Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

WW1 Meritorious Service L- R Military Medal (MM), 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=123632

“Major Kestel arrived in New Guinea in September 1943 with 24 Australian Army Nursing Service personnel. During the ensuing period, the hospital was working to its capacity, and there were frequent enemy air raids in the near vicinity. She has at all times carried out her duties as matron with energy, tact and control. In consequence of Matron Kestel untiring devotion to duty, the work of nursing staff has beyond praise”.

Group portrait of the original officers of the 10th Battalion, still in their variety of militia uniforms - barely any two are dressed exactly the same. Left to right, back row: Lieutenant (Lt) Julius August William Kayser (later Major, killed in action in France on 16 February 1917); Lieutenant (Lt) Clarence Rumball; Lt Louis Gordon Holmes; Lt Trevor Owen-Smyth (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 6 May 1915); Captain (Capt) Sydney Raymond Hall (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915); Lt John Hamilton (later Capt); Lt Alfred Cyril Sommerville; Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) David Leslie Todd (later Capt); and Lt Albert John Bryne (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915). Middle row: Lt Mervyn James Herbert (later Major ); Lt Keith Eddowes Green (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915); Lt Robert James Mansfield Hooper (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 27 May 1915); Lt Eric John Carl Stopp; Lt Hector Roy Heming; Lt Eric Wilkes Talbot Smith, (later died of wounds in Egypt on 30 April 1915); Lt Herbert Champion Hosking; and Capt Harold William Hastings Seager (later Maj and awarded MC). Front row: Lt Eric James Sexton (later Maj); Capt George Dorricutt Shaw (later Maj); Maj Miles Fitzroy Beevor (later Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)); Capt Harry Carew Nott (Medical Officer) (later Lt Col); Maj Frederick William Hurcombe, Second in Charge (2IC later Lt Col and MID); Colonel Stanley Price Weir (Commanding Officer, later awarded DSO); Capt Francis Maxwell de Flayer Lorenzo (Adjutant later Lt Col and awarded DSO); Capt Charles Francis Minagall (Quartermaster, later Maj); Capt Edward Castle Oldham (later Maj and killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915); Capt Ross Blyth Jacob (later Lt Col); and Lt Vernon Hermann Robley Absent: Lt William Stanley Frayne, (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 6 August 1915); Lt Charles Percy Farrier (later killed in action at Gallipoli); Lt Felix Giles (later Lt Col); 2nd Lt Noel Medway Loutit (later Lt Col); Lt William Howard Perry (later Capt and awarded MC); and Captain George Ernest Redburg (later Maj).

A B25 Mitchell bomber of No. 180 Squadron lines up for take off at RAF Dunsfold, Surrey in the United Kingdom supporting Allied operations in Normandy

37471 Pilot Officer William Keith Bennett

Don Walch did indeed serve on 226 Sqn. He was 39236 S/L Graham Reese 'Digger' Magill's regular navigator. A snippet from Norman Frank's, "The Greatest Air Battle Dieppe, 19 August 1942 (p.40): "Magill got back safely although his machine (226 Sqn Boston III Z2295 MQ-A), was damaged. Not for the first time did the crest on his Boston get them Home. His usual crew was Pilot Officer Donald Walch, from Tasmania, as navigator, and 'Taffy' Gubbins, air gunner. (Gubbins was away on 19 August, his place being taken by Sergeant S Praeger). The crest consisted of a kangaroo, a kiwi and a welsh dragon on a boomerang, ensuring a return ticket, they hoped!"

25-6-1944 No.21 Sqn Mosquito VI LR373 In a borrowed aircraft, W/C Braham set out on a day patrol to Denmark. His aircraft was intercepted by Fw Robert SPRECKELS, of Stab./JG 1, and shot down into the sea. Braham and his navigator were rescued by a German vessel and became PoWs 40667 W/C (Pilot) John Robert Daniel BRAHAM DSO**DFC** - PoW AUS404489 F/L (Nav.) Donald Curtis WALCH DFC RAAF PoW Interned Stalag Luft III

https://153squadronassociation.weebly.com/brief-history.html

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5262985

https://www.bcar.org.uk/scampton-history

Tom Tobin at this investiture for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Jane Eblen private collection

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=694864&c=WW2#R

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1271858&c=VIETNAM#R

Studio group portrait of officers of the 27th Battalion. Standing, from left: Lieutenant (Lt) Gordon Campbell Church; Lt James Bichan MacLean; Lt Joseph Otto Julge; Captain (Capt) Percy Gordon Bice. Seated: Lt John Henry Mitchell; Major William Pendennis Devonshire DSO; Lt Claude Cyril John McCann MC; Capt Percy Emil Julge MC and Bar. Inscription reads "To Dear Old Mum. With Best Love From Cyril McCann." One of a collection of portraits, mostly of officers of the 27th Battalion, sent to 'Mum' (presumably Mrs Cotching) during and after the First World War at Cotching, Son & Co's 'The Farm' on Ealing Common near London, where servicemen stayed whilst on leave.

“Blood, Sweat and Fears” ISBN: 978-0-64692-750-3 Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia who served in WW1

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4983975

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1534610

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1205852&c=WW2#R

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=40473

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=138077

H J BRAKENRIDGE

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1459085/CHERPITER,%20JOHN

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1943276

Frederick_Emil_Ledin_WW1_Diaries.pdf