This hat was worn by Joan Cahill during her service in the AWAS, where she served in the Signals Branch and rose to the rank of Corporal. The AWAS was formed in 1941, and its main objective was to support the Australian army in various ways. Over 24,000 women served in the AWAS, performing critical support roles such as clerical work, vehicle maintenance, and communications. The Signals Branch, which Joan Cahill served in, was responsible for providing reliable and secure communication services between the Australian army and Allied forces.Khaki women's army hat with grosgrain band wrapped around the circumference with a small metal rising sun attached.burke museum, beechworth, army service, army uniform, joan cahill, australian women's army service, ww2, wwii, world war two

This badge was awarded to Joan Cahill in 1948 for serving full-term in the Signals Branch of the Australian Women’s Army Service. During her service, Joan serviced in the Signals Branch of the Australian Women's Army Service were she rose to the rank of Corporal.Gold metal badge with wing, rising sun and anchor design, crown at top.OBVERSE: 'SERVICE / AUSTRALIA', REVERSE: '1948 / ISSUED BY C'WLTH GOVT / A307351 / AMOR / SYDNEYburke museum, beechworth, army service, australian women's army service, ww2, wwii, world war two, joan cahill

An Australia Service Medal 1939 - 1945, issued to Corporal Joan Cahill. During her service, Joan serviced in the Signals Branch of the Australian Women's Army Service.A army service medal featuring a silver pendant and a dark blue, white, and red striped ribbonFRONT: AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL / 1939-1945 / BACK: G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP: GEORGIV S VI /burke museum, beechworth, army service, australian women's army service, army medal, ww2, wwii, world war two

An Army Medal 1939 - 1945, issued to Corporal Joan Cahill. During her service, Joan serviced in the Signals Branch of the Australian Women's Army Service.A army service medal featuring a silver pendant and a light blue, dark blue, white, and red striped ribbonFRONT: 1939 / 1945 BACK: G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP: GEORGIV S VIburke museum, beechworth, army service, australian women's army service, army medal, ww2, wwii, world war two

Cpl. Ronald Warren Ellis, EM (VX502517) was born in Brunswick in 1927. His family moved to Lara when he was young, and his schooling took place at the Lara State School. After finishing his education, Ron took up employment at Sims Coopers in Corio. Ron was enlisted in the second AIF at Melbourne, and posted to the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at Greta west of Newcastle, NSW. After 3 months training, he was sent to the Service Corps Training Centre for driver and maintenance training in Ingleburn, south of Sydney. When this course was completed, Ron was posted to the Australian Army Service Corps as a driver motor vehicle with the 2nd AIF. Rons service with the AIF lasted 425 days, when he was then transferred to the Interim Army for a further 309 days. The duration of his service was in NSW. Ron was discharged from the Army in Melbourne on the 4th of May 1948. In 1957, Ron enlisted in the CMF and served with 22nd Construction Squadron for 17 years with the last 5 as a Corporal, and was awarded the Efficiency Medal for long service and good conduct.Brown canvas booklet that is folded into three. Licence gives details of Army number, name, rank and type of vehicle that is able to be driven. Licence has been issued to Private Ronald Warren Ellis on 24/01/1948. No. 258778 Army No. V?SOL517 Rank: Private Name in full: Ellis, Ronald Warren Unit: Transferred to (unit): Having passed the prescribed tests ... authorised to drive... types of ... vehicles within the Commonwealth of Australia and Territories. Signature of Driver: drivers licence, australian military forces, army, private, ellis, ww2, wwii, world war two, second world war

This jacket is part of an official uniform by Sister Danson (VFX151507) during the British presence in Japan following the end of the Second World War. About 16,000 Australians served in the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, including 130 from the Australian General Hospital with whom Sister Danson presumably served. Sister Danson was born in Numurkah and served as Leiutentant with the Heidelberg Military Hospital before embarking for Japan in 1947.One grey linen single 3 button breasted coat. 2 button pocket. 2 buttons on each sleeve. 2 shoulder flash buttons with 2 pips on each. 2 Australia 1 occupation forces lapel. Shoulder pads 10 moth holesmilitary, british commonwealth occupational forces, sidter danson, vfx151507, ww2, wwii, world war two, world war ii, world war 2, second world war, australian general hospital, heidelberg military hospital

