Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

A 25 pounder 'Short' pack howitzer being towed by a Willys jeep. Uncharacteristically, this gun is fitted with a ballistic shield which was generally not fitted on operations.

A posed photograph of de Havilland DH 5 Scout plane (Serial A 9242) of 68 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (renumbered as No 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps from 19 January 1918) at an aerodrome in Lincolnshire, England, with 24 year old Cootamundra born Lieutenant Sydney Winton Ayers in the cockpit. Ayers was later shot down on 22 November 1917 over Bourlou Wood while ground strafing German troops and positions in support of the tank-assisted Cambrai attack - he died of his wounds two days later. The same month this image was taken, Ayers' brother, Private Charles Thomas Ayers of 58 Battalion, was killed at Polygon Wood. The legend painted down the right side of the DH5 scout indicates it was a presentation aircraft, paid for by subscriptions and fund-raising in Australia. This particular aircraft, 'New South Wales no 14' (also known as The Women's Battleplane) was presented on 12 April 1917 to 68 Squadron by 'the women of New South Wales and others', who raised 2,700 pounds. Notable amongst the subscribers were the Tweed and Armidale Battleplane Funds. Generally disliked by pilots for its lack of performance, vibration, and tendency to shed valves, the DH5 was being replaced by the SE5a by the end of 1917. See also A02177.

James Tyner's Medal Set - L-R 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

William Frayne's medal set: L-R 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Private Leslie Robert Templeman

Commemorative Plaque, colloquially known as "The Dead Man's Penny", issued to the families of the Fallen, together with a Commemorative Scroll signed by King George V

Service number 18488 George Bentley Pegler, a staff member of the South Australian Harbors Board. George enlisted in the AIF on 26 October 1917 and served in France with the Australian Army Medical Corps. He returned to Australia in 1919. From 1923 to his death in 1950 he held the position of Harbourmaster at Cowell.

2048 CRAM William 43rd Battalion AIF RH#20

3294 PTE Leslie DOWDELL RH#11

935 Private Frank Oliver SCUTT 43rd Battalion RH#15

Captain Henry Samuel COPE MC, 43rd Battalion

3795 Private William LAWSON RH#17

Private Thomas MALONEY, RH#18

Private Roy BOARDMAN,

Cecil Ronald "Ron" Weinert, Korea

Captain Henry Samuel COPE MC, 43rd Battalion RH#16

7204v Signaller Louis Leon BRUGEAUD RH#12

1184 Private James Michael TYNER 3 Fd Amb RH#22

7024 Gordon Alexander LAING RH#24

3639 Audley Esmond WEBSTER RH#25

Captain Ernest Albert WARREN, 27th Battalion RH#28

313 Trooper James Morell McKenzie KAY RH#27

187 Private Joseph Raymond STEAD

Heilly Station Cemetery

77 Squadron P51s undergoing servicing at Iwakuni Japan, 1950

Thomas Yapp's medal set: British War medal Victory Medal

RH Panel Image 002 - Corporal Frank Allchin

Studio portrait of 407713 Aircraftman (AC), later Sergeant (Sgt) No. 32 Squadron RAAF, James Alexander Herman, of Kilkenny, SA.

David Taylor's grave alongside his comrades from the 32 Squadron Hudson A16-201

Warren Cowan's grave - alongside his comrades from Hudson A16-201 at Bomana War Cemetery

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.

'Caught on the Surface'. The sinking of U-461 by an RAAF Sunderland "U" of 461 Squadron RAAF, in the Bay of Biscay in July 1943. [As depicted by aviation artist Robert Taylor.] See the attached story "The Bullet with your name on it"

