This object relates to Herman Claude BENHAM. He was born on 1/07/1895 in Geelong, VIC. Herman Claude served in the AIF (3690) enlisting on, 13/08/1915 in Drysdale, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 7TH BATTALION as a Army Non-Commissioned Private (PTE) on 25/03/1919. Herman Claude BENHAM was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is James BENHAM (Father). Herman Benham was awarded the British War Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.To "Miss Myrtle Kent, Portarlington, Victoria, Australia", From "H C Benham, 18 February 1917"first world war (ww1), 1914 - 1918, literature, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Herman Claude BENHAM. He was born on 1/07/1895 in Geelong, VIC. Herman Claude served in the AIF (3690) enlisting on, 13/08/1915 in Drysdale, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 7TH BATTALION as a Army Non-Commissioned Private (PTE) on 25/03/1919. Herman Claude BENHAM was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is James BENHAM (Father). Herman Benham was awarded the British War Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.first world war (ww1), 1914 - 1918, literature, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to Herman Claude BENHAM. He was born on 1/07/1895 in Geelong, VIC. Herman Claude served in the AIF (3690) enlisting on, 13/08/1915 in Drysdale, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 7TH BATTALION as a Army Non-Commissioned Private (PTE) on 25/03/1919. Herman Claude BENHAM was not a prisoner of war. His next of kin is James BENHAM (Father). Herman Benham was awarded the British War Medal and the 1914-1915 Star."With love from Winnie J"first world war (ww1), 1914 - 1918, literature, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This object relates to James Henry WAYLAND. He was born on 14/10/1883 in Collingwood, VIC. James Henry served in the AMF AN&MEF (306) enlisting on, 14/12/1914 in Collingwood, VIC before being discharged from duties with the 2nd AN&MEF as a AN&MEF Non-Commissioned Sergeant (SGT) on 21/07/1919. James Henry WAYLAND was a prisoner of war. His next of kin is Pearl WAYLAND (Wife)Copy of Bottle Message from SS MATUNGA, 14 AUG 1917 and copy of Cigarette card, picturing a South African Medal with name and address of Mrs J WAYLAND pencilled on it.first world war (ww1), 1914 - 1918, literature, ballarat rsl, ballarat

The Crescent Bridge in The Crescent at Sassafras. Stories tell us that one of Iris Woolrich’s (nee Dorey) brothers is riding the horse. Photo taken pre WW1.Black and white photograph showing three men, one sitting on a horse, at the Crescent Bridge in SassafrasPrinted on front: Crescent Bridge, Sassafrassassafras, the crescent, woolrich, bridge, track, post card

Rose Series postcard # P. 1588 showing a view of the road to Sassafras pre WW1.Sepia Coloured Rose Series post card P.1588 showing a stretch of unmade road passing over a simple bridge on the road to sassafras.On Front: THE ROSE SERIES, P. 1588 THE ROAD TO SASSAFRAS, VICTORIArose series, postcard, sassafras, road

A Black & White photo mounted on dark card in a light wood frame. Image shows WW1 soldiers walking along a muddy track wearing full kit. Packhorses can be seen in the background, and landscape is littered with debris of war. 2nd Div. HQ Troop Moving Up The Line Somewhere in Belguim inscribed in white ink on mat boardbelgium, cart, second division headquarter troops, horses, ww1, australian soldiers

Heavy card covered 4 ring binder containing Honours & Awards to soldiers of 4 Light Horse and 22nd Mounted Troops WW14th, lighthorse, wwi

John Alexander Spence was born in Fremantle 2nd July 1893. In 1912 he joined the Australian Navy as a Stoker and was posted to H.M.A.S. Australia. He was on this ship when it sailed at the head of the convoy into Sydney Harbour in 1913. At the outbreak of WW1, his ship was sent to German New Guinea where he saw conflict with the enemy and received a gunshot wound to his hand. This required him to be returned to Australia and the Naval doctors considered him unfit for further Naval service. When his hand healed Spence joined the AIF on the 2 August 1915 and was posted to the 52nd Battalion and embarked on the “Benalla” on the 1 November 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 1 June 1916 on 9 September was promoted to Corporal and the next day to Sergeant. At Messines Ridge he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. At Dernancourt, a village near Villers he was awarded the Military Medal on 6 April 1918. Subsequently he was badly injured. He had captured four German soldiers and one Officer. While marching them back to the Allied lines the Officer grabbed one of the patrol member’s gun and fired three shots at Sergeant Spence which smashed his hip. Despite his injuries Spence managed to bring the Officer down with a revolver shot. On the 30th April he was repatriated to England and admitted to the Alexandria Hospital at Cosham. He did not return to the western front as his injuries were too severe. He returned to Australia on board the Somalia arriving home on the 21st December 1919. Before joining the forces he was a prominent amateur boxer, a pupil of the renowned heavyweight Bill Doherty. During WW1 he won the Army lightweight championship, competing against professionals as well as amateurs. He defended the title successfully for three successive years. On his discharge from the Army he fought under the name of Sonny Kidson. He also turned to coaching and had remarkable success having coached the Army and Navy boxing teams. John Spence died on the 20 November 1962 at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital aged 69. Post card sized photo of 3400 Sergeant John Alexander Spence DCM, MM, 52 Battalion AIF. Photo shows medal ribbons of Distinguished Conduct Medal (awarded June 1917) and Military Medal (awarded April 1918), 2 wound stripes, 5 service stripes, 52 Battalion AIF colour patch and soft style forage cap.spence, 52 battalion, aif, dcm, mm