This tie is part of an official uniform by Sister Danson (VFX151507) during the British presence in Japan following the end of the Second World War. About 16,000 Australians served in the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, including 130 from the Australian General Hospital with whom Sister Danson presumably served. Sister Danson was born in Numurkah and served as Leiutentant with the Heidelberg Military Hospital before embarking for Japan in 1947.This tie holds historic and representative significance, as a piece of standard military uniform that would have been worn by a nurse in the second military district of the occupational forces, presumably in Japan shortly after WW2. Brown synthetic fabric tie (formerly tied in simple Windsor knot) with peach lining. military, uniform, tie, nurse, second military district, occupational forces, ww2, wwii, world war two, world war 2, second world war, vfx151507, sister danson

This dress belonged to Dorothy May Mortlock (VF518245), who served as a Sapper with the Australian Women’s Army Service from 27 July 1945 to 1 August 1946.Light brown coloured woven cotton dress with button-up front secured by 6 metal buttons. Dress constructed of a skirt element attached to a short sleeve shirt-style torso section, a hook and eye sits on interior of two sections to fasten left and right sides together. One square topstitched pocket on the left chest and two angled hip pockets on front. Fabric belt with metal buckle held in place by fabric loops on both left and right side. Fabric epaulette passes through loop on both left and right side and secured with metal button. Two loops on interior left and right shoulders, left loop with inscription; woven label stitched to interior left side underneath which is a stamped motif.Ink inscription on interior loop difficult to read, “VF518245” and 5-6 indiscernible characters. Button reads “AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES” below an embossed image of Australia with the King George V crown on top. Stamped motif reads “[broad arrow]/S.D.”women, wwii, world war two, second world war, australian womens army service, awas

This gas mask was the standard issue gas mask for the Australian Army prior to and going into the Second World War. The mask featured two eye pieces made out of splinter-less glass which were removable to allow for decontamination of the mask without damaging the splinter-less glass eye pieces. The filter box was manufactured by Willow in Melbourne. The mask features a tissot system, which uses air provided by the intake assembly to defog the eyepieces. Air breathed out passes directly through the outlet valve which was designed work as voice membrane in order to enhance the speech of the user Unknown to most is that the GSR series of masks were manufactured in Australia rather than being imported from the United Kingdom. This was mainly due to the long travel distance between the UK and Australia, as well as the fact that the UK could not afford to give out masks during the war. The majority of the masks were manufactured at the Commonwealth Ordnance Facility Maribyrnong in Melbourne.This mask is representative of Australian manufacture during WWII. It is part of the story of Australian military history.Gas mas with dark coloured rubber mask. The back of the mask has elastic harness with 6 straps. They can be tightened or loosened to fit. The front of the mask has two large glass eye pieces with metal rims and a metal outlet valve. A concertina fabric and rubber tube leads from the outlet valve to a reddish brown box which is the filter. One side of the mask has the word 'Normal' stamped into it.Mask: NORMAL (on left side) / DPR 12/40 (right side) Back of harness: No. 4 III / 5-11-49 Filter canister: No 4A / 1940 / E VIwar, wwii, world war two, second world war, adult gas mask, military, portland, glenelg shire, army

