Index, bibliography, maps, p.96.non-fictionThe North African campaign has been studied in detail over the years but much of the study has been dedicated to the battles between the British Eighth Army and Rommel's Afrika Korps. There has been little serious study of Wavell's campaign against Italian forces in 1940-41, nor of the role played by the Australian Sixth Division.world war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – north africa, libya - campaigns - 1940-1941

Book

VHS Video TapeSteel Tigers in the Desert on Campaign - The ACESsteel tigers in the desert on campaign - the aces

During the desert campaign in World War One (1914-1918) when grazing was non existent the horses began eating their neck ropes as a substitute. As a result the ropes were replaced with the British cavalry neck chain. The links are for securing the toggle piece when it was around the horses neck whilst being ridden. When the rider dismounted he would unlink the chain and use it as the horses lead chain. It was also used to tether the horse. It is doubtful if the chains were ever issued to light horse in Australia so it is likely this chain was brought home from the Middle East after the war.Rare relic of the Middle East campaign during World War One (1914-1918).Chain with loop om one end, toggle on the other and two intermediate plates with a cross shaped hole punched through them.military, chain, horse, desert campaign, wwi (1914-1918), cavalry

Australia in the War 1939-1945. Series 2 NAVY Volume 1Australia in the War of 1939-1945 - Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942 Maps, Photographs and IllustrationsInside front page has a handwritten letter on personal paper from George Herman Gill to Oscar Esther - June 1958. Inscription - Presented to Lara Sub Branch RSSAILA Lara, Vic by Squadron Leader O.A. Mendelssohn an old friend and admirer of the author, commander G.H. Gill OBE June 1958. Australian War Memorialnavy, ran ships overseas to june 1940, ran ships overseas june-december 1040, western desert campaign, greece, crete, the middle east, mediterranean to end of 1941, south-west pacific, abda and anzac

Italian M - 35 model SRCM hand grenade. Named “Red devils” by the British in the Desert campaigns The grenade comes in four parts minus the fuse. 1. Aluminium top plate aluminium colour attached to a wire circle with a pin and attached with a small chain. .2) Aluminium red colour cylinder shaped with an internal thread with 2 small pin slots. .3) Aluminium red colour cylinder shaped with external thread. .4) Round cylinder with wire woven around its outside, this is part of the inner workings, not shown..1) “Societa Romana” stamped on.grenades, m - 35 model, srcm

These Italian grenades were developed near similtaniously during WW2, named “OTTO, BREDA SRCM”. They were nicknamed “Red Devils” by the British in the Desert campaigns and had an effective range of 10 - 15 metres..1) .2) .3) Three versions of the Italian Model 35 Hand Grenade, all cylinder shaped painted red with differant styles of black top/side workings.otto.breda.srcm, italian grenades

Items contributed by service men, for their families at home.Hard back Green Material Cover, Print mostly in Khaki Except on Front where Khaki is in Green on Khaki Rectangle. Book 3 in series of 6 published for the Australian Military Forces by The Australian War Memorial Canberra A.C.T. during WW2.Khaki and Green with the Australian Army at Home and Overseas. Relates soldiers' experiences since October 1942 Covering the African desert and Papua Campaignsstawell ww2

The 17th Australian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Australian Army. First formed in 1917 during World War I, it did not see any action. Reformed during World War II, before being disbanded in 1946. Today, its name is perpetuated by the 17th Combat Service Support Brigade, which was raised as a logistics formation in May 2006. The 17th Brigade was reformed on 13 October 1939, again as part of the 6th Division, recruited from Victoria. The 17th Brigade fought in the Western Desert Campaign in Libya, the Battle of Greece, the Battle of Wau, the Salamaua-Lae campaign in Papua, and in the Aitape-Wewak campaign in New Guinea. The photographs are of national significance as they may reflect the only known photographs of individuals from WW2.4 page newspaper pictures of 17th Brigade, Second AIFThe Argus 17th Australian Infantry Brigade, Second AIF, Souvenir Supplement, Thursday, February 22, 1940 Page 1 2/5th Battalion - Picture 1 Officers of the 2/5th Battalion; Picture 2 Senior NCO's of the 2/5th Battalion; Picture 3 A Company 2/5th Battalion Page 2 B Company 2/5th Battalion; C Company 2/5th Battalion; D Company 2/5th Battalion Page 3 Headquarters 2/2nd Field Regiment 6th Divisional Artillery; 3rd Battery 2/2nd Field Regiment 6th Divisional Artillery Page 4 Officers, NCO's and men of 2/2nd Field Company, 6th Divisional Engineers; Officers NCO's and men 2/2nd Field Ambulance and 2/2nd Australian General Hospital 6th Divisional Australian Army Medical Corpsaif, army, 17th brigade, second aif, 2/5th battalion, australian army, australian infantry brigade, 2/2nd field aumbulance, 2/2nd australian general hospital, 6th divisional australian army medical corps, 6th divisional engineers

