Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

4501 BALLARD, PTE H.E.32nd and 50th Battalions

4501 Pte Herbert Edward Ballard

'Raid on Duisburg' Handley Page Halifax B.III bombers of No.462 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Air Force Driffield, Yorkshire, October 1944. Handley Page Halifax B.III “Lily of the Lamplight” aircraft MZ296, was lost on the 15 October 1944 while returning from a raid on Duisburg. Damaged by anti-aircraft fire and low on fuel, the crew successfully bailed out over Allied territory. The pilot on the final trip was New Zealander Flying Officer (FO) W.B. Cookson. The crew included three Australians:Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) W.F.Tolhurst (Bomb Aimer), FO L.J.Power (Wireless Air Gunner) and Flt Sgt N.O.Reed (Rear Gunner). FO Cookson later received the DFC for his actions.

Stonehaven War Memorial. Stonehaven and Dunnottar - Kincardine & Deeside District UKNIWM Ref No. 8693 The Stonehaven and Dunnotar war memorial takes the form of a large sandstone, circular ruined Doric temple with eight pillars, raised on three high steps of rustic blocks. The commemoration and names of the WWI dead are listed on a dressed grey granite stone with a pinkish hue which stands in the centre of the paved enclosure which is entered into via a wide stair and wrought iron gate. The monument is clearly visible from the distance above the road on a headland south of the village. It was built in 1922 and officially unveiled in 1923 to commemorate the men and women who lost their lives in the ‘Great War’. It was designed by local architect John Ellis to resemble a ruined temple – possibly to signify the ruined lives of those whose names are on it. There is no record as to why he designed it to look ruined – no working drawings or sketches. It certainly is very different to most of the other war memorials in this area. The money to build the memorial was raised by the local community in one year through a variety of fundraising events and donations. The Black Hill was chosen as the site for a memorial as it was a popular place for the people of the town to visit – windy but with amazing views up and down the coast and just a short walk from the town. The main part of the memorial is local sandstone, cut from a quarry that existed at the south end of Stonehaven’s harbour. Inscribed on the external faces of the lintel stones: SOMME - MARNE - ZEEBRUGGE - GALLIPOLI - JUTLAND Inscribed on the internal faces of the lintel stones: 'ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF STONEHAVEN AND DISTRICT' Inscribed above the entrance: A TRIBUTE 1914 TO THEIR DEAD 1919 ONE BY ONE DEATH - CHALLENGED THEM - ONE BY ONE THEY - SMILED IN HIS - GRIM VISAGE - AND REFUSED - TO BE DISMAYED

Unveiling of Stonehaven War Memorial

An artists rendition of the attack by 15 Brigade north of the village of Villers-Bretonneux on the evening of 24/5 April 2018

A medium trench mortar and crew of the 3rd Australian Medium Trench Mortar Battery, 2nd Division, in action in a farmhouse 400 yards from the German front lines. Gun position selected and made use of to support Infantry raid prior to attack on Morlancourt village. Left to right: Lieutenant (Lt) J. Arthur; Lt L. C. Reeves; Gunner (Gnr) W. Commons, holding cleaning rod; Gnr G. Parker, loading mortar; Corporal P. Barber.

An Australian patrol lays up in an anti-tank ditch near the perimeter of the Australian defences around Tobruk. AWM 020779 . This appears to be a posed photo as the men are carrying no visible equipment or ammunition pouches and only their weapons (SMLE .303 rifles and .45 calibre Thompson sub machine guns). The term anti tank ditch seems ambitious as its hard to see that ditch causing any delay to a tank moving at speed.

Lieutenant General (later Sir) Leslie Mooreshead, General Officer Commanding the 9th Division at Tobruk. A one-time teacher, Gallipoli veteran and renowned as a disciplinarian, he was nick-named 'Ming the Merciless' by his troops after a cartoon character of the time.

QX10333 Corporal Athol 'Ned' Bayly. Taken in mid to late 1940 not long after enlisting and prior to overseas service.

6787, Pte S.A. Beare 27 Battalion AIF

Discharge Certificate (original) Edward Hewlett, 43 Bn AIF

Edward Hewlett's Certificate of Discharge - reverse

Arthur Bruce Durdin, MC and on the right is Major Karl Friederichs. Captain Durdin survived the war but Karl Friedrichs was killed in action by shellfire on 21 April near Dernancourt, France during defensive operations against the German Spring Offensive.

