HMAS Mk11 endeavours to give something of a picture of this world wide fabric of sea power and the threads therein woven by the Royal Australian Navy. These threads are coloured by experience and tradition of the centuries of the Naval history.Personal recounts from NAVY service personnel by way of stories, poems, cartoons, illustrations and portraitsHMAS - Printed 1951. Inside front and back hardcover is a green background and illustrations of ships and words of places of Navy service. Photographs, illustrations, cartoons, portraits.hmas mk11, naval history

Details of the famous 11 Battalion photo posing on the Cheops Pyramid at Mena 10 miles from Cairo. Also includes a brief history of the Battalion campaigns. Background watermark of the photo of troops on the pyramid. The Battalion returned to Australia at the end of war and was disbanded on 6th of February 1919. Awarded a Kings colour for its service.Famous photo of the 11th Battalion (800 men) posing on the Cheops Pyramid on the 10th of January 1915.Rectangular framed print which describes the famous photo of the 11th AIF Battalion posing on the cheops pyramid (Catalogue item 807)Printed details of the famous 11 Battalion photo posing on the Cheops Pyramid at Mena 10 miles from Cairo. Also includes a brief history of the Battalion campaigns. Background watermark of the photo of troops on the pyramid11th battalion cairo cheops blackboy hill cheops cairo egypt ypres somme

This statement by Eric George Elliott tells how The battle of Beersheba took place on 31 October 1917 as part of the wider British offensive collectively known as the third Battle of Gaza. The final phase of this all day battle was the famous mounted charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. Commencing at dusk, members of the brigade stormed through the Turkish defences and seized the strategic town of Beersheba. The capture of Beersheba enabled British Empire forces to break the Ottoman line near Gaza on 7 November and advance into Palestine.Decisive victory at Beersheba fell to one of the last great charges of mounted troops in history. As Australian Light Horse Divisions captured the town and secured crucial water wells, their success also marked the beginning of the end of the war in the Middle East. This end came exactly a year to the day after success at Beersheba.Rectangular shaped glass covered picture frame with a photocopy of his statement on the charge of Beersheba.ww!, beersheba, statement, photocopy, australian light horse brigade.

On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. These became known as Anzacs and the pride they took in that name continues to this day. This booklet gives a brief rundown on the history of the ANZACS.The Anzacs were courageous and although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy. Rectangular shaped Booklet.ANZACbooklet, anzac, world war one, lara r.s.l.

Booklet produced by Department of Vetran's affairs, Canberra A.C.T. "Their service Our Heritage" -Australians at War.This small booklet , produced under Their Service - Our Heritage highlights how the course of Australia's military history is unextricably intertwwined with our development as a nation.Paper booklet A5 in size produced by Department of Vetran's affairs, Canberra A.C.T. "Their service Our Heritage" -Australians at War - key dates and data since 1901. Contains 60 pages covered by laminated cardboard cover. Included is a page from a note pad from HMAS Junee Association.Cover is made up with artistic impression of the Australian Flag and a symbolized father and Daughter standing at the war memorial. Booklet titled Their Service Our Heritage - Australians at War - Key Dates and Data Since 1901. Included is a page from a note pad from HMAS Junee Association.their service our heritage, produced by derartment of vetran affairs

100 years of ANZACOur Liverpool Boys is a publication that celebrates Liverpool's connection to Australia's military history by sharing biograpgies of a number of soldiers who were born and/or bred in Liverpool and served in the Great War.Message by Ned Mannoun Mayor of Liverpool City.

The booklet gives a brief history of RAAF Base POINT COOK from the inauguration of the Base in 1913, until May 1969History of the Royal Australian Air Force Base Point CookSpiral bound booklet giving a brief history of the RAAF Base Point Cook. White spiral bound with cream covered cardboard front and back covers. Three pages of typed historic information nilraaf, point cook, history of point cook, raaf museum, sir richard williams, captain t.w. white, lt g.p. merz, central flying school point cook, australian air corps, raaf academy

Hardcover. Book has a green cover. The title is in gold lettering on the front cover and spine. The publisher is also on the front cover.non-fictionThe School paper, a monthly publication of the Victorian Education Department, was first introduced into Victorian schools in 1896 for Class III, in response to a perceived need for locally edited and published schoolbooks on Australian topics. The readers were core reading for schoolchildren and contained local content and material written by local authors.victorian education department, school papers, history

Hardcover. Book has a green cover. The title is in gold lettering on the front cover and spine. The publisher is also on the front cover.non-fictionThe School paper, a monthly publication of the Victorian Education Department, was first introduced into Victorian schools in 1896 for Class III, in response to a perceived need for locally edited and published schoolbooks on Australian topics. The readers were core reading for schoolchildren and contained local content and material written by local authors.victorian education department, school papers, history