This object was issued to William Donald Alsop for his service in the 2/10 Commando Squadron during the Second World War.This object displays Historic Significance through its connection with William Donald Alsop, his service in the 2/10 Command Squadron and World War Two.The War Medal 1939-45 is cupro-nickel with the crowned effigy of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse has a lion standing on a fallen dragon. The top of the reverse shows the dates 1939 and 1945. The riband is 32 millimetres wide with a 5½ millimetres wide Army red band, a 3 millimetres wide navy blue band, a 6 millimetres wide dark green band, a 3 millimetres wide yellow band, a 6 millimetres wide dark green band, a 3 millimetres wide Royal Air Force blue band and a 5½ millimetres wide Army red band. The forests and beaches of the Pacific are represented by the dark green and yellow bands respectively, while the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy, the Armies and the Air Forces are represented by the dark blue, red and light blue bands respectively.On front of medal, above the lion: 1939/1945 On reverse of medal, in a circle around the outside: GEORGIVS VI G. BR. OMN. REX ET INDIAE IMP:alsop, second world war, ww2, wwii, world war two, australian commando

This photograph was taken on the 5th of June, 1946, and shows the ruins of the St intent church built between 1490 and 1556 in a Gothic style and was known for its vast dimensions. The church also had the uniqueness of owning a bell tower that had not been completed. The building was heavily damaged by a bomb fell in the choir level May 31, 1944 during the Allied strikes announcing the landing. The ruins are still standing today. Allan has also written letters home from this period, describing France as a "mess" at this time. This photograph was exhibited by the Mission to Seafarers as part of the exhibition "Letters from Abroad" in 2012.This is a photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection which is a collection of letters and photograph depicting aspects of life at sea for a young man in the era immediately following World War II.Black and white photograph of the ruins of a gothic church bombed during the Battle of Normandy in 1944. It shows the arch of the church left standing in the foreground, with a tower in the background. There is a narrow white boarder about the image.On reverse: ROUEN 5-6-49 handwritten in blue ink. Below this is a mark "ItI" in pencil.allan quinn, photograph, france, ruins, church, letters-from-abroad, rouen, normandy, ww2, wwii, world war two, 1939-1945, battle of normandy, st vincent church

This photograph is one of a series taken by Allan Quinn while travelling through France in mid-1946. There are several letters relating to this journey.This is a photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection which is a collection of letters and photograph depicting aspects of life at sea for a young man in the era immediately following World War II.A black and white photograph of the down town area of Rouen, in France, taken on the 5th of June, 1949. A car is shown in the middle of the foreground, with people to the right and a road to the left. There is a narrow white boarder around the image.On reverse: ROUEN 5-6-49 handwritten in blue ink. Below this is the mark "ItI" in pencil.allan quinn, photograph, rouen, france, normandy, ww2, wwii, world war two, 1939-1945, parapluies, umbrellas, chaussures, shoes, car

This photograph is one of a series taken by Allan Quinn while travelling through France in mid-1946. There are several letters relating to this journey.This is a photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection which is a collection of letters and photograph depicting aspects of life at sea for a young man in the era immediately following World War II.A black and white photograph of the Cathedral in Rouen, taken on the 5th of June, 1949. It shows three large arched doors, and a few people walking on the street in front of it.On reverse: ROUEN 5-6-49 handwritten in blue ink. Below this is the mark "ItI" in pencil.allan quinn, photograph, rouen, france, normandy, ww2, wwii, world war two, 1939-1945, cathedral, door

This photograph is one of a series taken by Allan Quinn while travelling through France in mid-1946. There are several letters relating to this journey.This is a photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection which is a collection of letters and photograph depicting aspects of life at sea for a young man in the era immediately following World War II.A black and white photograph of an inn door, in Rouen, France, taken on the 5th of June, 1949. Two small wooden monks are have carved into either side of the eaves.On reverse: ROUEN 5-6-49 handwritten in blue ink. Below this is the mark "ItI" written sideways in pencil.allan quinn, photograph, rouen, france, normandy, ww2, wwii, world war two, 1939-1945, half-timbered houses

