Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Off Sumba Island, Netherlands East Indies. 1945-01-15. The crew of the disabled Catalina aircraft, serial no. A24-96, code RK-E of No. 42 Squadron RAAF in their dinghies preparing to move across to the Catalina aircraft of No. 43 Squadron RAAF which came to rescue them. The aircraft had come down near Japanese held territory. On the night of 14 January 1945, during a mission to Surabaya, a plane from No. 42 Squadron RAAF, captained by Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Harrigan, experienced trouble with its port engine and immediately began to lose altitude. At the time Flt Lt Harrigan was flying at 300 feet below heavy cloud off Sumba Island. He jettisoned his mines, but the plane continued to lose altitude and he was forced to alight on the open sea. The hull of the Catalina aircraft was damaged and began to leak. However, the water was kept down by baling. Using the radio-telephone, the crew was able to make its position known to returning minelayers. All night they worked on the faulty engine, but without success. However, in the morning, a Catalina aircraft of No. 43 Squadron RAAF, captained by Flt Lt Ortlepp, landed in the heavy swell, covered by a Liberator aircraft, and took off Flt Lt Harrigan's crew. Flt Lt Ortlepp then destroyed the disabled Catalina aircraft with machine-gun fire and returned safely to base.

Informal portrait of 407016 Squadron Leader W. K. Bolitho DFC of Mannum, SA, pilot, of No. 11 (Catalina) Squadron RAAF.

The pilot (on the right) and Flight Engineer of a No. 149 Squadron Vickers Wellington bomber in 1941

"on the road to Jerusalem"

PTE B.M. HARKIN, MEDICAL ORDERLY, 106 CASUALTY CLEARING STATION (1), DRESSING THE WOUND OF PTE A.J. BASSETT, 8 INFANTRY BATTALION (2).

A crashed Beaufort A9-467 lies in a field 15 miles west of Bundaberg, following a mid air collision with Beaufort A9-436. The aircraft were from No. 32 Squadron. Both crews, a total of eight men, died in the accident. This image is from the collection of 23650 Sergeant Clifford Vernon James Potter RAAF, who served as a photographer with 8 Service Flying Training School, Bundaberg, Queensland.

A Consolidated Catalina aircraft (right), with the serial number A24-100 and code number RK-L of 42 Squadron, RAAF, piloted by 401846 Pilot Officer (PO) (later Flying Officer (FO)) Clifford Dent Hull of Hawthorn, Vic. After completing a successful mine laying operation off Macassar (Celebes) Harbour on the night of 23 & 24 October 1944, the starboard engine of this aircraft was damaged by Japanese anti aircraft (AA) fire. Unable to maintain height on his return and with the second engine failing, PO Hull made a forced landing in the open sea south of the South Western Celebes Peninsula. He and his crew spent the next twelve hours on the water uncomfortably close to four Japanese airfields based in Southern Celebes, before a second Catalina (left), OX-U of 43 Squadron, RAAF, arrived to rescue PO Hull and his crew. A rubber dingy is visible transferring the downed crew to the rescue aircraft. A United States B24 Liberator bomber located the downed Catalina and guided the rescue Catalina in. The B24 continued to circle overhead providing protection. After the disabled Catalina had been sunk by machine gun fire, the rescue Catalina took off and returned safely to Darwin. This operation was one of the epic sea rescues of the Second World War, entailing a round trip of 1800 miles mainly through Japanese held territory. The rescue crew were: 415632 FO (later Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt, DFC)), Armand Andre Etienne (Captain), of West Perth, WA; 408409 FO (later Flt Lt), Ian McCallister Robson of Sandy Bay, Tas; 428809 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) (later Warrant Officer (WO)), John Joseph Sweeney (Navigator), of Newcastle, NSW, (visible standing on the wing of the rescue aircraft); 428832 Flt Sgt (later WO), Raymond Victor Tumeth of Haberfield, NSW; 428360 Flt Sgt (later WO), Derek Fanshawe Robertson of Camberwell, Vic; 12912 Sergeant (Sgt) (later PO), Robert Richard Tingman of Brighton, Vic; 12223 Sgt (later Flt Sgt), Albert Leslie Warton of Sydney, NSW; A2398 Sgt, Thomas Roy Elphick of Bondi, NSW; 33642 Corporal, James Francis Burgess Oliver of Glen Innes of NSW.

Flying from Mareeba Qld 18 March 1944 CAC Boomerang of No. 5 Squadron RAAF in "Finger Four" formation

c. 1943. Studio portrait of 411768 Sergeant J. S. Freeth who flew with 455 Squadron. He was credited with sinking a submarine with depth charges in April 1943. He was killed in a flying accident on 24 May 1943. This hand coloured photograph is set in a gold brooch (REL25225) that is inscribed on the back with "To dear John Freeth's mother with regard from his friends at Angus and Coote 1944". Mrs Freeth had refused to give up hope that her son had survived, and it was hoped that by giving her this brooch that she would come to accept his death. (Donor D. Freeth).

Colin Henry Arnott's headstone at Pheasant Wood cenetery near Fromelles France

Back row L-R Malcolm McGhie 10Rft/15th Bn later 4MGCoy and 47th Bn, Jack Judd 12Rft 15th Bn, then 47th Bn and 59th Bn, Gregory Gibson 12Rft 15th Bn then 47Bn, killed at Dernancourt 28/3/18 and buried at Doullens, John Watson 11Rft 15th Bn KIA Bullecourt 11/4/17. Middle Albert Morgan 10Rft 15th Bn, then 47th Bn and Australian Flying Corp, Ernest Corbett, later 46th Bn, Walter Fish, Edmund Hurd 11Rft later 47th Bn and 45th Bns. Front Lennard Wadsley 13Rft 15th Bn then 52nd Bn KIA 10/9/16 Mouquet Farm, Robert Luxton 13Rft KIA 11/4/17 Bullecourt.