Hardcover. Book has a green cover. The title is in gold lettering on the front cover and spine. The publisher is also on the front cover.non-fictionThe School paper, a monthly publication of the Victorian Education Department, was first introduced into Victorian schools in 1896 for Class III, in response to a perceived need for locally edited and published schoolbooks on Australian topics. The readers were core reading for schoolchildren and contained local content and material written by local authors.victorian education department, school papers, history

A colour photograph of the entrance to a fire dugout on Mount Margaret near Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of the entrance to a fire dugout on Mount Margaret near Marysville in Victoria. The fire refuge dugout, which developed in the era of bush sawmilling in the early twentieth century, was a distinctive cultural response to the history of fire in the tall Victorian forests. Few dugouts were built in other forest regions of Australia, but those that did exist in these Victorian ranges saved dozens of lives in the fires of Black Friday 1939.27 'Fire Dug out' Mt Margaret April 1960mount margaret, marysville, victoria, fire dugout, sawmilling industry, black friday 1939, bushfire

R.A.A.F. Diamond Jubilee 5/04/1981 Pictures of RAAF history produced framed series of prints of aircraft 1921 to 1981, of which these prints are a example.Pictures (two off ) RAAF Aircraft part of RAAF history from 1921 - 1981.992.1 R.A.A.F. picture of Avro Ab'Intio (AKA Avro 504K) Aircraft Trainer in 1921 - Picture released for R.A.A.F Diamond Jubilee. 992.2 R.A.A.F. picture of CAC Wackett Aircraft Trainer in 1939 - Picture released for R.A.A.F Diamond Jubilee.992.1 Avro Ab'Intio Aircraft Trainer On front of picture lower right corner is details of Avro Ab'Intio in 1921 The R.A.A.F.'s first training Aircraft were the rotary engined Avro 504Ks. Royal Australian Air Force No.2. Picture Title of " RAAF AIRCRAFT 1921 - 1981". 992.2 Naive Native CAC Wackett Trainer. On front of picture lower right corner is details of Naive Native CAC Wackett Trainer of 1939 introduced Monoplane to the RAAF. Royal Australian Air Force No.6. Picture Title of " RAAF AIRCRAFT 1921 - 1981".framed picture r.a.a.f. avro ab'intio aircraft trainer., framed picture naive native cac wackett trainer., pictures of raaf diamond jubilee frames pictures.

Local Newspaper reporting on World War 2 Events - My War Part 14 - Dated 24/5/1941Local News Paper Reporting on World War 2 Events = Special Dated 24/5/1941The Sun Newspaper - Special - My War Part 14 - Reporting on Events - The Tragedy at CreteAustralians Fighting in Crete - Te Tragedy at Creteaustralians fighting in crete, world war 2 history, local newspaper dated 24/5/1941

This is a photograph of CAPT Jack Cullen (Ret) and an unidentified person besides the front steps of Fortuna Villa, Bendigo, c1978. Jack Cullen served for many years in the Royal Australian Survey Corps from 1920 to 1952, after active service with the AIF in WW1. His service at Fortuna began in 1944 when he was a Lieutenant in charge of a map compilation section. Jack Cullen’s service is covered in more detail with additional historic photographs, in Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4This is a photograph of CAPT Jack Cullen (Ret) and an unidentified person at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, c1978. The photograph was printed on photographic paper and is part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photograph was scanned at 300 dpi. Photo, black & white, c1988: L to R: CAPT Jack Cullen (Ret), unidentified person‘Jack Cullen’ is annotated on back of the photoroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

Diary outlining History of Service in WW2 of Ron Morrell No.4985826 1/5 Sherwood Foresters, 18th Division. Joined in England and posted to Singapore where captured as POW and was at Changi. Diary was written in 1986. He later migrated to Australia. Refer Cat No. 316, 305P for details.Home made book of the Diary of Ron Morrell, from enlistment through being a Prisoner of War to discharge. Yellow cardboard cover with title sheet glued on front. Four staples and 45 pages inside contain maps and history of service, all handwritten with some maps and sketches all in black and white.Title on front "Blood, Sweat and Tears by Ron Morrell". Contents are all handwritten.diary, changi, ww2, pow

item in the collection re George Lunn VX76842 2/9 Fld Coy. Refer Cat No 5581 for his service history. As the front 2 pages are half missing the Authors full name is not known, just "Sapper Eric Lock......" It also states he was born in England and spent 4 years in the 2nd AIF.Book, contains 78 pages, page 79 missing, each has a poem the first poem beginning in Orange NSW, B & W photos are added throughout. Poems cover Australia, Africa, Palestine and New Guinea, item held together by 4 staples.books, poetry

