Proud 6th illustrated history 6th australian division 19391946 | Military history cambridge.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cambridge.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Historians fear untold Australian stories could be lost without a substantial funding increase for the National Archives to prevent the disintegration of records dating back to the mid-19th century.
This masthead revealed on Monday the war-time speeches of John Curtin, papers of suffragettes Adela Pankhurst and Cecilia John and records of the Bounty mutineers could disappear forever as the Archives struggles to digitise almost 400 kilometres of documents, recordings and tapes.
Recordings of the war-time speeches of prime minister John Curtin are on magnetic audiotape.
It follows years of cuts in real funding that have hit the Archivesâ staff numbers. In 2019-20, it spent less on staff than it did in 2013-14. Last financial year, the institution reported an almost $17 million operating deficit. Its last surplus was in 2014-15.
Historians fear stories in National Archives could be lost forever theage.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theage.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The First Armoured Division parade at Puckapunyal on June 21, 1942. Picture: Australian War Memorial
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The Seymour and Puckapunyal districts have a rich military history that spans more than 100 years, covering the immediate post-Federation era, the world wars, the Korean War and first National Service scheme and the Vietnam War and the second National Service scheme.
In this six-part series, we will explore the military history of the Seymour and Puckapunyal areas by bringing back to life some of the key military events of the time.
When World War II broke out in September 1939, the Australian Military Force s Third Infantry Division quickly mobilised and by October 10 there were 6000 soldiers from the division in camp at Seymour and Trawool.
Lieutenant Thomas Derrick VC DCM (right) shakes hands with Lieutenant Reginald Saunders following their successful graduation from the Officer’s Cadet Training Unit at Seymour, Victoria, 1944. Keith Carr Rainsford, AWM 083166
Reginald Saunders was born near Purnim, Victoria, on the Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve in 1920. “Reg”, as he was known, was named in honour of his uncle, William Reginald Rawlings, who had earned a Military Medal for his bravery in the First World War. Reg’s father, Chris, had also served in the First World War. Raised by their grandmother after their mother died in 1924, Reg and his younger brother, Harry, remained close to their father, and the three later opened a sawmilling business. When his father talked about the First World War, Reg listened with “ears as big as footballs”, and at the outbreak of the Second World War he was eager to volunteer for service.