Blog category - From the collection
Stinking Farm Trench Sign
06 December 2011 by Dianne Rutherford.
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Collection,From the collection, Battles, First World War, Heraldry, Western Front
My name is Romy Turner. I am a work experience student from Canberra Girls Grammar School at the Memorial for this week. As part of my work experience I had to research an item, a trench sign, from the Memorial’s collection.
RELAWM06263 Trench sign to Stinking FarmThe trench sign ‘To Stinking Farm & Currie Ave’ was collected during the First World War by Lieutenant Colonel John Basil St. Vincent Welch, whilst he was serving as part of the 13thField Ambulance in Belgium. Welch arrived in Marseilles on 13 July 1916 as a member of the Australian Field Ambulance. He was appointed the commanding officer of the 13thField Ambulance and was stationed around the village of Messines, which would be the site of the Battle of Messines 11 months later. Stationed at Kandahar Farm, Welch assisted in this battle, tending to the wounded as they came back from the front and organising the transportation of the men further back the line to the field hospitals. read on
Hospital Tent at Rest Gully Gallipoli
02 December 2011 by Dianne Rutherford.
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Collection,From the collection, First World War, Gallipoli, Gallipoli Mission, Heraldry, hospital
My name’s Sean Limn, and I’ve been doing work experience at the War Memorial for the past week. One of my tasks whilst at the Memorial was to research a collection item, a piece of an old tent found at Gallipoli in 1919. The tent piece was found at Rest Gully, and is from a hospital tent left during the evacuation in December 1915. The tent was left behind as part of the ruse to prevent the Turks from realising that an evacuation was taking place.
RELAWM00433 Remains of Hospital tent from Rest GullyIn the collection: Conflict T-shirts
25 November 2011 by Sue Ducker.
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Collection,Collection Highlights,From the collection,News
The Australian War Memorial holds T-shirts from the numerous Peace Keeping missions in which Australians have served. A usually inexpensive and useful type of souvenir, the T-shirts are often humorous and visually creative. They are an example of how soldiers have adapted a civilian item of clothing to a deployment context.
The Memorial is interested in making contact with anyone who contributed to the designs printed on the three T-shirts below. If you can provide more information on these items please contact sue.ducker@awm.gov.au.
MOvember MOtivation
23 November 2011 by Lauren Hewitt.
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From the collection,News
We know that some of you out there are neglecting your razors in the name of raising money for a good cause, even some of the good men here at the War Memorial have put their hand up to cultivate magnificent moustaches. So we thought we’d bring you some MOtivational photos from our archives, to show you that competitive MO growing has been going on for decades!
During the Second World War, naval ships such as the HMAS Perth and Shropshire held beard growing competitions. Above, a champion beard grower, Able Bodied Seaman Cooper, shows off his award winning crop aboard the Perth; and on the Shropshire, Able Seaman Evans has his beard trimmed by fellow champion growers.
In other forces, where beards were perhaps not allowed, we start to see some imaginative moustache examples. This one below is an example of one of the longest, grown in Japan in 1946.
KAITAICHI, JAPAN. 1946-12-25. A MEMBER OF THE BCOF AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES WORKSHOPS UNIT, WHO HAS THE LONGEST MOUSTACHE IN JAPAN. 132411
Studio portrait of Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Henry Thomas 'Jack' Harwood, the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), (previously the 67th Battalion). DUKJ3662
During the Korean War, soldiers took great pride in the cultivation of their moustaches, waxing them especially for the occasion of having their portraits taken. Official Photographer, Phillip J Hobson, took a series of portraits of men and their moustaches.
Private Moore, seen below receiving a haircut from a Korean barber, worries about the fate of his moustache, which, when waxed, is an impressive 6 inches from tip to tip.
Happy Mo growing!
The Australian Army and farming in the Northern Territory
17 November 2011 by Theresa Cronk.
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Collection,Collection Highlights,From the collection,New acquisitions
When we think of fertile faming lands, the Northern Territory is generally not the first place that springs to mind. Yet it was here, during the Second World War, that the Australian Army established the 1 and 2 Farm Company as part of the Australian Army Service Corps.
