Recollections of War

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Recollections of War John and Kathryn Shapland invite you to step back in time with "Recollections of War". Touch, listen and feel. Call to arrange a visit today.

It is more than a collection of objects - it is a museum of stories and a library of living history, focusing on the humanity of all people who have served. It is about honouring not only their sacrifice, but the forbearance made by their loved ones and families both during the war and after. Call in and engage with voices from the past, where their loves, losses, hopes and dreams are all laid out for you. Find a story or character that resonates with you in the galleries, libraries and displays, or share one of your own with us. No matter where you come from or what you have experienced, there will be something here for you.

Latest items to be catalogued - souvenir felt pennants relating to Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Merchant Navy and Royal ...
22/09/2026

Latest items to be catalogued - souvenir felt pennants relating to Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Merchant Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy ships.

There are also a couple associated with RAN shore bases (HMAS Cerberus and HMAS Nirimba) and two more to the generic branches - Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The two in the top left corner relate to Adelaide Steamship Company vessels that were requisitioned as hospital and troop ships during World War Two.

In the bottom corner are two miniature souvenir lifebuoys relating to HMAS Kanimbla, and a souvenir plaque and crest to the shore base, HMAS Nirimba.

Next up with the cataloguing are a large number of chocolate tins relating to the British Royal Family - Coronations and...
20/09/2026

Next up with the cataloguing are a large number of chocolate tins relating to the British Royal Family - Coronations and Jubilees dating between 1902-1935.

Recollections of War is a war and social history collection, and these represent the social history side.

Some gift tins were issued during wartime, such as the Princess Mary tin, and these will be catalogued soon.

We are currently cataloguing a series of items relating to the 'Food for Britain' campaign.'Food for Britain' was a huma...
17/09/2026

We are currently cataloguing a series of items relating to the 'Food for Britain' campaign.

'Food for Britain' was a humanitarian and fundraising effort launched primarily in Commonwealth countries—most notably Australia, New Zealand and Canada—during and immediately following World War Two to send essential food parcels to the heavily rationed population of the United Kingdom. There were also contributions from dedicated American relief organisations such as CARE International.

Food rationing actually became stricter after the war than it was during active combat, due to wartime exhaustion, severe winter weather, and the near-total bankruptcy of the national economy. The return of the servicemen and women also added to the population and demand.

In Australia, various localised drives, such as the Lord Mayor's Food for Britain Appeal, sprang up across the country. Throughout the mid-to-late 1940s, citizens regularly donated money, surrendered their personal meat and butter ration coupons, and packed thousands of voluntary food parcels to send overseas.

There are a number of items in the collection relating to this campaign, including some food parcel labels sent from Australia to Great Britain and an asphalted cardboard box which would have contained food sent by CARE International from America.

A special afternoon reconnecting with a good friend whom we've not seen for several years.We first met Albert a long tim...
16/09/2026

A special afternoon reconnecting with a good friend whom we've not seen for several years.

We first met Albert a long time ago when he visited from Indonesia to buy our cattle for breeding up there. We have kept in touch, and it is always such a pleasure to host him and his friends here on the farm and in the museum.

Since his last visit, there are several new rooms and a hangar to share.

Thanks for coming back and introducing us to more of your lovely friends. We hope to see you all again soon!

Following on from the glass slouch hat with known provenance, here is a second which we use to convince people that the ...
19/08/2026

Following on from the glass slouch hat with known provenance, here is a second which we use to convince people that the first really was made from a melted milk bottle!

Being clear, the embossed writing is easier to read and the manufacturer can be identified.

The bottle was made by the historic 'New South Wales Fresh Food and Ice Company' which operated from 1866, when it was founded by businessman Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, through to 1952 when it ceased independent operations after being acquired by Peters Consolidated Milk Industries.

The company pioneered commercial refrigeration and artificial ice-making in Australia, transforming how perishable food, meat, and milk were stored and transported across the state.

They invested heavily in bottling lines during the 1920s and it is thought that this bottle dates from between 1930-1950, making it of similar age to the Italian POW made example.

You have to admire the skill that has gone into creating them.

This has long been one of our favourite items in the collection and has finally had its turn to be catalogued. It is a s...
19/08/2026

This has long been one of our favourite items in the collection and has finally had its turn to be catalogued. It is a slouch hat made from a melted milk bottle.

This slouch hat was previously displayed in another museum or collection. When purchased, the item came with two stickers regarding provenance. The first indicated who the donor was - Jack A. Hunter - and that the hat had been made for him by an Italian Prisoner of War at Nowra [sic]. This should have read Cowra.

John Alexander Hunter was born in Outtrim, Victoria on 26 January 1899. He served with the Citizen Military Forces with service number N273648 from 15 July 1941 until 28 April 1943. He then enlisted as a driver with the 2nd Australian Ambulance Car Company at Cowra on 29 April 1943, aged 44.

J.A. Hunter is listed as being one of the guards at the Cowra internment camp.