The 8th Light Horse Regiment was raised at Broadmeadows Camp in 1914 and served at Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine, Transjordan and Syria. At Gallipoli the regiment took part in the ill-fated charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 and suffered horrendous casualties including the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White. Following the evacuation the regiment was brought up to full strength under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Maygar VC and went on the participate in all the major actions of the desert campaign culminating in the capitulation of Turkey in October 1918. The regiment was in reserve at Beersheba and came under air attack resulting in the death of Lieutenant Colonel Maygar. The post-war regimental association met regularly until the late 1970s when dwindling numbers brought about its closure.A rare document relating to a Victorian mounted regiment of World War 1 (1914-1918) with the thank-you cards providing a unique method of recording the passing of this proud regiment into history.Blue hardback scrap book containing a roll of members of the 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF Association, some newspaper clippings about Light Horse in the Middle East campaign, collection of return-thanks cards for deceased members of the regiment pasted in, and hand written letter to Matthew (Matt) Maynes thanking him for his sterling service as secretary of the association.8th light horse, association, wwi, world war one

These photographs were part of the collection originally owned by Frederick Harcourt VX18344, detailing the personnel and working conditions of the 2nd/2nd Field Workshops during the desert campaign in 1940-41. Harcourt was himself a member of the unit. This set is a mixture of images both of the unit and unidentified personnel from the unit and elsewhere. The job of the field workshops was to repair and maintain equipment in the field. Of particular note is 11170.03P showing a lineup of 2-pdr anti-tank guns being maintained. Some of the personnel shown in these images elsewhere in this series (11169, 11170, 11171) are: Bamford, Frank Lesley. VX 19872 Newcombe, Keith VX 30716 Bartram, Wilfred VX 47765 Barrow, D.F. VX 4403 Canning, J.C.M. VX 19705 Spring, J.O.B. VX 35676 Filler, W.R. VX 31421 Collection of photographs detailing personnel and work of 2nd/2nd Field workshops in Western DesertSome photographs with captions on rear, included in images2nd/2nd field workshops western desert, frederick harcourt

These photographs were likely taken by Frederick Harcourt VX18344, detailing the personnel and working conditions of the 2nd/2nd Field Workshops during the desert campaign in 1940-41. Harcourt was himself a member of the unit. The job of the field workshops was to repair and maintain equipment in the field, as is illustrated by images showing a member maintaining the breach of a 6-pounder anti-tank gun. Image 11169.07P is of particular interest, showing in detail the mobile workshop and equipment. Image 11169.10P shows the dispersal of the unit in encampment. Note the couple of artillery pieces being repaired. Some of the personnel shown in these images are: Bamford, Frank Lesley. VX 19872 Newcombe, Keith VX 30716 Bartram, Wilfred VX 47765 Barrow, D.F. VX 4403 Canning, J.C.M. VX 19705 Spring, J.O.B. VX 35676 Filler, W.R. VX 31421 Collection of photographs detailing personnel and work of 2nd/2nd Field workshops in Western DesertSome photographs with captions on rear, included in images2nd/2nd field workshops western desert, frederick harcourt

These photographs were part of the collection originally owned by Frederick Harcourt VX18344, detailing the personnel and working conditions of the 2nd/2nd Field Workshops during the desert campaign in 1940-41. Harcourt was himself a member of the unit. This set is of commercial images showing the notable features of the various locations members of the unit may have spent leave. The job of the field workshops was to repair and maintain equipment in the field. This set features the photographic envelopes from local services, providing an insight about how the original photographs were produced. Some of the personnel shown in these images elsewhere in this series (11169, 11170, 11171) are: Bamford, Frank Lesley. VX 19872 Newcombe, Keith VX 30716 Bartram, Wilfred VX 47765 Barrow, D.F. VX 4403 Canning, J.C.M. VX 19705 Spring, J.O.B. VX 35676 Filler, W.R. VX 31421 Collection of photographs detailing personnel and work of 2nd/2nd Field workshops in Western DesertSome photographs with captions on rear, included in images2nd/2nd field workshops western desert, frederick harcourt