On 11 September 1940, approval was given by the Minster for Army to acquire land. An area of 107 acres was purchased at Adelaide River. The land was only partly cleared and the farm commenced with a small area of 2 ½ acres in 1940. The Adelaide River Farm Section became the 1 Australian Farm Company. A small garden at Wycliffe Well ushered in the 2 Australian Farm Company in January 1942. Towards the end of 1942, approval was given to establish a further 7 farms at Adelaide River, Hayes Creek, Katherine and Mataranka.
![AWM254 [317]](https://www.awm.gov.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/RC09910-entire-9-seq9-233x300.jpg "AWM254 [317]")
So, why did the Army decide to set up farms in the Northern Territory?
Firstly, these areas were known for deficiency diseases caused by inadequate vitamin intake and there were concerns for the health of troops. During May 1939, the Chief Medical Officer advised that up to 25% of personnel at the Northern Territory garrisons had been on sick parade on one day. Dengue fever was also rife. It was recommended that fresh fruit and vegetables could assist in reducing the occurrence of these diseases.
This revealed the second problem which was the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. At the time, the policy was to purchase food supplies from civilian contractors. In the Northern Territory, local production of fresh vegetables and fruit could not even sustain the local population. An influx of 40 000 troops and their dietary requirements needed to be met another way.
Thirdly, there were transport problems. Fresh vegetables forwarded from Adelaide had to endure a train journey of 3 or 4 days to Alice Springs. This was followed by 4 days or longer of transportation via trucks for distribution to areas around Darwin. During this time, 50% of the food stuffs were lost through the natural deterioration of food. The remaining 50% was edible but had lost most of its nutritional value and appeal.
The priority was on the production of salad and leafy vegetables. This included tomatoes, beans, cabbages, lettuce, silver beet, cucumbers, beetroot, marrows and pumpkins. Root vegetables had a lower priority. One problem that also had to be overcome was the way in which to cook certain vegetables that not been seen before. It was only after the practice of boiling sweet potatoes ceased that this vegetable joined the ranks.
![AWM254 [317], page 22](https://www.awm.gov.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/RC09910-entire-22-seq22-300x233.jpg "AWM254 [317], page 22")
The first commanding officer was Captain Henderson who depended on convalescent patients from the nearby camp hospital for labour to plant vegetables. During this time, watering was conducted by channel irrigation from shower overflow and manually with a bucket brigade of volunteers.
The struggle for farm labour and equipment continued under the command of Lieutenant Nielson in March 1941. The tide began to turn with the arrival of Warrant Officer Campbell on 23 May 1941. Campbell obtained additional labour from 2/40 Infantry Battalion who detached platoons for a week or so to clear 30 acres. An irrigation scheme was also established and men from a nearby RAE unit supervised the construction of a 20 000 gallon iron tank.
By November 1941, the war establishment for a Farm Section AASC was approved and the personnel rose to 1 officer and 54 other ranks. Lieutenant Campbell was sent to a training camp in Brisbane to select suitable farmers and these men were sent to Wycliffe Well. Central Australia also had several unit gardens and one of these was located at Elliot. One soldier reported that they had to keep raising the height of the brush fence that they constructed around this garden. The problem was not with local wildlife, but people interested in seeing what was behind the fence. It was hoped that the higher the fence got, the less inclined people would be to climb over and have a look.
![AWM254 [317], page 71](https://www.awm.gov.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/RC09910-entire-71-seq71-300x234.jpg "AWM254 [317], page 71")
During 1944 and 1945, a 16 acre area at Katherine was developed as an experimental farm by army personnel with agriculture specialist qualifications. The work that they did helped establish what varieties of fruit and vegetables were likely to be successful. This work was largely based on recommendations from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research after a visit in September and October 1944. This also called for further training for Major Campbell, Captain Kjar and Lieutenant Scott-Young to study modern methods in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and the vegetable research station in Canberra.
![AWM254 [317], page 39](https://www.awm.gov.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/RC09910-entire-39-seq39-300x233.jpg "AWM254 [317], page 39")
It is unclear what happened to the farms after the end of the war. A report, written shortly after the end of the Second World War, indicates that there were discussions during 1944 and 1945 about the future of the army farms once the Northern Territory returned to civilian control. Unit war diaries exist for 1 Australian Farming Company until the 6 August 1946 when Captain J C MacDonald moved to 7 Military District. By this time the posted strength for 1 Australian Farm Company had been reduced to 1 officer and 1 other rank.
