New South Wales, Australia,
Returned and Services League of Australia
The important thing is the display of medical history, from the 19th Century right up to the UN Peacekeeping force in East Timor. The display consists of photographs, documents, weapons, uniforms, medals, flags etc. displayed in the indoor sections of the Museum, while some very large items are displayed in the outdoor sections, including all anti-aircraft guns, field guns, a tank, a ship's radar antenna, an old Navel anchor and a battered aircraft propeller with a dramatic history of air-sea rescue. The location of the War Museum is special, as it is situated against a natural backdrop of Anzac Hill, with the War Memorial and flags clearly visible on the top.
Address:
Schwartz Crescent, Alice Springs, NT
Tel:
0889522868
Hours:
10am till late or 8.30am by appointment
Email:
Admission:
Free Admission
Facilities:
Shop, Refreshments, Toilets, Full Bar Facilities, Guided Tours, Reference library, Archives.
Collection:
Military Museum extended over 4 rooms and 2 outside areas.
Items
Uniforms
19th Century Uniforms
Description:
The Uniform on the left is of the NSW Volunteer Artillery, 1863. In 1899 the regiment became the NSW Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery and served with distinction in the Boer War and all subsequent wars. The medals are the Sudan Medal, 1885 and the Turkish Caliphate Medal 1884-6.
The Uniform on the right is of the NSW Light Horse and belonged to Colonel J E Jackson of Bega NSW, 1900.
The Uniform on the right is of the NSW Light Horse and belonged to Colonel J E Jackson of Bega NSW, 1900.
Date:
1880-1900
Trench Periscope
Trench Periscope, World War I
Creator:
Adams & Co 1917
Description:
The manufacturer's original label, still in fair condition, say's 22.5" between mirrors and warns the used, if not using binoculars, to close the glass panel for eye protection. We have no data on the history of this particular periscope. They were used at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. They are very rare, and another is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Date:
1915 - 1918
Not Known
Propeller
Propeller from Beaufighter
Creator:
Bristol Aircraft Co.
Description:
The Beaufighter was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire while attacking Japanese shipping at Pelican Bay, Timor. The pilot headed the damaged plane towards Australia, but had to crash-land on Cartier Island. The two crew were picked up safely by an air-sea rescue Catalina from Darwin. After the war the Royal Australian Navy sighted the wrecked Beaufighter on Cartier Island. One wing was sticking up through the sand. They salvaged the propeller from it, and one of the wing guns, and these were later presented to the Alice Springs RSL War Museum.
Date:
1944-1945
Australia, Pacific War zone, Pelican Bay, Cartier Island
Flag
Japanese Soldiers Personal flag
Creator:
The Land of the Rising Sun
Description:
When a Japanese soldier left home to go to war, a national flag would be presented to him by the locals, on which they wrote their signatures and goodwill messages. The flag would be carefully folded and kept in the breast pocket of the uniform. The flag on display here was obtained on Morotai in World War II and later donated to the Alice Springs RSL War Museum
Date:
1934 - 1945
Japan, Morotai
Flag
German Battle Ensign WWII
Creator:
Adolf Hitler
Description:
The flag was retrieved from a Norwegian fiord after the bombing of a German submarine by the Royal Air Force. The flag was badly torn, with most of the fly missing, but the swastika was whole. The person who souvenired the flag eventually mailed it to the Alice Springs RSL War Museum some years after the war, to express his appreciation after a visit.
Date:
1933-45
Germany, Norway