This photograph is one of a series taken by Allan Quinn while travelling through France in mid-1946. There are several letters relating to this journey.This is a photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection which is a collection of letters and photograph depicting aspects of life at sea for a young man in the era immediately following World War II.A black and white photograph of a house "from the Middle Ages". The framework of the walls are exposed, and there are two pot visible at the bottom of the photograph. There is a narrow boarder of white around the image.On reverse: ROUEN 5-6-49 handwritten in blue ink. Below this is the mark "ItI" written sideways in pencil.allan quinn, photograph, rouen, france, normandy, ww2, wwii, world war two, 1939-1945, half-timbered houses

This photograph is one of a series taken by Allan Quinn while travelling through France in mid-1946. There are several letters relating to this journey.This is a photograph from the Allan Charles Quinn collection which is a collection of letters and photograph depicting aspects of life at sea for a young man in the era immediately following World War II.A black and white photograph of the Great-Clock fountain (corner of Rue du Gros-Horloge and Rue des Vergetiers) in Rouen, Normandy, France, taken on the 5th of June, 1949.On reverse: ROUEN 5-6-49 handwritten in blue ink. Below this is the mark "ItI" written sideways in pencil.allan quinn, photograph, rouen, france, normandy, ww2, wwii, world war two, 1939-1945, fountain, gros-horloge, great-clock

Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Khaki Great Coat. Double breasted, calf length with brass epaulettes and sewn shoulder patches for the Corp and crown with Southern Cross below.Shoulder patch reads:ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY / MEDICAL CORPSroyal australian army medical corps, uniforms, wwii, world war two, second world war

Rectangular printed cardboard box with top and bottom flap openings, contains 9 original cigarettes. "Turf" brand.Label front reads: "TURF" / VIRGINA CIGARETTESsmoking, wwii, world war two, cigarettes

The Rats of Tobruk were soldiers of the Australian-led Allied garrison that held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Afrika Corps, during the Siege of Tobruk in World War II. The siege started on 11 April 1941 and was relieved on 10 December. The port continued to be held by the Allies until its surrender on 21 June 1942. HUTCHINS, Mervyn Arthur Thomas VX27912 Born in Mornington, Victoria, October 1906, Mervyn joined the Australian Armed Forces in Caulfield in June 1940. Mervyn was posted with the 2/23rd Battalion and was sent to Tobruk. He died at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the 1970'sMervyn Hutchins owned this jacket. He was both a RAT of Toburk and a patient at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.Navy blue woolen jacket pocket with embroideryLarge letter T with red crown. Overlay of the RATS of Tobruk logo with Victoria embroidered across the bottomrats of tobruk, wwii, world war two, second world war, uniforms, mervyn hutchins collection

Female Relatives Badge instituted in 1940. Issued to the nearest female relative. Each star represents a serving member of the Forces. Badge number 126191 relates to Frederick Victor Clive Lowery VX28403 2nd AIF. Badge number 2435 relates to the Ruby Hutchins, the mother of six brothers who served in the AIF: Donald (VX43028), Norman (VX10296), Leonard (VX683), Clifford (VX682), Charles (VX63583) and Ronald (VX681). "To The Women of Australia" badges. .1) Circular badge with map of Australia central and crown at top. Suspended by chain is a bar with one star centre. .2) Same as above..1) "126191" .2) "2435"badges, numismatics, women, home front, wwii, world war two, second world war

Belonged to Keith David Livingston VX136969 2nd AIF. Refer 1911P for his service history.Set of aluminium cooking tins. Dept of Defence stamp. .1) Has "c" with an arrow etched above, next to maker's name. Both have folding handles. .2) Fits inside .1)D↑Dmilitary-equipment, mess tins, wwii, world war two, second world war, cooking

Belonged to Keith David Livingston VX136969 2nd AIF. Refer 1911P for service history.Shaving mirror in leather wallet. .1) Wallet made of brown leather stamped in gold. .2) Polished metal mirrorOn wallet in gold, “Good luck”mirrors, leather, pouches, signalling, wwii, world war two, second world war, wallets

Card set belonged to Keith David Livingston VX136969. Refer 1911P for service history.Set of Red Cross playing cards, white back ground, red edging, all print in red."A gift from the Australian Red Cross Society"recreation, games, cards, wwii, world war two, second world war, playing cards, red cross