The siege of Tobruk (/təˈbrʊk, toʊ-/) took place between 10 April and 27 November 1941, during the Western Desert campaign (1940–1943) of the Second World War. An Allied force, consisting mostly of the 9th Australian Division, commanded by Lieutenant-General Leslie Morshead, was besieged in the North African port of Tobruk by German and Italian forces. The tenacious defenders quickly became known as the Rats of Tobruk. After 231 days, they were finally relieved by the British Eighth Army. In late 1940, the Allies had defeated the Italian 10th Army during Operation Compass (9 December 1940 – 9 February 1941) and trapped the remnants at Beda Fomm. On 22 January 1941, Tobruk's Italian garrison surrendered. But in early 1941, much of the British Western Desert Force was sent to the Greek and Syria–Lebanon campaigns, leaving only a skeleton force short of equipment and supplies. Adolf Hitler felt compelled to send reinforcements, commanded by Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel, to rescue his beleaguered Italian ally. Rommel launched Operation Sonnenblume (6 February – 25 May 1941), driving the Allies back across Libya to the Egyptian border. However, Tobruk held out, depriving Rommel of a supply port closer to the Egyptian–Libyan border than Benghazi, 560 mi (900 km) west of the Egyptian frontier. The Axis siege of Tobruk began on 10 April and continued despite two failed Allied relief attempts: Operation Brevity (15–16 May) and Operation Battleaxe (15–17 June). The garrison repulsed several Axis attacks. The port was frequently bombarded by artillery, dive-bombers and medium bombers, while the Royal Air Force flew defensive sorties from airfields far away in Egypt. Allied naval forces, such as the British Mediterranean Fleet (including the Inshore Squadron) ran the blockade, carrying reinforcements and supplies in and the wounded and prisoners out. Finally, Operation Crusader (18 November – 30 December) succeeded in raising the siege. Bendigo formed its own 'Assoociation of Rats of Tobruk' in 1949. "Bendigo's Own Rates of Tobruk" by Alma Mulqueen. Soft cover. Front and back covers have feint painted image of fig tree taken from Tobruk Barracks, Puckapunyal. Rats of Tobruk Association logo on back cover, and group of past servicemen marching inset on front cover. Book title written in black on front cover. 172 pages. Black and white images through out. Index of records/service people towards front of book. Contains images of soldiers and a brief summary of their service. rats of tobruk, world war 2, soldiers, bendigo

Khaki and Green is a summary of the scope of the activities of the Australian soldiers since last they related their experiences, in book form. To their homeland. It speaks of desert and jungle epitomising the two major regions of the campaign in which Australians have participated since October 1942 - the overthrow of Rommel's forces at El Alamein and the smashing of the Chinese in Papua.Collection of servicemen recounts, poems and cartoons from World War 2Faded light green hardcover front and back with title in centre symmetrical green and back lettering (shadowed) With the Australian Army at home and overseas. Text is repeated on spine of book. Front and back inside pages has an illustrations of a kit bag and it's contents and text - Palestine, United Kingdom, Egypt, Libya, Greece, Crete, Eritrea, Cyprus, Syria, Siam, Malaya, Java, Ambon, Ceylon, China, New Britain, Ocean islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Solomon's, Papua, Timor, Dutch New Guinea. Photos, illustrations, cartoons, poems. There are three copies held at the Lara RSL Sub Branch.To the memory of fallen comrades ‘They gave their lives. For the public gift they received a praise which never ages and a tomb most glorious – not so much the tomb in which they lie, but that in which their fame survives, to be remembered forever when occasion comes for word or dead…. ‘ blaney, aif, 6th and 7th division, poetry, middle east, south west pacific, darwin, nassau bay, kokoda, rats of moresby, bullybeef, night patrol, jungle fighters, prisoners of war, world war 2, ww2

