208.77
Postcards from the First World War often reveal the enduring devotion and passion of troops and their loved ones at home. This postcard was written by soldier William West to his wife, Alice. A collection of his correspondence with home is held by the Wangaratta RSL, offering insight into this family's personal experience of long-term separation.
1917
H9 x W14 cm
00098
The slouch hat was first worn by the Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1885 and has since become an AIF trademark. Deeply entrenched in our military history, it is perhaps the most recognisable object associated with the legend of ANZAC.
c. 1939 - 1945
0751
The Army Individual Readiness Notice badge implies that the minimum level of training has been attained, denoting its owner's suitability for deployment. This badge was issued to troops during the Gulf War.
c1990
H2 x W4.2 cm
00063
Digger Songs
Songs and music of war carry powerful messages and can help to create meaningful, often patriotic connections between soldiers and those at home. This songbook was not published until 1922, several years after the First World War concluded but would have most likely been used by Legatees during comradeship activities
1922
H303 x W234 mm
00083
First aid kit tins were issued standard to each serviceman across all conflicts. This particular kit appears to have been issued in the 1950s or 1960s.
c. 1950-1960s
H8 x W12 x D11 cm
Joyce Barry
Michelle Dawson
Joyce Barry served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War. In her interview, Joyce shares what inspired her to join the services and what training was like for a young woman living in Victoria.
21 Mar 2018.
0513
Trench Art refers to any object made from the by-products of warfare. Often crafted from debris and scrap metal, trench art can reveal the attitudes, behaviours, or kinds of material available to its maker. This brass ashtray is linked to Craftsman R.R. Clarke from G.E. Section in Nui Dat, Vietnam.
1970
Diameter: 14 cm
00115
This photo album was created by Serviceman Jack Devlin. The photos range in dates from 1942 to 1945 in locations such as Port Moresby, Darwin and Cairns and document Jack’s personal war experiences.
c. 1945
H220 x W180 x D30 mm
00048
Legacy Week is an iconic fundraising campaign that began in 1942. The annual national appeal raises awareness and funds for the families of our incapacitated and deceased Veterans. This poster was used to promote Legacy Week activities during the 1990s.
c.1990s
H297 x W210 mm
0549
Many servicemen carried transistor radios during the Vietnam War in order to access news and music. The music of the era became the unofficial soundtrack of the Vietnam War in popular culture. For the first time, soldiers in the field could have an immediate connection to news from home in real time.
Unknown
H296 x W257 x D95 cm
Justin Tilson
Lyn Goodear
Justin Tilson served in Australia and overseas at places including Papua New Guinea and Iraq in the Air Force. In his interview he discusses his enlistment, training and service, as well as his demobilisation.
29 May 2018
0118.1
Part of a series of eight photographs documenting the cataclysmic damage to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the aftermath of the atomic bombings.
1945
H14.4 x W10.5 cm
00156
Theatre programme for This Will Be The Place, performed during a Melbourne Legacy Display at the Garrick Theatre in 1934. Proceeds for the event contributed to Legacy's activities supporting the families of deceased veterans.
1934
H225 x W150 mm
00045
This winter uniform, still current, is worn by Junior Sailor's in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It is used for working and everyday wear.
2010
102
0518
This tin is representative of the experience of Australian service personnel serving in tropical areas throughout the 20th Century. Atebrin was an anti-malarial supplied to Australian forces for use in tropical areas in WWII and Vietnam.
Unknown
H2 x W6 x D5 cm
291.1
Coming Back: A Souvenir
This booklet contains a collection of stories, anecdotes and jokes told by soldiers returning to Australia from Belgium aboard the Troopship SS Port Napier.
1919
H21 x W16 cm
Rod Gallagher
Tony Hughes
In this excerpt, Rod Gallagher shares his personal experience of an "interesting Chinook flight" while serving with the Australian Army during the war in Vietnam.
19 Jul 2017
0019
Dog tags are worn by military personal to assist in the identification of dead and wounded soldiers. These belonged to Lance Corporal Edward Francis Camm, who was born in 1904 at Dargo, Victoria and enlisted on 14 July, 1940.
c.1940
H34 x W3.5 x D2 cm
00095
This kit contains the standard type water bottle, canvas cover and aluminium cup issued to American and Australian troops in the Vietnam War.
1966
Various.
344
Established over a century ago, the Wangaratta RSL is one of the oldest and largest sub-branches in Victoria. This photograph shows local veterans in front of the club at a social event during the 1950s.
c.1954
H15 x W20 cm
0704
HMAS Vendetta was one of three Daring class destroyers built for the Royal Australian Navy in Williamstown, Victoria. It's operational history spanned two decades and multiple journeys, namely during the Vietnam War. To accompany its logo of a clenched dagger, the ship adopted the motto 'Vindico', which in Latin means, 'I Avenge'.
1958
Diameter: 10 cm
Vern Loeckenhoff
Stephanie Hume
In this oral history excerpt, Vern Loeckenhoff shares his experience as a German immigrant growing up in a country town, and his eventual enlistment and service with the Australian Navy.
19 July 2017
0329
Women have played a central role in sustaining the activities of ex-service organisations. Women's auxiliaries are dedicated to fundraising, supporting the activities of their local RSL, and caring for veterans in their wider community. Today, there are more than 1200 members of auxiliaries in Victoria.
Not known.
Diameter: 2.5cm
00143
This photograph belongs to a batch of images documenting one soldier's travels through Luxor, Karnak, Thebes, Giza and Palestine during the First World War.
c.1914 - 1918
H13 x W8 cm
00119
Legacy has a long history of nurturing the development of children of deceased veterans. This photograph was taken at a party for Legacy children hosted at Government House. The Governor of Victoria is the patron of Legacy and these events at show the Governor's ongoing support for the organisation.
1972
H215 x W163 mm
Coinciding with the centenary of the First World War (1914 – 1918), the inaugural Veterans Heritage Project brings ex-service organisations together with museum professionals in order to help protect, preserve, and increase access to Victoria’s war heritage.
