This wooden spoke handle is from the wheel of the sailing ship “Success”, a former immigrant ship and later a convict hulk at Melbourne. The sailing ship “Success” was a teakwood vessel built in Natmoo (Natmaw), Tenasserim, Burma (now Myanmar) in 1840 for Cockerell & Co., Calcutta. Over its lifetime of 106 years, it was used to trade in the Indian subcontinent, to transport free emigrants to Australia, as a prison hulk in the Port of Melbourne for both hardened criminals, and later for women and boys, as a storage vessel for ammunition, a reformatory, and as a floating museum sent around the world to tell the tale of the convict era. During the time “Success” was used as a museum, pamphlets were distributed to paying customers advertising erroneously, that the “Success” was the oldest ship in the world. The “Success” sank and was re-floated twice: the first in Sydney in 1885, the second in the USA in 1918, before it was finally burned and sank on July 4, 1946 in Lake Erie, near Sandusky, Ohio, in 1946. Although the “Success” was home to prisoners while berthed in the Port of Melbourne, it was not used as convict transport. There has been speculation that Ned Kelly’s infamous armour was displayed on the “Success”, but this cannot be verified. Another link to Ned Kelly is Henry Johnson, an Irish prisoner on the vessel Success, who was implicated in the murder of the ship’s warder. and later, Johnson was supposedly a bushranger with Ned Kelly. It is also rumoured that Ned Kelly’s father John was a passenger on the Success, but this is also unverified. There are over 16 other ships named “Success”, although one in particular causes some confusion when researching “Success” in Australia. This other ship – the “HMS Success” - was a 28 gun frigate built in1823, which was broken up in 1849. It also sailed to Australia.Thiswooden ship's wheel handle was once part of the ship’s wheel of the sailing ship “Success” , which was, built in Burma in 1840. The “Success” is connected to the history of Australia because she was used as a merchant ship to transport immigrants to Australia, and was also used as a prison ship in Melbourne, a storage vessel, and as a floating “convict” museum, which travelled the world. Ship's wheel handle. Hndle from the wheel of sailing ship, the “Success”. The shaped handle is domed at one end, becoming narrower towards the other end, then flattened out into a beveled circle. The handle has an inscription written in pencil."Success"flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, sailing ship success, ship's wheel spoke, ship's steering wheel, prison ship, prison hulks, convict ship, spoke handle, ship's wheel, navigation equipment, steering wheel

non-fictionconvict ships, success

Alfred Maskell No VX25221 (born Mildura, enlisted Caulfield) in the 2nd AIF on 25.6.40 aged 19 years. Posted to 4th Anti Tank Regt with the rank of Gunner he was taken POW at the fall of Singapore. He was held in Changi Gaol then went to work on the Thai-Burma Railway 1942-43 followed by Prison ship to Japan where he worked on the Docks until Wars end. He was discharged from the AIF on 12.12.45.Medals, court mounted, set of (6) re A Maskell. 1. 1939-45 Star. 2. Pacific Star. 3. Defence Medal. 4. War Medal 1939-45. 5. Australian Service Medal 1939 - 45 6. Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp "SW PACIFIC"."VX25221 A.R Maskell"military, history, medals

Frederick Birkin No VX32484 (born Castlemaine, enlisted Royal Park) in the 2nd AIF on 25.6.40 age 24 years. Attached to 2/22nd Batt known as “Lark Force” they were stationed in Rabaul awaiting a possible attack by the Japanese. The attack came in early 1942. Birkin was taken POW and his death was on 1.7.42. Numbers escaped, others were massacred at the TOL Plantation and many more of the total Force and civilians lost their lives on the Japanese prison ship “Montivedeo Maru” which was sunk by an American Submarine on 1.7.42. A small number survived this. The cards were all written on the back with name and number of men in Birkins unit prior to embarkation to Rabaul. All were traceable as to their fate or transfer to another unit prior to embarkation. Refer also 182.2, 183. Set of playing cards, red in colour, with 2 white figures sword fighting. Owned by Frederick Birkin.Cards have been written on reverse, in ink, by colleagues of Fred Birkin.documents, cards, personal effects, leisure activities

