Aboriginal soldiers formed a special all volunteer platoon at No 9 Camp Wangaratta in Victoria from late 1940 until February 1941. No 9 Camp was set up at the Wangaratta Showgrounds to allow the formation of the 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion prior to leaving for Egypt. Major Joseph Albert Wright a WW1 Light Horse veteran was in charge of this platoon the only Aboriginal squad in the Australian Military Forces at that time. The soldiers from Lake Tyers enlisted at Caulfield between June and July 1940 include Harold Cornelius HAYES VX 48217 DOB 2/4/1916 Enlisted 25/7/40 Discharged 22/3/1941 Edward FOSTER VX48218 DOB 25/5/1921 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Noel Ernest HOOD VX48194 DOB 3/1/1919 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Edward Leslie MULLETT VX48199 DOB 30/6/1910 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Image relates to a "special platoon" based at No 9 Camp Wangaratta as being the Australian Army's first all Aboriginal Unit formed in 1940. The soldiers were all volunteers mainly from Lake Tyers in Victoria.Black and white photograph of all aboriginal unit on paradeAttached to rear - Changing of the Guard at Wangaratta end of 1940 - J A Wright 1940no 9 camp wangaratta, ww2, aboriginal soldiers, 1940

Article One - Charge! - image of members of the aboriginal group carrying out a baton charge Article Two - Officer's Tribute - image of aborigines at Wangaratta carry out ceremony of changing of the guard Article Three - Two Australians - image of Shirley Anderson, 8, of Wangaratta frequently entertains Diggers, singing and dancing. She visits camp nearly every day to chat with guard on duty. Aboriginal soldiers formed a special all volunteer platoon at No 9 Camp Wangaratta in Victoria from late 1940 until February 1941. No 9 Camp was set up at the Wangaratta Showgrounds to allow the formation of the 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion prior to leaving for Egypt. Major Joseph Albert Wright a WW1 Light Horse veteran was in charge of this platoon the only Aboriginal squad in the Australian Military Forces at that time. The soldiers from Lake Tyers enlisted at Caulfield between June and July 1940 include Harold Cornelius HAYES VX 48217 DOB 2/4/1916 Enlisted 25/7/40 Discharged 22/3/1941 Edward FOSTER VX48218 DOB 25/5/1921 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Noel Ernest HOOD VX48194 DOB 3/1/1919 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Edward Leslie MULLETT VX48199 DOB 30/6/1910 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Samuel Richard RANKIN VX48201 DOB 23/7/1910 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Stewart HOOD VX47351 DOB 23/1/1903 Enlisted 18/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 William GORRIE VX48208 DOB 22/11/1921 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 David John MULLETT VX48195 DOB 10/6/1919 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Arthur Alexander (Tom?) MULLETT VX48198 DOB 25/11/1914 Enlisted 25/7/1940 Discharged 22/3/1941 Images relates to the "special platoon" based at No 9 Camp Wangaratta as being the Australian Army's first all Aboriginal Unit formed in 1940. The soldiers were all volunteers mainly from Lake Tyers in Victoria. In addition to normal army training they performed guard duty at the Army Hospital and Camp. They formed the Gum Leaf Band and led the troops at community singing and assisted in Methodist Church services. Three black and white newspaper articles adhered to cream paperWarrior Tradition Written in blue ink 28/12/1940no 9 camp wangaratta, aboriginal platoon

"Stuka" game sent by German Red Cross to children interned in Camp 3Children's board game. Board numbered 1 - 88. 1 blue, 1 yellow, 1 purple, 1 black, 1 green, 1 red counter. Each counter has an aeroplane imprinted in silver. Box to hold packaged game red in colour with rectangle picture depicting 8 planes over a bombing site "Stuka das Packende Kampffliegerspiel" with cardboard insert.children, board game, german red cross, drescher, camp 3, tatura, ww2 war camp 3, toys, games, stuka

Made and used by internees in Camp 31 Blue padded heart with initials "HB" on one side. 1 red heart. Both attached to small roll of blue felt by a narrow red leather lace. Small safety pin on the back of felt roll. Hand stitchedbrooch, felt, leather, camp 3, tatura, ww2 camp 3, costume, accessory, jewellery

Made and used by internee in Camp 32 mushroom shped brown/white leather handstitched. Attached to a roll of black felt by thin black lace. Small safety pin on the back of the felt follbrooch, leather, felt, camp 1, tatura, ww2 camp 3, costume, accessory, jewellery

Records taken and graphed while in internment at Loveday and Tatura. Sketches and story were done in Camp 3, TaturaBlue plastic folder and sleeves containing 10 graphs, and nineteen coloured pen and ink and colour sketches and story of young children in Camp 3ww2 camp 3, loveday, documents, maps

Sketch of Hans Beck by Max Graf; unknown who did other two sketches. Hans Beck, Sydney based wool buyer, interned Bathurst Goal and Camp 1.Square cream board with 3 Black and white photograph of 3 sketches, laminated onto board: a head and shoulders sketch of a man in a suit and tie, drawn by Max Graf (internee), inscription Max Graf 1940; looking into a cell, inscription H M G Bathurst 30 Sept 1939; Sketch of a section of Bathurst goal, inscription Mr H Beck Esq Goal Bathurst A Hall.wool buyers, camp 1, bathurst goal, hans beck, max graf

Made for children of Camp 3 by German Officers.Dark brown, light brown and red leather, brown star. Red diagonal strip across front fixed to wallet with buttonhole stitch. Brown tab fastener, edge laced with brown leather. 1 pocket inside. Cream lining.wallet, leather, griffin h, camp 3, ww2 camp 3, accessory, helga girschik

Made by internees at Camp 3, Tatura. Handpainted by Georg HoffmannCarved wooden lamb on a wooden base. Painted green. Lamb is a creamy-fawn colour with black highlightslamb, wood, hoffmann g, kazenwadel k, camp 1, camp 3, tatura, ww2 camps 1 and 3, handcrafts, woodcarving, toys, general