Item/s in collection re B.J. Ruler VX40780 refer cat NO 5790 for his service details.Small booklet calendar with tear out pages inside a grey cover. Pages start at June 1940- December 1940. Calendar printed in dark brown ink and have a sewing line at the top to keep them in. Front cover blue printed ink. “Calendar” Pages June 1940 - December 1940 some pages have a Red Cross. Back Cover “Wishing you a year of happy days”calendar, 1940, ww2

Item/s in collection re B.J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No 5790 for his service details. Booklet- 16 pages, religious calendar 1943 with a picture of a Saint with a child in his arms. Inside are the months, dates printed in blue ink, on the memo side of the month ar hand written in black ink numbers. Front cover inside “ Margaret Ruler” in black lead handwriting. Page “November 1943” handwritten in blue ink “ calendar, ww2

Item/s n collection re B.J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No. 5790 for his service details.Small sepia photograph of a soldier writing at a portable writing desk, tin drawer in front with hessian bags in the background, also a water bottle. Soldier is shirtless, in short and has dog tags around his neck. Photo has a white border.On the back “W. Gray” in blue ink. Stamped in black ink “K” also in black lead are numbers.photograph, middle east

Item/s in collection re B.J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No 5790 for his service details Small rectangle cream card with Rising Sun Emblem in blue ink, YMCA emblem in red ink. Message in blue ink.“Palestine Mother’s Day 1941”palestine 1941, mother’s day card, ww2

Items in collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No 5790 for his service details Newspaper article reference a Civic Farewell at the Mildura Town Hall. Farewell for 35 members of the A.I.F. Newspaper printed in black ink.Newspaper “ Another Draft Departs Civic Farewell”newspaper, ww2, mildura town hall

Item/s in collection re B.J.Ruler VX40780, refer cat 5790 for his service details"Black and white photograph, three men at the bar drinking. Bottles on shelves in background, advertisements of beer etc. on the front of the bar.Back of photo. “Frank T, Bern R, Howard M" ww2, postcard, photograph

This item relates to Bernard John Ruler. Enlisted 28.6.1940 as VX40780 age 24 years 5 months, embarked for the Middle East 5.2.1941, embarked for Australia 17.2.1942, disembark 17.3.1943, he marries Margaret Brennan, his record has the date of marriage listed 25.5.1942 Embark for New Guinea 13.5.1942, appointed Lance Bombadier 28.8.1942, hospital 3.7.1943 with Malaria/Dengue Fever, rejoin unit 27.7.1943, appointed Bombadier 3.10.1943 embark for Australia from Buna per HMAT Duntroon 28.11.1943, reported missing presumed dead on 30.11.1943. A Court of enquiry held on board ship 1.12.1943 concluded that between the hours of 0600-0930 he left the ship without authority on 30.11.1943 The day before bing the 29th the Duntroon collided with an American Destroyer (USS Perkins) at 0200 hrs cutting it in half. The following collection contains other items relating to Margaret and approx 250 letters from Bernard to Margaret during the war and 18 from Margaret to BernardRectangle black vinyl booklet. 18 pages. Addresses of contacts are written in blue and black ink. Pages have gold on the edges.front cover “Addresses”ww2, booklet, address b.j.ruler

Items in collection re "B.J. Ruler VX40780, refer cat 5790 for his service detailsSmall rectangle green canvas covered booklet containing 70 pages stapled inside. Page 2-3 has owners details filled in black ink. Pages 14-26 has daily entries in ink. There are advertisements throughout the diary and inside back and front covers.Front cover "Taylor's Diary for students 1941"ww2, journal, diary, b.j. ruler diary

Item/s in collective re B.J. Ruler VX40780 refer cat No 5790 for his service details. Cardboard backing with a coloured religious picture (The Last Supper) and a small paper calendar attached under picture. A ribbon forms a hook at the top.In black ink on cardboard “ (a tick) letters, X cables ( a dot) parcels” “Bern Ruler 5th February 1941. The calendar pages have the above marks on the dates. Back cover “14.12.40 SMA’ with the months and numbers.calendar, 1941, ww2

Item/s in collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No 5790 for his service details.Handwritten letter cards, grey heavy paper with red printing and red stamp folded to form an envelope. The letter tells of current activities and when they will be on leave.Printed on front “ Price, Twopence halfpenny “. Letter ( Australian Coat of Arms) Card” Addressed to “Miss. M. Brennan” various addresses in Victoria.letter cards, letters, ww2

