Honour Board - Wangaratta and District Victory Roll

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From the Collection of Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch 1 Victoria Parade Wangaratta Victoria

Description: Two large Italian marble tablets inscribed with gold emblems and black lettering list the names of nurses and servicemen of Wangaratta and district who served in World War One.
Size: 154cmH x 203cmW
Object Registration: 38
Keywords: ww1, wangaratta and district, nurses, victory roll
Historical information: Wangaratta and District Victory Roll - lists 528 names of Nurses and AIF personnel who served during 1914-1918
Made By: A. Parnell (Stonemason/Signwriter)
Significance: Thousands of honour boards were made to commemorate soldiers who served in the First World War. The number of honour boards crafted reflects the immense loss felt in communities and families and the importance for them of remembering those who served and died. This is the Wangaratta and District Victory Roll, including the names of nurses and AIF personnel from the region.
Inscriptions & Markings: Wangaratta and District Victory Roll
Nurses
Australian Imperial Forces
1914-1918
Last updated: 20 Jan 2019 at 1:06PM

Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of distant ship at sea

Historical information

PHOTOGRAPH IS PART OF COLLECTION TAKEN ON 8 SEPTEMBER 1945 AT THE SIGNING OF THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO ON BOARD HMAS BURDEKIN. THE SURRENDER WAS ACCEPTED BY MAJOR-GENERAL E.J. MILFORD, GOC 7TH DIVISION, AIF NEAR BALIKPAPAN.

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of officers on deck of ship at sea

Historical information

JAPANESE VICE-ADMIRAL MITCHISHI KAMADA ABOARD USN PTB377 COMING ALONGSIDE FRIGATE HMAS BURDEKIN ON 8 SEPTEMBER 1945 TO SURRENDER THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO. THE SURRENDER WAS ACCEPTED BY MAJOR-GENERAL E.J. MILFORD, GOC 7TH DIVISION, AIF AT A POSITION SOME 50 MILES NORTH EAST OF BALIKPAPAN.

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of officers seated around table on deck of ship at sea

Historical information

OFF SAMARINDA, BORNEO. 1945-09-08. WATCHED BY MEMBERS OF THE SHIP'S COMPANY, AUSTRALIAN AND JAPANESE OFFICERS DISCUSS THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO ON THE QUARTERDECK OF THE FRIGATE HMAS BURDEKIN.

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of japanese officers standing on deck of ship at sea

Historical information

OFF SAMARINDA, BORNEO. 1945-09-08. FILMED AND WATCHED BY MEMBERS OF THE SHIP'S COMPANY, AUSTRALIAN AND JAPANESE OFFICERS SIGNING OF THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO ON THE QUARTERDECK OF THE FRIGATE HMAS BURDEKIN

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of japanese officer standing before sword on table

Historical information

OFF SAMARINDA, BORNEO. 1945-09-08. SIGNING OF THE INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO ON THE QUARTERDECK OF THE FRIGATE HMAS BURDEKIN. ON THE TABLE IS THE SWORD OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES VICE ADMIRAL KAMADA.

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of japanese officer placing sword on table

Historical information

OFF SAMARINDA, BORNEO. 1945-09-08. SIGNING OF THE INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO ON THE QUARTERDECK OF THE FRIGATE HMAS BURDEKIN. ON THE TABLE IS THE SWORD OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES VICE ADMIRAL KAMADA.

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of japanese officer standing at table

Historical information

OFF SAMARINDA, BORNEO. 1945-09-08. JAPANESE OFFICER WITNESSING SIGNING OF SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO ON THE QUARTERDECK OF THE FRIGATE HMAS BURDEKIN.

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of uniformed men around table on board ship at sea

Historical information

OFF SAMARINDA, BORNEO. 1945-09-08. AUSTRALIAN AND JAPANESE OFFICERS DISCUSS THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE FORCES IN DUTCH BORNEO ON THE QUARTERDECK OF THE FRIGATE HMAS BURDEKIN.

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Photograph

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black and white photograph of document

Historical information

Instrument of Surrender marking the surrender of Japanese Forces by Vice Admiral Kamada to Australian Major General Edward James Milford on 8 September 1945. After the surrender of Japan, a Dutch military court convicted Kamada of war crimes for the executions of 1,500 west Borneo natives in 1944 and the ill treatment of 2,000 Dutch POWs held on Flores Island. Kamada was sentenced to death and was executed on 18 October 1947.

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Document - Operation Order - Japanese Surrender of Dutch Borneo

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Seven pages of cream coloured foolscap paper with black type

Historical information

Original copy of report prepared and signed by Linton Lancashire VX84376 V29336 and attachments on the Japanese surrender of Dutch Borneo. Two page typed copy report of the ceremony and negotiations leading to the Japanese Surrender of Dutch Borneo signed by L Lancashire WO1 2/5 Australian Field Ambulance. Three pages of typed copy outlining the ceremony for the signing by Vice Admiral KAMADA of the Instrument of Surrender aboard HMAS Gascoyne on 8 Sep 1945. Two pages of diagrams depicting layout for surrender ceremony.

Significance

Original signed copy of report and attachments of the arrangements for the signing ceremony of the Japanese Surrender of Dutch Borneo on 8 Sep 1945.

