The Australian Service Medal and Pacific Star Medal that were awarded to Private Arthur Norman Comben VX26251 for his war service in World War Two. From the AWM website Private Arthur N Comden of the 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion, who died on Hainan Island, China, on 27 June 1945. The DVA records show he was born 6 April 1907 in Yarraville and enlisted on 17 June 1940 whilst residing in Coopers Creek Victoria. His next of kin was shown as H Dilks. Also that he had been a prisoner of war. His connection with Legacy is not known, he may have been a junior legatee though there's no record of his father Arthur John Louis Comben serving for Australia in WW1. More research is needed to check, it is possible the medals were donated to Legacy as no family members wanted them. Additional information provided by a distant relative - Arthur's mother (Mary Eleanor Norman) remarried twice after his fathers death in 1911. His stepfather Horace Dilks served in World War 1 with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion.These are examples of World War 2 medals awarded to a serviceman who participated in the conflict in the Pacific region. Many returned servicemen joined Legacy after World War 2 and would have had similar medals.Silver circular medal and bronze star shaped medal from World War 2 mounted on ribbons initially together by a safety pin. 01700.1 The medal is nickel silver with the crowned effigy of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse has the Australian coat of arms, placed centrally, surrounded by the words ‘THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL 1939-1945’. The normal ribbon is missing and it is on the ribbon meant for the UK War Medal which is of red, white and blue to represent the colours of the Union Flag. 01700.2 The six–pointed star is yellow copper zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and Imperial cypher, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words ‘The Pacific Star’. The ribbon has central yellow and green stripes that represent the forests and the beaches of the Pacific, flanked dark blue, light blue and red stripes that represent the service of the Naval Forces and Merchant Navy, the Air Forces and the Armies.Both engraved with 'VX26251 A. N. Comben'.medals, world war two, arthur comden

A magazine published about World War Two. It contains black and white photos and articles about the war. It is 40 pages long. The pages are numbered from 513 to 544 as the weekly editions are intended to be bound together to make a volume about the war.Photos and articles from World War Two that would have been significant to the legatees as they were all returned servicemen.A magazine containing black and white photos from World War Two. Full title is The War Illustrated. Vol 1 No 17. 29 December 1939. The Weekly Record that Grows into a Splendid Book. soldiers, world war two

A magazine published during World War Two for the troops. It contains black and white photos and articles about the war. It is 36 pages long. The 2/3 CCS is a casualty clearing station that worked in the middle east, in particular Beirut. Photos and articles from World War Two that would have been significant to the legatees as they were all returned servicemen.A magazine containing black and white articles, photos and drawing from World War Two. Maroon cover and 36 cream pages with black text. Issue No 4 September 1942. Handwritten on title page 'J__ Gillespie' in blue ink.soldiers, world war two

A certificate showing that the Legacy Club of Melbourne was a corporate member of the Australian National Flag Association (ANFA) in 1984. ANFA was founded in 1983 to promote the importance and significance of our national symbol – the Australian National Flag. The certificate was signed by Bruce Ruxton who was chairman of ANFA at the time. He spoke at Legacy luncheons a few times.Legacy was founded by returned servicemen and the Australian flag would have been important to them as a symbol of their service.Certificate of membership on white card in a black wooden frame under glass.

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

Sydney William Phefley was born in Wodonga, Victoria on 5th November 1896 to Christian Phefley and Martha nee Schultz. He was their third son and eighth child in a family of 17 children. Sydney enlisted in Melbourne on 4th August 1915 and was allocated to 29th Battalion Machine Gun Section. On 10th November 1915 he embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Ascanius and saw service in Egypt and on the Western Front. In March 1916 Sydney was promoted to Sergeant. During that year he was also hospitalised for a minor case of mumps in Cairo in March and then for a case of trench foot in England in December. In February 1918, Sergeant Phefley was accepted into the Officer Cadet Battalion which included the completion of an Officers Training Course at Oxford. In October 1918 he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December 1918. Lieutenant Phefley returned to Australia on 15th May 1919 and was discharged on 22nd August 1919. Sydney was later employed by the Victorian Railways as an Engine Driver. He married Mary Johanna Hogan on 15th October 1924. Sydney William Phefley died in Moe, Victoria on 16th January 1973.This image is significant because it portrays a member of a prominent Wodonga family who served Australia during World War I.A framed black and white image of Sydney William Phefley in Uniform.private sydney william phefley, phefley family wodonga, world war 1 servicemen

