These shell cases were donated along with other items from the St Nicholas' Mission to Seamen's Church at 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria. The Church was operated by the Mission to Seamen organisation. The symbol of the broad arrow on the base of the shell case signifies that it was owned by the Australian Army. The dates of the shell cases - 1940 and 1941 - link the shell cases with World War II. Both cases' headstamps have "N", which could indicate that they were made for use by the Navy. Shell Case 1298.01: The headstamp code on the label "MEC" means that it was made by the Explosives Factory Maribyrnong - Cordite Annexe, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, which made cordite propellant for cartridges and shells. Shell Case 1298.02: The headstamp "MF" indicates it was made by the Small Arms Manufacturing Factory in Footscray, Melbourne, and the stamped year was 1941. THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN (Brief History): - The Missions to Seamen was an Anglican charity that has served seafarers of the world since 1856 in Great Britain. Its symbol is a Flying Angel, inspired by a Bible verse. Today, there are centres in over 200 ports worldwide where seamen of all backgrounds are offered a warm welcome and provided with a wide range of facilities. In Victoria, the organisation began in Williamstown in 1857 as a Sailors’ Church, also known as ‘Bethel’ or the ‘Floating Church’ in an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. It soon became part of the Missions to Seamen, Victoria. In the year 2000, the organisation, now named Mission to Seafarers, still operated locally in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings. The Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild was formed in 1906 to support the Missions to Seamen in Melbourne and other centres, such as Williamstown. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founder Ethel Augusta Godfrey and foundation member Alice Sibthorpe Tracy (who established a branch of the Guild in Warrnambool in 1920). The Guild continued its work until the 1960s. In 1943, a former Williamstown bank was purchased for the Missions to Seaman Club. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church and was supported by the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. It ceased operation in 1966. A Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and into the 1900s. It seemed appropriate for Flagstaff Hill to include such a representation within the new Maritime Village, so the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen Victoria gave its permission on 21st May 1979 for the entire furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill. The St Nicholas Seamen’s Church was officially opened on October 11, 1981, and closely resembles the Williamstown chapel. These shell cases are significant for their relationship with the Australian Army in general and in particular with the defence of Australia during World War II. The may have also been made for the Navy. Their significance is increased by their association with the Williamstown Missions To Seamen, which donated them to Flagstaff Hill in 1979, an organisation that has supported seafarers for many years.Shell case: two brass 4" rimmed shell cases with headstamps (inscriptions) on the base plate around the firing pin three holes evenly spaced around the centre of the base. A label is attached to one shell. The shell cases are part of the St. Nicholas Seamen's Church Collection. Shell Case 1298.01 - Printed stamp “P.2BT” “M.E.C.111” “I.E. 10/43”. Stamped into base “N”, “1940” “W [within lozenge]”, “S” symbol [Australian Government Arrow] “360“ . Around firing pin “MF I 422” “ME” “II” “4 I N” “5-“ ”MF [within rectangle]” “f” “B – [within circle]”, Shell Case 1298.02 - headstamp “N 1941 MF / F symbol [square box] LOT 679”, [in oval] 101 / 4 / S /U2) M GUNS 7 “, symbol [Australian Government Arrow], Stencil [in red circle] “B J”, symbol [Diamond with line top to bottom] Stamped in red ink “R5G 11 1 2B7”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, munitions, shell case, ammunition 1940, ammunition 1941, firearms, cannon, australian government, borad arrow, australian army, wwii, world war 2, australian defence, australian ordinance, small arms manufacturing factory, explosives factory maribyrnong, cordite, world war ii, ww2, 1940, 1941, defence, n headstamp, footscray

2lb Anti Tank Roundammunition, 1940, army

40mm shell casingammunition, 1940

Ammunition Pouch Khaki 1940equipment, ww2, army

Standard .303 Vickers Machine Gun Belt from ww2250 round Vickers Machine Gun Ammunition Belt MK III 1940 Brass loading tabTF&S Ltd .303 250 M/C PATd APP 40 III to brass tabvickers machine gun

.1) Specialist wooden slide rule for use with range setting of Vickers Machine Gun. Brown varnish with black print on both sides. Two wooden slides pull out from top or bottom. There is a two foot cord at top. .2) Brown corrugated leather case for above. The flap is secured with a steel knob.Both sides: “MG MK III WHH 1940 (.303 Vickers MG for MK VII Ammn” [Ammunition])military history-army, containers, vickers

Names re 59th Light Aid Detachment. Brain, Henry Baker VX47758, Patterson, Clive Douglas VX17382, Gaston, Stanley William VX18709, Dawson, VX36870, Tonkin, Archibald William VX20511, Kilburn, Douglas Barry VX18171, Long, Michael Roderick VX26974, Boyle, Allan Lemnos VX48814, Schmidt, Bruno Alexander VX43575, Bennett, Walter George VX44891, Hardstaff, John Robert NX5930. Milgate is the only name not readily identifiable. Hardstaff enlisted in 1939, all the rest enlisted in 1940..1) Dark metal slim line shell casing. .2) Dark metal shell casing. Dented at top. .3) Brass shell casing. .4) Brass shell casing..4) Etched on outside of shell: “59LAD 21 INF BDE HQ” “CAPT H B BRAIN, WOII C D PATTERSON, CPL S W GASTON, CPL A C DAWSON, PRIVATES: A W TONKIN, D B KILBURN, M R LONG, A L BOYLE, S H MILGATE, B SCHMIDT, W G BENNETT, J R HARDSTAFF”weapon, shell cases

