We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Letter, Background to donation of Burma Railway Spikes
Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes
Public domain
This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Montmorency/Eltham RSL Sub Branch
Hellfire Pass was a location on the Burma Railway which POWs constructed under instructions from Japanese military.
Letter from Kevin Myers who was a member of the team that constructed the memorial at Hellfire Pass in 1989.
Aluminium army canteen
Nil
Steel Helmet, Model "M1916"
ET6 (small indented stamp inside near rim). Indicates manufactured by Eisenhuth Werke Thale (spelling?)
Shirt, Blue, RAN Sailor dress No.8
Badge Electronic Technician - Communication Badge Australia
Photographic record of overseas places visited by local resident who was a member of armed service during WW2. Des Nicholson was born in Northcote in 1909. He enlisted in the military in mid 1940, having already served 2 years in the Citizens’ Forces. Before he signed up, he lived in Kew with his mother, Isabella. His enlistment documents indicate that he was employed as a transport driver, although his discharge papers state that he was a hairdresser. His photo album shows pictures of him demonstrating skills in that area in various deployments overseas; his enlistment documents refer to his unit being the 8th Division Petrol Company, while for much of his service he was assigned to Nursing Duties in the 2/7 Australian General Hospital. His overseas postings included travels through India to the Middle East, Egypt and Greece. While fulfilling these duties, he was an interested photographer, keeping records of the sights he saw in many of the places he visited, as well as photos of the military living conditions and the people he worked with on a day-to-day basis. The ‘tourist’ photos Des took would be of particular interest as a current-day comparison for those folk who might be familiar with the locations he passed through. After the war, Des again lived with his mother but eventually, in 1953, he married Kathleen Watson who lived in Eltham. The wider Watson family was well-known in the area, and the sisters Kathleen and Ruby were residents in the Glen Park area in Eltham North. After Des and Kath married they continued to live in Kath and Ruby’s house near where the current soccer and cricket sporting complex is now located. Ruby never married and they evidently stayed in the same place until, one by one, they each died in the early 2000s.
Photos taken by a resident of Eltham while on active service overseas
Photo Album
On Front Cover: DAVID'S TOWER JERUSALEM
photographs, ww2, overseas, india, middle east
Crossed Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Rifles.
Dark Navy Blue Wool Beret
Manufactured by Hills Hats New Zealand 1992 Name - ‘Pascoe’ written in marker pen. Size - Large. Number - 3806243. Internal badge mounting with black lining cover. Black ribbed ribbon edging.
Wooden shield with plaque painted onto haut relief carved badge
On Shield: USS FIFE DD-991 SUCCESSUM MERERE CONEMUR On Presentation Plate: PRESENTED TO NAVY LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE CHAPTER FROM COMMANDING OFFICER USS FIFE (DD–991)
Presentation to Navy League from representatives of USS Mount Hood
Ceramic Badge on Wooden Shield
On Plaque: USS MOUNT HOOD AE29 On Presentation Plate: PRESENTED TO NAVY LEAGUE OF VICTORIA 25 – 28 APR 97
Fold-out sheet of paper showing and describing the details of locations along the railway; part of a numbered series of maps
Retrieved from original location by Kevin Myers during official military preparations for a Hellfire Pass memorial in recognition of the allied POW lives lost during construction of the Burma-Thailand railway during WW2.
Direct connection between local (Montmorency and Victorian) soldiers in WW2 and the work undertaken by allied prisoners of the Japanese Army.
Steel spikes used in construction of the Burma-Thailand railway during WW2.
None
prisoner of war, burma, ww2, railway
Jungle green uniform - VIETNAM
cordwell
cordwell
Brown Stohwasser leggings were worn from WW1 through to later years, these worn by John Cordwell in the CMF 1936.
Part of the Cordwell collection donated by the family, worn by John Cordwell (Past President) during his service in the CMF 1936
Pair of brown Leather Leggings of the Stohwasser Pattern with leather straps and steel buckles.
clothing
This 1942-dated Map Case was still in use post-1982 when it was used by a member of the 5/6 Royal Victoria Regiment. This new Melbourne-based battalion was created on the 17 August 1982.
Open-sided with a khaki canvas flap attached to a resin-impregnated board.. Hinged to the top edge is a celluloid cover. Four clips holds the cover (and any map) to the backing board. The flap is secured by a pair of Carr Australia press studs on the back. The underside of the flap has four loops for chinagraph pencils and a wider pocket and loop for a Protractor. Two brass buckles are provided for a web shoulder sling.
C. G. Hartley & Co. 1942 ORMISTON 3200879 5/6 RVR
This bayonet and scabbard was made for the Charles Lancaster .577 calibre Oval Bore Carbine and was known as the Pattern 1855 'Sappers and Miners' bayonet because they were designed for use by the Corps of British Royal Sappers & Miners. The first model Sappers and Miners bayonet appeared in 1841 and differs significantly from this type. Pattern 1855 bayonets were issued to some volunteer units of the Victorian defence forces in the late 1850s,
Stylised beaked-brass pommel with T- shaped attachment slot. A steel press stud operates the locking catch via a steel leaf spring on right side of hilt. Two-piece black chequered leather grips. Left grip has four small steel rivets, right grip three rivets and the leaf spring securing screw. Brass cross-guard with formed muzzle ring. Long single-edged, pipe backed, quill pointed 24 inch (615mm) steel blade. Original leather scabbard with brass locket and chape.
Knight's Head stamping of the German Solingen-based firm Carl Reinhard KIRSCHBAUM
bayonet, victorian defence forces, lancaster carbine
Typical MkIII oil bottle for the .303 calibre Lee-Enfield rifle. This one was made at Orange in New South Wales sometime during WW2 (from 1942) because the main ordnance factory at Lithgow was unable to keep up with requirements. Orange was a 'Feeder Factory' and was one of several operating in the area.
Brass cylindrical receptacle. Brass stopper and spoon applicator with leather washer..
OA (Orange, Australia)
oil bottle, lee enfield
harrison, ww2
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