Inscriptions & Markings

Janpanese Surrender of Dutch Borneo 8th September, 1945

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Badges and Buttons

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

9 x Round brass buttons embossed with crown above map of Australia 2 x Brass arc shaped badges in the word Australia 1 x Brass half semi shaped badge of the rising sun

Historical information

Badges and buttons from army jacket belonging William Keith GRAY VX77837 who was born on 17/10/1915 at Warragul in Victoria.

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Medals - W K Gray

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Four medals - Two silver round in shape - only one has ribbon attached. Two brass star shaped with striped ribbon attached.

Historical information

These medals together with striped ribbon miniature bar were awarded to William Keith GRAY VX77837 who was born on 17/10/1915 at Warragul in Victoria.

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Army Jacket

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Khaki woollen jacket with shoulder epaulettes and four pockets with brass buttons attached. Purple square with white border patches attached to top of both sleeves. Two striped ribbons attached above left breast pocket.

Historical information

This Army jacket made in 1940 issued to VX77837 - William Keith GRAY Born 17-10-1915 at Warragul in Victoria. He enlisted at Caulfield and served during WW2. Service records currently unavailable.

Inscriptions & Markings

Marking inside jacket - VX77837

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Plaque - Gull Force

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Brown timber in the shape of a shield mounted with a metal a coat of arms depicting white seagull above black and orange diamond within pale blue oval shape.

Historical information

Plaque present to Corporal Sperry BODSWORTH MID who served with the 2/21st Battalion and involved with the Battle of Ambon. On the night of 30-31 January 1942 this small force of 1131 Australian soldiers were stationed at Ambon, an island which formed part of the Netherland East Indies (now Indonesia). An invasion of approximately 20,000 Japanese overwhelmed Gull Force and the majority of the Australian soldiers were taken prisoner. The execution of 229 at Laha, starvation, over work, disease and the absence of medical supplies led to horrific loss. At the cessation of hostilities only 352 of the original 1131 had made it back to Australia. 779 members of Gull Force made the supreme sacrifice and now lie in foreign fields.

Significance

The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942) occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), during World War II. Japan invaded and conquered the island in a few days, facing Dutch, American and Australian forces. The chaotic and sometimes bloody fighting was followed by a series of major Japanese war crimes. Allied casualties in the battle were relatively light. However, at intervals for a fortnight after the surrender, Japanese personnel chose more than 300 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war at random and summarily executed them, at or near Laha airfield. In part, this was revenge for the sinking of the Japanese minesweeper, as some surviving crew of the minesweeper took part.. Three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Of the 582 who remained on Ambon, 405 died. They died of overwork, malnutrition, disease and one of the most brutal regimes among camps in which bashings were routine. Blood Oath, a 1990 Australian feature film is based on the real-life trial of Japanese soldiers for war crimes committed against Allied prisoners of war on the island of Ambon, in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), such as the Laha massacre of 1942.

Inscriptions & Markings

Gull Force 2/21 Battalion Ambon Laha Plaque - Cpl Sperry Bodsworth VX23435 MID

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Framed Print - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Brown ridged timber frame containing print of lady wearing evening dress and a tiara standing beside floral display on pedestal table.

Historical information

The Queen's relationship with the Armed Forces began when, as Princess Elizabeth, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945, becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member. During her time in the ATS, the Princess learnt to drive and to maintain vehicles

Significance

The Queen has a long and close relationship with the Armed Forces, both in the United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth. As Sovereign, The Queen is Head of the Armed Forces, and is also the wife, mother and grandmother of individuals having served in the Forces.

Inscriptions & Markings

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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Framed Painting - Corporal Cameron Baird, VC ,MG

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Brown timber look plastic frame containing watercolour painting in the image of a commando soldier. signature left bottom corner Henk Art

Inscriptions & Markings

plaque - Corporal Cameron Baird, VC ,MG

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Gas Mask

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Canvas bag containing Small Box Respirator consisting of a rubberised fabric face mask, connected by a fabric covered rubber hose to a chemical absorbent canister made of tin plate.

Historical information

The Small Box Respirator was introduced into service with British and Imperial forces on the Western Front in 1916. It was produced following a concerted effort by authorities in the UK to provide its soldiers with an effective gas mask to replace the inefficient helmets

Significance

The Small Box Respirator ('SBR') proved to be the most effective gas mask produced during the First World War, and had a number of advantages over its French and German contemporaries.

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Water Bottle

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Felt covered metal water bottle with attached cork stopper and canvas straps.

Historical information

Worn in a specially designed pouch, these water bottles held approximately one litre and had a felt cover for insulation. Fresh water was often scarce and it was rationed according to supply.

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Framed Photograph - 2/24 Battalion

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black plastic frame containing reproduced black and white photograph of soldiers formed in five rows. Soldiers are numbered with most names listed top left and below.

Historical information

Group photograph of the 2/24 Infantry Battalion Headquarters Company soldiers who served during WW2

Significance

The Battalion was raised in Wangaratta in June 1940 and known as Wangaratta's Own.

Inscriptions & Markings

2/24th Inf Bn Headquarters Company

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Framed Photograph - 2/24 Battalion

Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch, Wangaratta

Black plastic frame with green mount housing original black and white photograph of soldiers in four rows.

Historical information

Original black and white photograph donated by brother of Frank Percival SAVILLE VX34912 Born 4/4/1919 Enlisted 27/6/1940 and who served with the 2/24th Battalion during WW2.

Inscriptions & Markings

Plaque -Presented by H A Saville on behalf of his brother Frank P Saville VX34912 2/24 Battalion

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