The second name mentioned is that of 'Snow' Bedwin of Soldier's Point, who presented the item to the museum. Alwyn ‘Snowy’ Bedwin married Dorothy Hunter (daughter of Jack Hunter).and they lived at Soldier’s Point.

Thousands of Italian prisoners of war and civilian internees were held at the Cowra Prisoner of War Camp Site in New South Wales during World War Two, starting with the first arrivals in October 1941.

It is not known who made this slouch hat, or whether it was gifted to or purchased by Jack Hunter.

According to the Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Italian prisoners generally maintained an excellent, cooperative relationship with their Australian captors and local farmers, and were given access to workshops, tools, and materials. The trench art and heritage objects crafted by Cowra's Italian internees included woodwork and handcrafted Items (chess sets, toys and games, picture frames); fine art and sculptures (altar panels and homeland sculptures), and metalwork and daily artefacts (miniature tools and engraved scrap metal).

At least one obviously worked with glass to create this slouch hat. Given that there are still remnants of the company details on the glass bottle, it was most likely produced using the bottle slumping technique which would have required a standard glass/pottery kiln. The heat would firstly be raised slowly (to prevent cracking) and then increased to roughly 700°C to 730°C (1,300°F to 1,350°F) and held for 10–20 minutes until the bottle collapsed flat under its own weight. It could have been melted down over a specific ceramic mould inside a kiln to reshape the glass. The temperature would then be slowly returned to room temperature before removing from the kiln.

It is a remarkable survivor and we are fortunate to be its custodian.

A wonderful visit today from Jeffrey and Carol Peirce and Chris Handley.Jeffrey and Chris have just published a book ent...
13/08/2026

A wonderful visit today from Jeffrey and Carol Peirce and Chris Handley.

Jeffrey and Chris have just published a book entitled 'GREAT WAR STORIES 1914-1919 LIGHT HORSEMEN & CAMELEERS of SOUTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA' and are currently touring the south west and south coast promoting it.

Here is the information provided by the authors about the book:

'Our book presents detailed short story biographies of more than 60 South Western Australian men who volunteered for service in the First World War.

You will become emotionally connected to the soldiers as you follow each man’s journey from birth until their final resting place.

So many of these previously untold stories highlight the men’s dedicated and devoted connection to family and their local communities; there are numerous role models for today’s and future generations.

Our South Western men were critically involved in a number of legendary battles, including Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine. They often fought against overwhelming numbers of enemy on most rugged ground and in highly unfavourable climatic conditions.

Amongst these awe-inspiring stories, you will grasp the dedication, devotion to duty, exceptional bravery and inseparable mateship that thrust Australia onto the world stage. You will be consumed by some of the many courageous achievements of our South Western men, including:- -The Narrogin Dentist accepting the enemy surrender of Damascus, -The Kirup Farmer/Pastoralist who succeeded in stopping the Battle at The Nek Gallipoli, -The Cranbrook Brothers who died 30 minutes apart at the Battle of Hill 60 Gallipoli, -The Brunswick Junction Farmer who fought side by side at Hill 60 with Hugo Throssell VC, -The Pingelly Farmer who became a leading and vital 10LHR Scout, -The Bridgetown aboriginal soldier who served in both First and Second World Wars, -The Denmark Farmer and his miraculous escape at Gallipoli, -The Mount Barker Farmer who had 2 horses shot from underneath him in the same battle, -The Harvey Farmer who helped quell the Egyptian Rebellion in 1919, -The Dumbleyung Farmer who also served in the Boer War with Breaker Morant, -The Dardanup Rhodes Scholar killed in action during the Battle of The Nek Gallipoli.

Jeff PEIRCE and Chris HANDLEY are honoured to promote the lives of these inspirational men, whilst saluting their service to our Nation.

LEST WE FORGET.'

We will be going to see them speak at the Albany RSL on 28th August. Check out the Albany At Ease page for all of the details.

If you live locally, join us there!

Thanks to Jeffrey, his lovely wife and support crew, Carol, and Chris for visiting us today and donating a copy of the book to our library.

We hope to have copies of the book in our shop for sale very soon and can highly recommend it.

The dedication and research that has gone into it has been immense, and it highlights the service of local people doing their bit for our nation.

Lest we forget indeed.

Haven't posted for a while, as we've been very busy with various activities. John has been building and rearranging stor...
06/08/2026

Haven't posted for a while, as we've been very busy with various activities.

John has been building and rearranging storerooms, and I have been head down, tail up cataloguing.

I am pleased to announce a milestone this week - I've done 1000 items on Collections WA! This is such a small percentage of what I have to do, but feels like I am making progress.

Along the way, I have learned so much about the people who owned the items we have in the collection, and also military and social history in general.

I love that by cataloguing things and making them available online, we are being contacted by people who have associations with the items in our collection.

Just yesterday, I received an email from a man whose grandmother's WWII Female Relatives Badge is here in a frame with photos and biographies of two of her sons who served. He lives locally and is keen to come over and photograph it.