Item/s in this collection re B.J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat. No 5790 for his service details.Telegrams - sent from camp to family and from overseas home to family. Paper has printed or handwritten message. Printed “ Commonwealth of Australia Postmaster - Generals Department. Office of Origin” Various places Australia. Abroad - places names have been deleted (Censored) One telegram “ No news for five weeks very worried all my love Margaret “ telegram, ww2, letters

Items in collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No 5790 for his service details.Handwritten letters from family /friends to soldier (M. I. A) redirected to home address. Date of death 30.11.1943Envelope “VX40780 Bdr. Ruler B.J” Redirect to home address in Mildura after Ruler was listed as missing in action letters, ww2

Item/sin collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer cat No 5790 for his service details Handwritten letters Jan 43 - Nov 43 to home (Australia) from overseas. Letters passed by the censo tell of the camp, places they have visited together and people, family.Handwritten envelopes addressed “Mrs. B. J. Ruler” Various addresses in Victoria letter, ww2

Item/s in collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No 5790 for his service details. Handwritten letters and envelopes written from various camp locations. Letters tell of the camp life, ask about people back home and talk about things they have done together. Envelopes handwritten addressed to “Miss M. Brennan” various locations in Victoria Australia letters, ww2

Item/s in collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat No 5790 for his service details.Handwritten letters from July 1942 - December 1942 writing about places and places. Letter dated 16 August 1942 has words cot out by the censorEnvelopes addressed “Mrs. B. J. Ruler” various addresses in Victoria. Envelopes marked “ Air Mail “ “Opened by Censor”letters, ww2

Item/s in collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat. No 5790 for his service details. Handwritten letters home to Australia from overseas on active duty. Envelopes have green printed service notes and censor notes. Small handwritten note from censor included in envelope/letterEnvelope addressed to “Mrs B. J. Ruler” various addresses in Victoria.letters, ww2

Item/s in this collection re B. J. Ruler VX40780 refer Cat. No. 5790 for his service details.Air mail letters and letter cards. Letter card single sheet of paper folded is 4 pages and forms an envelope. Letter writes about places, activities and people home ( Australia) and overseas.Handwritten envelopes addressed “Mrs. B. J. Ruler” various addresses in Victoria.letters, ww2

Soft cover book. Cover - cardboard, gold black, red and white print on front, spine and back. Front cover illustrated - top muted colours, portrait photograph of a soldier - lower black and white photograph of liberated prisoners at Changi. 416 pages - cut, plain, off white paper. Illustrated - black and white and colour photographs, maps, paintings and illustrations. Title page - handwritten notation.Title page - handwritten notation - blue ink "Easter Fair /7.4.23".books, biography, ww2, pow, changi

Certificate awarded to H.M. Day.Certificate - heavy paper. Original document. Black print with Australian Coat of Arms at top and "AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS/ 1945 - 1995" emblem below print. Signed by Prime Minister, Minister for Veteran Affairs and Federal Member. Print on beige background with decorative edge and emblem in green and gold colours.On certificate - On the 50th Anniversary/ of the end of the Second World War/ a grateful nation expresses it's thanks to/ H.M. Day/ for contributing to the war effort and the coming peace.certificate, ww2, anniversary

"SANDAKAN/ A conspiracy of Silence/ of the 2,434 prisoners massacred by/ the Japanese at the Sandakan POW camp, only 6, all escapees, have survived."Soft cover book. Cover - cardboard; green, blue, yellow and white colour print on front spine and book, illustrated, red colour round blotches on a mottled grey colour background. 400 pages, cut, plain white paper. Illustrated black and white photographs and maps. Title page - handwritten notations.Title page - handwritten notations - grey lead pencil "PSO 985/ ECEA" . Black ink "MS FRANK MARRIOTT".books, ww2, pows, sandakan, japan

Japanese Surrender Ceremony at MOROTAI on 9 Sept 1945. Japanese Officer in the dark uniform is Lieutenant General Fusataro TESHIMA, Leader of the Japanese 2nd Army. The second man is a Japanese Naval Officer Captain Toru OYAMA. The Australian Officer at the table is Lieutenant General Frank BERRYMAN, a member of Blamey's staff. An audible recording of the ceremony is apparently on the internet including Blamey's speech.Four black and white photos. 1. This image shows at least 5 Japanese Senior officers standing to attention. At their front is a Senior Australian Officer wearing a pistol belt. He has his slouch hat with slouch part down. The Australian Officer is wearing small gaitors and boots. 2. General Blamey standing to attention on left of picture. A Japanese officer is signing some paperwork. In the background can be seen a large body of troops watching. The ground they are on has been covered in some white crushed rock. 3. A senior Japanese Officer in darkish uniform with a white shirt is signing some papers using a fountain pen. He has 4 rows of ribbons on his left chest.. On the front of his hat is star. 4. A senior Japanese Officer, lighter uniform, wearing a lanyard, is signing some papers using a fountain pen. He has 3 rows of ribbons on his left chest. On his lapels are a rectangle with 3 stars on it. On the front of his hat is a light coloured badge, possible an anchor on it. ww2, japanese surrender, morotai, blamey