This hat was sent home to Laanecoorie, from Malaya, in 1941 by Driver Cyril John Johnson VX36298, 1 Coy A.A.S.C whilst a POW. Cyril enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 17.6.1940 age 22 years 2 months. Posted to 8th Div Petrol Coy Seymour 25.7.1940, hospital 12.8.1940 with Mumps, rejoin unit 31.8.1940, embark for overseas 2.2.1941, disembark Singapore 19.2.1941. He is listed as missing on 16.2.1942 and later listed as POW in a Thai Camp no date. (He was on the Burma Railway) Last entry on his records states Presumed to be dead 12.9.1944 SWPA. (South West Pacific Area) He with hundreds of others were on the Japanese prison ship Rakuyo Maru to Japan when it was sunk by an American submarine. The hand written signatures on the hat include high ranking AIF Officers, major local Officials and dozens of 8th Division AIF soldiers. British pattern Pith Helmet, khaki coloured cotton cloth with brown leather strap over the top. Large quantity of hand written names on top. Inside rim has green felt lining. Dome section is plaited red silk with manufacturer's label at crest. Hat band is brown leather.On top written in pen & ink: Many army numbers & names of soldiers and some dignitaries.. On top written in ink: To Dad etc from Cyril.military equipment - army, costume - male headwear

In March 1892, Melbourne Butcher John Stamford took a prospective tenant to a house he owned at 57 Andrew Street Windsor. He noticed a 'disagreeable smell' coming from the front rooms. Suspecting foul play, Stamford called the police who quickly discovered a decomposing body and partially clad body of a young woman in a shallow grave under the fireplace. 'Her skull had been shattered and her throat cut'. Two detectives, Sergeants Considine and Cawsey, began investigations. The previous tenant, a 'Mr. Druin' who had rented the house had since disappeared was the main suspect. 'Druin' had arrived in Australia from England as 'Albert Williams' in December 1891 with his 24 year old wife Emily Mather. The body was Emily's. The crime scene investigation proved difficult as the suspect - whatever his real name- had cleaned up the scene very carefully. Much later it was discovered that the suspect was in fact Frederick Bayley Deeming, a former sailor born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1854. In 1881, Deeming deserted his ship and lived in Sydney where he married and had a family. Deeply in debt, he later burned his business down to claim its insurance value and fled to South Africa before he could be arrested. He is believed to have committed numerous frauds and murders in Africa. Eventually found in Uruguay, he spent time in prison in England for fraud. After being released he married Emily and returned to Australia. After leaving England, British police began investigating him over the murder of Mrs Marie Deeming and her four children. Now using another alias, 'Baron Swanston', Deeming was arrested in Western Australia before he left the country in the company of a young woman, Kate Rounsefell, whom he planned to marry. It seems Kate would have been his next murder victim. Brought back to Victoria, in May 1892, Deeming went on trail for the murder of Emily Mather. Despite a strong defense conducted by a brilliant young barrister and 3 times Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, the evidence against Deeming was overwhelming and he was found guilty. Deeming was hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 23 May 1892. He was known to be responsible for at least 6 murders and may have committed others. Black and white photograph backed onto black backing board showing a man in a long coat and top hat with his hands in his pockets and a moustachefrederick deeming, emily mather, murders