Items issued to John Raymond Bruns VX88627, refer Cat No 5592 for his service history..1) .2) Australia shoulder badges brass curved shape attached to cloth kahki colour to fit over shoulder button down. .3) .4) Australia shoulder badges brass curved shape with clip through on the rear.accessory, australia badges, 2nd 38th

items issued to John Raymond Bruns VX88627, refer Cat No 5592 for his service history..1) - .3) Rising sun hat badges, brass with Rising Sun depiction crown centre, scroll under with raised text. .4) .5) Rising sun lapel badges brass, these are a miniature of the hat badges, both have lugs on the rear with pin through.On all, "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces"badges, rising sun, 2nd 38th

The document is the Mid Tour Report by SSGT N.J. Collins RE, a British Army Senior NCO on a two-year exchange to the Army Survey Regiment. A4 size, Stapled, Front cover has a reproduction of a painting of Fortuna Villa in bottom half. Back cover has a difficult to see street scene of Pall Mall, Bendigo with a paragraph describing Bendigo's history superimposed. 19 Pages. The actual Report is contained on Pages 1-16. Annex A is 2 x pages plus a contents page.Green Hi-Light on parts of pages 10 and 11.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

This is a set of 17 photographs taken during the first year of Army occupation at Fortuna, Bendigo in 1942. The photos provide an insight into the preparatory work performed on the Fortuna Villa and surrounding buildings, by the Working Party 5th Army Troop and Ordnance Training Depot, before its occupation by personnel from LHQ Cartographic Company, Royal Australian Survey Corps. The annotation on the back of Photos .9P and .10P is misspelt. The correct spelling is ‘Nell Gwynne’. The poppet head of the Central Nell Gwynne mine is still an iconic landmark in Bendigo, lying just down the road from the poppet head lookout at Victoria Hill. The Central Nell Gwynne was the premier mine of Bendigo's 1930s mining revival and is of high historical value, due to the extensive and relatively intact features which remain at the site. The annotation on the back of Photo .17P is incorrect. The location of HQ 5th Army Troop was ‘Reynard St, Coburg.’ By late 1941 as Japan extended its control throughout Indo-China, resolving the accommodation problem of AHQ Cartographic Company located in Melbourne became more urgent. The steady Japanese advance made the bombing of Melbourne no longer a remote possibility, and in accordance with a general policy of dispersion, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sidney Rowell instructed Major William Sarll, in the interests of security of plant and to provide against possible damage of air attack, to investigate suitable safer inland accommodation for AHQ Cartographic Company. Major Sarll inspected many properties before finding one that would meet the requirements of the Cartographic Company. In late 1941, he came to inspect Fortuna, a rambling old mansion with about fifteen acres of ground in central Bendigo. Initially there was no intention to occupy the site beyond the end of the war, although Major Sarll's report to the Director of Survey noted many advantages in moving the Company to Bendigo. Major General Rowell quickly approved the selection of Fortuna before other authorities, which were investigating the evacuation of school children, could get in ahead of the Cartographic Company. On 23 March 1942, the Commonwealth of Australia, under the provisions of the National Security Act of 1939, took possession of the house, the old battery buildings and the fifteen acres of grounds. Under Warrant Officer J. Trist’s direction, over fifty Parks and Works tradesmen completed building works necessary to accommodate the Survey Corps’ military, map making and printing requirements. The building program was still under way when the first officer, Lieutenant Ralph Westgarth, arrived in May 1942 with the advance party which received and positioned all equipment as it came up from Melbourne in semi-trailers. Once the equipment was installed the rest of the Cartographic Company completed its shift to Bendigo by 11th June 1942. The first year of the Survey Corps’ occupation of Fortuna is covered in more detail with additional historic photographs, in pages 17-22 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a set of 17 photographs taken during the first year of Army Occupation at Fortuna, Bendigo in 1942. The black and white photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Bendigo Parks and Works tradesmen at Fortuna. L to R: Cliff Day, Ernie Arnold, Norm? .2) - Photo, black & white, 1942. “Don” - possibly SGT Don Sutcliffe. Fortuna, Bendigo. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Parks and Works tradesmen in garden at Fortuna, Bendigo. L to R: Fred & Ernie. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Benny Jack Williams at Fortuna, Bendigo. Accommodation tents were erected above the lake, which later became the parade ground. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Working dress - Giggle suits. Parks and Works tradesmen at Fortuna, Bendigo. L to R: Cliff and Harry on big roof. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Parks and Works tradesmen at Fortuna, Bendigo. Ted on big roof. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Gold crusher battery just behind Fortuna. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Scene of Bendigo from Fortuna. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Nell Gwynne Mine from mullock heap at Victoria Hill near Fortuna, Bendigo. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Nell Gwynne Mine and crusher near Fortuna, Bendigo. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Sluicing for gold at Eaglehawk. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo taken from the far side of tennis courts. .13) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo & its reflection from across the lake. .14) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo from the fishpond. .15) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo. .16) - Photo, black & white, 1942. First Fortuna Football Team at unknown location. L to R: 5th Bob Wright, 11th SGT Don Sutcliffe. .17) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Working Party from 5th Army Troop and Ordnance Training Depot at Fortuna, Bendigo.Some personnel are identified. Annotated with date within photos. .1) – Annotated on back ‘Cliff, Ernie, Norm, Dec ‘42. Cliff Day - dairy farmer, plasterers’ labourer. Ernie Arnold – hard plasterer. Norm? - QM Store for tools etc. QM Store was the Stables.’ .2) - Annotated on back ‘Don. Fortuna 1942’ .3) - Annotated on back ‘Fred & Ernie. Dec 1942. Carpenters. Note the state of the gardens.’ .4) - Annotated on back ‘Benny Jack Williams Fortuna Bendigo. Tents were erected where present day parade ground is above the lake.’ .5) - Annotated on back ‘Working dress - Giggle suits. June 42. Cliff and Harry on big roof. This photo was taken as the ventilating ridge was being installed on the building housing the printing machines. The machines were installed later by civilian labour when building was complete.’ .6) - Annotated on back ‘Ted on big roof Fortuna Bendigo.’ .7) - Annotated on back ‘Gold crusher battery – Bendigo for slay heap – 1942. 12 stamp battery. Just behind Fortuna. Was working at night when the “Army” came to Bendigo. Later removed to “Coolgardie - WA. Present site of Southern Cross TV.’ .8) - Annotated on back ‘Scene of Bendigo from Fortuna. June 1942.’ .9) - Annotated on back ‘Nell Gwyne Mine from mullock heap (Victoria Hill) Sept 1942.’ .10) - Annotated on back ‘Nell Gwyne Mine and crusher September 1942.’ .11) - Annotated on back ‘Sluicing for gold at Eaglehawk. August 1942.’ .12) - Annotated on back ‘Fortuna Bendigo 1942. Taken from far side of tennis courts.’ .13) - Annotated on back ‘ “Fortuna” across the lake & reflection.’ .14) - Annotated on back ‘Fortuna from fishpond June 1942.’ .15) - Annotated on back ‘Fortuna Dec 1942.’ .16) - Annotated on front ‘X’ x2. Annotated on back First Fortuna Football Team 1942‘Bob Wright’, ‘SGT Don Sutcliffe’. .17) - Annotated ‘Working Party at Fortuna before one of the drafts’, Working Party 5th Army Troop and Ordnance Training Depot Showgrounds, now the Sportsground Bendigo’, ‘HQ of 5th Army Troop was Reynards Rd, Coburg.’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

Military surveying in New Guinea began in in WWII with the formation of the New Guinea Force Field Survey Section which later became 8th Australian Field Survey Section and later 2 Field Survey Section of 6th Army Topographical Survey Section. This history was written by LT Jack Viccars and member of the Unit.A4 Booklet, Black and white, 43 Pages, 4 Annexes, Map Indexes, Gloss Paper Cover, Bound by staplesForward by Brigadier D. Macdonald (Retd) AM, Royal Australian Survey Corps 1936-1967, Preface by LT Jack J.S. Viccarsroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, asr

This is a set of 12 photographs of contractors removing a vehicle from the lake at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo in September 1986. The Ford XB panel van belonging to WO2 Ted Burgess rolled down the embankment during the night from the SGTs Mess carpark. Despite written off by the insurance company, the panel van was remarkably restored by Ted to roadworthy condition and driven in to Fortuna with a shark’s fin mounted on its roof. This incident is covered in more detail in page 152 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a set of 12 photograph of a civilian vehicle being removed from the lake at Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, September 1986. The photographs were on 35mm negative film and were scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) to .3) - Photo, black & white, 1986. Vehicle removal from lake. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1986. Vehicle removal from lake, Neil Morgan in foreground. .5) to .8) - Photo, black & white, 1986. Vehicle removal from lake. .9) to .10) - Photo, black & white, 1986. Vehicle removal from lake, Neil Morgan on right. .11) to .12) - Photo, black & white, 1986. Vehicle removal from lake.No personnel are identified. Annotated with date on negative sleeve.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