Refer service of Pte BASIL DARBY SX9423 2/14 Bn.1. Pamphlet, 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin Commemorative Service, Sunday, 19 Feb 2012, Darwin Cenotaph. This is a single sheet of cardboard folded to make 4 pages. The image on the front is an Aust soldier in steel helmet, looking over from a ships rail at a column of smoke rising from the edge of the Harbour. 2. Pamphlet - frontline Australia Ball - 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin. This is 4 sheets of stiff paper - colour printing. It has images, messages from politicians, maps. 3. This is a single small strip of cardboard - useful as a bookmark. It is for the 70th Anniversary of Bombing of Darwin at frontline Australia. It is for a dance dated 18 Feb 2012. 4. Card. Invitation to the Ball from Chief Minister of NT to Mr Basil Darby and Guest. 70th Anniversary of Bombing. Dated - Sunday 19 Feb 2012darwin ww2, darwin 70th anniversary ball

This is a book of 112 pages. The cover is white with black printing and there is a black and white photograph on the front cover. The pages contain printed text and black and white photographs.non-fictionThis book tells of the WW2 experiences of an Australian service woman world war two in australia, australia women serving in world war two

Returned Anzacs and Prisoners of War including Arrowsmith brothers Kevin and Bobby from Eltham, Vic. holding newspapers tucked under their left arm and unknown man with a cigarette in his left hand. They are enjoying a tub of Peter's ice cream with small wooden scoops. Press photograph taken by The Herald. Stamped on reverse in blue ink: “Copyright Not for Reproduction Herald Feature Service Melbourne, Australia.”bobby arrowsmith, joan castledine collection, kevin arrowsmith, peter's ice cream, prisoner of war, anzacs, ww2

Civilian Registration Identity Card issued to Ernest Thomas Orford of Irvines Road, Eltham, farmer, signed by subject and witnessed by Elizabeth J. Cox of Eltham. This type of card was issued to British subjects who were civilians. During World War II everyone in Australia was issued with a personal identity card and was required to report changes of address to the government. These cards were particularly important in the identification and monitoring of Aliens (non-citizen residents) , particularly non-Europeans and Asian residents.1942, civilian registration (british subjects), elizabeth j. cox, eltham, ernest thomas orford, identity card, irvines road, second world war, ww2

Civilian Registration Identity Card issued to Douglas Frederick Orford of Irvines Road, Eltham, a student of Eltham Higher Elementary School, signed by subject and witnessed by E.T. Orford, farmer of Eltham. This type of card was issued to British subjects who were civilians. During World War II everyone in Australia was issued with a personal identity card and was required to report changes of address to the government. These cards were particularly important in the identification and monitoring of Aliens (non-citizen residents) , particularly non-Europeans and Asian residents.civilian registration (british subjects), eltham, ernest thomas orford, identity card, irvines road, second world war, ww2, douglas frederick orford, eltham higher elementary school, 1943

Digital file only - scanned by EDHS from item on loan 2nd aif, cairo, dave thomson, egypt, letters, lew howard collection, second world war, sefton thomas cranton howard, ww2

An Oral History Project - An Australia Remembers New Work Project funded by the Department of Employment, Education and Training. Sponsored by Northern Metropolitan College of TAFE. The Australia Remembers 1945-1995 campaign was a pageant of events commemorating the end of World War II. 34 chapters include reminiscences from 34 men and women mainly from the Watsonia Returned Servicemen's League recording their memories of the war years for the benefit of the [Shire of] Diamond Valley community. This copy is signed by Eleanor Sumner who is also a contributor.This book comprises a collection of unique and individual personal narratives of World War 2, written 50 years after the war and preserved for future generations. The collection is linked through the association of the participants living in the Diamond Valley area in Melbourne's north in 1995.roy hillard, eleanor sumner, bob campbell, dulcie cox, lancelot riky, charles nelson, reg johnson, frank collings, george armstrong, stan ware, lorna mill, ann hewett, reg angwin, ruby talbot, dion hogan, elean dansey, mary keppel, charles baker, elaine grigg, len grigg, kathleen kennedy, arthur dykes, eric wood, frances jensen, mary edwards, frank wilson, harry hewett, mick marks, audrey wass, ian wall, joyce anderson, john grant, jean gee, noel mcintyre, allan dunn, reminscences, oral history, world war 1939-1945, world war 2, ww2, australia remembers, northern metropolitan college of tafe, watsonia, personal narrative, watsonia barracks

