Thomas Pearce (1860?-1909) was an apprentice on the English merchant vessel the Loch Ard, which embarked for Victoria in March 1878 carrying 37 crew and 16 passengers, many from the Carmichael family. In stormy weather on 1 June 1878, just days from completing the three-month voyage, the Loch Ard wrecked against Muttonbird Island. Supported by an upturned lifeboat, the teenaged Pearce was washed ashore in a small bay, now known as Loch Ard Gorge; but when he spotted eighteen-year-old Eva Carmichael clinging to wreckage in the ocean, he swam out and struggled back to shore with her. As sole survivors of the wreck, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael became celebrities and posed for a number of Melbourne photographers after their recuperation. Pearce was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria. Popular sentiment was for a permanent union; but Eva returned to Ireland, and Pearce became a ship's captain. This photograph is in an album associated with the Fullerton Family. James Lucas Fullerton was born in Northern Ireland on 02 July 1842, and died on 23 November 1932. HIs wife Mary Carson was born on 30 May 1844 in Northern Ireland, and died on 22 April 1917. They married on 14 October 1869 at Brisbane before moving to Creswick where James Fullerton worked as a grocer. They later moved to Ballarat where they ran a grocery shiop. James and Mary had ten children, and are buried in the Ballaarat Old Cemetery. Photographic portrait of Thomas Pearce wearing the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria.thomas pearce, eva carmichael, loch ard shipwreck, loch ard gorge, royal human society of victoria gold medal

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

Bronze coloured hardcover book with gold writing on the cover depicting title and auther's name. The book is covered with a brown and red dust jacket with an image on the cover of a framed oil painting of Vivian Bullwinkel wearing her nurses' uniform.non-fiction The true story of Vivian Bullwinkel, a young army nursing sister who was sole survivor of WW2 massacre by the Japanese, the book details her ordeal in the Sumatran jungle POW camps. Her determination to survive is the basis of this factual biography. The story of Sister Vivian Bullwinkel and the wartime massacre of 21 Australian Army Nursing Service sisters. As the sole survivor of that massacre and a captive of the Japanese, she survived starvation, torture and lack of medicine by luck and sheer determination to live. [From Trove] vivian bullwinkel, royal australian army nursing corps, prisoners of war, ww2, wwii, world war two, world war 2

Bronze coloured hardcover book with gold writing on the cover depicting title and auther's name. The book is covered with a brown and red dust jacket with an image on the cover of a framed oil painting of Vivian Bullwinkel wearing her nurses' uniform.non-fiction The true story of Vivian Bullwinkel, a young army nursing sister who was sole survivor of WW2 massacre by the Japanese, the book details her ordeal in the Sumatran jungle POW camps. Her determination to survive is the basis of this factual biography. The story of Sister Vivian Bullwinkel and the wartime massacre of 21 Australian Army Nursing Service sisters. As the sole survivor of that massacre and a captive of the Japanese, she survived starvation, torture and lack of medicine by luck and sheer determination to live. [From Trove] vivian bullwinkel, royal australian army nursing corps, prisoners of war, ww2, wwii, world war two, world war 2

Barry O'Donohue was conscripted into National Service in 1967 at the age of 20. He went to Vietnam in 1968/69 where he served as a forward scout in 4RAR/NZ. He was wounded in action during his tour of duty, and survived many life threatening situations.australians - vietnam - poetry, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - veterans - poetry, national service, 4rar/nz, wound, wounded serviceman

Obituary written about the life of Sister Ellen Mavis Hannah (Allgrove). Mavis was the senior surving officer on Bangka Island after the Vyner Brooke was bombed and her Matron was killed in the Bangka Island Massacre. The article speaks of her life during and after the war and her journey back to Bangka Island for the dedication and memorial ceremony.Photocopy of newspaper page. The relevant article is in the top left corner (below and to the right are smaller unrelated articles). There are two columns of text and inset in the centre is a photographic image of Mavis Allgrove. australian army nurses, world war 1939-1945, ww2, wwii, mavis allgrove, ellen mavis hannah, vyner brooke, bangka island, prisoner of war nurses

