World War I Australian Soldier's Memorabilia Collection

Archive - World War I Australian soldier of the 48th Battalion, AIF. Including trench art cigarette ashtray with German belt buckle, other German belt buckles, Australian & German jacket buttons, Australian insignia, German metal soap (Seife) container with a German World War I Iron Cross 2nd Class, German cigarette case, bullet & cartridge case, some British badges; photograph of the private soldier and a friend and a large photograph of the officers of the 48th Battalion after the 1st Battle of Bullecourt (in April 1917); two maps of Northern France, one German & one British. the German map (on paper) is titled Zusammendruck fur de 2 Armee NR 62, April 1917. It covers Northern France & a little of Belgium with mons in the top right hand corner. Some towns are ringed in blue or red crayon or both & inc. Villiers, Gonnelieu, Ribecourt, Lesdain, Esnes, Beauvois, Coudry, Troisville, Cateau & others. the area mostly was captured by the Germans in August 1914 & mons & Cateau were not recovered by the Allies until October 1918. These days, most of the towns ringed have war cemeteries. the British map (on canvas) is titled Amiens 17 France 1:100,000 war office October 1915 no 2364. the 48th Battalion fought in the vicinity of Amiens in April 1918 & was billeted in Amiens in August 1918. Its last action in September 1918 was near Bellenglise, the St Quentin Canal & the main structure of the Hindenburg line; misc. Papers including. the Australians' fine record, the Battle of Amiens and after, Christmas & new Year's greeting card 1918-1919 showing the advance from Villiers-Bretonneux & the capture of Hamel village, a guide to Antwerp, a printed letter of thanks & farewell from King George & the Queen, & other cards including. a souvenir card of the return voyage to Australia; magazines & memorabilia between the wars mostly 1920s; World War II memorabilia including. a group photograph with personal details on the reverse, leather satchel & signaller's books; the private soldier's detailed personal information World War I enlistment & service from the National Archives of Australia; & book, the 'Story of a Battalion,' being a record of the 48th Battalion, AIF, 1980s Swanbourne facsimile of the original 1919 edition, a fine copy, limited to not more than 300. Collection Dr John Raven, Perth.