Awarded to Alan Bowers (A236814) who was a R.A.A.F. dental mechanic who serverd during WWII including service in Darwin, and then continued in the R.A.A.F. for some years after the end of WWII The Royal Australian Air Force (and all Commonwealth Air Forces) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: Awarded to NCOs and ORs of the RAAF (RAF, RCAF etc) for 15 years service. A cupro-nickel plated medal, the obverse features the sovereign's head, the reverse features the crown and eagle emblem of the RAAF (and RAF). Officers are eligible for the award provided they have served a minimum 12 years in the ranks. The riband is dark blue and maroon with white edges. This medal ceased to be awarded in Australia in 1975 when it was replaced by the National Medal (and sbsequently the DFSM and DLSM) in the Australian system of honours and awards. http://www.heritagemedals.com.au/medals-1/service-long-service/air-force-long-service-and-good-conduct-medal.html History of the RAAF Dental Branch It took six years following the formation of the RAAF in 1921 for the first Dental Clinic to be established at Point Cook, Victoria. On 10th June 1927 Flying Officer James Carl Rosenbrock commenced work as an RAAF Dental Officer for the FlyingTraining School at Point Cook. As personnel numbers were still relatively small, Rosenbrock was also responsible for the dental care of all Victorian RAAF units, which involved treating members at 1AD Laverton, as well as Air Force Headquarters at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. As Army Dental Officers were currently caring for RAAF personnel at Richmond, NSW, the Senior Dental Officer of the 3rd Military District in Victoria (SDO 3MD) requested through the military board that a similar arrangement be established, where that the newly appointed RAAF Dentist provide part time dental services to the Army units stationed at Queenscliff. This was seen as an effective reciprocal arrangement, with both units having a Dental Officer in attendance for, in total, around 3-4 weeks a year. Rosenbrock continued to serve as the sole RAAF Dental Officer until the middle of 1933, when the Air Board asked for his service to be terminated following ‘behaviour unbecoming of a RAAF officer'. He had borrowed several sums of money, of around 40 Pounds or so, from junior ranks on base (as well as from the Regimental Sergeant Major) and had failed to pay the money back. He was replaced by a fellow Victorian, FLGOFF Norman Henry Andrews, on the 18th Sep 1933, who went on to become our first Director of Dental Services, and was instrumental in establishing the organisations and conditions of the Branch that are still present today. Through a fair amount of persistence and hard work on the part of Norman Andrews, the RAAF Dental Branch began to expand from 1937, with the introduction of 2 additional positions, at RAAF station Richmond, and at the FlyingTraining School at Point Cook. This gave the RAAF 3 uniformed Dental Officers, which was expanded to 5 in the months leading up to WW2. 4 of these Dental Officers were based in Victoria and 1 at Richmond, with the other two RAAF units being cared for by the Army (as in the case of Pearce in WA) or by civilians (as in Darwin). With the sudden increase in RAAF personnel required at the outbreak of WW2, the number of RAAF Dental Officers increased dramatically, from 5 in 1939, 28 in 1940, 64 in 1941, 147 in 1942, 193 in 1943, 219 in 1944, and peaking at 227 in 1945. RAAF Dental Officers were required to work in a variety of locations, both in and out of Australia. Between 1940 and 1942 a massive construction programme occurred, with new dental clinics being established around Australia. Priority was given to aircrew training units in order to get these personnel dentally fit for operational deployment, but Dental Officers could equally find themselves posted to recruit depots, fixed stations, medical clearance stations, mobile dental sections, and RAAF and civilian hospitals. RAAF Dental Officers were posted to the large dental centres at Ascot Vale (Vic) and Bradfield Park (NSW) when first appointed, where they received military and clinical training, before being deployed to their needed location. Mobile Dental Units When Japan entered the war in 1941, the rapid deployment of troops to northern operational areas with less than ideal dental fitness was extremely high. As a result, the RAAF deployed a range of mobile dental units, either alone or with medical sections, to support the increasing number of isolated deployed personnel within Australia and overseas. There were three types of mobile unit used: a. Mobile Dental Unit – relied on using either a semi-trailer to get around or by building a surgery directly on to the truck chassis, and installing hydraulic chairs, units, x-rays, and laboratory equipment. They were able to move around between small units, such as RAAF radar stations, where they could plug into the local power supply and work immediately. b. Transportable Dental Units – used for stops of longer duration, where field equipment was carried in panniers from one unit to another by road or rail and housed in whatever accommodation was available at the destination. They were often carried within Australia on Tiger Moths and Dakota aircraft. c. Itinerant Dental Units – in some areas, the dental equipment was installed at the RAAF unit and the Dental Officer and their staff would travel from unit to unit, using the equipment available at each location. RAAF Dental BadgeAs the war developed in Europe, it soon became obvious that the RAF Dental support was not capable of supporting the increasing numbers of RAAF aircrew that were being sent for service with the RAF, with only enough Dental Officers available to provide one to every 2000 men ( instead of the preferred 1 to 600). As a result, the RAAF provided a mobile dental unit, fitted out in a caravan and pulled by a Ford V8 Coupe, to travel around England in support of RAAF personnel at various squadrons. Some degree of tact was needed to ensure that the RAF did not take this as a comment on the treatment they were providing, but it proved successful in maintaining a satisfactory state of dental fitness in RAAF personnel, and a second mobile unit was soon dispatched. They were also set up with a laboratory on board as well as the surgery, which was a major difference between the RAF and RAAF, as the RAF did not provide dentures for their troops (the RAAF would, providing they had served for 6 years). In 1943 the RAF was no longer able to provide Dental support to Australian troops in the Middle East, which resulted in the need for a transportable dental unit to be deployed from Australia. It