NX70915 Lt CAH Moxham, 2nd/2nd machine Gun Battalion

Flying Officer Gordon Nunn DFC, pilot, and Flying Officer Hugh Mitchell DFC, observer, both 464 Squadron RAAF, in the cockpit of a de Havilland Mosquito aircraft.

A de Havilland Mosquito FB1 of No. 464 Squadron RAAF

Photograph of Flying Officer Jack Paradise and his crew 20 March 1944

Newspaper article detailing Tom Flynn's tragic demise

Tom Flynn as a member of the victorious 1913 Waikerie football team

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

Lance Bombadier Larry Davenport mans his weapon pit and an M60 Machine Gun the morning following the first attack on FSB Coral.

Lance Bombadier Larry Davenport mans his weapon pit and an M60 Machine Gun the morning following the first attack on FSB Coral.

Map illustrating the relative position of AO Surfers, Saigon and the Australian base at Nui Dat

A CH47 Chinook flies in a payload to the 102 Fd Bty LZ at FSB Coral

3RAR Defensive positions at Balmoral. The soldiers are wearing steel helmets and they have a very well prepared fully 'dug in' weapon pit prepared to 'Stage 3' complete with sleeping bays with overhead protection (sandbags) to protect against artillery and mortar splinters.

3RAR’s Regimental Sergeant Major, Vince Murdoch, tends a wounded and blindfolded North Vietnamese soldier at Balmoral.

3RAR Defensive positions at Balmoral. The soldiers are wearing steel helmets and they have a very well prepared fully 'dug in' weapon pit prepared to 'Stage 3' complete with sleeping bays with overhead protection (sandbags) to protect against artillery and mortar splinters.

A Centurion tank in position behind a protective bund at FSB Balmoral

Korea, 1952-05. Three officers from 'A' Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), share a bottle of beer in a reserve area. The soldiers are (left to right): Captain Brian Poananga, a New Zealander serving with the battalion; 3/40105 Lieutenant Gilmer John (Gil) Lucas MC; 3/395 Major Jeffrey James (Jim) Shelton MC, the company commander. A graduate of the Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon, Captain Poananga later became Chief of the General Staff (CGS) in the Royal New Zealand Army (RNZA).

A SQN in Syria

Avenue of Honour Bacchus Marsh postcard, ca 1950

Thomas Baker's Pilots Course. Baker is circled (right) and a colleague Packer is circled left.

Pat Hughes 1940

Wirraways of No. 2 SFTS, c. July 1941; No. 7 SFTS also operated the type, and inherited aircraft from No. 2 SFTS when it disbanded in April 1942

418913 Flying Officer Norman Jack Bowman

DCM, MM, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

A B25 Mitchell medium bomber of No. 180 Squadron RAF

The Magill Soldiers' Memorial Opening

England. 1944-06-11. Group of aircrew at No. 180 squadron RAF. Left to right: 405107 Flying Officer (FO) W. Kirk, Brisbane, QLD (KIA 20 June 1944); 405054 FO B. W. Klemm, Brisbane, QLD; 415259 FO H. Hawthorn, Hastings, NZ; 417379 Flight Sergeant J. Jennison, Adelaide, SA; 422248 FO J. B. O'Halloran, Sydney, NSW; 422080 FO R. M. Kennard, Canberra, ACT.

Wing Commander Bob McINtosh, AFC OAM MiD, Member SA Veterans Advisory Council

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.

A picture of Geroge Harriot that appears to show his rank as Lieutenant and thus taken some time before April 1917 when he was promoted Captain.

Roadsign indicating the Millencourt Communal Cemetery Extension

The entrance to Becourt Military cemetery

Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery

A diagram of the Barrage Plan for the Australian Corps advance. The barrage was fired on preset timings without the benefit of radio communications so advancing troops had to be careful not to get too close to, or be left behind by the line of the creeping barrage. The level of complexity of such a plan epitomises the sophistication of Artillery by this stage of the war. Each battery of guns would be using different firing data on a relentless schedule from their many and varied locations in order to achieve this effect on the ground.

A 4.5 inch howitzer of 108th Howitzer Battery of the 8th FIeld Artillery Brigade deployed in line behind a dyke or elevated road which provides them with cover from fire and view by the enemy

The Rose Park Gun. German 7.7cm Feldkanone 96 (FK96) Field Gun (1896).* One of a battery of German 77mm field guns captured by the 32nd Battalion during the Battle of Amiens that are now located in parks around SA.