References:
AWM52 10/26/2 August 1940 to July 1945. 1 Farm Company Summary of Farm Activity
AWM54 337/7/5 [Farms and Gardens - Farming Units:] Inspection report on 1 Australian Farm Coy, Australian Army Service Corps, Northern Territory by Lieutenant N A M Kjar, August 1943
AWM54 337/7/12 Part 1. [Farms and Gardens - Farming Units:] Data relating to Australian Army Service Corps, Farm Coy project and associated farm activities (1939-1945)
AWM54 351/1/3 [Food - General:] History of nutrition in Australian Army. Nutrition and food, requirements and catering. System of dieting. Rationing of hospital patients.
AWM254 [317] Army Farms AASC [Australian Army Service Corps report, photographs and newspaper clippings relating to 1 Australian Farm Company in the Northern Territory, 5 Australian Farm Company in Queensland, 3 Australian Farm Company in New Guinea, and 9 Australian Farm Company in New South Wales]
Curating from Afghanistan : Collecting in Action, February 2011
14 November 2011 by Stephanie Boyle.
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Collection,From the collection,New acquisitions,News,Personal Stories
As senior curator of Film and Sound at the Memorial, I was greatly privileged in February this year to go with the ADF to the Australia’s area of Middle Eastern Operations. Not only did I meet with and interview an amazing range of ADF members based in or around Al Minhad, Kandahar, Tarin Kot and Kabul, but I found myself in the rare position of being a female civilian, totally immersed in the ADF’s world. I trained with ADF. I wore body armour. I travelled by armoured convoy and by Hercules aircraft.
I had meals in the food halls where everybody else ate – lining up outside to sterilise my hands - and slept in the same accommodation, sharing bathroom and laundry facilities. Every day brought a hectic round of new names, acronyms, places, and protocols to remember; every day was a day of early starts and late nights. Some days were marked by fun (joining in Camp Baker’s Trivia Night) or frustration (repeated cancellation of flights), whilst other days were memorable for their sadness – the loss of an Australian sapper the day we left Tarin Kot; attending, with a host of coalition force members, a US ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield.
There was nothing about this trip for which the standard day at the office could have prepared me.
As one of a three person team of Memorial curators for the Collecting in Action program, I spent three weeks on deployment, travelling across the Middle Eastern Area of Operations (MEAO). In keeping with the Memorial ‘s tradition of documenting Australians’ experience at war, I recorded interviews with a wide cross section of the ADF - men and women of different ranks, performing different duties , in a range of locations on base and in the field. Their stories were fascinating and inspiring, providing a unique insight into the life and times of Australia’s current serving military. The team also sought items to include in the Memorial’s collection, from photographs and personal cloth patches, to gear too big to bring back right away, such as vehicles.
This video compiles a small selection from the many hours recorded during my deployment. The Memorial thanks all those who contributed their time to this program.
The ADF do their utmost to prepare you for travelling to a war zone. Along with a large cohort of ADF members, our team undertook a training course at Randwick Barracks. Full days of lectures covered topics as diverse as vaccination, how to speak to the media, and how to conduct oneself in the event of capture. A month later we departed with the scheduled ADF sustainment flight to Australia’s Al Minhad base, where we undertook a further four days of lecturers and training. This included being taught how to assemble and fire a rifle, how to identify explosive devices, to call in a medivac (evacuation by air), how to apply a tourniquet, and how to dress an open wound. My wound dressing skills being somewhat more theoretical than actual, I quietly hoped no one would have to depend on my training in an emergency!
During the training period I met many people who were , like me , about to go “in country”, but unlike me, would stay on for many months past the date of my return to the comforts of “civvy” life. They would continue to work the long hours, in harsh environmental conditions, which characterise Middle Eastern and Central Asian deployments. These and other ”pattern of life” matters were discussed by many of my interviewees.