functioned in a similar manner to the RAF, by moving from one squadron to another. It served in the Middle East and Africa, from Cairo across North Africa, to Italy, and eventually back to England to treat returned prisoners of war. GPCAPT Norman Andrews The growth and development of the RAAF Dental Branch owes a debt to one man in particular, GPCAPT Norman Andrews. As the second RAAF Dental Officer to enlist on 18 Sep 1933, Andrews became the principal architect of the structure and organisation of the RAAF Dental Branch leading up to and during WW2. Until early 1940, the RAAF Dental Branch was administered by the Director of Medical Services (Air), which placed it under the control of the Army Medical staff. The Army would provide their Inspector of Dental Services for advice whenever needed. In April 1940, the RAAF Medical service separated from the Army, resulting in the control of the RAAF Dental Branch shifting back to the RAAF. Andrews became the first Director of Dental Services, when the position was created in 1943 as recognition of the higher profile the Dental Branch was now playing in the RAAF Medical service. Until this time, Andrews's title had been as the Dental Staff Officer to the RAAF Medical Service. Andrews was responsible for the establishment of the war-time structure of the Dental service, establishing new dental centres at all major bases, creating mobile and transportable dental units, ensuring the continual growth of the Branch, maintaining professional development of staff through the establishment of a professional journal, and by organising renowned lecturers to speak at RAAF bases. He also believed in visiting as many dental units as possible to see for himself what conditions were like and to talk first-hand to staff in remote units. His itinerary during the war years, both in and out of Australia, shows a large number of trips in a variety of modes of transport in order to reach remote areas where units were serving. He was promoted to GPCAPT in July 1944, as the numbers of Dental Officers soon peaked at 227 towards the end of the war (1 GPCAPT, 9 WGCDRs, 60 SQNLDRs, and 157 FLTLTs). After the war, with the reduction in RAAF personnel required in uniform, the Dental Branch also reduced its numbers significantly. By 1947 there were only 18 Dental Officers serving (many part-time), with 1 GPCAPT, 1 WGCDR, 10 SQNLDRs, and 6 FLTLTs, and only 13 by 1950. With the decrease in Branch personnel numbers, the ‘powers to be' saw fit to reduce the Director of Dental Service rank to WGCDR, and as a result Norman Andrews found that in order to continue serving in the RAAF he would have to wear a reduced rank. This appears to have been a contributing factor in his decision to discharge at the relatively early age of 43 and accept an administrative job as Director of the Victorian Government's School Dental Service. Norman Andrews holds the proud honour of being the founder of the RAAF Dental Branch, which during the war was instrumental in educating servicemen of the importance of dental health and maintaining the dental fitness of troops in a variety of areas. Dental Orderlies (Assistants) The dental orderly mustering was first introduced in 1937. Until that time, medical orderlies were assigned to assist the Dental officer with their duties. As early as 1931 it had been noted by both RAAF and Army Dental Officers working in Victoria and Richmond that a lot of the troubles they were having would be solved by appointing a permanent Dental Orderly. Often they would find that the medical orderly they were assigned was a different one each day, and as a result the administration and work in general was very inefficient. By 1937, with the increase in Dental Officers to 3, it was realised that a Dental Orderly mustering needed to be created. Dental Mechanics/Technicians Before WW2, dental laboratory work was provided by civilian laboratories, as most RAAF units were stationed around metropolitan areas. At this time, service personnel were still required to pay for their own dentures, unless they had served for six years or had their dentures damaged during performance of their duties. In July 1940, mainly in response to the development of more remote RAAF dental units and the increasing demand for dental prostheses, the Dental Mechanic mustering was established. Unfortunately there was a very limited pool of civilian dental mechanics to recruit from, and as a result the RAAF set up a training school at Laverton (which was later moved to Ascot Vale) in June 1941 which conducted an intensive 6 month course in Dental mechanics. Dental mechanics were quickly in demand. In all fixed and mobile dental units at least 1 Mechanic was supplied for each Dental Officer, and indeed the RAAF supplied Dental Mechanics throughout all its deployments, something the RAF were unwilling, or unable, to do. Two grades of dental mechanic existed: the Senior Mechanic (with the rank of NCO), who was competent in all phases of laboratory work; and the Junior Mechanic, who could only handle routine work and not more advanced denture work. The progression to Senior required a further trade test in techniques including setting up, clasp-forming, casting and backing teeth. During the course of the War, two special courses were held for Mechanics. The first, directed at senior mechanics so that they could instruct others, was in 1942 when Acrylic Resin was first introduced as a denture base material, as an alternative to the current option of vulcanite. Later, towards the end of the War, a ‘refresher' course was provided for those that had served for the greatest period of time in order to allow them retraining in techniques that they had not practised during their service and which were common in civilian life. This included cast base dentures, crowns and bridges, partial dentures, and retainers. Towards the end of the War, a course was held with WAAAF trainees to train them as Mechanics. However, as the War was soon to end they never had the opportunity to progress within the mustering to become Senior Mechanics. The RAAF Dental Branch has survived 75 years of turbulence, with reviews of its viability occurring regularly every few years from as early as 1937. The Branch continues to provide excellent service to the ADF community and, despite reduced manpower, will continue to play an important role in Air Force Health operations. http://www.defence.gov.au/health/about/docs/RAAFDental.pdf40cm cupro-nickel plated medal, the obverse features the sovereign's head, the reverse features the crown and eagle emblem of the RAAF (and RAF). A23814 BOWERS.A. A. F.r.a.a.f long service medal, r.a.a.f good conduct, r.a.a.f. dental service medal