Part of correspondence written to Gladys Holmes, Byaduck by local servicemen. Gladys Holmes was the daughter of Joseph, the Byaduk baker, and Agnes Brand. In 1924 she married Alexander George Anderson. Wilfred R possibly (Rentsch) enlisted for WW!1. Cited in 'Stories Untold & Forgotten Faces' "RENTSCH, Wilfred. Byaduk, Born 1898, farmer, aged 18 years, enlisted 29 August 1916, served as 6886 with 24th infantry Battalion - 19th Reinforcements(May 1917)Proceed to France 6th March 1918. Returned to Australia per' Shropshire' 1st April 1919. Photograph on Byaduk Hall Honour Board" Part of collection of letters, photographs and postcards received by Gladys Holmes during 1916-1919. 001801: Front of postcard has a white embossed mount frame with an embroidered insert of Australian symbols, Southern Cross constellation, Rising Sun. Kangaroo with Australian flag standing on ADVANCE AUSTRALIA banner and wattle and red flower springs.France/ 27th Oct 18/Dear Gladys/Wishing you a/very Merry Christmas/and a prosperous/New Year, from/your old friend/Wilfred.Rgladys holmes, byaduk, ww1, ww1 postcard, tuck's postcards, rachel tuck, embroidered postcard

Sir George Victor Lansell (1883-1959), businessman, politician and philanthropist, was born on 3 October 1883 in London, elder son of George Lansell, the Bendigo 'Quartz King', and his second wife Harriet Edith, née Bassford. George was educated at St Andrew's College, Bendigo, and Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. On 20 January 1910 at All Saints Pro-Cathedral, Bendigo, he married a skiing champion, Edith Florence Gwendoline Frew; they had three daughters. As a young man Lansell excelled in revolver shooting, boxing and swimming but his militia interests endured longest. First commissioned in the 8th Australian Infantry Regiment in 1904, he was a captain in 1909. In May 1916 he was commissioned captain in Bendigo's 38th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. Entering the front line in France on 1 December he was wounded two days later and invalided back to Australia next March for discharge in August. After the war he rose in 1923 to major commanding the 38th Battalion, Australian Military Forces. Lieutenant-Colonel in 1927, he retired as honorary colonel in 1942 after having organized the north-west Victorian group of the Volunteer Defence Corps early in World War II. Lansell's major contribution was his service to returned soldiers. He was president of the Bendigo sub-branch of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia for nearly thirty years. His work extended beyond grand gesture and he is remembered affectionately for his personal generosity to ex-servicemen and their dependants. Lansell was director of the powerful Sandhurst Trustees' Co., the Bendigo Mutual Permanent Land & Building Society and many other local companies. In 1926 he brought to Bendigo the overseas-based Hanro Knitting Mills (Hanro comes from the Swiss firm Handschin and Ronus which made high quality underwear and knitwear at Liestal, Switzerland) and the Australian Swiss Watch Co. Early in his business career he acquired the Bendigo Independent and amalgamated it with the Bendigo Advertiser in 1918. He had interests in the Riverine Herald, the Rochester Irrigator, the Stock and Station Journal and Central Victorian Broadcasters Ltd, and was a delegate to Empire press conferences in Canada (1920), England (1923) and Australia (1925).Lever arch folder containing Hanro black and white promotional photographs. 53 studio photographs of women's knitwear and lingerie 20.5cm x 25.2cm. 1 studio photograph of men's knitwear 19cm x 23.5cm. 2 x photo's 19cm x 23.3cm Photographer Reg Brock. 27 black and white photo's 15cm x 21cm of men's knitwear, womenswear and lingerie, were donated by Ann Peters.Reg Brock Studios Bendigo. Labels or stamps on back of photographs.business, retail, hanro promotional photographs, george victor lansell, bendigo hanro, ralph birrell collections

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Carmel O'Shea, from the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam. She is a Red Cross staff person and is assisting Private Dave Henderson, a wounded forward scout from 8 RAR, return to the Red Cross vehicle for the trip back from the beach.photograph, carmel o'shea, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, red cross, pte dave henderson, 8 rar, combi van, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, wounded servicemen, back beach

