Early in 20th century, a small group of girls at Myrtleford State School 955 participated in honouring Empire Day each May by "dressing up" to represent Britannia. This select group of girls celebrates the might of Britannia in the first full year of World War 1. It reflects the type of celebrations schools were expected to participate in at that time and for some years to come. Alice O,Donnell, the tallest, centre pupil in the group, was to lose her life on the Australian Hospital Ship "Centaur" when it was sunk by a Japanese submarine off the Queensland coast in May, 1943.A monochrome photograph of a small group of pupils at Myrtleford State School 955 in 1915, celebrating Empire Day. Pupils include from left: Isobel Robertson, Linda Croucher, Rene Johnson, Alice O'Donnell, Agnes Collins, Dorrie Peters, Madge O'Donnell. Photograph is inscribed: "T. Foxcroft, photo"empire day myrtleford state school 955 alice o'donnell

1 blue case labelled MEDETRON containing; 1 power unit including volume, 1 elastic belt clip, 1 stethoscope, 1 metal bell with connecting plug, 1 black drum piece"Medetron Electronic Stethoscope". Made in Japan. Labelled "School of Nursing"electronic stethescope

The document was written by Marian Kennedy, a signalwoman in the Australian Special Wireless Group in Brisbane in World War Two. This group intercepted Japanese Morse Code messages and their transcriptions were sent to Central Bureau for deciphering. The sheet contains a list of procedure signals for messages in Japanese Kana code. These procedure signals enabled wireless operators to assess the context of the messages and their probable importance. Secrecy was paramount as the Japanese military were unaware that their Kana code had been broken. Marian Kennedy was born at Bright Vic and grew up in Smoko in the Ovens Valley.Colour, scanned, A4 copy of sheet from Australian Military Forces Wireless Diary with list of Procedure Signals of Japanese Kana Code hand-written in pencil, in English.Signed "Marian Kennedy VF396623" in pencil in top margin.war, wwii, wireless, morse code, code, japanese kana code, codebreaking, aswg, kennedy

Made cira.1943. Japanese tank recognition booklet. Made during the Second World War (WW2)japanese tanks, world war two, tanks, australian army, recognition booklet

Hakata doll was given to RACS as a gift from the Japanese College of Surgeons. Made by Tomi Kono for Kyugetsu,Toyko. Kyugetsu is a famous doll store in the Asakusabashi district of Tokyo. This was founded in the Edo period and has been making dolls for 150 years.This elaborately costumed ceramic doll has its origins in simple clay figurines first produced in the Hakata district of the Japanese city of Fukuoka in the 17th century. They made their appearance in the West at the Exposition Universelie in Paris in 1900 by which time they had been transformed from toys into an artform. Most dolls are inspired by figures from the theatre: Noh, Kabuki and Ukiyo-e. These figures are sometimes connected with Geisha dolls although this is not necessarily a correct description. The robes and hairstyle are traditional but not confined to geisha.Hakata Doll dressed in elaborate kimono, in glass display case. Wooden plaque in cabinet with Japanese characters/script - presumably describes the doll. Doll has porcelain face, hands and feet, and a cloth body. This doll depicts a young unmarried woman dancing and holding an elaborate drum (tsuzumi).On plaque in cabinet: "Japanese College of Surgeons. Founded in 1974"hakata, diplomatic gift, japanese college of surgeons

Built in 1942-1943, the Thai-Burma Railway was a 415 kilometre stretch of railway between Ban Pong, Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma. It was constructed by the Japanese using civilian labourers and prisoners-of-war. It is estimated that 90,000 labourers and more than 12,000 POW’s died during construction of the railway.This is a commemorative object highlighting the role of medical personnel during the war and its impact on them personally and preofessionallyThis dogspike and its attached sleeper came from the Thai-Burma Railway. A dogspike is a rail fastening with a pointed end and a ‘plate holding’ head, giving the impression of a dog’s head. Built in 1942-1943, the Thai-Burma Railway was a 415 kilometre stretch of railway between Ban Pong, Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma. It was constructed by the Japanese using civilian labourers and prisoners-of-war. It is estimated that 90,000 labourers and more than 12,000 POW’s died during construction of the railway. The dogspike was donated by Bill Sharp in 2014. It commemorates the Australian Medical personnel who became prisoners-of-war. they are listed on the plaque behind the spike.thai-burma, japanese, 1942-43, commemorative gift

aircraft engines of the Second World War. Particularly focusing on the state of aircraft engines in 1944. Considers engines from the United States of America, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and the USSR (Soviet Russia). engines, aircraft engines, second world war, 1944

