Made by Cpl. Jack Neilson 7th Division Papua New Guinea 1943Shows how many of our defence personnel "unwound" from the stress of war by creating a useful and or decorative item from the waste products of war. The creative aspect was important in a time where their lives were governed mainly by destruction. By creating such things they were partially able to restore their own humanity. This restored item shows the skill that some had, and the Aussie way of using whatever came to hand..Brass ashtray showing Lightning aircraft model made from cartridges and shell casetrench art, lightning aircraft, ash tray

This felt rat is significant because it is a unique, handmade mascot carried by an Australian soldier at Tobruk. The soldiers were called 'the rats of Tobruk'. He gave it to an ambulance driver, a local Frankston woman, who treasured it.This is a handstitched felt toy rat. It is made from light brown and pale green felt with pink embroidery thread blanket stitching. The facial features are made from felt. It has a pale green grograine ribbon neck tie. The stuffing is very firm.This item is handmade with no inscription or markings.1942, england, trench art, australian soldier, rat of tobruck, felt toy, handstitched, blanket stitch, ambulance driver, j pickles, f a n y

Miniature model of a WW2 era Avro Anson twin engine aircraft mounted on an ashtray. The aircraft is supported by a curved arm attached to the circular ashtray base. The base has a small metal RAAF 'winged eagle' insignia attached to the front edge. The items have been made from chromed metal materials. The RAAF was equipped with Avro Anson aircraft in the late 1930 period prior to WW2. These aircraft were used by the RAAF for general and maritime reconnaissance and training throughout WW2 and into the early 1950s. The first version of the Avro Anson was developed in 1935 by the British Avro aircraft company.Chromed metal RAAF 'winged eagle' insignia on the front edge of the base.plane, trench art, ashtray, aircraft, souvenir, avro anson

No-one at currently at Red Cliffs Military Museum knows Mrs Mihan. but are trying to rectify this.A brass cast Australian Soldier in jungle equipment with Owen Gun, slouch hat, dog tags, basic 37 patern webbing, short and boots.No makers markaustralian, ww11, brass, figure, jungle, owen, gun, fighter, trench, art

RAF Sweetheart Brooch most likely made during WW2. The heart has possibly been made from llucite acrylic. Sweetheart badges were momentos given to loved ones by troops departing for foreign shores. Originally regimental badges worn close to the heart, they represent a close connection to a particular armed force.Clear plastic sweetheart brooch in the shape of a heart with crown above eagle with pin fastening attached to rear.raf, sweetheart brooch, trench art

Aluminium. Part of a Japanese Zero Fighter Plane shaped in form of Boomerang. Has Royal Aust Navy badge attached in middle. Blue brass and red with anchor in middle crown on top. Incription Darwin Feb 1942. Refer also to item 0136-02.Stamped on souvenir Part of Jap Fighter Zero on left hand side and Darwin Feb 1942. Badge Royal Aust Navy. with anchor.trench art

Aluminium boomerang shaped piece of a Japanese Zero souvenir. Refer also to item number 0136-01Stamped on left side -Part Jap Zero. Stamped on right side Darwin June 1942.trench art

No information is known about this bracelet Handmade silver metal bracelet overlaid with brass crown encircled by laurelbracelet, trench art

Items collected by Horace Eli Hambly No 794 AIF. Refer 2325.2 for his service history..1) Pouch, black leather containing 18 foreign coins. .2) & .3) Pair of metal cuff links. .4) Small key for winding a clock or machine. .5) Image of WWI digger fashioned from a 6d (sixpence) & brass set of bars.personal effects - money containers, numismatics - coins - french / german, costume accessories - male jewellery, military history - trench art

The first Battle of Ypres (French: Premiere Bataille de Flandres . German: Erste Flandernsschlacht,19th October - 22 November 1914) was Battle of the First World War fought on the Western Front around Ypres in West Flanders Belgium.WW 1 Brass Trench Art Souvenir Letter Opener. Configured from a bullet on which is mounted a German Crown Button.and a piece of sheet brass from a shell casing.Inscribed on blade of letter opener is Souvenirs Ypres.

Linked to Cfn R.R. Clarke. Vietnam War History.Ashtray made of brass with a medium size shell cartridge in the middle and 2 smaller size bullet shells attached to the cartridge. The brim of the astray lifts off the main body. (Trench art).Presented to Cfn R.R. Clarke from G.E. Section, 106 Fd Wksp, Nui Dat. South Vietnam 13-8-70 is inscribed on the side.