Article about Sisters F A Tallow [Tallow potentially a married name] & [Eliza Isabel] Lord who were the only women aboard the [SS] Ballarat when it was torpedoed in 1917.Newspaper clipping attached with sticky tape to a piece of paper'The Sun / THURSDAY APRIL 26 1934'ss ballarat, f a tallow, eliza isabel lord

Biographical article about Wilma Young (neé Oram) returning to Singapore to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Singapore, including her time as a captive of the Japanese. Other POW's mentioned: Betty Jeffrey & Vivian Bullwinkel.Newspaper clipping of article with two black and white photographs, one of an elderly woman in a striped top and the other of a group of women in uniforms, at the top and six columns of text.wwii, world war two, ww2, japanese pow, singapore, wilma young [oram]

Article about Mattie Morris' service aboard the hospital ship Centaur as a merchant seaman. Article mentions Ellen Savage, the only nurse who survived the sinking near Moreton Bay, Brisbane. [Article says ship had no patients at the time of sinking, this may be untrue]Two newspaper clippings of one article over different pages. Article features six columns of text and a large black and white photograph of a man in a hooded raincoat standing near a pier.'Age 30/8/89' [blue ink under photograph on first clipping] 'AGE 30/8/89' [blue ink at top of second clipping]wwii, world war two, ww2, ahs centaur, ellen savage, mattie morris

coastal shipwreck survivorsshipwrecks off Warrnambool Victoria and the survivorsStudio photograph of 4 survivors from the wreck of the La Bella in 1905Reverse " Queenscliff Vic / photo copied June 20th 1986 / Captain Mylius photo not available / Frank B Ferrier 1986".historical references

"Dear Alice" Is a collection of 142 Postcards from Australia and around world, almost all of which are addressed to Miss Alice Evans, No. 2 Cox Gardens, Williamstown, dated between 1905 - 1909. These postcards form part of a collection found in the ceiling of No. 2 Cox Gardens by a local builder and carpenter Gordon Peterson. Peterson was contracted to demolish the house in the mid 1970's. The cards were held in the Estate of Gordon Peterson, along with a photo of the cottage, before demolition until donation to the historical society by his descendants in 2024. Alice Edith Evans was born in Williamstown in 1885 to parents Benjamin Samuel Evans (1833-1900), a bootmaker from Ruabon, Denbighshire, Wales and Catherine (nee Jones) (1850-1915) from Eaglehawk, near Castlemaine. Alice had three older step sisters, and two younger brothers, Benjamin and Samuel, who sadly died in infancy. Alice’s father, Benjamin, had been married previously, his wife dying during childbirth, leaving him with three daughters to care for. After leaving school, Alice was employed as a clerk with Trevor Jones & Co. (real estate agents), until her declining health prevented her from working. She was an active and well known member of the Welsh Church and Sunday School on Ferguson Street and enjoyed singing and playing in local concerts. Well known in the community, a Grand Benefit Concert was organised in her honour on 9th April, 1910, at the Mechanics Institute, Williamstown. Hosted by Mayor Cr. Wymark, the event featured a delightful program of musical performances, showcasing both individual talents and the Carlton Club Choir. Tragically, Alice passed away due to the effects of her illness on 3rd December 1910, at the age of just 25. She is buried in Williamstown Cemetery. The postcards, written between 1905 to 1906, illustrate the social history of residents and everyday life at the turn of the century, using postcards as a means of communication.Part of a collection of 142 Postcards. This b&w image depicts William Ferrier and a scene from his rescue of survivors of the La Bella, Warnambool, Nov 10, 1905.William Ferrier, the brave fisherman hero of the "La Bella". Wrecked. Warrnambool, Nov 10, 1905. No. 1 Lifeboat , landing survivors. No. 2 Ferrier in his dinghy. W. Ferrierwarnambool, william ferrier, shipwreck, la bella shipwreck, alice evans postcards

Lifeboat equipmentLifeboat equipment userSepia photo of Henry Freeman - lifeboat disaster survivorReverse - " Gift from Henry Reid 6/11/86 - Artboard AB 57 - Frank Meadow Sutcliffe 1853 - 1941 - Henry Freeman - A portrait of Henry Freeman. Lifeboatman for over forty years & sole survivor of the Whitby lifeboat disaster of 1861 in which twelve men were drowned close by the West pier. Henry Freeman was the only one wearing a newly designed Ministry Life Jacket. - Reproduction by courtesy of the Sutcliffe Gallery, Whitby. - Hand finished photographs printed from Sutcliffe's original negative available from The Sutcliffe Gallery, 1 Flowergate, Whitby, Yorks White. Write for details. (c) Camden Graphics Ltd 1977 43 Camden Passage London N1 01-226 2061 ".historical references

