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Sunday, October 30, 2016

That Visit to The National ANZAC Centre, Albany, continued...

As I commented in the recent post about this place, DH and I went back the next day to go through the building.
( Source for the photos above ; National ANZAC Centre website)
After paying our entry fees we were each given a card. These cards represented a person who served in some way in WW1. ( as well as soldiers and nurses there was a war correspondent/journalist included as well). The personnel selected by the museum represented a cross section of Australians at that time.
 We were also given the little gadget for the audio tour.
In the photo I'm holding up both these items for the camera. Behind me is one of the large screens throughout the complex on which images from the war are projected. 
At 4 points in the museum were machines where you could place your card and the screen would give you details about 'your' defence personnel. I was able to find out when 'my soldier' Private Gordon Naley, joined up, where from, where he was sent and what ship he went on. And best of all, at the 4th point, I found that he survived the war, came home in 1919. Sadly he did die in 1929; so he was still young.
On the website the biographical and service information on Gordon from the museum exhibits, is available. http://www.nationalanzaccentre.com.au/story/gordon-charles-naley
The next photo was taken near the entry to all the exhibition rooms. The video is footage of WW1 soldiers marching...the sound of the marching going non stop is quite a sombre experience...people ( the visitors) whisper in hushed tones. 

We walked around the displays reading boards and listening to the relevant audio tour items. The rooms are quite dark, so I didn't take many photos.
Uniforms...
Nurses' uniforms...this outfit was not the work uniform, but the 'going out' uniform. I read the info board which stated that the nurses complained that this uniform was out of date and, as well as being old fashioned, the nurses said it was impractical...especially the bonnet! 🙁
The back of the bonnet! 

A pith helmet...

A collapsible canvas bucket for the horses' water. 

A room with places to sit and listen to the audio being played through speakers...and what a view while visitors sat and contemplated. 
And in another room there was a marvelous sculpture of a soldier with his horse...




What a wonderful experience we had walking through this  tribute to those who took part in WW1.
DH's card was Lieutenant Colonel Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott and if you would like to check out more about him and the others, the link is here. Just click on the photos, and each will flip over. And then click again and screens will come up with more information about that person.

1 comment:

angela said...

Don't like wars. Don't think anyone does.
But I find these places fascinating.
I think children and adults should all learn the truth about the real wars.
Not just the Hollywood wars
And then maybe. Who knows. They may stop having them.