Battalion bell : Sergeant F J Holt, 22 Battalion, Australian Military Forces

Silver bell supported by silver crossed mock twig supports with wooden base plate. The top of the bell has enamel colour patches for 22 Infantry Battalion for both the First and Second World Wars and has a silver chain with two silver Scotch thistles attached to the ends. The bell itself is engraved with the inscription 'WHA WADNA FECHT FOR CHARLIE', the title of the quick march used by the British Cheshire Regiment. A silver plate screwed to the base in front of the bell is engraved 'Presented to the 22nd Battalion Lieut. Col. C. Carre Riddell DSO VD C.O 29/22 Bn 1936-1938'. The silver plate on the opposing side is engraved with the Battalion's motto 'FAMAM EXTENDERE FACTIS'; 'We Extend Our Fame By Our Deeds'. A total of four silver plates, two at each end of the wooden base, are engraved with the names of the Presidents of 22 Battalion Association. A further two silver plates directly underneath the bell itself are blank.

Bell presented to 22/29 Battalion, Citizen Military Forces (CMF) by British Army 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment.

It was originally in the care of Lieutenant Colonel H R Birch before being passed to Sergeant F J Holt.

Herbert Ralph Birch served with 5 Field Ambulance during the First World War, and then with 22 Battalion (South Gippsland Regiment) during the interwar years. In 1930, 22 Battalion and 29 Battalion merged to form the 29/22 Infantry Battalion. It was with this unit that Birch was commissioned as a lieutenant in October 1936. He was promoted to captain in February 1939. During this period the bell was presented to 22/29 Battalion by 22nd Cheshire Regiment. It was accepted by their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel C C Riddell DSO VD.

Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, 22/29 Battalion was delinked, and Captain Birch returned to 22 Battalion, simultaneously being promoted to Temporary Major. This rank became substantive upon his enlistment in the Second AIF on 23 July 1940, whereupon he was posted to 2/23 Battalion. Birch served with this unit in the Middle East, including the siege of Tobruk, and was mentioned in despatches for his service. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers list in 1944, and remained in the reserves until his discharge in 1950, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

At a meeting of veterans during the post-war period, Birch asked Frederick James Holt to be official custodian of the battalion's bell.

Holt was born at Leongatha, Victoria in 1916. He was working as a dairy farmer and serving as a sergeant at the delinking of 22/29 Battalion, becoming a member of 22 Battalion. He was called up for full time service in October 1941, and embarked for Port Moresby with his unit on 11 September 1941.

Holt served with his unit in the islands and New Guinea before returning to Australia in June 1944. He was transferred to Victoria, where he was discharged in October of the same year.

Holt retained the bell until 1966 when he passed it to the 22 Battalion Association. In 2007 reducing numbers prompted the closure of this association, so the bell returned to Holt's care before being donated to the Australian War Memorial.

• Box for Battalion bell : Sergeant F J Holt, 22 Battalion, Australian Military Forces
• Leather protector for Battalion bell's clapper : Sergeant F J Holt, 22 Battalion, Australian Military Forces