On the night of August 24, 1941 HMS Kanimbla, with 300 Indian troops on board led a flotilla in a surprise attack on the Iranian port of Bandar Shahpur capturing eight German and Italian merchant vessels all containing valuable cargoes, as well as two Iranian gunboats and a floating dock. Kanimbla went alongside the burning Italian tanker Bronte and fought the fires while engaging a train with her main armament and with her 3-inch guns. She remained in the region until October 11, supervising the port and carrying out salvage work on the captured vessels, including salvage work on the German freighter Hohenfels. After further work in Indian waters during the latter part of October and November, Kanimbla proceeded to Singapore and escorted the first convoy out of that city after the Japanese attack on Malaya. She arrived in Melbourne on Christmas Day. She carried out further convoy work off the Australian coast and in both the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. At the end of the war HMAS Kanimbla was employed in repatriating Australian servicemen from the Pacific Islands and also in returning Dutch dependents to the East Indies (Indonesia). Between October 1946 and June 1948 she sailed between Australia and Japan transporting British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. MS Kanimbla was unique for many reasons, she was the only passenger liner in history to have a fully operational radio broadcasting station built into the ship at the time of construction. The equipment was manufactured by AWA in Australia and had been shipped to Ireland for installation whilst the ship was still under construction.Brown timber frame housing white mount and dark blue print with grey ship in the centre above list of names below and top right and left corners.THE GREAT GREY RAIDER Captured 22 Ships, / Floating Dock, / 1Train Ships captured: Weissenfels, Wildenfels, V. Mayakovsky, Sheng Wha, Marienfels, Karakoram, Hathor, Winford, Sturmfels, Hohenfels, Store Nordiske, Tonjer, Chahbaaz, Barbara, Talisman, Corona, Carboto, Dah Pu, Sygna, Gabon, Bronte, Agnes Pre War: M.V. Kanimbla, McIlrath McEachern Line, 12000 Tons War: Commissioned as H.M.S. & Later H.M.A.S as armed Merchant Cruiserkanimbla, great grey raider, hohenfels, bronte, ww2, 1941

During World War 2, more than 14,000 Australians fought at Tobruk (Libya), during the historic 242 day siege. These men became famously known as the Rats of Tobruk. After returning to Australia, the Tobruk siege servicemen looking for comradeship, established the Rats of Tobruk Association. Around 1944, active branches and sub-branches were started in every state. In more recent times, these branches and subbranches have been wound up owing to the declining numbers of surviving veteran members. The only exception has been the Victorian Branch, which has now operated for over 70 years.Large blue cloth banner housed between two timber poles. In the centre of the banner there is a crown above a grey,black and yellow T shape overlaid by a crest with a kangaroo in a yellow circleRats of Tobruk Assoc GV & NE Sub Branchrats of tobruk, ww2

Pocket Book gifted by the Australian Comfort Fund to George Denis Parker VX123730 who served with the 6th Australia Infantry Training Brigade. He was deployed in February 1944 to New Guinea and assigned to HQ New Guinea Force Details Depot. Based in Buna, in Papua, they carried out garrison duties as well as patrols around the areas surrounding Milne and Nassu Bay. In May 1944, they moved to Lae. Parker returned to Australia in June 1944.An example of a small pocket book gifted by the Australian Comforts Fund (ACF) to soldiers and other servicemen during WW2. This pocket book has a bright red cover and was given as a morale boosting gift. The book contains details of relevant information considered useful to serving service personnel.Red canvas covered pocket book The Australian Soldiers Pocket Book Gift from the Australian Comforts Fund 1942australian soldier's pocket book, george denis parker, ww2, png

The RI stands for Rex Imperator. This letter / certificate was given to Don Dunoon (father of Lynn Brown) who served in World War 1. He later came to Orbost and married into the Lynn family - Mary Ellen Lynn. This certificate was given to all servicemen who survived the war. A World War I demobilization certicate / letter from Buckingham Palace to those who served in the Great War. At the head of the letter is the royal coat of arms and 'Buckingham Palace' letterhead in red printed ink. The text reads: 'The Queen and I wish you God-speed, and a safe return to your homes and dear ones. A grateful mother country is proud of your splendid services characterized by unsurpassed devotion and courage' Below is the ink printed signature of King George V - 'George R. I.' Additional information : These certificates were given to Dominion and Empire troops from Canada, New Zealand, Australia & etc., who had survived the Great War as it was then known. These documents were an Empire issue, not an issue for British service persons. R I is short for Rex Imperator which is Latin for King & Emperor. The document was sent to Colonial, Empire & Dominion troops only. This personal document gives an insight into the human element of World War 1 ensuring that those who were part of the Orbost community and died while playing a vital role during this time are remembered.A certicate / letter from Buckingham Palace to those who served in W W 11. At the top is the royal coat of arms and Buckingham Palace in red print. Print is black and it is signed by "George R.I."ww1 georgev dunoon-don

Booklet of Humorous tales of the Diggers belonging to Harry Trudgen -Service Number - VX132215 : Date of birth - 15 May 1923 : Place of birth - ALBURY NSW : Enlisted - IN THE FIELD QLD (records not available) Next of Kin Father - TRUDGEN John Henry Service Number - 9550 : Place of Birth - Beechworth VIC : Enlisted in 1915 - Driver with the 13th FAB - received gun shot wound to hand and returned to Australia in 1919.Beige paper booklet with picture of Australian Flag and three Servicemen on cover with writing in red above and in blue below.Sons of Anzac Humorous Tales of the Diggers Harry Trudgen 1914-18 handwritten top right hand corneranzac, humorous tales of diggers