Napkin ring engraved with illustration of a building . Made as a souvenir.Engraved under illustration"Power House" & on opposite side "Labuan 1945"domestic items, table settings, metalcraft, aluminium, mementoes, souvenirs, wwii, world war two, second world war, engravings

John James Davies No VX35280 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 1.8.40 age 31 years. At discharge on 30.11.45 he held the rank of WO 2nd class in 2/108th Aust Light Anti Aircraft detachment..1) Map case, canvas khaki. .2) Map of Darwin, NT. Scale 4 miles to 1 inch. .3) Map, folded, New Guinea made by Hec Robinson Sydney .4) Map Pine Creek N.T.zippered section marked "J. J. Davies VX35280 108 LAD”maps, wwii, world war two, second world war, map cases, darwin, northern territory, pine creek, papua new guinea, navigation, pouches

Belt belonged to Thomas Henry ISER V24933 and VX102660 2nd AIF. Refer Cat No 383.2 for his service history. Sam Browne leather belt, tan colour, with decorative stitching with strap. Brass buckle & rivets.belts, uniforms, brass, buckles, uniform accessories, leatherwork, wwii, world war two, second world war, army

Belonged to Thomas Henry ISER V24933 and VX102660 2nd AIF. Refer Cat No 383.2 for his service history.Headwear, Military issue, Beanie woollen, khaki colourbeanie, hat, knitwear, wwii, world war two, second world war, uniforms, headwear, handcrafts, hats, textiles, woollen

This electric torch, likely manufactured in 1923, was used in WWII trenches as a way to signal allies using morse code. A small button underneath a thin leather panel on the left face of the lamp would have been used to turn the bulb on and off in quick succession, allowing for messages to be transmitted. The panel of red plastic could be placed over the lense of the lamp, causing it to emit red light as the longer wavelength prevents it from being visible at longer distances as opposed to standard yellow light. The hook on the front face of the lamp allowed a bayonet to be attached by its handle, and the clip on the rear is likely to allow it to be worn on a belt. British manufacturing firm General Electric Company (G.E.C) Mitton was one of several producing similar models of signalling lamp at this time and they were heavily involved in supporting the war effort.This item demonstrates one of the many ways soldiers in Australia were able to communicate without the use of radio transmission and over distances without detection, a key aspect of wartime engineering and electronics development.This signalling lamp is of a rectangular shape with a cylindrical protrusion on its front, similar to that of a camera lense. Within the cylinder is a small light bulb and a panel of glass encloses it. To the right of the cylinder, a circular piece of translucent red plastic rests within a metal casing and is attached to the cylinder with a short piece of string. Below the cylinder is a small hook. On the lamp's rear is a large metal clip, and a small plate with an engraving upon it. The left side of the lamp includes a small, thin panel of leather under which rests a button.Rear, on metal plate: "TORCH ELECTRIC / SIGNAL MK.III / G.E.C. WITTON / NO 3462 / 1923"australia, 1920s, second world war, wwii, world war two

From collection of photographs and cuttings dedicated to the memory of WILKINSON JOHN HUDSON : Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - WILKINSON HUDSON. Wilkinson was awarded the distinguished flying cross in March 1944 and tragically killed in action over Germany also in 1944. See also 237 and 240. Two newspaper cuttings Distinquished Flying Cross Awarded to Flying Officer J H WILKINSONpilot, kia, killed in action, dfc, distinguished flying cross, wwii, world war two, air force

Designed specifically for the Japanese, this 50mm mortar shell Type 89 Grenade Discharger was also known as a “Knee Mortar” by Allied forces. These shells were accurate, deadly, and added a great deal of firepower to Japanese forces during WWII.Brown metal round in shape with pointed top features original paint with a yellow band on body and a red band at the top. ww2, wwii, world war two, second world war, japan, mortar, mortar shell, imperial japanese army