RAF STATION LEUCHARS, SCOTLAND. 1943-06-04. MEMBERS OF THE GROUND STAFF OF HAMPDEN TORPEDO-BOMBER NO. 455 SQUADRON RAAF OF COASTAL COMMAND. ON TOP OF THE AIRCRAFT, STANDING, LEFT TO RIGHT: 6728 CORPORAL (CPL) A. E. RYAN, BRISBANE, QLD; 10165 CPL W. C. KENNAUGH, NORTHCOTE, VIC; 17741 LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN (LAC) R. A. LOFTUS, PERTH, WA; 15273 CPL S. F. YOUNG, HABERFIELD, NSW; 15009 LAC V. MERCHANT, NEWCASTLE, NSW; 15001 LAC N. H. GARBUTT, DUNDEE, SCOTLAND; 33236 AIRCRAFTMAN 1 (AC1) E. H. LUKES, NORTH SYDNEY, NSW; 6682 LAC F. C. B. LAGETTIE, CABRAMATTA, NSW; 22379 LAC J. E. SCHATZ, GREENSLOPES, QLD; 10200 SERGEANT (SGT) L. D. PATIENCE, MELBOURNE, VIC; 27063 CPL H. R. TURNER, WEST TANKS, SA; 33255 AC1 E. C. HENRY, WAVERLY, NSW; 24056 LAC R. M. WARNER, YUBBA, NSW; 24100 LAC W. J. WALKER, BURWOOD, VIC. SITTING: 6808 CPL R. E. GARDE, UNDERCLIFFE, NSW; 12110 SGT C. ETCHELLS, ASHFIELD, NSW. STANDING, BACK: 10279 LAC L. L. WALLER, PENHURST, VIC; 968331 LAC N. HIBBLE, NEWCASTLE, RAF; 8761 LAC J. J. GARDNER, NOTTINGHAM, RAF; 6849 LAC F. J. PRITCHARD, CARLTON, NSW. STANDING, FRONT: 6585 LAC G. L. DOWNER, BRISBANE, QLD; 15013 LAC D. A. MATHEWSON, TOTTENHAM, NSW; 15979 LAC H. T. GROENNOU, LEICHHARDT, NSW; 10275 LAC S. W. POPE, ST KILDA, VIC; 14527 CPL S. V. WEATHERBY, NORTH BONDI, NSW; 9200 SGT F. R. MARCH, ADELAIDE, SA; 10162 CPL J. A. WILLIAMS, KINGSWOOD, VIC; 6035 FLIGHT SERGEANT H. ORR, BRISBANE, QLD; 2823 FLYING OFFICER WILSON, BRISBANE, QLD; 1796131 AIRCRAFTMAN W. VALENTINE, BONNY BRIDGE, SCOTLAND, RAF; 1400829 AC1 K. S. COLLIVER, BRISTOL, RAF; 13245 LAC J. LEFOE, MELBOURNE, VIC; 20187 CPL N. R. SIVYER, EAST MOREE, NSW; 1865049 AC2 D. V. FISHER, ESSEX, RAF; 10691 SGT F. J. SHAW, MELBOURNE, VIC; 21465 LAC W. A. M. FORBES, NEWCASTLE, NSW.

Lauri Sheard's grave alongside his colleagues at Bomana War Cemetery Port Moresby Papua New Guinea.

A Lancaster crew of No 467 Squadron, RAAF, at Bottesford, Leicestershire, preparing to set off for Berlin on the evening of 31 August 1943. They are, from left: Flight Sergeants J Scott, G. Eriksen and A Boys, Sergeant C Adair, Flight Sergeant B Jones (Captain), Flight Sergeant J Wilkinson and Sergeant E Tull, RAF, the only Englishman in the crew. This aircraft is 'M for Mother' at this time a veteran of 40 missions. It appears in two other published images, one of which was close-up of the nose art on the aircraft (AWM UK UK0463). It also appears in another image on this site, with a different crew later in 1943 by which time it had racked up 53 missions.

POK's crew taken in December 1943. This photo believed to have been contributed by George Litchfield's family. George LITCHFIELD (bomb aimer) front centre. L-R Believed to be SCOTT (W/Op), BOETTCHER (rear gunner), PATKIN (pilot), CHAMBERS (Flight engineer), (Navigator) . Absent is FSGT BLACKWELL the mid upper gunner The aircraft behind them is not the one in which they were lost on 1/2 January ('PO-K'). It is 'PO-M' a unit workhorse as evidenced by the 53 missions it had flown at this time (presumed to be late 1943). 'PO-M' features in two other images; AWM UK0463.jpg which 'captured' the aircraft at an earlier point in its career, on 31 August 1943 when it had completed 40 missions and had its designation changed from 'PO-U' to 'PO-M'. Another image on the 467 Squadron page features this aircraft at the same time - 31 August 1943 with its crew.

Vickers Warwick and crew including P/Offr John "Bart" Bartholomew 1st left, the Navigator. This crew was involved in a near disaster and their aircraft was lost after an emergency landing and runway overshoot brought on by an Engine Failure (and fire) After Take-Off (EFATO), resulting in the aircraft overshooting the runway and crashing into the sea. All of the crew survived. Crew in front of their Warwick `B4` L to R: Nav F/O Bart Bartholomew, 2/Pilot H.Bath, W/AG Ted Russell, Pilot Jack Murray, W/AG Cledwyn Evans, W/AG Colin Acton and A/G F/O C.H.Haywood. Photo: Ted Russell.

Vickers Warwick and crew including P/Offr John "Bart" Bartholomew 1st left, the Navigator. This crew was involved in a near disaster and their aircraft was lost after an emergency landing and runway overshoot brought on by an Engine Failure (and fire) After Take-Off (EFATO), resulting in the aircraft overshooting the runway and crashing into the sea. All of the crew survived. Crew in front of their Warwick `B4` L to R: Nav F/O Bart Bartholomew, 2/Pilot H.Bath, W/AG Ted Russell, Pilot Jack Murray, W/AG Cledwyn Evans, W/AG Colin Acton and A/G F/O C.H.Haywood. Photo: Ted Russell.

A map depicting the disposition of forces at 4 Oct 1917, immediately prior to the commencement of the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge

Arthur Harold Boettcher - Lancaster LM-372

Bancourt British War Cemetery entrance portal.