The striking image on the poster shows men crowded on the deck after the successful action against the Italian Cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni on 19 July 1940. On 19 November 1941, while returning from convoy duty in Java, HMAS Sydney was engaged by the German armed merchant cruiser Kormoran 130 miles off the West Australian coastline. The faces of many of the 645 servicemen who died in Australia’s greatest naval tragedy feature on this special poster produced to commemorate the anniversary of the loss of the HMAS Sydney. For more than six decades the location of the Sydney had remained a mystery until the wreckages of both HMAS Sydney and the German Armed Merchant Cruiser Kormoran were discovered around 112 nautical miles off Steep Point, Western Australia. The sinking of the Sydney and the loss of all her crew in the Second World War is the single greatest naval tragedy Australia has experienced in Australian waters.Black plastic frame with grey mount containing poster/photograph of Navy crew on ship and in foreground. top left corner - Lest We Forget Bottom of print - HMAS SYDNEY 19 November, 1941 hmas sydney, ww2, 19/11/1941, kormoran, ran

Honour Board for Wangaratta Legacy Widows Group - Office Bearers 1964 - presentLocal widows of ex servicemen who are supported and cared for by the Victorian Returned Services League.Stained brown timber five sided with Legacy crest and list of names in gold coloured paint.Wangaratta Legacy Widow's Group - Office Bearerslegacy widows group, wangaratta rsl, honour board

"The Story of 547 Signal Troop in South Vietnam 1966 to 1972", by Robert (Bob) Hartley, AM and Barry Hampstead. The manuscript tells the story of the unit, including its establishment, training, deployment, personnel, general life and operations while in Vietnam, the withdrawal, and return to Australia. It contains images, maps, operational information and first hand accounts of soldiers' experiences. This item contributes to an understanding of how Australia's involvement in the war in Vietnam (1962-1975) had a lasting impact on Australian servicemen.2 spiral- bound copies of booklet contains 691 pages of black and white writing, maps and photographs. Front page image is of a kangaroo holding lightning bolt with "Snoopy" in pouch. 547 signal, snoopy, robert hartley, signals, hartley

Item in collection of "William John SULLIVAN" VX57829. Refer Cat. No. 9523P for his service details.Card - cardboard, off white colour. Black colour ink print on front, illustrated black and white photograph of H.M.A.T. "Duntroon". Card presented to POW servicemen on board HMAT Duntroon on return to Australia. Dated "FRIDAY, 5TH OCTOBER, 1945". handwritten - black ink pen - owner information.Handwritten black ink on front of card "W.J. Sullivan".souvenir, card, hmat duntroon, ww2, william john sullivan

8 page yellow covered programme commemorating the Mitcham R.S.L. Sub-branch new extensions and alterations.Yellow covered programme commemorating the Mitcham R.S.L. Sub-branch's new extensions and alterations. The Club was opened by Sir Edward Dunlop. Nursing Sister Vivian Bullwinkel was an honoured guest.mitcham returned servicemens league, dunlop, edward, sir, bullwinkle, vivian, exservice organisations

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of US servicemen along with their belongings are transported to Ton Son Nhut International Airport Saigon from their Mekong Delta Base by an RAAF No 35 Sqn Caribou 005 005 Mission 'Mekong Milk Run' for return to the USA following completion of their tour of dutyphotograph, 35 sqn raaf, caribou, mekong delta, ton son nhut airport, mekong milk run, gibbons collection catalogue, us servicemen, saigon, denis gibbons

Badge issued to Servicemen and women who returned from active duty overseas in recognition of their service. It is not clear who this WW1 Returned from Active Service badge belonged to at this point.Gold coloured round badge. Rising Sun emblem in centre with AIF below. Crown on top of circle. Around edge of outer edge "Issued by Dept of Defence" and "Returned from Active Service" from bottom. On back is small clip attached to two small metal hooks/rings.Inscribed "199561" on back. Also "Stokes & Sons".returned service badge, ww2

A pair of promotional bookmarks issued by Legacy, a voluntary organisation of returned ex-servicemen formed in 1921, to care for the widows and children of those who served.. Part of a collection of bookmarks at Hymettus that covers a dozen examples of Legacy bookmarks in what is regarded as Australia's largest collection of bookmarks that numbered c.30,000 in 2024.