In March 1892, Melbourne Butcher John Stamford took a prospective tenant to a house he owned at 57 Andrew Street Windsor. He noticed a 'disagreeable smell' coming from the front rooms. Suspecting foul play, Stamford called the police who quickly discovered a decomposing body and partially clad body of a young woman in a shallow grave under the fireplace. 'Her skull had been shattered and her throat cut'. Two detectives, Sergeants Considine and Cawsey, began investigations. The previous tenant, a 'Mr. Druin' who had rented the house had since disappeared was the main suspect. 'Druin' had arrived in Australia from England as 'Albert Williams' in December 1891 with his 24 year old wife Emily Mather. The body was Emily's. The crime scene investigation proved difficult as the suspect - whatever his real name- had cleaned up the scene very carefully. Much later it was discovered that the suspect was in fact Frederick Bayley Deeming, a former sailor born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1854. In 1881, Deeming deserted his ship and lived in Sydney where he married and had a family. Deeply in debt, he later burned his business down to claim its insurance value and fled to South Africa before he could be arrested. He is believed to have committed numerous frauds and murders in Africa. Eventually found in Uruguay, he spent time in prison in England for fraud. After being released he married Emily and returned to Australia. After leaving England, British police began investigating him over the murder of Mrs Marie Deeming and her four children. Now using another alias, 'Baron Swanston', Deeming was arrested in Western Australia before he left the country in the company of a young woman, Kate Rounsefell, whom he planned to marry. It seems Kate would have been his next murder victim. Brought back to Victoria, in May 1892, Deeming went on trail for the murder of Emily Mather. Despite a strong defense conducted by a brilliant young barrister and 3 times Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, the evidence against Deeming was overwhelming and he was found guilty. Deeming was hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 23 May 1892. He was known to be responsible for at least 6 murders and may have committed others. Black and white photograph backed onto black board showing a lady in dark clothing and hat resting with her right elbow on the arm of a lounge. Woman is holding a small sprig of flowers in her left handEmily Lydia Mather. Murdered by Deeming 1892 (in black ink along top of photograph)frederick deeming, emily mather, murders

In March 1892, Melbourne Butcher John Stamford took a prospective tenant to a house he owned at 57 Andrew Street Windsor. He noticed a 'disagreeable smell' coming from the front rooms. Suspecting foul play, Stamford called the police who quickly discovered a decomposing body and partially clad body of a young woman in a shallow grave under the fireplace. 'Her skull had been shattered and her throat cut'. Two detectives, Sergeants Considine and Cawsey, began investigations. The previous tenant, a 'Mr. Druin' who had rented the house had since disappeared was the main suspect. 'Druin' had arrived in Australia from England as 'Albert Williams' in December 1891 with his 24 year old wife Emily Mather. The body was Emily's. The crime scene investigation proved difficult as the suspect - whatever his real name- had cleaned up the scene very carefully. Much later it was discovered that the suspect was in fact Frederick Bayley Deeming, a former sailor born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1854. In 1881, Deeming deserted his ship and lived in Sydney where he married and had a family. Deeply in debt, he later burned his business down to claim its insurance value and fled to South Africa before he could be arrested. He is believed to have committed numerous frauds and murders in Africa. Eventually found in Uruguay, he spent time in prison in England for fraud. After being released he married Emily and returned to Australia. After leaving England, British police began investigating him over the murder of Mrs Marie Deeming and her four children. Now using another alias, 'Baron Swanston', Deeming was arrested in Western Australia before he left the country in the company of a young woman, Kate Rounsefell, whom he planned to marry. It seems Kate would have been his next murder victim. Brought back to Victoria, in May 1892, Deeming went on trail for the murder of Emily Mather. Despite a strong defense conducted by a brilliant young barrister and 3 times Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, the evidence against Deeming was overwhelming and he was found guilty. Deeming was hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 23 May 1892. He was known to be responsible for at least 6 murders and may have committed others. Medium sized photograph of Frederick Deeming with a moustache drawn on the image in inkFrederick B. Deeming (on image in black ink)frederick deeming, emily lydia mather, murders

A most insightful touching small book of words.J.E.Purtill.has written from his heart and mind.It is obvious that he valued his place in 2/29 BAtt..8th Division and that he valued his fellow 8th Divisioners most greatlyGuests A deeply expressed account of signifigence offering insight into the heartbreak and trauma that manifests from any form of warfare.social and spiritual slgnificance.2 3 page handbook.....oblong portrait....yellowed white paper 23 pages......cardboard cover....declarations on front cover.For their pal ship which l cherished....to my dead cobbers......I dedicate this little book. U

maps, p.157.non-fictionDavid James was serving in Motor Gun Boats when he was captured in February 1943. Imprisoned initially in Dulag Marlag, he immediately decided to escape. In December 1943 he succeeded in escaping disguised as an officer of the Royal Bulgarian Navy. He was captured while attempting to board a ship at Lubeck.Undeterred, in February 1944 he broke out again, this time dressed as a Swedish sailor. He eventually succeeded in reaching Stockholm after two and a half days in a ship's engine room. prisoners of war - germany - escapes, world war 1939 – 1945 - prisons and prisoners – germany