My interviewees included troopers, snipers, members of mentoring task groups, medical staff, unmanned aerial vehicle operators, artillery trainers, ground support crew, engineers, a Chaplin, a legal officer, a Federal policeman and, offering a different perspective, an Afghan translator. In every case, I asked them how they came to enlist, what brought them to their current situation, what their jobs entailed, what life is like on an Australian base. What did they enjoy about life in the Forces, what was not so good? If they had any downtime, how did they spend it? And what is it like to work with other nationalities?
People willingly shared their experiences, personal insights and thoughts for the future. A nurse spoke of the bravery of an Afghan child who’d sustained horrific facial injury in a tractor incident. A Lieutenant Colonel, remembering his earlier work the UN, described having to repatriate the bodies of UN personnel killed in the war between Hezbollah and Israel. A postal operator, missing her own young family, told how amongst the inmates of Camp Baker she was known as the Morale Princess, for distributing precious news and gifts from home. An experienced Warrant Officer described the importance of keeping people busy when sad events at home or at war tested their morale. One interviewee showed me his publically displayed artworks, which, while allowing him artistic outlet, enlivened both his spare time and the walls of the base , pleasing ADF and coalition personnel alike. A sniper described how his team narrowly avoided being taken out by an insurgent with a rocket propelled grenade launcher. A female officer told me about the respect shown her as a trainer, working with Afghan military. Another interviewee described meeting his Canadian fiancée at a fitness class on base.
Some interviewees felt they might not have enough to tell, or suggested that they “weren’t interesting enough”. The fact is everyone has a story to tell. Not only are their individual experiences interesting in their own right, but every single interview contributes a part to the whole story of Australia’s history. In the years to come, their descendants will come to the Memorial seeking out their stories, just as the grandchildren and great grandchildren of our First and Second World War veterans are now looking for the records and recordings of their ancestors, which form the Memorial’s collections.
The Memorial seeks to build its collection of film, photo and oral history with material from current and recently serving ADF members. Please contact the Film and Sound section if you would like to help.
Remember remembering : Oral Histories of the First World War
09 November 2011 by Stephanie Boyle.
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From the collection,News,Opinion, views and commentary,Personal Stories
Well, we got wind in the morning that the Armistice was either signed or about to be signed… And the word finally came through and of course there was great excitement… I was only sorry I hadn’t arrived there Armistice night because the chaps that got off the train, the girls just formed a ring around them.. and they wouldn’t let them out of the ring till they’d kissed every one of them.
- Former Corporal Ted Smout, a member of the 3rd Sanitation Section, Australian Imperial Forces, 1915-1919 ( S03424)
Remembrance Day was once known as Armistice Day, the day when World War I ended. It is a day to reflect on the losses incurred by the “Great War”, as it was known at the time. The Memorial holds many stories of the Great War; these are the oral histories of survivors, veterans who recorded their stories of the war years leading up to Armistice, and in some cases beyond. These stories are a fascinating insight into the minds of a previous generation, revealing not only the history of how campaigns were fought – essential information for researchers - but also the realities of war at the individual level, deeply personalising the Australian history of war. read on
Art in the Records: the illustrations of Bernie Bragg
14 October 2011 by Sue Ducker.
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Collection,Collection Highlights,From the collection,News
The Memorial’s Research Centre holds original First World War AIF War Diaries [AWM4] that are now available to view on our website. Hidden among the volumes of these records are some wonderful artworks created by the artist Bernie Bragg.
Bernard [Bernie] William Patrick Bragg [Service number 2870] enlisted at 21 years of age on the 16 November 1916 at the Royal Agricultural Show Ground in Sydney. His service record [held at: National Archives Australia] lists his occupation as “Draughtsman”. He embarked from Sydney on A19 Africa on 8 November 1916 and arrived at Plymouth in January the following year. From there he was sent to France to join the 59th Battalion and later to the 15th Brigade Headquarters. Bragg was given the job of regimental draftsman – meaning he was responsible for drawing the maps and diagrams used by the regiment. At the end of the War he was honoured with a Mention in Despatches.
During Bernie’s time in France with the 15 Infantry Brigade he produced some beautiful War Diary Covers.