Little has been written previously about this technical group of men and women and that their duties were under insurmountable difficulties which they faced and overcome in conditions that were encountered in the desert and jungle warfare. Without their constant and never ending services, the task of the force in bringing to a close this fight for freedom would have been greatly handicapped.An outline of the Australian Signals Corps over the years from the campaign in the Middle East to the present day of the victories in New Guinea. A tribute to the corps that stayed on duty every hour of every day providing and maintaining vital communication channels.Signals - Story of the Australian Corps of Signals. Green front and back hardcover with black text and insignia. Photographs, cartoons, illustrations and poems. The inside front and back covers have a photograph montage in green sepia.signal corps, wwii, c.h.simpson, motorcycle couriers, signals 7 australian division, lt.commander b.t.r chadd, palestine, spark plug, semiphore, morse code, field radio, a.i.f, british signals corps, pieter mersk, breconshire corp signals, new guinea, malaysa, singapore, switchboard, carrier pigeons, linesmen, gaza signal office

Frederick Lloyd Carleton VX1555 served in the 2/23rd Battalion, 9th Division in the Middle East and in the Pacific. The images detail his day to day life at the front and on leave. He served during the siege of Tobruk and at El Alamein, and was a lifelong member of the Bendigo sub-branch of the Rats of Tobruk Association. Refer Cat No 142.7 for his full service history.Collection of 76 photographs taken during service in 2/23rd in Middle East.Some images have inscriptions on verso. These are included in the title information displayed with each image as it is clicked on.2/23rd battalion, tobruk, el alamein, western desert campain, fred carleton, syrian campaign, rats of tobruk, cairo

German Luftwaffe (Land Forces) minefield warning flag from WWII.originally intended to be gas markers, rather than mines, but as it turned out, the use changed .they were mounted on a red metal pole & there were 12 to a set in a leather pack. This Flag was presented to the Treasurer of Waverley RSL. It is a souvenir from Bardia in Libya The Battle of Bardia was fought over three days between 3 and 5 January 1941, as part of Operation Compass, the first military operation of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. It was the first battle of the war in which an Australian Army formation took part, the first to be commanded by an Australian general and the first to be planned by an Australian staff. Major General Iven Mackay's 6th Division assaulted the strongly held Italian fortress of Bardia, Libya, assisted by air support and naval gunfire, and under the cover of an artillery barrage. The 16th Infantry Brigade attacked at dawn from the west, where the defences were known to be weak. Sappers blew gaps in the barbed wire with Bangalore torpedoes and filled in and broke down the sides of the anti-tank ditch with picks and shovels. This allowed the infantry and 23 Matilda II tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment to enter the fortress and capture all their objectives, along with 8,000 prisoners. In the second phase of the operation, the 17th Infantry Brigade exploited the breach made in the perimeter, and pressed south as far as a secondary line of defences known as the Switch Line. On the second day, the 16th Infantry Brigade captured the township of Bardia, cutting the fortress in two. Thousands of prisoners were taken, and the Italian garrison now held out only in the northern and southernmost parts of the fortress. On the third day, the 19th Infantry Brigade advanced south from Bardia, supported by artillery and the Matilda tanks, now reduced in number to just six. Its advance allowed the 17th Infantry Brigade to make progress as well, and the two brigades reduced the southern sector of the fortress. Meanwhile, the Italian garrisons in the north surrendered to the 16th Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the British 7th Armoured Division outside the fortress. In all, some 36,000 Italian prisoners were taken. The victory at Bardia enabled the Allied forces to continue the advance into Libya and ultimately capture almost all of Cyrenaica. In turn this would lead to German intervention in the fighting in North Africa, changing the nature of the war in that theatre. Bardia boosted the competence and reputation of the Australian Army. Perhaps most important of all, it raised confidence in the possibility of an ultimate Allied victory around the world, which would lead to the Lend-Lease Act being passed in the United States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_BardiaCloth Flag bearing a skull and cross Bones on a metal spike mounted on a square varnished wooden basebardia, land mine, marker flag, minefield, mustard gas

Book - Account of Battle campaign Tobruk, WW2.Hard cover book. Cover - cardboard, brown colour buckram cover with white print on spine (illegible). 140 pages - cut, plain, off white paper. Illustrated with black and white photographs and maps. End papers - illustrated sepia tones - map of Libya/Egypt (front) - map of Tobruk and battle. Campaign books.Front end paper - handwritten blue pen - "15-"books, military history, ww2, campaigns

