Director's Favourites
The Memorial's vast collection contain many highlights. Here are a few of my personal favourites.
Septimus Power's works are action-filled and especially depict horses at work on the battlefield . In this powerful portrait, 18-pounder guns are being brought forward by teams of six horses. Other guns are seen in position and firing. This particular painting was acclaimed at the time and was shown in the Royal Academy in 1919.
Septimus Power
First Australian Division Artillery going into the 3rd Battle of
Ypres
Painting, England 1919
AWM ART03330
"It was terrible having to finish the picture after the men were lost. Like painting ghosts", wrote the Australian war artist Stella Bowen.
She had sketched an Australian Lancaster bomber crew at RAF Station, Binbrook, in 1944. Their minds were on their coming mission and they showed little interest in her drawings. Next day they were reported missing, presumed killed, and Bowen completed the group portrait from sketches and photographs. Bowen's work is a moving commemoration of all those men who served in Bomber Command, particularly those who did not return.
Stella Bowen
Bomber crew
Painting, London 1944
AWM ART26265
This painting was acquired in 1944 under the Official War Art Scheme and is now hung in the Second World War gallery.
The Memorial holds a comprehensive collection of the works of the Australian war artist Ivor Hele who was the Memorial's longest serving official war artist.. This work depicts casualties from Australian and Italian forces at Bardia, Libya, during the North African campaign in 1941 in a crucifixion-like allegory. Completed in 1967 from field sketches and notes, the painting contains the images of identifiable Australian soldiers, such as Sergeant H.B.S. "Jo" Gullett. Gullett, like his distinguished father, later became a member of the Australian Parliament. He also became a trustee of the Australian War Memorial. Three other names are given in the collection caption, which is accessible in the Art database. The Bardia action showed that the men of the Second A.I.F were the equal of their forbears.
Ivor Hele,
Bardia (action leading to the fall of Post 11)
Painting, 1967
AWM ART27576
In this boat and other similar craft, Australian soldiers landed on the Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey, on 25 April 1915. This lifeboat, No. 6 from the transport HMT Ascot, transported men of the 13th Battalion to the beach.This is one of the most evocative and moving items in the Memorial's collections. It was found by C.E.W. Bean after the war and brought back to form part of the projected Australian War Memorial. It is featured in the Memorial's Orientation Gallery and brought to life by means of a digitised animation of the landing.
Steel lifeboat from HMT (A33) Ascot used in the landings
at Gallipoli
AWM RELAWM05086.001
The Victoria Cross has been awarded to 96 Australians since 1900. The award is the Commonwealth's highest for bravery. The crosses are cast by hand from bronze cannon captured from Russia during the Crimean War and bear the inscription, "For Valour". The Memorial's collection of Victoria Crosses, displayed in the Hall of Valour, is the largest public collection in the world. Many of the medals have been donated to the Memorial by recipients or their families, although the RSL Victorian Branch is now assisting us with their acquisition.
Victoria Cross
This Avro Lancaster B1, known with affection as G for George, has a remarkable history. G for George flew 89 operations over Germany and occupied Europe during the height of the bomber offensive. From the time it was built in 1942 until its retirement from active service in 1944, the bomber was flown in Britain by No. 460 Squadron RAAF. The plane has always been one of the most popular Memorial exhibits, and, after extensive conservation work, it is back on display as the focus of an outstanding sound and light show, Striking by Night.
Avro Lancaster Mk I Bomber 'G for George'
AWM RELAWM31788
This Japanese midget submarine is a composite of two which took part in the attack on Sydney Harbour on the night of 31 May 1942. The attack resulted in the loss of 19 sailors aboard HMAS Kuttabul. For many years the submarine was an extremely popular exhibit in the outdoor display area of the Memorial. After conservation work, it is now displayed in ANZAC Hall and the story of the dramatic night is told by object theatre.
View of ANZAC Hall
Howitzer, light, towed, 105mm M2A2
AWM REL26769
As a former gunner, it is natural that I should include this gun, a 105mm M2A2 Howitzer . It was one of six guns on 102 Field Battery at Fire Support Base Coral in South Vietnam when it was attacked by an overwhelming enemy force. The gunners were forced to withdraw, but the gun pit was re-occupied at first light.
With the return of G for George, this gun is temporarily not on display. But do see the largest gun ever used by Australians, a 9.2 inch siege gun which saw service in the First World War, in ANZAC Hall.
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