Index, ill, maps, p.320.non-fiction2000 survivors of the Burma railway were sent to Japan but their ship was sunk by an american submarine.world war 1939 – 1945 - prisons and prisoners - japanese, burma - thailand railway

p.204.non-fictionIn 1942, a group of Australian Army nursing sisters was evacuated from Malaya a few days before the fall of Singapore. two days later their ship was bombed and sunk by the Japanese. Of the fifty-three survivors who scrambled ashore, twenty-one were murdered and the remainder taken prisoner. this engrossing record was kept by one of the surviving sisters, Betty Jeffrey, during the three-and-a-half gruelling years of imprisonment that followed. world war 1939 – 1945 - prisons and prisoners - japanese, prisoners of war - biography - australia

Index, bibliography, notes, ill, p.688.non-fictionThe untold story of the Sandakan death marches of World War II. After the fall of Singapore, in February 1942, the Japanese conquerors rounded up tens of thousands of British and Australian soldiers and shipped them to prison camps scattered throughout Hirohito's newly won Empire. The fall of Britain's 'impregnable fortress' was the greatest humiliation in British military history, for which Churchill never forgave the Japanese. But nothing would surpass the wretched fate of some 2,700 British and Australian prisoners who were shipped to British North Borneo later that year. They landed in Sandakan, on the east coast of the island, after a 10-day voyage on a Japanese 'hell' ship, and were herded into a jungle camp some eight miles inland. Thus began the three-year ordeal of the Sandakan prisoners of war - a barely known story of unimaginable horror.world war 1939-1945 - prisoners of war - sandakan, japan - prisons and prisoners of war

Ill, p.263.non-fictionStoker Munro was just an inexperienced seventeen year old knockabout kid when he went to war, but he turned out to be an extraordinary survivor. the sinking of the Perth was only the beginning of his war. Stoker suffered through years of harsh imprisonment in Java and the infamous Changi prison camp, as well as the horrors of the thai-Burma Railway. then, just as conditions improved, he was shipped off to Japan and another disaster.world war 1939-1945 - personal narratives - australia, world war 1939 – 1945 - prisons and prisoners - japanese

Trial Bay opened in 1886 after 13 years construction. It was designed for prisoners who were low risk and nearing the end of their sentences. From here they would participate in Public Works projects. It was named Trial Bay after the brig "Trial" sank there. This ship had been commandeered by convicts in Port Jackson and forced to sail north. Between 1915 and 1918 the prison became a detention centre for German citizens.Trial Bay Gaol, Public Works Prison and Wartime Detention Camp, a Macleay River Historical Society publication Kempsey, New South Wales, small booklet with black and white photographs.Marie h Neilhistory, australian, prisons, australia-history-nsw-prisons

Comprehensive Baker Family History / John,Ann of 48 pages.John Weaver Baker arrived in Williamstown aboard the "Marion" on 25th January 1848.He was transported from Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight as an "Exile",having been convicted of having in his possesion a silk handkerchief and sentenced to 10 years.On arrival he "left ship at own request",finding his own way to Melbourne and a new life.Proof of birth has at this time not been located,it is possible he may have been an orphan.He met Ann Neligan,an Irish orphan,who along with her sister,Eliza,made the journey from the poor house in Mallow on board ship.They were Married in Melbourne 9th July 1850. They had three daughters Caroline Ann 2nd May 1851,Elizabeth Conchetta 1st April 1853,died 20th August 1853,and Elizabeth born 1854.History of Journey of the Baker family from England and Ireland to Australia, then Melbourne/Ercildoune/Addington and finally to Donald.Family History Book, England / Ireland to Australia. Melbourne to Ercildoune / Addington and Addington to Donald. Author Jean Tillet/ Great Grandaughter.18/06/2010.Baker, John and Ann, Family History.ercildoune, addington, baker family