Coloured Christmas card dated 1917 from AASC Depot Salisbury contains photos inside and colour patches on backFrom Harold with best love (Harold Redmond Macoboy)

Christmas Card "To Dear Absent Soldier with Loving Christmas wishes (part of COL049)documents, ww1, general

Christmas Card "A message to our absent Soldier at Christmas Time" (part of COL049)documents, ww1, general

Post Card "To wish you a speedy and Safe return" (part of COL049)documents, ww1, general

Post Card "To my dear son on his birthday" (part of COL049)ww1, general

Post Card "For my son's Birthday" (part of COL049)documents, ww1, general

Post Card "From a Member of the Australian Flying Corps" (part of COL049)documents, ww1, general

Post Card "to R Colson on 28/11/1919 " (part of COL049)documents, ww1, general

Condolence Card re Frederick F McKeon (part of COL049)documents, ww1, general

Christmas car from 38th Batt part of COL046documents, ww1, army

Royal Australian Garrison Artillery - Port Phillip Defences. Christmas 1916ephemera, ww1, army

The "Man With The Donkey" Commemorative Lapel Badge on card with story.ephemera, ww1, army

White card titled Victorian Government Travel Medallion World War One Veterans. This Medallion, available to all Australian and Commonwealth World War one Veterans resident in Victoria, will on presentation entitle the Veteran to Free Travel in the Melbourne Urban Area (crossed out and Victoria inserted in red) on trains, trams and tramway buses. The Medallion is available for life and is not transferable. 1854 written in red and J W Swatton Bendigo written in blue.government, state, travel medallion ww1, r.s.l. bendigo collection - victorian government travel medallion world war one veterans, j w swatton

Five pennies displayed on a card. Each penny has ONE PENNY on the face, and Commonwealth of Australia with year, 1914,1915, 1916 or 1918.

The Anzac Day school children’s medal, issued in 1918, was distributed to every school child that year to commemorate ANZAC Day.Two medallions on display card. Small ring on top, for ribbon in order to wear around neck.Head side: head & shoulders of soldier wearing slouch hat. Tails: Anzac Day 1918. Gallipoli France Palestineanzac day, ww1, children's medal, 1918

Pte Simmons was born in Kyneton. Died at the battle of Fromelles, July 1916.Fromelles. The battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 was a bloody initiation for Australian soldiers to warfare on the Western Front. Soldiers of the newly arrived 5th Australian Division, together with the British 61st Division, were ordered to attack strongly fortified German front line positions near the Aubers Ridge in French Flanders. The attack was intended as a feint to hold German reserves from moving south to the Somme where a large Allied offensive had begun on 1 July. The feint was a disastrous failure. Australian and British soldiers assaulted over open ground in broad daylight and under direct observation and heavy fire from the German lines. Over 5,500 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds and some 400 were captured. This is believed to be the greatest loss by a single division in 24 hours during the entire First World War. Some consider Fromelles the most tragic event in Australia’s history. www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/fromelles Two WW1 War service medals with ribbons in a white presentation case. With black clothe lining. On the rim of each medal is: 4899Pte N T Simmons 59 Bn AIF The medals are labelled British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal 1914- 1918. On the inside of the lid is card inscribed: Posthumus award to 4899 Pte N T Simmons 59 Bn AIF. ww1 medals, british war medal, allied victory medal 1914- 1918, n t simmons, fromelles

Dvr Young was born in Kyneton. He enlisted in 1917 in the Light Horse Regiment and served in France. He returned to Australia and was discharged in 1919.Local born service-man, joined the Light Horse regiment as many other local lads did.IMAGE 1 Medal with ribbon, mounted on card containing information about Dvr C T M Young 2639 IMAGE 2 Medal onlyThe rim of the medal has Dvr Young’s name and number engraved on it. On the back of the medal: The Great War for civilisation. 1914 - 1919 Card records information concerning Dvr Young's service records.ww1

In 1915 Arthur Swanwick from Bendigo enlisted in the AIF. He left for overseas service in March 1916. He wrote a message to his sweetheart Jessie Campbell, placed it in a bottle and threw it overboard from HMAT A18 "Wiltshire". The bottle was found on a beach near Robe SA and the message was sent to Jessie. Arthur returned home and he and Jessie married in 1918. Arthur died on 11 April 1968. Arthur's niece sent the updated information after the story was shared with the family who knew nothing about it. A hand written letter on lined green paper sent to BHS providing an update on the story of a "Message in a Bottle" written by Arthur Swanwick to Jessie Campbell. A black and white wedding photograph of Arthur and Jessie, a black and white photograph of dedication plaques from the Bendigo RSL WW1 Honour Board and a Thank you card form Arthur's niece thanking someone for letting the family know about the story (18 October 2013). ww1, message in a bottle, swanick

World War 1 1917 embroidered postcard from nephew of Jim Purcell to his aunt and uncle.Embroidered post card from 1917 WW1 'Home Sweet Home'. Additional small Christmas card included in an inside pocket.To Mr John Purcell / Clearview / Birregurra / Victoria / Australia All well from your ever loving nep (sic) (nephew) Christmas card reads A Merry Xmas to all Jim postcard, world war 1, birregurra

membership card / page from soldiers diaryww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f, soldiers diary, membership card

Possibly reinforcements to 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF training at Broadmeadows prior to proceeding ovrtseas.Good image of " soldiers at rest " during training WW1Black and white photograph mounted on card of eight soldiers enjoying a cup of tea. There are Bell tents and horses in the background.Imprinted across lower edge of card " J. Colquhoun Photo - Broadmeadows Camp 1915 - 1 Donald Street, Prahran ."