One photograph consisting of thirty portraits of the passengers of the Malabar These passengers arrived in Melbourne on the 7th March 1853 Portraits were taken at the jubilee meeting in 1903 of the surviving passengersmalabar, ship

City of Portland collectionRelates to the Portland Lifeboat and the wreck of the AdmellaCommemorative bronze plaque to Cpt. James Fawthrop and the crew of the Portland life boat, who rescued the survivors from the wreck of the SS Admella. Mounted on wooden stand with stained finish, plaque slopes towards viewer. 1859Front: In commemoration of the brave and gallant action of Captain James Fawthrop and crew of this lifeboat who rescued 19 survivors of the ill fated SS Admella wrecked near Cape Northumberland S.A. 10 August 1859. -Life boat crew-W.Rosevear - Cox W.Booth P.Francis H.McDonald A. Carey W.Guy C.Patterson J.Dimond J.Kean T.Tweedle J.Dusting W.Kerkin T.J.Ward Back: (no inscriptions)portland lifeboat, captain james fawthrop, admella, shipwreck

Copy of photo of Kormoran crew survivors. B&Wphotography, photograph, slides, film

This letter was written to Alisdair Loch, 10 Beaconsfield Parade, Lindfield (Sydney) NSW, from Frank Townshend Esq., 3 The Square, Holywell, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England. Its author is a son of Eva Carmichael/Townshend, sole female survivor of the LOCH ARD shipwreck in 1878. It tells of Eva’s struggle in the sea after the LOCH ARD hit the rocks, and of her rescue by the only other survivor, young seaman Tom Pearce. It also relates her return to a privileged life in Ireland, her subsequent marriage to another member of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy, and her three sons. In some places the letter seems in historical error, which is not surprising given the dates involved and the time that elapsed between them (Eva shipwrecked 1878, Son’s birth 1887, Eva’s death 1934, Son’s letter 1962). The writer makes clear he is relying on his memory of what his mother had told him, and he is usually forthright in declaring those things he cannot remember, or remembers indistinctly. An interesting paragraph in the letter answers the contemporary newspaper speculation about a possible romance between the two survivors: “She [his mother, Eva Carmichael] received many proposals of marriage, perhaps a dozen, including one from Tom Pearce. Tom Pearce was, I think, an apprentice. She spoke of him sometimes as a ‘cabin boy’. From his photograph, he was a fine, handsome young man. The reason she declined his offer of marriage was largely the fruit of class distinction, I think; class prejudice being very strong in Ireland, in those days.” The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance ― Victorian Heritage Number S417Typed copy of a letter from Frank Townshend, LOCH ARD survivor Eva Carmichael’s son in England, to Alasdair Loch, Sydney NSW. It is dated 8 March 1962 and consists of four pages. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, letter, frank townshend, eva carmichael, loch ard, alasdair loch, tom pearce

One of Blackburn's oldest cottages has been demolished. More than a century old, the 4 roomed cottage at 1 Cottage Street, Blackburn, was the only survivor of several which are believed to have given the street its name. It was once a Police Station and also a farmhouse for a Dairy.One of Blackburn's oldest cottages has been demolished. houses, cottage street, blackburn, no. 1, stanford, walter, stanford, marion

shipwrecks at Corsair Rock VictoriaFishing boat, shipwreckBlack & white photograph of [possibly] The THISTLE lrior to running aground & the newspaper articles about that & the survivor.Reverse - " possibly 'THISTLE' - lost Point Nepean / see Frank Ferrier for details ".historical references

Poster of the wreck of the Wairarapa. It has a poem on it called "Only a Stewardess". It has a list of survivors of the passengers, survivors of the crew list of drowned passengers, unaccounted for, particulars of the crew, a sketch of the Wairarapa marked sunset 15th October 1894, and one marked sunrise 29th October.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, poster, wairarapa