Index, bibliography, notes, ill, maps, p.712.non-fictionAbout 1300 Australians died in the desert campaigns of World War I, while another 3500 died in North Africa and the Middle East during World War II. Thousands more carried the wounds of war for the rest of their lives. Countless families were left behind to mourn the dead and comfort the injured. A ripple effect of grief passed down the generations. This is the story of Australia's desert wars as never before told. Using letters, diaries, interviews and unpublished memoirs, Desert Boys provides an intensely personal and gripping insight into the thoughts, feelings and experiences of two generations of Australian soldiers. In many cases these were fathers and sons going to successive wars with all the tragedy, adventure and hardship that brought.australian army - desert campaigns, desert warfare - 20th century

Index, bibliography, notes, ill, maps, p.266.non-fictionStephen Bungay's Alamein is a trenchant re-examination of an event now cloaked in myth. Though the propaganda of the time focused on personalities, this was a desert war, he reveals, determined largely by logistics. In a conflict that for two years had ebbed and flowed along the North African littoral, victory was always going to go to the side that mastered its supply lines - in Britain's case not least by withstanding the epic siege of Malta. He also gets beyond the polemics and eulogies of many past writers in re-assessing Alamein's chief protaganists, Montgomery and Rommel, to show how it was precisely the most unattractive side of Montgomery's character that was needed to transform the Eighth Army into a force capable of fighting a battle it could win.battle of alamein - 1942, world war 1939-1945 - campaigns - north africa

Index, bibliography, notes, ill, maps, p.580.non-fictionPeter FitzSimons, Australia's most beloved popular historian, focuses on one of the seminal moments in Australian history: the Battle of tobruk in 1941, in which more than 15 000 Australian troops - backed by British artillery - fought in excruciating desert heat through eight long months, against Adolf Hitler's formidable Afrika Korps. During the dark heart of World War II, when Hitler turned his attention to conquering North Africa, a distracted and far-fl ung Allied force could not give its all to the defence of Libya. So the job was left to the roughest, toughest bunch that could be mustered: the Australian Imperial Force. the AIF's defence of the harbour city of tobruk against the Afrika Korps' armoured division is not only the stuff of Australian legend, it is one of the great battles of all time, as against the might of General Rommel and his Panzers, the Australians relied on one factor in particular to give them the necessary strength against the enemy: mateship. Drawing on extensive source material - including diaries and letters, many never published before - this extraordinary book, written in Peter FitzSimons' highly readable style, is the definitive account of this remarkable chapter in Australia's historyworld war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – north africa, siege of tobruk

Index, bibliography, ill, maps, p.224.non-fictionTimothy Hall tells the real story of Tobruk, the follies and bravery, the unexpected humaneness of both sides, the mutual respect of opposing armies locked in siege warfare and their common enemy - the North African desert.world war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – north africa, siege of tobruk

Index, maps, p.414.non-fictionMarch 1941. The Allied forces have suffered one brutal defeat after another. For Hitler's forces the conquest of Egypt, and the rich oil fields of the Middle East, lie next on the horizon. All that stand in their way are a few Australian brigades defending a town called Tobruk. For eight months the Australian Imperial Forces defended the North African coastal fortress, battling almost unbeatable odds in the dust and the heat of the Libran desert. Under the command of General Morshead, the troops used unorthodox methods and sheer grit to withstand the superior might of General Rommel's elite 'Afrika Korpsworld war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – north africa, siege of tobruk 1941

index, bibliography, notes, ill, p.512non-fictionThe Australian Light Horse was a unique force, first raised during the Boer War, and then reformed for World War I. most of the men were from the outback, had a special bond with their horses (which were all brought from Australia) and they knew how to survive and fight in the desert. world war 1914-1918 - campaigns - palestine, australian light horse - history

Ill, maps, p.246.non-fictionThe experiences of RAAF ground staff in the Middle Eastworld war 1939-1945 - campaigns - north africa, world war two 1939-1945 - aerial operations - australia

Index, bib, ill, maps, p.163.non-fictionAustralian involvement in the North African campaign 1940-1942world war 1939-1945 - australian involvement, world war 1939-1945 - campaigns - north africa

Index, bib, ill, , maps, p.208.non-fictionExamines the military leaders, campaigns, battles, tactics and strategy of the African theater of war during World War II.world war 1939-1945 - campaigns - north africa, afrika corps