This shipwreck artefact is a section of wood from the vessel “Success, a former immigrant ship, and later a convict hulk at Melbourne. The sailing ship “Success” was a teakwood vessel built in Natmoo (Natmaw), Tenasserim, Burma (now Myanmar) in 1840 for Cockerell & Co., Calcutta. Over its lifetime of 106 years, it was used to trade in the Indian subcontinent, to transport free emigrants to Australia, as a prison hulk in the Port of Melbourne for both hardened criminals, and later for women and boys, as a storage vessel for ammunition, a reformatory, and as a floating museum sent around the world to tell the tale of the convict era. During the time “Success” was used as a museum, pamphlets were distributed to paying customers advertising erroneously, that the “Success” was the oldest ship in the world. The “Success” sank and was re-floated twice: the first in Sydney in 1885, the second in the USA in 1918, before it was finally burned and sank July 4, 1946 in Lake Erie, near Sandusky, Ohio in 1946. Although the “Success” was home to prisoners while berthed in the Port of Melbourne, it was not used as convict transport. There has been speculation that Ned Kelly’s infamous armour was displayed on the “Success”, but this cannot be verified. Another link to Ned Kelly is Henry Johnson, an Irish prisoner on the Success, who was implicated in the murder of the ship’s warder, and later Johnson was supposedly a bushranger with Ned Kelly. It is also rumoured that Ned Kelly’s father John was a passenger on the Success, but this is also unverified. There are over 16 other ships named “Success”, although one in particular causes some confusion when researching “Success” in Australia. This other ship – the “HMS Success” was a 28 gun frigate built in1823, which was broken up in 1849. It also sailed to Australia. Statement of Significance: This piece of wood from the “Success” is connected to the ship Success, built in Burma in 1840. The “Success” is connected to the history of Australia because she was used as a merchant ship to transport immigrants to Australia, as a prison ship in Melbourne, a storage vessel, and as a floating “convict” museum, which travelled the world. Section of wood from ship “Success”. Wood appears to have been partially burnt, saw marks faintly visible on wood, remnant of a label with handwriting in black inklabel marked in script handwriting “Convict ship / “Success””flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sailing vessel success, wood sample of sailing ship success, cockerell & co. calcutta

This document came from a workshop that was held by the PROV which members from the Sunshine and District Historical Society attended.Sheet 8 - Online Catalogue and ordering inquest records Sheet 9 - Service Information Ballarat Archives Centre Sheet 12 - Online Catalogue registering and maintaining a government user account Sheet 13 - Copy and publishing public records Sheet 14 - Records information special access Sheet 15 - Research organisations and search agents Sheet 16 - Research organisations Melbourne Centre for family research Sheet 17 - Research organisations State and Territory Archives, Libraries and BDM Registers Sheet 18 -Research organisations Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Sheet 19 - Online Catalogue Registering and maintaining a public user account Sheet 20 - Online Catalogue Searching for records online Sheet 21 - Online Catalogue Ordering records Sheet 22 - Service information PROV records access service charter Sheet 23 - Online Catalogue PROV's digitised records and online indexes Sheet 24 - Copying and publishing public records use of digital camera in PROV reading rooms Sheet 25 - Copying and publishing public records copyright for researchers Sheet 26 - Family history using births, deaths and marriage indexes Sheet 27 - Service information PROV reading room conditions Sheet 49 - Transport Ship's crew Sheet 50 - Transport locating and copying ships passenger lists Sheet 51 - Family history research at PROV Sheet 52 - Transport immigration records Sheet 53 - Transport British post war II immigration Sheet 54 - Transport Ships and shipping movements Sheet 55 - Land, places and local history land records Sheet 56 - Education, health and welfare education records Sheet 57 - Courts and criminal justice convict records Sheet 58 - Courts and criminal justice prison records Sheet 59 - Education, health and welfare mental health records Sheet 60 - Education, health and welfare adoption, wardship and related records Sheet 61 - Courts and criminal justice divorce records Sheet 62 - Transport public transport railways Sheet 64 - Land, places and local history City of Melbourne Sheet 65 - Koorie heritage Koorie family history research at PROV Sheet 66 - Records information PROV's archival control model Sheet 67 - Koorie heritage Aboriginal records at PROV Sheet 68 - Online catalogue ordering wills and probate records Sheet 70 - Courts and criminal justice wills and probate records Sheet 71 - Courts and criminal justice inquest records Sheet 72 - Records information PROV guides numerical list Sheet 73 - Records information PROV guides subject list