This is a set of 18 photographs of contractors preparing the foundations for the construction of Lithographic Squadron’s new Printing Building at Fortuna, Bendigo on the 2nd of October 1987. The building was purpose built to house a new computer-controlled Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 five colour lithographic offset Printing Press. The print room was named Wayzgoose Hall after a medieval printing house festival. Wayzgoose Hall and the Speedmaster Press printing capability was commissioned by the Commander of the 3rd Military District BRIG P. Davies AM, ADC on Wednesday 27th June 1990. This occasion is covered in more detail in page 145 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a set of 18 photograph of the foundations being prepared for Lithographic Squadron’s new Printing Building, Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, 2nd October 1987. Black and white photos .1P to .4P are on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. Photographs .5P to.18P are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) to .9) - Photo, black & white, 1987. Foundations preparation. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1987. Foundations preparation, Paul Baker. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1987. Foundations preparation, Gary Kerr .12) to .17) - Photo, black & white, 1987. Foundations preparation. .18) - Photo, black & white, 1987. Foundations preparation, Gary Kerr No personnel are identified. Annotated with date on negative sleeve.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, litho, printing

Refer to Cat 6631P J.A. Fleming for his service history. Pte Condic. This would be Pte James Andrew Condick No 15, enlisted 26.2.1916 age 30 years 7 months in D Coy 38th Bn, embark for England 20.6.1916, hospital in England he rejoins 38th Bn in the field on 15.1.1917, transfers to 3rd Div Salvage Coy 21.1.1917, WIA 30.4.1918 Gassed, he returns to Australia late 1919.This is a broad leather belt, made in 2 pieces, hemmed at top and bottom edge. It has a large rectangular buckle which is engraved. The belt has three tarnished silver shields which are engraved. Between the shields are diamond shaped "holes", red, white and blue alternatively. The buckle is engraved. There are blank spaces of 5 missing winner's or other shields.The buckle is engraved: - "Presented to Champion Boxer of 38th Regiment A.I.F. by the Bendigo Independent Pty Ltd. Victoria Australia." On three shields:- 1.”Won by Pte Condic, June 1916, Bendigo” 2. “Won by WO Fleming J.A. HMAT Ronic August 1916” (“Ronic” This should be "Runic"'). 3. “Won by 2 LT Fleming J.A. Salisbury November 1916”boxing belt, aif, passchendaele barracks trust, 38th

"GOODBYE COBBER, / GOD BLESS YOU." "The Fatal charge of the Light Horse, Gallipoli, August 7th 1915."Soft cover book. Cover - cardboard. Gold, dark brown and light brown print on front, spine and back. Front cover - Illustrated sepia tones photographs of scenery and a group of Light Hors soldiers. 365 pages - cut, plain, off white paper. Illustrated black and white photographs and maps.books, military history, ww1, gallipoli peninsula

Photograph contained within album Walter Ainsle STEVENSON. NX85457 & 21171. Enlisted 23 January 1942 aged 19 years. Discharged 4 October 1948 RANK PTE. (BCOF) ( no other info available) Kelvin Robert CORDELL. VX 146338 Enlisted 25 November 1943 aged 18 years Discharged 10 December 1946 with RANK PTE in Australian Training Centre ( no other info available)Photograph album Photographs- two colour photographs of Mt Fuji. Twenty tow sepia and black and white reproduction photographs of Japan, after 6th and 9th August 1945. Hiroshima by BCOF Soldiers Album - cardboard, pink colour vinyl padded cover, with plastic photograph sleeves with backing light cardboard. .2) Programme- white paper, black, blue and red print on folded A4 sheet, one illustration.Handwritten in blue pen beside half portrait of two soldiers “L.W. STEVENSON / R.K. CORDELL / 67 BATT / 1946” .2) Programme- “British Commonwealth Occupation Force Memorial Service June N.S.W. Cenotaph Thursday, 25th October,2108 / 11 amalbums, military history, ww2, japan

Owner and donor details (See Cat no. 5826 P)1. Application form - paper, off white with black print on front. Applicant information has been partially completed. 2. Application form Part two - paper off white with black print on front.1. Applicant information - handwritten blue ink- "PATTERSON/JAMES WALTER/ 1 NEWCOMB STREET/ OCEAN GROVE/VIC/3226/ 052 561 257/ /SEPT 1945 - MARCH 1946/RAAF/149800/ J W Patterson/ AUSTRALIA" documents, military history, bcof, veterans