Physical description
Gilt bronze lapel badges issued to men returned from WW1. these are the original ROAC badges which were issued on return from active service.
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Gilt bronze lapel badges issued to men returned from WW1. these are the original ROAC badges which were issued on return from active service.
An original Certificate of Service from the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. Issued to 6/1511 Sergeant William Diamond, stating his service and locations and signed by the then Govenor General, 'Liverpool'
A plain belt buckle of the type worn by German troops in WW1. It has the Imperial Crown embossed in the centre and a wreath at the bottom and the words 'GOTT MIT UNS' (God with us) above.
Gilt and white metal, this is thought to be an officers belt buckle. It has the imperial crown embossed in the centre surrounded bu a wreath at the bottom and the words 'GOTT MIT UNS' (God with us) above.
A piece of equipment for the storage and carriage of extra ammunition. Made up of a shoulder strap with nine closeable leather pouches, each able to carry ten rounds of ammunition. Although in their day they were purely functional, they are still worn by flag and Guidon escorts in Royal Australian Armourd Corp Units to this day in recognition of the ties to their forebears. The only difference is they are now coloured black.
Robust leather leggings, wrapped around the ankle and calf from the boot top and fixed in place with the leather strapping coiled around the outside. These offered substantial protection to the lower legs of mouted troops such as, Light Horse, Mounted Artillery, and Mounted Field Ambulance. Tey are as readily identifiable with Light Horse as are the Emu Plumes, (Kangaroo feather) worn in the Pugaree.
Woolen putees worn as lower leg protection. These were wrapped around the lower leg from the top of the ankle boot upwards and tucked into the top to offer some sort of protection from the elements, wire entanglements and to prevent loose clothing from becoming a hazard. Officers had high topped bootd and Mounted personal had leather leggings. These were for the rankl and file infantry and other members of the forces.
Leather Wallet. three part construction, embossed on the front cover with rectangular bordering with foilate designs in the upper right and left corners and a vertical eliptical lozenge in the top centre featuring a gilt 'swastika' design similar to the ancient Chinese symbol. The inside front leaf has the number 6018, and the name Jmes Lindsay
Hand theatre made "trench art", utilising used artillery brass shell casings, of various calibres, hand made with such "tools" as were available at the time. They have been decoratively trimmed at the mouth of each with a "scalloped" pattern, the shallowest casing mounted on small arms casings as "feet" and the large casing inverted engraved and embossed with a depiction of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces "Rising Sun" badge.
This "Dinner Gong" and "Striker" are significant Historically and Socially, as it is believed to be the only example of a dinner gong and striker made in theatre as contemporary "trench art" by serving members of this group. Around the top of the main part of the Gong are stamped the initials of the Australian members of the Royal Flying Corps at the time, it is of possible National historical significance, as they were such a small group at best, and a highly vulnerable group, quite likely to not survive the conflict. This group and their desendants went on to be a part of the formation of the Australian Flying Corps, the beginings of the Royal Australian Air Force. It relates to the embrionic stages of a part of the now Australian Defence Force.
A commemorative Dinner Gong construted from Artillery Shell Casings of various sizes. The largest cut short at the bottom, mounted on rifle or machine gun casings cut short as 'feet'. A slightly smaller diameter inverted as the 'gong' with decorative engravings depicting, a Rising Sun emblem on a decorated back ground, 'AFC' (Australian Flying Corps) crowned wings, on the same decorated back ground. The open ends of these larger casings is 'scalloped' and decorated beautifully, while the closed ends have a 'pie crust effect around the flanged edge. There is a biforcated mount at the top to hold the 'striker' made from white metal ballastered rod with a wooden eliptical knob. On the top around the striker mount are stamped the initials of those believed to be the first Australian Aviators in the then AFC.
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