Signage indicating the location of Bancourt British Cemetery

Group portrait of trainee pilots of No 1 Flying Training School A Course, January to October 1939. Left to right, back row: 467 Robert Thomas Trigg of Sale, Vic, (later 32 Squadron (Sqn) RAAF, died 6 July 1942); Robert John Ohlmeyer of Clare, SA, (later 3 Sqn RAAF, died 23 November 1939);M L 'Buck' Judell; Edwin Hooper Sargeant; E H Williams; John Henry William Saunders (later 3 Sqn RAAF, died 22 November 1941); Kevin Ansell Goman of Perth, WA (later 23 Sqn RAAF, died 29 May 1940); 484 Brian Leighton Bracegirdle; 475 Robert George Arnold of Lameroo, SA (died 18 January 1942); 467 John Thomas O'Brien; 468 Geoffrey Thompson Newstead of Renmark, SA; W C Ring; 457 Geoffrey William Coventry (later Sqn Leader and Commanding Officer 11 Sqn RAAF, died 2 May 1944); 250499 Herbert Alexander Gamble. Second row: 485 Reginald Lloyd Gordon (later 31 Sqn RAAF, died 27 February 1944); 481 Peter St George Bruce Turnbull (died 27 August 1942); 456 Lindsay Eric Shaw Knowles of Canberra, ACT (later 3 Sqn RAAF, died 22 November 1941); 465 Kevin Herbert Springbett of SA; 470 John Couper Black; 388 Patrick John McMahon; 472 William Eldridge Willard of Sydney, NSW (later 31 Sqn RAAF, died 30 August 1943); 394 Garth Tetley Miles; 3107 Vernon Francis Wilfred Sullivan of Carlton, Vic; 482 John William Kessey of Hamilton, NSW; G L Thurston; R H Thompson; B M H Palmer. Front row: 477 Reginald William Marks; 480 Desmond Charles Pfeiffer; 477 Edwin St Clair Yeoman of Camberwell, Vic (later 10 Sqn RAAF, died 8 August 1942); 390 David Vernon of Lane Cove, NSW; James Norman Alexander of Randwick NSW (later 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD), died 15 January 1940); 391 Athol Galway Hope Wearne of WA; 305 James Cecil Stevenson of Grafton, NSW (later Wing Commander, 1AD, died on 1 December 1942); 3229 Allan Lindsay May of Malvern, Vic (later 1AD, died 10 May 1940); 463 Victor Allan Hodgkinson; 483 Arthur Wichelo Nichols of Wagin, WA; 387 Hugh Augustine Conaghan; 474 Robert Andrew Kirkman; 455 Charles Edwin Cox.

Group portrait of members of the "Victorian Left Batt Company. Australian Imperial Naval and Military Tropical Force". Back row, left to right: 141 Private (Pte) Richard Elvin Exelby; 130 Pte George Fredericks; Pte Charles John Darkin; 146 Pte Charles Lott; 128 Pte Frederick Wilkins; J Jackson and 145 Pte Jacob Coote. Second row: 147 Pte Robert Boyle Smith; 129 Pte Richard Barker; 960 Sergeant (Sgt) Alfred John Grace; 138 Sgt Nathaniel Hart; 133 Pte Athel Ludgater Stark (died in Australia on 24 January 1918) and 134 Pte Samuel Henry Rice. Front row: 139 Corporal Arnold Mercer Davies; 137 Pte A V (Victor Alfred) Chiron and 136 Pte Eugene Charles Chiron. Pte Stark

Japanese pilots of the Japanese Navy Tainan Air Group assigned to New Guinea from February 1942 - Saburo Sakai seated middle row second from left - one of the top Japanese Ace of the war who in 1997 lobbied the Australian Government to recognise Warren Cowan's actions on 1942. Standing top row left is PO1/c Hiroyoshi Nishizawa who went on to become the top Japanese Ace. He was killed as a passenger in a transport aircraft over the Philippines in 1944. Sakai survived the war having lost an eye over Guadalcanal. He passed away in 2000.

Standing: Capt P Samson, Lieut Richard Harry Sampson, Q R Serg't Harry Percy Sampson. Sitting: RSM Harry Wills Sampson, Capt. Richard Sampson, RQM Serg't Frederick Sampson.

Ship's Company of HMAS Perth at Fremantle 6 August 1941

Roy Hodgkinsons - war artist. Depicting an incident which happened whilst the artist was sitting on the beach at Oro Bay. Two Hudson's of the Royal Australian Air Force had taken off from Dobodura, with wounded and sick for general hospital. As soon as these planes were airbourne 14 Japanese Zeros first strafed the airship and then attacked the Hudsons, one of which shot down a Zero whilst the other was hotly chased by Zeros and eventually shot down, making a perfect belly landing on the sea. All patients were brought ashore safely with the exception of two stretcher cases who had been killed by Zero bullets. The rear gunner died from a wound in the lungs received during combat.

Etaples CWGC Cemetery - the largest in France. Most burials here had died of their wounds at various points along the casualty evacuation.

RH Panel Image #3 - Private Robert John Penny