trove]hospital ships, medical care, world war i, wwi, wwii

Gloss hard cover, no book jacket with illustration of ships under attacknon-fictionTracing the history of hospital ships from the Spanish Armada to the Gulf War, but with special and detailed reference to the Australian hospital ships in World War II: Manunda, Wanganella, Centaur and Oranje. [Trove]hospital ships, medical care, world war i, wwi, wwii, world war 2

Colour front cover, drawn image of people carrying a pole with a rectangular bucket suspended on the pole, the people wear hats and the sky is an orangey colour. Back cover has some quotes from nurses featured in the book as well as a blurb describing the book. Book is covered in clear contact.non-fiction"Hunger and humiliation were just some of the privations endured by those members of the Australian Army Nursing Service who were captives of the Japanese during World War II. Of the thirty-two held in Sumatra and on Banka Island, twenty-four survived the severe physical conditions in the prison camps. Another group captured in Rabaul were held in Japan, where the cold was as bitter as their hunger. This is the dramatic account of those Australian nurses, of their struggles and their support for each other through the long years of war and captivity. In includes the horrifying story of Vivian Bullwinkel, the sole survivor of the callous massacre on Banka Island where twenty-three women were ordered into the sea and shot. It records the degradation of the daily 'tenko', the starvation and appalling lack of hygiene, but also tells how the women were at times able to rise above these miseries through their concerts and the soaring harmonies of the voice choir. Catherine Kenny interviewd many of the nurses and collected photographs, diaries and letters from the Australian War Memorial as well as from the women themselves." Blurb on back cover of book.wwii, world war 2, world war two, japan, pow, pows, prisoners of war, prisoner of war, australian army nursing service, mitliary nursing, australian army

Colour front cover, drawn image of people carrying a pole with a rectangular bucket suspended on the pole, the people wear hats and the sky is an orangey colour. Back cover has some quotes from nurses featured in the book as well as a blurb describing the book. non-fiction"Hunger and humiliation were just some of the privations endured by those members of the Australian Army Nursing Service who were captives of the Japanese during World War II. Of the thirty-two held in Sumatra and on Banka Island, twenty-four survived the severe physical conditions in the prison camps. Another group captured in Rabaul were held in Japan, where the cold was as bitter as their hunger. This is the dramatic account of those Australian nurses, of their struggles and their support for each other through the long years of war and captivity. In includes the horrifying story of Vivian Bullwinkel, the sole survivor of the callous massacre on Banka Island where twenty-three women were ordered into the sea and shot. It records the degradation of the daily 'tenko', the starvation and appalling lack of hygiene, but also tells how the women were at times able to rise above these miseries through their concerts and the soaring harmonies of the voice choir. Catherine Kenny interviewd many of the nurses and collected photographs, diaries and letters from the Australian War Memorial as well as from the women themselves." Blurb on back cover of book.wwii, world war 2, world war two, japan, pow, pows, prisoners of war, prisoner of war, australian army nursing service, mitliary nursing, australian army

187 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits, facsimilesnon-fictionCanterbury: A History covers the history of the suburb of Canterbury, Victoria from its Aboriginal history as part of the country of the Wurundjeri people to its completed development as a middle-class suburb by the late 1950s. The book had been a labour of love by esteemed historian, Don Gibb, for many years. Don’s sudden death in late 2017 left the manuscript uncompleted. The Canterbury History Group and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, together with Don’s family, were determined to see Don’s book completed and published. Jill Barnard contributed the final two chapters dealing with the inter war and post-World War II decades.canterbury, canterbury history, residential development, maling road, gibb> don

This photograph is part of series depicting Allan Quinn's travels through San Francisco in 1949. This photograph shows the Golden Gate Bride and the San Francisco Bay.This is a photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection which is a collection of letters and photograph depicting aspects of life at sea for a young man in the era immediately following World War II.A black and white photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco Bay, dated 9-11-49.Reverse: 9-11-49 (handwritten in blue ink) / B /K8 (upside down, handwritten in pencil).allan-quinn, photograph, san-francisco, golden-gate-bridge, 1949, allan charles quinn (1928-1990)

