Collection re Corporal G.W. Bell. Refer Cat No. 10663.2 for his service details.Small blue folded card with RAAF Emblem at top. “RAAF Form P/P.158”. Inside details of servicemen being demobbed with Length of Service, Job, Date, No. and signed off by Commanding Officer.Front says "Royal Australian Air Force" "Interim Certificate of Discharge". Stamp on back relating to rations.raaf, cert of discharge, g.w. bell, admin record

Purpose was to cancel allotment of funds through to the bank due to discharge from service. Collection re G.W. Bell 53081 RAAF. Refer Cat No. 10663.2 for his service details. 1. Cream coloured form from RAAF headed Bank Allotment Advice - Discontinuation. Contains details of serviceman, location and bank and reasons for cancellation, in this case discharge. 2. Stamped white envelope.1. Stamped “15 Mar 1946” 2. Stamped “Area finance Office, Melbourne”raaf, finance record, discharge advice, g.w. bell, ww2

EDHS Newsletter No. 182, September 2008 In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith's notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that house is the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miners Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the house existed at that time. Birch died in 1932 and his daughter Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. The future of the cottage remains precarious because of its location on Crown land. In 2007 the Andrew Ross Museum began a campaign to ensure that it is preserved. It included a video presentation on the history of the cottage under the title of "This Old House- Birch Cottage". Black and white photographWilliams Cottage Panton Hill 1969 Not to be reproduced without permission G.W. Bell Photographer Elthamhouses, cottage, early settlers, yarra glen road, smiths gully, williams cottage, watsons creek, christmas hills, birch cottage, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch

EDHS Newsletter No. 182, September 2008 In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith's notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that house is the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miners Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the house existed at that time. Birch died in 1932 and his daughter Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. The future of the cottage remains precarious because of its location on Crown land. In 2007 the Andrew Ross Museum began a campaign to ensure that it is preserved. It included a video presentation on the history of the cottage under the title of "This Old House- Birch Cottage". Black and white photograph Also digital scan file from original negativeWilliams Cottage Panton Hill 1969 Not to be reproduced without permission G.W. Bell Photographer Elthamhouses, cottage, early settlers, yarra glen road, smiths gully, williams cottage, watsons creek, christmas hills, birch cottage, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch, bronny handfield collection

George Wallace Bell No. 53081 (Born England, enlisted Melbourne). Age 33 on 2/4/1942 & was Discharged 8/3/1946. His overseas service is listed as 16/2/1943 to 13/9/1944 and then 15/3/1945 to 22/2/1946. Service areas were Milne Bay, Kiriwina, Lae, Aitape, Solomon Islands, Labuan. Discharged with the rank of Corporal in 4th Airfield Construction Sqd. His civilian service was a Plumber and maintained that through his War service.1. Yellow certificate A4 size. Form information in blue type with inserted data in black type. Headed Royal Australian Air Force. Data includes No, Rank, Dates of service, Physical description, Qualifications and Service history and Sign off from Authority. 2. Brown stamp and addressed envelope.“53081 - Corporal - BELL GeorgeWallace” "On Her Majesty's Service" Addressed to "Mr G.W. Bell, 16 Thomas Street, Mitcham, Vic."raaf, cert of discharge, admin record