Fragment of metal from a German Zeppelin : Major General J Monash, 3 Division AIF

Segment of duraluminium (alluminium alloy) framework from a German Zeppelin. The piece is cross shaped and is made up of two pieces of framework joined together by four rivetts.

This segment of metal framework came from one of the four Zeppelins that crashed over England during the First World War. The exact Zeppelin is unknown, but it would have come from the L31, L32, L33 or L48, shot down over England in 1916 and 1917. Pieces of airships, especially Zeppelins, were a very popular souvenir in England. People travelled considerable distances to view the crash sites and purchase, or scavenge for, pieces of the wreckage. Some pieces of the wreckages were sold by charities to raise money. While some pieces remained as they were found, other pieces of airships were turned into souvenir items such as jewellery.

This piece was collected by John Monash, who was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 27 June 1865. He was dux of Scotch College and studied arts and engineering at Melbourne University. In 1884 he joined the university company of the 4th Battalion, Victorian Rifles. He finished his studies in 1895 and, having long since decided to combine engineering with a military career, was promoted to captain in the Garrison Artillery that year. In 1897 Monash was promoted to major in the North Melbourne Battery and served there for 11 years. He also gained promotion to lieutenant colonel in the Australian Intelligence Corps in 1908.

In 1913 Monash took command of the 13th Infantry Brigade. After the outbreak of the First World War, Monash took command of the 4th Infantry Brigade, landing at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915. In July he was promoted to brigadier. Monash took his brigade to France in June 1916. He became a major general in July and took command of the 3rd Division. The division's first major battle, Messines, was hailed as a great success. Further success followed and in May 1918, Monash was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of the Australian Corps. His first battle in this role, Hamel, came to be considered the 'perfect battle'. Monash remained in command through the victorious battles in the last months of the war. After spending eight months in London overseeing the repatriation of the AIF, Monash returned to Melbourne in December 1919. Monash was promoted to general in November 1929. He died of heart disease in Melbourne on 8 October 1931 and was given a state funeral attended by some 250,000 mourners.