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ORBOST & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY Inc.P.O. BOX 284 ORBOST VIC 3888

President: Heather TerrellVice President: Noreen ThomsonSecretary: May LeatchTreasurer: May LeatchCollection Management: Marlene Robb, Barry Miller, May

Leatch, Marilyn Morgan, Heather TerrellMuseum Committee: John Phillips, Noreen Thomson, Eddie

Slatter, Geoff Stevenson, Gabby YoungResearch Secretary: Lois CrispHNEG representative: Audrey Van Den BergSlab Hut/OVIC reps.: Di Miller, Noreen ThomsonPublicity: Heather Terrell, May LeatchNewsletter Production: May Leatch

NEWSLETTER 158 JULY 2019

WORLD WAR 1 MEMORABILIAWORLD WAR 1 MEMORABILIAIN OUR COLLECTIONIN OUR COLLECTION

The impact of the First WorldWar on the whole of Australiawas huge. Orbost Museum hasan excellent collection of objects,photos, personal items, books,medals, and other memorabilia.This is only a small selection.

Fundraising involved all sections of society, and especiallywomen. Children and schools were also part of the total wareffort. Patriotic Carnivals and Concerts, picnic race meetings,moving picture evenings in the Mechanics Hall, sports,dances, tennis tournaments, the Show, ladies sewing guildsall helped.ABOVE: Comforts Fund workers with their stall, Club Hotelis in the background. Notice the small lad dressed as aSoldier and the SAVE OUR BRAVE BOYS flags.

LEFT: This medal was presented to the family of JamesPullar Cameron who was killed on 7/8/1915 at Gallipoli.

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BOOKS written at the War or shortlyafterwards—Diggers stories, drawings, cartoons,jokes, songs, poetry. The ANZAC BOOK was famous,written by diggers during Gallipoli and printed soonafterwards. The AUSSIE MAGAZINE was also wellknow. Note that the shape of the soldier’s head isactually in the shape of Australia. Patriotism was akey message in all publications during the War.Alexander Butters (who served in the War) has hisname on the front of the AUSSIE.

ABOVE LEFT: A Welcome Home Dinner for Orbost men who served. Names are Frank Cowell, Jack Irvine, LesWaller, Tom Martin, Dick Beattie, Bill Russell, Bill Cowell, Dave Williams, Col Cameron, Bert Shaw, Jack Gluth,Henry Thomas, Alec Butters. Women organisers: Mrs A G Nixon, Nell Cameron, Grace Cameron, Ivy Richardson,Nina Winchester. ABOVE RIGHT: Victory celebrations.

ARMY BISCUITS. Amazingly preserved, these werepossibly from the Boer War, but were also standard issueduring W W I. Were these the original Anzac Biscuits? Asyou can see, they were extremely hard (known to breakteeth) and needed to be softened up with a cup of tea orsoup. There are many mentions in the Anzac Book aboutthese biscuits which were the butt of jokes.

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ABOVE: FABRIC FROM A GERMANAIRCRAFTThis souvenir of War represents a closeencounter, possibly with a downedGerman aircraft. No details are available.The fabric is painted cloth, and the blackmarks on a cream or white backgroundwere marked on the plane, possibly inthe shape of the Iron Cross.

ABOVE: Anzac March in Nicholson Street, Orbost 1919. Leading off isthe town band, followed by a group of soldiers. On the left are A EPowell’s butcher shop, also Athens Café. Further down is the PostOffice and Herberts Stores.

LEFT: Orme Andrews (b 1894, d 1973) took part in theGallipoli landing on 25 April 1915. He also fought in France.Later, he went to England where he trained as a pilot withthe Australian Flying Corps. The small photo is of Orme inhis flying uniform, with another man identified as GeorgePiper. Orme returned to Orbost in 1937 and opened amenswear store.

Orme and other men at Gallipoli wrote lettershome. These were published in the Snowy River Mail fromJuly to September in 1915 and form a wonderful accountof life at the front. These letters have been transcribed andcollected into a separate folder by the Historical Society.No further letters were printed throughout the War.

LEFT: Identity tags for Gunner Alex Pullar Cameronwho died in 1919 of war injuries, and Vet SargeantG H Douglas Russell. Both were from well-knownfarming families in the Orbost district.

LEFT: We would likemore information aboutthis wallet. Inscription:’To Oliver for birthday18.2.18 Salisbury, fromJohn. And also, ‘Jackdied 4.4.18.V B’.

CAN ANYONE HELP?

RIGHT: Thisembroidered HappyChristmas card wasmade in France, anexcellent example ofmarketing to those whoserved under the Britishflag (includingAustralians). Inside, ‘Iam still going well andstrong. Love fromMaurie.’

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DEATH PLAQUE—James Cameron“He died for Freedom and Honour” are the words on this plaque whichwas sent to the relatives of those who died. James Pullar Cameron was atall young man of 23 years when he enlisted in September 1914. He waskilled in action on Walkers Ridge, Gallipoli in August1915 and like many others who served, has noknown grave.

St Andrews Church contains two honourrolls (Presbyterian and Methodist) and severalmemorials including a memorial plaque for James PCameron. St James (Anglican) also has an honourroll, and several memorials, including stained glasswindows. The fallen were not forgotten.

RIGHT: A few items from the Ted LawlessCollection. Edward (Ted) b1895, d1917 wasa young coachbuilder and blacksmith inOrbost when he enlisted. After training asa signaller, he went to France where hewas killed three days after arriving at thefront. His mother, Elizabeth Lawless was awell-known Orbost midwife. She kept her son’s memory alive andpassed down his collection of training manuals, medals and photos.Her grandson Ray Lawless donated this collection to the Museum.

ABOVE and LEFT: Stereoscope and cards. Cardsproduced by Geo Rose in 1914. Images of France,Egypt, training, camps, guns, marches etc.

LEFT: Fundraisingto pay off WarLoans and PeaceLoans continuedfor many years.This plaque waspresented to theOrbost Shire forhavingoversubscribedits quota.

LEFT: Fundraising wasa total effort from allAustralians. EileenMcDougall ofLochend School wasawarded this YOUNGWORKERS PATRIOTICGUILD certificate in1917. It is signed byHead Teacher,Donald Smith.