“Operation Menace”- the story of HMAS Australia in African waters.
23 September 2011 by Rebecca Weekes.
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Collection,From the collection,News
The end of September marks the 71 year anniversary of the battle of Dakar. Also known as “Operation Menace”, this operation was endeavoured to be peaceful, with the aim of placing General Charles de Gaulle in leadership at Dakar. It was a significant attempt to set up a Free French government in Dakar (West Africa) by British, French and Australian forces. The recently digitised Royal Australian Navy Reports of Proceedings highlight HMAS Australia’s three day skirmish with the Vichy French.
HMAS Australia started her duties at Dakar on the 19th of September before the official dates of 23rd to 25th of September, 1940. The Australia landed the chore of tracking and “shadowing” French Vichy ships. Des Shinkfield, in his book HMAS AUSTRALIA: a lucky ship, describes the chase of the ship Gloire, “the climax came about midnight. Australia was steaming at full speed through a rain squall when, suddenly, on passing out of the rain squall into brilliant moonlight, there, on the starboard beam, and heading for Australia was Gloire, only a cable or two away. A collision appeared inevitable. Only the smart handling of the ship by Captain Stewart averted what would have been a major disaster.” Captain Stewart’s account of the incident features in the Reports of Proceedings with a description of the Gloire as a ‘lone bird’
What then ensued was ship to ship stalking as the Australia stuck to Gloire’s tail to guarantee she was safely ensconced in Casablanca. Captain Stewart warned the captain of Gloire that if the Australia were attacked by submarines then they would engage in battle with the Gloire. Needless to say the Gloire assured him that they would be very civil! Captain Stewart suggests in the Reports of Proceedings, that the captain of Gloire was fearful and explains “I have no doubt…he went through an anxious moment when I encountered him on opposite courses and put my searchlight on him on the night of the 19th September”. The Australia forced the Gloire on towards Casablanca; however the Gloire did finish part of the journey herself, and the Australia back-tracked to re-assemble with her team.
During the ensuing battle for Dakar, the Australia was involved in further skirmishes with Vichy French ships from Dakar. The Reports of Proceedings for the month of September describes an incident with the French destroyer L’audacieux on the 23rd of September in a very matter of fact manner.
Harold Plumber, a sailor on board the Australia, describes this situation with more energy in A Sailors Life when he says “she [the L’audacieux] immediately burst into flames from her bridge and right aft and it was a terrible sight watching the poor devils rushing right forward on the FX to get out of the way as she was one mass of flames.”
During the 24th and 25th the Australia continued to help battle against enemy ships on the seas outside Dakar. There were many incidents where the Australia had to engage in attacking and defensive fire. However by the 25th it was clear that this battle was not going to succeed. Australia lost her “walrus” (aircraft spotter) to the sea, and got hit twice herself by enemy fire. Other allied ships were also suffering the marks of war. This battle was over after the faintest sniff at victory. The HMAS Australia successfully carried out everything thrown at her in Operation Menace, albeit with just a few battle scars to take home.
Further reading
Des Shinkfield, HMAS AUSTRALIA, A lucky ship (Ringwood Victoria: 2001)
Peter Taylor, A Sailor’s Life, Aboard HMAS AUSTRALIA (II) (Western Australia: Peter CW Taylor, 2010)
Reports of Proceedings, HMA Ships and Establishments. AWM78 44/1 HMAS Australia: Reports of Proceedings August 1939-December 1941
Reports of Proceedings, HMA Ships and Establishments. AWM78 44/3 HMAS Australia: Reports of Proceedings August 1939-November 1944
An ancient Babylonian souvenir?
15 July 2011 by Dianne Rutherford.
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From the collection, Antiquities, First World War, Mesopotamia, Souvenirs
Souvenir purchased in Baghdad, believed at the time to be a Babylonian tablet (RELAWM09688)One of the more unusual items to be found in the Memorial’s collection is the item shown above. It was purchased by an Australian soldier, Eric Keast Burke, while he was serving with ‘D’ Troop, ANZAC Wireless Squadron in Baghdad, Mesopotamia in 1918-1919 and was originally identified as a piece of an ancient Babylonian cuneiform tablet.