On the night of 30-31 January 1942 this small force of 1131 Australian soldiers were stationed at Ambon, an island which formed part of the Netherland East Indies (now Indonesia). An invasion of approximately 20,000 Japanese overwhelmed Gull Force and the majority of the Australian soldiers were taken prisoner. The execution of 229 at Laha, starvation, over work, disease and the absence of medical supplies led to horrific loss. At the cessation of hostilities only 352 of the original 1131 had made it back to Australia. 779 members of Gull Force made the supreme sacrifice and now lie in foreign fields. The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942) occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), during World War II. Japan invaded and conquered the island in a few days, facing Dutch, American and Australian forces. The chaotic and sometimes bloody fighting was followed by a series of major Japanese war crimes. Allied casualties in the battle were relatively light. However, at intervals for a fortnight after the surrender, Japanese personnel chose more than 300 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war at random and summarily executed them, at or near Laha airfield. In part, this was revenge for the sinking of the Japanese minesweeper, as some surviving crew of the minesweeper took part.. Three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Of the 582 who remained on Ambon, 405 died. They died of overwork, malnutrition, disease and one of the most brutal regimes among camps in which bashings were routine. Blood Oath, a 1990 Australian feature film is based on the real-life trial of Japanese soldiers for war crimes committed against Allied prisoners of war on the island of Ambon, in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), such as the Laha massacre of 1942.Brown timber frame with gold coloured inner edge containing badge and tribute on grey backgroundGull Force 2/21 Battalion Ambon Laha In memory of and tribute to the Officers and Men of "Gull Force" comprising of 2/21 Battalion and attached Units.gull force, 2/21 battalion, ambon, ww2

The images depict the formal signing of the surrender of the Japanese Forces at Morotai on September 9 1945.The surrender of Imperial Japan was announced on August 15 and formally signed on September 2, 1945, bringing the hostilities of World War II to a close. There were a number of surrender ceremonies including Morotai on September 9 1945. Morotai Island, was headquarters of the Australian forces in the Netherlands East Indies and before an assembly of more than l0,000 Australian and allied troops the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces (General Sir Thomas Blamey) accepted on the 9 September the formal surrender of all Japanese in the eastern half of the Netherlands East Indies. The instrument of surrender was Japanese signed by Lt-General Teshima, commander of the Japanese Second Army, comprising about 126,000 Japanese.Brown timber frame containing 7 photographs copied on papermorotai, ww2, japanese surrender

Douglas C47 minature plane part of a 25 model aircraft collection made by Brian Anthony DOWD The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front-line service with various military operators for many years.Douglas C47 (DC3) plane. Dark green with large red cross on the top and two smaller ones on the side.White circle containing red plus signmodel airplanes, douglas c47 (dc3) plane

Image relates to the 2/24th Battalion however Iocation and identities of soldiers are unknown.The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour. Reproduced photograph of group of 17 soldiers in two rows with front row kneeling. A large warehouse is in the background.2/24th battalion, wangaratta

In July 1940, the 2/24th Battalion was formed in Wangaratta. On the 27th September, after weeks of hard training the Battalion marched out to Bonegilla to continue training prior to overseas deployment to the Middle East in November, 1940. This image depicts soldiers resting during the 60 mile march.The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour.Reproduced black and white photograph of unknown soldiers sitting on the ground in bush land. Night bivouac enroute to Bonegilla2/24th battalion, wangaratta

In July 1940, the 2/24th Battalion was formed in Wangaratta. On the 27th September, after weeks of hard training the Battalion marched out to Bonegilla to continue training prior to overseas deployment to the Middle East in November, 1940. This image depicts soldiers resting during the 60 mile march.The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour.Reproduced black and white photograph of 4 unknown soldiers sitting on the ground. Resting enroute to Bonegilla2/24th battalion, wangaratta

Image depicts a group of 11 men who served with the 2/24 Battalion during World War 2 attending annual reunion in Wangaratta in November 2003. They include:- Back Row: VX34601 Murray BURLES DOB 12/9/1919 POB Hobart; Bill WILLIAMS VX43349 Leslie HANSEN DOB 26/1/1920 POB Coburg POW 5/1941; VX31699 Alan NICHOLSON DOB 27/10/1918 POB Korumburra POW 1/5/1941; VX15247 Alan MacFARLANE DOB 13/9/1918 POB England; Front Row: VX44006 Robert CLARKE DOB 15/1/1920 POB Glenhuntly; VX48597 Dr Guy ROBERTSON DOB 4/7/1918 POB St Arnaud, RMO VX34767 Thomas ANDERSON DOB 31/5/1914 POB Hamilton POW 5/1941 VX29686 Gordon POIDEVIN DOB 30/3/1917 POB Corowa POW 3/5/1941; VX45356 Douglas GRAY DOB 16/8/1918 POB Bendigo (Bugler) The 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1990 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour.Colour photograph of 11 men standing and seated in two rows 2/24th battalion, wangaratta