WWI ? trench artWhite cloth embroidered with rising sun badge flanked by Australian and British flags and butterfly created from National flag colours of Great Britain France and Germany Australian Commonwealth Military Forces (Butterfly) From your soldier boy

Example of trench art.Unofficial Badge , rough cast Rising Sun badge with three pin fastenings soldered to the reversebadge/buttons, ww1, army

Possibly WWII trench art.Model cast iron truck with 2 front wheels missing. Model is in 2 halves.Nil

.1) Sent by M J TAYLOR to his sister Avril. .2) Issued to Mrs Ida TAYLOR, who lost her son, M J TAYLOR in WW11. A star was added for each son who lost their life in the war. Malcolm John Taylor 418772 RAAF. Refer Reg No's 112P, 113, 114.2. .1) Badge, RAAF, melted into blue perspex. Oval shaped. Type of trench art Souvenier. .2) Badge, Mothers and Widows. Metal circular shape with a bar supporting 1 star & suspended by 2 small chains..2) On front: For Australia Issued by the Commonwealyh Governmentbrooches, badges commemorative

Hand made knives during WWIITwo knives made of stainless steel blades, soldered into what appears to be .303 bullets with shells that are used as handles. One knife has a three scallops on the top (blunt part of the knife) with a shaped cutting edge. On the base of the cartridge, a coin is soldered on that covers the primer and entire base of the cartridge. The coin appears to have Arabic writing on it. The other knife is scimitar in shape. At the base of the cartridge a 1941 Netherlands East Indies 1/10 Gulden Colonial Coin is soldered. This coin covers the primer and entire base of the shell.One coin has "Nederl Indie 1/10 G 1941"

This badge appears to have been made in World War Two and may be an example of trench art made by a soldier serving overseas. The piece labelled ‘Australia’ may have come from another badge belonging to that soldier. This badge has no known local connection but is of interest as a memento of World War Two. Semi circular stylised badge with background forming the letters AIF. Australia is on a slightly rounded bar in the front of the letters. Hole in upper left corner.AIF as background. Australia printed on banner at the front.warrnambool, aif warrnambool, aif badge

WW1 identification tags, 3 standard issue tags and 1 trench art tag made of bright tin attached to a beige coloured shoelace. These ID tags belonged to Private A.E. Wilson, service number 12435, 10th Field Ambulance, AMC, AIF., Church of England. Embarked from Melbourne on 6th June, 1916. see also 00019 and 00019.2ww1, field, identification, tag, a e wilson, 10th, ambulance

This cigarette case was made from the plexiglass windscreen of a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero aircraft. Whilst its maker is unknown, its inscription, “Tarakan May 1st 1945” suggests that it was created during the Battle of Tarakan. Tarakan was a small, oil-rich island off the coast of Borneo which in 1945 was held by the Japanese. The battle, code named Operation Oboe One, began when Australian forces landed on May 1st 1945, and continued until June 21st. 240 Australians died during the conflict. The term ‘Trench art’ describes objects made from the debris and by-products of warfare. Reasons for making trench art varied, from creating mementos of battles to passing time or mitigating the effects of warfare. This object has historic significance at a national level due to its association with World War Two. As an example of trench art, it makes an important contribution to our understanding of Australian soldiers’ experience of the war. This object is an example of skilled craftsmanship and has artistic and aesthetic significance due to its detailed engraving of a beach scene. Unlike the majority of trench art, which was made from used ordnance, it is made from the windscreen of a Mitsubishi Zero aircraft and therefore is comparatively rare.Cigarette Case made from the windscreen of a Japanese Zero aircraft"Tarakan May 1st 1945" "A-F-B" Engraved beachcigarette, tarakan, windscreen, japan, australia, united states, netherlands, beach

Hand theatre made "trench art", utilising used artillery brass shell casings, of various calibres, hand made with such "tools" as were available at the time. They have been decoratively trimmed at the mouth of each with a "scalloped" pattern, the shallowest casing mounted on small arms casings as "feet" and the large casing inverted engraved and embossed with a depiction of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces "Rising Sun" badge.This "Dinner Gong" and "Striker" are significant Historically and Socially, as it is believed to be the only example of a dinner gong and striker made in theatre as contemporary "trench art" by serving members of this group. Around the top of the main part of the Gong are stamped the initials of the Australian members of the Royal Flying Corps at the time, it is of possible National historical significance, as they were such a small group at best, and a highly vulnerable group, quite likely to not survive the conflict. This group and their desendants went on to be a part of the formation of the Australian Flying Corps, the beginings of the Royal Australian Air Force. It relates to the embrionic stages of a part of the now Australian Defence Force.A commemorative Dinner Gong construted from Artillery Shell Casings of various sizes. The largest cut short at the bottom, mounted on rifle or machine gun casings cut short as 'feet'. A slightly smaller diameter inverted as the 'gong' with decorative engravings depicting, a Rising Sun emblem on a decorated back ground, 'AFC' (Australian Flying Corps) crowned wings, on the same decorated back ground. The open ends of these larger casings is 'scalloped' and decorated beautifully, while the closed ends have a 'pie crust effect around the flanged edge. There is a biforcated mount at the top to hold the 'striker' made from white metal ballastered rod with a wooden eliptical knob. On the top around the striker mount are stamped the initials of those believed to be the first Australian Aviators in the then AFC.