Maxwell Barry Cowden VX19297 enlisted in the 2/nd AIF on 30.5.1940 age 18 years (put his age up to 21) in 2/2 Pioneer Battalion AIF, embarked for the Middle East 8.4.1941, promoted L/Cpl 25.6.1941, promoted Cpl 29.10.1941, took part in the Syrian Campaign. On 31.1.1942 the unit embarked for Australian but were diverted to Java to defend it, disembarked 18.2.1942. Java surrendered and they were taken POW, reported MIA on 30.4.1942 then after as POW. As a POW he worked on the Burma Railway. In December 1944 they were on the Hell Ship AWA Maru and sailed for Japan to work in the Coal Mines arriving mid Jan 1945. He was repatriated back to Australia on the HMS Formidable, discharged on 28.11.1945 with the rank of Cpl. Refer also Cat No 7077.Brown wood frame with gold edge, contains a photo and medals on a green background re a WW2 soldier/POW. The medals are a mixture of official and unofficial not in the correct order. Medals top. 1. Miniature Dutch medal 1942 - 45 official. 2. Prisoner of war medal, commemorative unofficial. Centre row. 1.Dutch medal 1942 - 45 official. 2. Africa star, official. 3. 1939 - 45 Star, official. 4. Pacific Star, official. 5. Front line service medal, unofficial. Bottom. 1. Defence medal, official. 2.Australian Service medal 1939 - 45, official. 3. For Combatant duties in active service, unofficial. 4. Foreign service medal, unofficial. 5. British war medal 1939 - 45, official."Max Cowden VX19297 2/2 Pioneer Battalion AIF"award, medals, photo, pow, 2/2

Item is in the collection re M.B. Cowden, refer Cat No 7076P for service details.Framed brown colour with gold edge with inset on yellow/brown background, central is a 50c stamp with a raised figure of a soldier playing a bugle,On the centre piece below figure, "At the going down of the sun" repeated twice. On the frame in gold, "Lest we Forget"framed, stamp, souvenir, lest we forget

Proudly Sponsored by Nicholas Dattner & Co.Black and white paper flyer ;good conditionStarring:Jean Kittson, Denise Scott,Lynda Gibson,Rachel Burger, The Great Opera Company,Found Objects.Hosted by David Cotter and Lucinda Cowdencomedy on collins, athenaeum theatre, program, programme, jean kittson, denise scott, lynda gibson, nicholas dattner & co, rachel berger, the great big opera company, found objects, david cotter

Donors Mr. A.F. Russell Mrs. Bettine James Mr. O.P. Gutauskas Hains & Sutton &co. Mr. F.W. Glare Mr. & Mrs. R.I. Read Fiery Creek Stage & Trading Co. Mr. P.B.A Cowden Mr. A.W.N Lyons Mr. J.McG. Troup Mrs. W.R.R Beggs Mr. W.J. Smith Mr. R. Read Mr. & Mrs. N..S.Reid Mr. K.W. McKenzie Mrs. Pam. Wotherspoon Mr. L.J.Harris Mr. R.A. Fraser Mr. W. Morcombe Mr. R.F. Gardiner Mr. S.R. Greenbank Mr. C. J. Hedges Mr. F.J. O'Briensignificant as a work of art by local Pyrenees artist, locally significant to the Central Highlands Region of Victoria as a representation of local landscape and/or culture oil painting of Lake Burrumbeet with trees in the foreground"Signed: Jarvis (lower left) Verso: (handwritten and typed list) Painting of Lake Burrumbeet By Sue Jarvis Obtained by Cr. C.J. Hedges Cost $120 Donors Mr. A.F. Russell Mrs. Bettine James Mr. O.P. Gutauskas Hains & Sutton &co. Mr. F.W. Glare Mr. & Mrs. R.I. Read Fiery Creek Stage & Trading Co. Mr. P.B.A Cowden Mr. A.W.N Lyons Mr. J.McG. Troup Mrs. W.R.R Beggs Mr. W.J. Smith Mr. R. Read Mr. & Mrs. N..S.Reid Mr. K.W. McKenzie Mrs. Pam. Wotherspoon Mr. L.J.Harris Mr. R.A. Fraser Mr. W. Morcombe Mr. R.F. Gardiner Mr. S.R. Greenbank Mr. C. J. Hedges Mr. F.J. O'Brien"

The spoon was given to Maxwell Barry Cowden VX19297 2/2 Pioneer BN by an American POW. He carried the spoon tied to the side of his loin cloth. Max worked on the Burma Railway and in the Coal Mines in Japan, Senryu 24 and Fukuoka camps. After the war he could not sit on a chair for a long time and would just squat on the floor with his back to the wall as he had done as a POW. Refer Cat No 7076P for more service details.Framed brown timber with gold edge, inset background is green, within is a silver spoon and medal displayed. The medal is a Commemorative unofficial Prisoner of War. On the spoon stamped in "U.S"framed, pow, souvenir, u.s

List of names from C to Wcolour photograph unmountedTroopers: J C Cowden, J P Deegan, W J Eddington, J Gardiner, J A Madden, W Henderson, L Hutchinson, W Leishman, H V Mays, M R Morris, C A Mullen, G Mullen, L L Mullen, F L Newell, T J F Putt, S Parrott, R Pomeroy, J C Ross, F Raleigh, G Smith, S Smith, P SInclair, C G Stewart, J M Thomas, S Tompsitt, G M Wells, H T Wells, D H Willan