6393 Sapper John Frederick BOARDMAN

Common Grave 294 - Lancaster ME -755 'AR-Z'

British War Medal WW1, Victory Medal, War Medal WW2, Australian Service Medal WW2

This is the ex-passenger liner, HMAT (A11) Ascanius which is the ship that William left on. He was probably on the ship when this photo was taken. People are throwing streamers that are connecting them to the ship.

Kensal Green Cemetery is a remarkable heritage site in which are interred a large range of notable personalities in modern English history.

British gunnes try to drag an 18 pounder gun out of the mud. This photo was taken in August 1917, before winter rains set in and made the task of deploying artillery almost impossible.

L-R Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, War Medal 39-45, Australian Service Medal 39-45

Catfield War Memorial - commemorating S/N 1 LT Edward Addy, 9th Battalion

Gunner Robert Bamblett beside an 18 pounder field gun of the 12th Field Artillery Brigade, probably on the Salisbury Plain in England prior to deploying to France

The front cover of Alex Kerr's wartime experience as a bomber pilot member of the 'Catepillar Club' and PoW

The mangled ruins of part of the light railway after a direct hit on a trainload of ammunition. Amidst the debris are damaged shell cases. The light railway was used to transport casualties and supplies within the Ypres area. From Birr Cross Roads casualties were transferred to motor ambulances to be transported to the advanced dressing stations on the Menin Road. Note in the background a line of motor lorries.

CPL W.M. JOLUIS, RADIOLOGIST AT WORK AT 106 CASUALTY CLEARING STATION. HE IS X-RAYING THE WOUNDED KNEE OF V64795 PRIVATE J. P. SPORN, 7TH BATTALION AMF WHO WAS WOUNDED AT WEARNE'S HILL.

The iconic image of the Kokoda campaign. Taken by Damien Parer, it portrays members of the 39th Militia Battalion, AMF, parade after weeks of fighting in dense jungle during the Kokoda campaign. The officer in front is Lieutenant Johnson. The men behind him are left to right, Armie Wallace, Bill Sanders, Harry Hodge, Kevin Surtees, George Cudmore, GeorgePuxley Kevin Whelan, Len Murrell, Dick Secker, Neil Graham, Clive Gale and Jack Boland.

A QANTAS Catalina operated for the RAAF at the Nedlands base in WA before setting out on one of the longest flights of the war.

Japanese PoW awaiting transhipment to Japan

One of the ship’s assault landing craft, viewed from the aft gun platform of the landing ship infantry Westralia, as it swung aboard during the movement of the 2/24 Infantry Battalion troops, Morotai, 18 April 1945.

For the first time since Gallipoli, the New Zealanders attacked alongside the Australians at Messines on 7 June 1917. Here New Zealand troops watch British tanks advance towards Messines Ridge. E01417

FLGOFF Kenneth BENNETT 463 Squadron

Capt Hyman SYMONDS

Lieutenant Leonard Gurner of the 60th Bn AIF: KIA Morlicourt France 18 July 1918

Rowan Boys Jack standing Joe seated. Probably taken at Abbassia towards the end of their Provo training (Circa mid-1916)

An account of one of the many otherwise unheralded acts of courage and the underlying sense of duty that is so evident in so much of the available literature, exhibited from the highest to the lowest ranking soldier.

Commemoration at VC Corner Cemetery. A guard of 10/27 RSAR July 1998 coincident with the opening of the Memorial Park at Fromelles.. Image Steve Larkins private collection

Livingstone, NT. 20 January 1943. Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) R. (Dick) Cresswell, Commanding Officer of No. 77 Squadron RAAF, standing beside his Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft, serial no. A29-113, on which are painted as `nose art' the US, Australian, and RAAF flags. In this aircraft Sqn Ldr Cresswell shot down a Japanese Mitisubishi G4M medium bomber aircraft, code-name Betty, on 23 November 1942.

ANZAC Cove

Brass 25 pounder shell case engraved with 'THE LAST SHOT FIRED IN AITAPE-WEWAK CAMPAIGN NEW GUINEA FIRED BY C.TP.4BTY.2/2 AUST FD REGT AT ULEBILUM NEAR YAMIL SOUTH OF THE TORRECELLI MOUNTAINS AT 1002HRS 3 SEP 1945. AND PRESENTED BY C.TP TO BRIGADIER M.J. MOTEN. CBE.DSO AND BAR ED COMMANDING 17 AUST.INF. BDE. A.I.F.'

The 54th Siege Artillery Battery in action. Note that light rail is laid right to the gun position to facilitate the movement of the massive shells fired by these guns. Note the guns are wheeled so they can be relocated far easier than was the case with the 9.2 inch Howitzers of the 55th Battery.

A plaque honouring the crews of two Lancasters lost over Chevillon in July 1944

No. 2 Squadron B-25s lined up at Batchelor in the NT

LTCOL Steve Larkins Commanding Officer 9th Combat Service Support Battalion 2000-2001

SIr Hughie Edwards as Governor of WA 1974-75

This is a portrait of Spencer Lane Schocroft.

Reuben Starr, member of the victorious 1913 Waikerie team that defeated Morgan in the Grand Final

Australian soldiers from the 29th/46th Battalion carrying a wounded man on a stretcher following combat operations against the Japanese around Gusika, New Guinea, November 1943.