Hardcover book with a dustjacket firmly attached. There is a black panel across the top with the title in yellow print and another thinner black panel across the bottom with the author's name in cream coloured print. The front cover shows an illustration of a Japanese soldier in the foreground and behind him are eight women working in a field, they are being watched by an armed soldier stationed at a lookout on a wall behind them. The image is in black, green and yellow.non-fictionSister Jessie Elizabeth Simons tells the story of the sixty-five members of the Australian Army Nursing Service who were evacuated from Singapore just before the arrival of the Japanese, their ship was bombed and sunk and they were captured by the Japanese soldiers and held in prison camps until the day of liberation.women prisoners, prisoners of war, australian nurses, world war 2, world war ii, wwii, ww2, japanese, vyner brooke, sister jessie elizabeth simons

Title is printed across the middle of the cover in large white text, followed by the sub title in smaller green print below. There is a photo of Sister Betty Jeffrey in the top left corner and the bottom half of the page shows an image of a group of ten nurses posing for a photo. The background of the cover is dense green jungle.non-fictionThe incredible account of Sister Betty Jeffrey OAM and the Australian war nurses who survived the bombing of evacuation ship SS Vyner Brooke in February 1942, and subsequently spent three years in Japanese prison camps in Sumatra. During those perilous years surviving in squalid conditions, Sister Jeffrey kept a secret diary of day-to-day events which, after the war, was turned into a hugely successful book and radio serial: White Coolies. She would often write of the powerful sisterhood that evolved as the prisoners of war took strength from each other, even forming a vocal orchestra. White Coolies was a major inspiration for the 1997 film Paradise Road. Sisters in Captivity builds on those diaries to not only re-live the years the nurses spent as POWs but also recounts the early life and influences that encouraged Betty Jeffrey into the field of nursing as a lifelong endeavour. A tireless advocate for returned nurses, she co-founded the Australian Nurses Memorial Centre with sole survivor of the Banka Island Massacre, fellow POW, and her longtime friend Vivian Bullwinkel. Featuring 32 pages of photos including personal mementos of Betty Jeffrey, courtesy of her family, and her drawings from the prison camps, this is a powerful account of women's resilience amidst the devastating brutality of war.--Back cover. military nursing, military history, betty jeffrey, royal australian army nursing corps

Dark green, faded cloth bound book with a bright orange sticker at the bottom of the spine.non-fictionSister Jessie Elizabeth Simons tells the story of the sixty-five members of the Australian Army Nursing Service who were evacuated from Singapore just before the arrival of the Japanese, their ship was bombed and sunk and they were captured by the Japanese soldiers and held in prison camps until the day of liberation. sister jessie elizabeth simons, vyner brooke, japanese, prisoners of war, world war 2, australian nurses, ww2, wwii

Faded red hard covered, cloth-bound book with gold title on the spine and a white sticker at the bottom of the spine with B38 in red texta.non-fictionSister Jessie Elizabeth Simons tells the story of the sixty-five members of the Australian Army Nursing Service who were evacuated from Singapore just before the arrival of the Japanese, their ship was bombed and sunk and they were captured by the Japanese soldiers and held in prison camps until the day of liberation.women prisoners, prisoners of war, australian nurses, world war 2, world war ii, wwii, ww2, japanese, vyner brooke, sister jessie elizabeth simons

Illustrated book. Front cover has a painting by Cynthia Breusch depicting two female figures carrying a container hanging from a pole on their shoulders. Behind them is a barbwire topped fence. The book title is printed over this painting in red and white ink. The author's name is printed in white below the title, and the publisher's mark is printed in black above the title. The Spine is cream in colour, with abbreviated title printed in red, author's surname and publishers mark printed in black. The back cover has a cream background, with quotes from two nurses and a summary of the book overprinted in blacknon-fictionExperiences of Australian Army nurses who were prisoners of the Japanese during World War twoworld war 1939-1945, australian army nurses, prisoners of war, military nursing, nurses