Presented to Waverley R. S. L. sub branch by South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australia http://www.samvoa.org/abouthistory.htmlhttp://www.samvoa.org/abouthistory.html The founder of SAMVOA, Veteran Tony Macquet MMM, documents the early history of the organisation: Two statements characterise the formation of the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia that has taken on the acronym SAMVOA: SAMVOA was long in the making, yet I am reminded of what Garth Pienaar once said, "If you had not started it, I would have". And no doubt he or someone else would have because it needed "starting" and it just did not seem right that almost every other nation was represented on ANZAC Day and there were no South Africans marching, particularly when South Africans fought alongside Australians in two World Wars and in Korea. It is important to note that SAMVOA has had predecessors who were South Africans who had marched in Melbourne and probably elsewhere prior to 1996, but they were an older group of WW1 and WW2 veterans who by 1996 were too old to even travel by vehicle and they had fallen away. Around 1998, I contacted and spoke to their leader Major (retd.) Norval who confirmed that their group had become too old to march and he was delighted that a younger group was interested, although at that stage it was only me. http://www.samvoa.org/membership.html SAMVOA Membership This Veteran Organisation dedicates itself, in grateful recognition and memory of our countrymen, the Immortal Dead of South Africa, who, at the call of Duty, made the great Sacrifice on the battlefields of Africa, Asia and Europe and on the Sea. Their ideal is our legacy, Their sacrifice our inspiration. Metal Plaque mounted on wooden shield shaped backing plateSouth African Military Veterans Organisation of Australia Pro Patriasamvoa, south africa, military veterans organization australia, pro patria,