We have also been communicating with an English woman whose grandfather's portraits are in a WWI album we have here. She was delighted to see them and only wished that her father was still alive to see them. He treasured his father's medals and wartime binoculars.

We also achieved a second milestone recently - over 500 followers! It is gratifying that so many people are interested in what we are doing.

Welcome to our newest followers and many thanks to all those who have been with us for the journey so far!

It's funny how things come together. In this case, some recent purchases and donations all tied in - some just good luck...
13/07/2026

It's funny how things come together.

In this case, some recent purchases and donations all tied in - some just good luck and others that could be called curation. However, you still have to see the things to buy them!

We have a longstanding interest in the rehabilitation of servicemen and women, and have many items made as occupational therapy. These include artwork, pottery, embroidery and leatherwork.

This particular subset all relate to those blinded due to their war service.

Edwin (Eddie) Bullen served as a mechanic in the RAAF during WWII. He was blinded when a tool fell on his head from above.

After the war, he was among a group of blinded soldiers taken by P&O liner to the UK, where he attended St Dunstan's (a British charity who supported blind and vision-impaired ex-service men and women) to be retrained for future employment. They were able to choose any trade or occupation.

They were also taken on outings by staff and volunteers. This included being taken for rides on tandem bicycles by members of the Red Cross.

Eddie's items were donated to us by a local Denmark family who were great friends with him. We have several works of pottery, some timber furniture items, his foldable white cane, some badges and a well used clock featuring Braille.

Pottery made by two other Australian ex-service men, Bill Reid (known as 'The blind potter of Burma') and Norman Wilkinson, are also held in the collection.

They were both taught how to make pottery at Concord Hospital in Sydney after WWII. Norman's story is told and illustrated in a book published by The Repatriation Commission called 'Blinded but unbeaten'.

Also shown is a Matrix Shorthand Braille Writer which was purpose built for institutions such as St Dunstan's to assist blinded WWI and WWII veterans in learning shorthand Braille. Once proficient, they could apply for administrative roles including telephony and transcription.

This particular machine was used by a British WWII veteran named Stan Grimsey who lost his sight as a POW in Thailand, and who resided at St Dunstan's. He lived a long life, and as with many of those blinded through war service, didn't let his disability prevent him from living a full life. Stan completed a half marathon at the age of 89!

The final item is a recently purchased WWI era autograph book in which there are many pages of Braille cells. These were kindly transcribed for us by a wonderful person named Sam from VisAbility WA.

It turned out that they were Braille versions of the original inscriptions written in the book, although often with a few extra details. We assume that the owner of the book, May, was vision impaired.

All of these things are tangible reminders of the often life changing effects of war service, both on veterans and their families.

One of the things we enjoy the most is when we are contacted by people asking for information or images relating to item...
19/06/2026

One of the things we enjoy the most is when we are contacted by people asking for information or images relating to items in the collection.

Last week, we catalogued an interesting identity disc and keepsake made from coins. It belonged to an Australian Army Nursing Service (A.A.N.S.) nurse named Eileen McNamara.

(Honora) Eileen Lilian McNamara was born on 22 August 1889 in Grenfell, New South Wales, the tenth child of 14 born to Timothy McNamara and Hanora Mary Conlon.

She was a 28 year old trained nurse when she enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Service on 6 September 1917. Her sister, Kathleen Muriel, enlisted 4 days later and they both embarked on board the T.S.S. Wyreema from Sydney on 14 October 1918 bound for Salonika.

Due to the cessation of hostilities, the ship was recalled after arrival in South Africa, where it spent a couple of weeks before returning to Australia at the end of December.

By this time, cases of Spanish Influenza were increasing and a troopship (HMAT Boonah) which had recently arrived in Fremantle had hundreds of men on board who had contracted it.

When the Wyreema arrived in Fremantle not long afterwards, nursing volunteers were called for. Every one of the A.A.N.S. contingent aboard the Wyreema volunteered to look after the ailing men at the quarantine station at Woodman Point.

It is believed that Eileen was one of them. She was later awarded a 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

Two of Eileen's brothers, Leo and Ignatius, also served for Australia during World War One.

The date engraved on the half coin is 19 January 1919. The significance of this date is unknown but would coincide with time spent at the quarantine station. Perhaps the other half of the coin was given to a fellow nurse or patient as a keepsake or love token.

Anyway, back to the request...

We had purchased a postcard showing the T.S.S. Wyreema to put with the identity disc to add context to the display. The card was dated 1911 and related to when the ship was being used as a liner rather than a troopship.

The person who contacted us had recently bought a heritage home named 'Wyreema' and was wanting a good quality copy of the postcard to enlarge and hang on the wall in their new house.

We were more than happy to comply! It means that someone is actually looking at what we're cataloguing.

We are approaching 1000 items, but still have tens of thousands to go. It's a daunting and time consuming task, but we're plugging away.

If anyone who lives locally wants to help out, please get in touch!

Address

Albany, WA
6330

Telephone

+61898452083

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