Born: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1890; Died: 1947ModernismBennett Bequest, 2000 Figures depicting children on swings. Gold painted wooden frame.Recto: Signed and dated "E.L.Spowers - 1932" in grey ink l.r.c of composition; Titled "Swings - 21/50" in grey ink l.l.c.print, japanese tissue paper, children, playing, swings, linocut, australian art

Born: Londesborough, Yorkshire, England 1862; Arrived: Sydney, New South Wales Australia 1885; Lived and worked: England 1893-1896; Died: Montrose, Victoria, Australia 1935VictorianLedger Gift, 1985Rural landscape with large weeping tree, fence, rolling hills, line of trees and sky. Grey rubbed from gold gesso timber frameRecto: Signed "BLAMIRE YOUNG-" in white watercolour in l.l.c of composition; Not dated; Not titledwatercolour, landscape, trees, fence

Mark on base, brush and brown underglaze colour "(Japanese character)".

c.l; japanese charactersprint, printmaker, printmaking, woodblock, woodcut, japanese, japan, birds, flying, geese

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

The Instrument of Surrender signed at Singapore by Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten for the Allies and General Itagaki for the Japanese. During his time as Supreme Allied Commander of the Southeast Asia Theatre, Lord Mountbatten's command oversaw the recapture of Burma. A personal high point was the receipt of the Japanese surrender in Singapore when British troops returned to the island to receive the formal surrender of Japanese forces in the region led by General Itagaki on 12 September 1945, codenamed Operation Tiderace. General Itagaki was convicted of war crimes and executed inn 1948.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.Following the war, Mountbatten was known to have largely shunned the Japanese for the rest of his life out of respect for his men killed during the war, and as per his will, Japan was not invited to send diplomatic representatives to his funeral in 1979,Black frame with silver insert with glass of a photocopy of the Instrument of Surrender of the Japanese Forces. Script is in black on white paper with a red square seal at the bottom left, mounted on cream board.Instrument of surrender of Japanese Forces under the command or control of the Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary forces, southern regions within the operational theatre of the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia. Signed at Singapore at 0341 hours (G.M.T.) on 12 September, 1945.wwii, world war 2, imperial japanese forces, surrender, singapore, japanese army

On the 19 February 1942, 242 Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the town of Darwin, ships in the harbour and the town's two airfields in an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasion of Timor and Java during World War II. Darwin was lightly defended, relative to the size of the attack, and the Japanese inflicted heavy losses upon Allied forces at little cost to themselves. The two Japanese air raids were the first, and largest, of more than 100 air raids against Australia during 1942–43.The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. The urban areas of Darwin also suffered damage from the raids and there were a number of civilian casualties. As a result more than half of Darwin's civilian population left the area permanently, before or immediately after the attack. Timber framed print of planes depicting the bombing of Darwin Harbour. Gold metal plaque - BOMBS OVER DARWIN Presented to Wangaratta RSL Limited Edition Print 234/1800 by James Baineswwii, bombing of darwin, battle of darwin

The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle which occurred during World War II in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java, and Sumatra. On the night of 28 February – 1 March 1942, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth and the American heavy cruiser USS Houston faced a major Imperial Japanese Navy task force. After a fierce battle of several hours duration, both Allied ships were sunk. The sinking of HMAS Perth at the Battle of Sunda Strait 28 February -1 March 1942 cost 357 Australian lives. A further 324 crewmen fell into enemy hands. Two and a half years of brutal captivity claimed the lives of 106 of these men - 53 on the Thai Burma Railway alone.Framed cuttings of newspaper articles,13 photographs and 7 flags As Portrayed to the Australian Public 1942-1945 BATTLE OF JAVA SEA & SUNDA STRAIT 27 FEB - 1 MAR 1942 The first and only battle fought by a combined American Australian British and Dutch Naval Force against the Japanesesunda strait, hmas perth

Australian servicemen who served in the Second World War often returned home with souvenirs from battle. Whilst the provenance of this particular flag is not documented, it may be a Good Luck Flag or yosegaki hinomaru; a flag signed by family members and given to Japanese servicemen deployed during the Second World War.Large black frame with gold inner surround. Charcoal fabric mounting. White part of flag is covered with Japanese writing in black ink around red circle in center.Japanese writing in black ink on front. flag, japanese, japanese flag, wwii, world war 2