.1) & .2) Ammunition Pouch rectangular, khaki, webbing, brass buckles, opening at top fastened with metal press studs..1) Inside top flap: “PSS 1940 [up arrow] 15"military equipment, containers, passchendaele barracks trust

Slide rule to enable Vickers Machine Gun crew to calculate fall of shotSlide Rule Mk III for Vickers Machine Gun using Mk VII AmmunitionRULE, SLIDE M.G. MK III W. H. H. 1940 (.303 VICKERS M. G.) (FOR MK VII AMMN.)slide rule, vickers mg

This ammunition bag was used by Harry Mitchell (son of Lindsay Mitchell) at the Bendigo Rifle Club in 1959, the bag was designed to hold 303 riffle bullets used in target shooting or could hold 7 cartridges for a shotgun. The Gladstone bag was very popular in the 1940/50 era, it fitted on the handlebars of a bicycle and it was used by footballers and sportsmen. A couple bottles of beer would fit comfortably in the bag and was.used to take beer home after the hotels closed at 6pm. These two articles were donated by Lindsay Mitchell to the Numurkah Historical Society. The Sunbeam Mixmaster belonged by Marjory Welch, Nana of Margaret Mitchell and would have been used in late 1930 and during 1940's. It was painted and used by Linda Mitchell, (great great grand daughter) when at universitv in 1987 White Sunbeam Mixmaster was purchased by Margaret Mitchell 1965. lt was her first mixmaster after she was married in 1964 The bread bins. The green and white belonged to Mary Mitchell (Lindsay Mitchell's Mother) The colourful bread bin belonged to Lorna Welch (Margaret Mitchell's Mother) 1 x Ammunition bag, (1950's), 1 x Gladstone bag (1950's), 2 x tin bread bins, 1 x White Coloured Sunbeam Mixmaster (1965) , 1 x Cream-coloured Sunbeam Mixmaster (1940's), 1 x Red Fly-spray can (1950's)mitchell family, gladstone bag, mixmaster, school bag, bread bin, kitchen, ammunition bag, sunbeam, flysprayer

Brass shell case 40 mmA 1940

Brass shell casing 280 mm long 100 mm diameterOn base. 1940 417 mf 18 Pr IV CF

William Graham GOODMAN VX11397 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 27.3.1940 age 33 years 2 months. 8.4.1940 posted to 2/5th Batt. 14.4.1940 embarked for the Middle East. 22.5.1940 hospitalised with Otitis Media (ear infection). Rejoined unit 27.5 1940. 14.6.1940 hospitalised with a throat infection. Rejoined unit 16.6.1940. 27.7.1940 transferred to 6th Division ASC. From here he served in Ammunition and Composite Coy’s in 6th Div ASC and graded Group 2 Mechanic MT. 24.3.1941 embarked for Greece. 5.6.1941 reported as missing. 15.12.1941 officially reported as POW in Stalag V111B. 17.5.1944 as part of a POW exchange he embarked from Barcelona to Algiers then Alexandria arriving on 2.6.1944. He is admitted to No 5 NZ GH with Dyspepsia and discharged on 9.6.1944. 28.8.1944 embarked for Australia as a medical casualty. 29.9.1944 arrived Sydney. Hospital again with Dysentry and is medically down graded to D. 6.12.1944 marched out to GDD for discharge. 18.2.1945 discharged from the Army. A document in his records that he supplied details states his POW No 24198. He was captured on 1.6.1941 on Crete and they were on rear guard action at their post when the Island capitulated. It also details living conditions, clothing issue, food, sanitary, treatment, parcels etc. Ref Reg No's 3768, 3569, 3570, 3571, 3572, 3573. A4 certificate, yellowed, folded 8 times. Certificate of Discharge for VX11397 William Graham GOODMAN, Certificate No 151615. AIF Royal Park 8.12.1944.certificate, discharge, aif

William John ARCHER (Bill) No 321 enlisted in B Coy 21st Batt AIF on 18.1.15. Embarked for Eygpt 8.5.15. Hospital 9.9.15 with Influenza. Hospital 24.11.15 with Gastric Enteritis. Hospital 2.1.16 with Otitis Media. Transfers to the 57th Batt and embarks for France. Hospital with Trench Fever 4.10.16. Promoted to Cpl 28.4.17. Hospital 19.3.18 with Scabies. WIA 18.4.18 GSW's to chest and leg severe. Discharged from the AIF medically unfit 9.1.19. Alexander William ARCHER No 40637 enlisted in the RAAF on 16.5.41 age 18 years 8 months. He wanted to be a Mess Steward and was taken in as he had worked in similar work line. He then has 5 postings before embarking for Egypt on 2.4.1942 and was posted to No 3 SQD RAAF on 20.5.1942. Re mustered as a Motor Cyclist he became a Dispatch Rider on 8.9.1942 between the RAAF and the Army. Alex served in the Middle East and Italy with 3 SQD. He embarked from Egypt diagnosed with Kyphosis and Scoliosis on 5.2.1944. In Australia he was re mustered as Office Orderly on 6.7.1944 and then discharged from the RAAF on 2.10.1944 Medically Unfit. Wooden base with brass shells either end resembling Officers caps,one being WWI, the other WWII, both inscribed. Centre plaque inscribed Alex Archer and Bill Archer, father and son. Above the centre plaque is a piece of German shrapnel chrome plated Map - "North Africa, 1940", on left hand side, "18-Pounder, 1917, Bill Archer-Anzac, 1914-1919", on right hand side, "German shrapnel"handcrafts - trench art, metal craft- brassware, arms - ammunition, military history - souvenirs

Brass shell casing,1940, PRNO MK11, MH, NS, MEL, AA, KR, 42