Black and white image of the Prison Hulk "Success" at Hobartport arthur, convicts, prison hulk, success, hobart, sailing ship

Vega Trophy (Mounted Wooden Life Ring) Donor: Graham Noel During World War II when the Germans occupied the Channel Islands the local people went through very severe food rationing and were on the verge of starvation. Near the end of the war, the Swedish ship Vega was allowed by the Germans to deliver several shipments of food to the civilian population, easing the critical shortages of food on the islands. Further background detail can be found below. Graham Noel was born on the Islands and lived there during this harsh period. The trophy is awarded to the winner of the Combined Division AMS Aggregate Series. First Winner: Under Capricorn, P. Bedlington 2005/06 Vega – Further historical background Early in the Second World War Jersey was declared “unarmed” and the German military took over, taking quite a few lives in the process, through strafing the main harbour and a few other places which they needlessly considered threatening. A considerable number of locals evacuated to England before the Germans arrived, but more than 60% of the population remained and endured 5 years of very strict and difficult conditions. Not only was the population unable to contact relatives in the UK or elsewhere, but very quickly they found themselves subject to harsh curfews, strictly rationed foodstuffs, no fuel for vehicles, radios confiscated, and homes and hotels commandeered by the military. The military demanded first pick of all foodstuffs and kept meticulous records of all livestock forcing farmers even to show newborn calves and piglets to them, then claiming the new arrivals for their dinner tables. However there are many stories of farmers outwitting their masters when twin calves or suchlike arrived! Lawbreakers were quickly dealt with, mostly with lengthy prison terms in Jersey, but the more serious crimes were punished by being sent to some horrible French prisons, or even some of the notorious German concentration camps. All local Jews were dispatched to concentration camps, and even English born families were similarly shipped through France and on to Germany. Sadly, a considerable number of those deported did not make it back safely to Jersey. In June 1944 the locals were delighted to hear that the Allies had invaded Normandy and very soon they could hear the battles as the Allies worked their way along the French coast. Little did they know they would still have to wait another 11 months for freedom, having to put up with a very demanding German occupation force which was still determined to obey Hitler’s order to “Defend the Channel Islands to the death”. Now that France was in Allied Hands the local military commanders were unable to supplement their food supplies from France and even harsher demands were made on the local population to ensure that all branches of their still very substantial military force were reasonably well fed. As well as the military, Jersey farmers had to provide food for the Allied POWs and the many “forced labourers”, mainly of Russian, Polish and Italian backgrounds who had been directed to the island to build all the concrete bunkers. This included an underground hospital, all this complying with Hitler’s orders to ensure that the Channel Islands would never again be part of Britain. Many requests by the Jersey authorities for Red Cross assistance were rejected, but finally in December 1944 they agreed and on 30th December the Red Cross vessel “Vega” (Swedish Registry) arrived and delivered parcels to the civilian population. These parcels contained a variety of foodstuffs supplied mainly by Canadian authorities, desperately needed medical supplies, flour, oils and soaps, as well as tobacco from New Zealand. Vega made a further 3 or 4 trips and most certainly eased the desperate situation being faced by the locals. In fact, it resulted in the locals having slightly better food supplies than the military and many local farmers tell stories of having to protect their stock from marauding soldiers. Understandably Churchill was reluctant to send in an invading force to retake the Channel Islands, but by May 1945 it was clear that the Third Reich was finished and on May 9th the German Military surrendered, without a fight, to a large British landing force. On a slightly lighter note … in January 1945 Jersey stonemasons were seen in the main town square repairing flagstones … the Germans had never noticed that the name “Vega” had been formed in those flagstones! As a side note Vega is the name of the brightest star in the universe. Furthermore, throughout the occupation, despite German law that demanded confiscation of all radio sets, punishable by long prison terms or deportation to Germany, there were still many sets being listened to. The locals had a well refined news system for the dissemination of news of what was happening in the outside world. vega, graham noel, ams, combined division, aggregate