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

Japanese propaganda leaflets x 4 and two cards depicting planes.Black gloss frame with silver inner trim containing six Japanese propaganda leaflets on black backgroundjapanese propaganda, ww2

LIEUTENANT GENERAL (LT GEN) FUSATARO TESHIMA, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, JAPANESE SECOND ARMY, SURRENDERED TO GENERAL SIR THOMAS A. BLAMEY, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ALLIED LAND FORCE, SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA. A SURRENDER CEREMONY WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9 1945 AT 1 CORPS SPORTS GROUND ON MOROTAI. LT GEN TESHIMA WAS ACCOMPANIED BY CAPTAIN TOYIMA, WHO SIGNED FOR THE JAPANESE NAVY. 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,Black plastic frame containing cream coloured paper documents x 3 on black background.Donated by Jean Hughes of Wangaratta on behalf of her husband ROWLAND J HUGHES VX 51510morotai, japanese surrender, ww2

Image depicting the explosion of a ship, filled with TNT and ammunition, hit during the first Japanese air raid on Australia's mainland, at Darwin on 19 February 1942. In the foreground is HMAS Deloraine which survived unscathed. On that day, 236 people were killed when 242 Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the town, ships in Darwin's harbour and the town's two airfields in an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasion of Timor and Java during World War II. MV Neptuna was a 5,952 ton cargo motor vessel. and was 1 of 11 sunk during the Japanese air raid on Darwin on 19 February 1942. In January 1942 HMAS Deloraine evaded an attack by the Japanese submarine I-124 north-west of Darwin and was jointly credited with the submarines' sinking after she inflicted the initial damage. The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. Brown timber frame containing blue black and white print of ships being bombed.February 19th 1942, Darwin Harbour In the foreground the corvette HMAS Deloraine. Smoke billowing in the background is from burning oil tanks on shore, the mushroom cloud is from the explosionof the ammunition ship Neptuna. Watercolour by Tom Offordbombing of darwin, battle of darwin, 19 february 1942, ww2, mv neptuna, hmas deloraine

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

2/1st North Australia Observer Unit 1942-1945 The Nackeroos - During the second World War the 2/1st North Australia Observer Unit guarded Northern Australia against Japanese incursions. The unit established positions in remote areas and carried out patrols on foot and horseback, reporting back by wireless.The unit was barely 550 strong, and with their headquarters in Katherine, in the Northern Territory, they were given the task of patrolling northern Australia to look for signs of enemy activity. The men made use of the knowledge of local Aboriginals and maintained coast watching outposts. As the threat of invasion passed, the unit was reduced in strength and disbanded in March 1945. A similar role is now carried out by the North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) Black plastic frame containing a dedication on black background with red and green joined square symbol 2/1st North Australia Observer Unit 1942-1945 The Nackeroos In memory of those who served Dedicated on 27 August 20082/1st north australia observer unit, the nackeroos

White cloth with Japanese verse in a black frame. The cloth has a red circle and Japanese writing mounted on cardboardVerse translates to " We pray that the soldier's good fortune would last forever"japanese verse, wwii

Recruitment poster urgently calling for enlistments to the AIF during World War Two. The poster depicts a man donning a uniform, rifle in one hand, his civilian clothes lie in heap on the ground behind him.Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Second World War recruitment poster released in 1941 before Japan had entered the war, at a time when many Australians were reluctant to enlist to fight on the other side of the world. Dark timber frame containing poster of a soldier JOIN THE A.I.F THIS IS SERIOUS ENLIST NOWrecruiting, oster, ww2

The WWII US civilian gas mask for children was issued in a cardboard box. It came with a canvas carrying bag which had a shoulder strap sewn to the sides. This US Civilian home front item was issued during World War two. Gas masks were distributed among the general population because of the fear of Japan, and even Germany, being able to reach the main landCardboard box containing child size rubber and metal gas mask with green canvass bagModel MIA2-1-1non-combatant child's gas mask, ww2

Mortar round used by the Imperial Japanese Army during WW2.Japanese Brown metal round in shape with pointed top features original paint with a yellow band on body and a red band at the top. ww2, wwii, world war two, second world war, japan, mortar, mortar shell, imperial japanese army