Show notes, memorial journeys, and stories from Australia's military history.
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Places of Pride Type
Conflict / Era
Showing 23 articles
On my trip to Cowra last year I discovered a Remembrance Garden in Murrumbateman honouring everyone who signed up during times of war from the region. It was a dignified monument that I nearly missed.</p>
Places of Pride Memorial New South Wales
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In October 2025, during Mental Health Month, I Was Only Doing My Job: An Australian Military History Podcast participated in Beyond Blue's Big Blue Table fundraiser to raise funds for vital Mental Health support services.</p>
Announcement Australian Capital Territory
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Zero Hour is more than just a sculpture. In this article, I explore Leslie Bowles’ 1935 work in the Australian War Memorial’s First World War Gallery, examining the three soldiers it depicts, the Lewis Gun teams they represent, and the remarkable stories of the men who may have inspired it. From allegory to history, this piece reflects on camaraderie, sacrifice, and the bonds forged in the chaos of war.
Doc's Writings First World War Australian Capital Territory
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I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural theatrical performance at the Australian War Memorial's new Theatre, and saw the Theatre180 performance of 21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the nurses of the Vyner Brooke, here's his review</p>
Reviews
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25 May, 2025, I was featured by Soldier On in their inaugural Supporter Spotlight
Featured Article
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In October 2024, during Mental Health Month, I Was Only Doing My Job: An Australian Military History Podcast participated in Beyond Blue's Big Blue Table fundraiser to raise funds for vital Mental Health support services.</p>
Announcement
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The Shellal Mosaic is an Ancient Roman Mosaic that when uncovered by Australian forces in the First World War, somehow, it ended up in Australia.
Doc's Writings First World War Australian Capital Territory
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This morning, the Australian War Memorial unveiled the statue dedicated to Matron Vivian Bullwinkel on its grounds. It stands not just as a sculpture of Vivian Bullwinkel, but all Australian nurses who have lost their lives, survived atrocities made sacrifices in the service of their country. It also includes 22 stainless steel discs to reflect the 22 victims of the Bangka Island Massacre arranged as a reflection of the stars as seen the night of 16 February 1942 Lest we forget
Places of Pride Statue Second World War Australian Capital Territory
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24-MAY-1966. While serving with B Company 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Regular Army, National Serviceman Private Errol Wayne Noack served as a section machine gunner during the Vietnam War. He was killed during his first military operation two weeks after arriving in-country and would go into the history books as the first Australian National Serviceman killed in Vietnam. His death would polarise Australian society about a war that was increasingly becoming unpopular, and his position as the first conscript killed in that war would serve as a rallying cry for those against mandatory military service.
Shownotes Vietnam War
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7-MAY-1915. While serving as an engineer with the 3rd Field Company Engineers, Australian Imperial Force, Captain Edward Bage was instructed to map out new trench locations on Gallipoli, and as a result would be killed 14 days after landing on the Peninsula, but his legacy is not one of the battlefield, but of Antarctic Exploration, when he spent two years mapping Antarctica alongside Sir Douglas Mawson
Shownotes First World War
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Goulburn Boer War Memorial at noon. This was one of the original monuments built to commemorate the Second Anglo-Boer War
Places of Pride Memorial
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Rocky Hill War Memorial opened in 1925 as a lasting tribute to the men and women of Goulburn who served during the First World War.
Places of Pride Memorial First World War New South Wales
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<div><p>The trail head is located in Remembrance Park at the rear of the Australian War Memorial and contains excellent interpretation material on its New Guinea name sake including a 3D bronze relief providing background. </p></div>
Places of Pride Walkway Second World War Australian Capital Territory
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<p>29-JULY-1918. While serving with the 29th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, Private George Giles, participated in the attack on German positions at Morlancourt. After which, he was instructed to proceed to the headquarters of the 8th Brigade, and surrender his uniform and equipment to the Australian War Records Section. Photographs were taken, and he was issued new equipment. The intent being to ‘show how our men came out of the trenches’ to the public. Who was the man behind the most famous uniform in the collection of the Australian War Memorial? </p>
Shownotes First World War
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<p>25-MAY-1940. While only serving in the 2/17th Infantry Battalion Second Australian Imperial Force for a little over a month, Pte Evelyn Ernest Owen would contribute to the Australian War effort in the Second World War by inventing one of the weirdest, but most reliable machine carbines built during the Second World War, a weapon that would serve as part of the arsenal of the Australian Army for over twenty years, it would sadly outlive its creator, but cement itself in the pantheon of Australian small arms.</p>
Shownotes Second World War
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CW: This episode does discuss suicide, viewer discretion is advised. 7-AUGUST-1916. Serving in the 48th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, Sgt David Twining would participate in the Battle of Pozieres; during the second phase of the First Battle of the Somme. Following horrific German counter-attacks, a wounded man would enter the 48th Battalion Headquarters with a simple message: “I’m the only one left, do you still want me to hold this position?” That message came from David Twining, and would start a monumental military career that would span Australia’s involvement in the Great War on the Western Front, but would sadly end with Captain David Twining taking his own life in 1931. His most known act, the defence of the Windmill at Pozieres was immortalised in the Pozieres Diorama at the Australian War Memorial. Sadly, the diorama has become more well-known than the man depicted in it.
Shownotes First World War
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CW: Sexual Assault- This episode contains a discussion of the murder of women and allegations of sexual assault in war. The sexual assault is isolated to the end of the episode, with a warning just prior. the discussion of the Bangka Island Massacre will begin from 5:16 to 8:06 Audio Re-recorded and uploaded 14/12/2021 16-FEBRUARY-1942. Serving as a Staff Nurse in the 2/13th Australian General Hospital, Second Australian Imperial Force, Sister Vivian Bullwinkel would be the sole survivor of the Bangka Island Massacre at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army. She would go on to be a Prisoner of War for three and a half years, but would never abandon her courage or resolve. Her career didn’t end in captivity, and she would go on to serve until 1947 when she would resume her nursing duties, up until the Vietnam War, when she would once again enter the battlespace to help the disadvantaged. She would receive honours and decorations for her service to the cause of nursing and would uphold those tenents until her death in 2000. She did more than just her job, and for that, we are immensely proud of her. To Donate to the Vivian Bullwinkel Project go here https://foundation.acn.edu.au/Foundation/Donate/The_Vivian_Bullwinkel_Project_2021.aspx
Shownotes Second World War
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<p>This episode was re-recorded and re-uploaded on 7-10-2021</p><p>27-SEPTEMBER-1917. Serving in the 45th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, The Souvenir King of the AIF. Pte John Hines, would participate in the Battle of Polygon Wood; during the second phase of the Third Battle of Ypres. it was during this battle where Frank Hurley, Australian War Photographer snapped arguably his most photo. He had a ferocity to him and a preference for using Mills Bombs over rifle and bayonet, but his number one hobby was the collection of German equipment off German soldiers, either dead, wounded or prisoners of war. This ferocity was mirrored by truly abhorrent behaviour which cost him over a hundred days in pay, weeks in detention and any chance of him receiving any awards or decorations. After the war, he faded to obscurity, his photo survived to the point where more people knew his face than his name.</p><p><br></p>
Shownotes First World War
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This episode was re-recorded and re-uploaded on 29-9-2021 30-JULY-1943 Serving as a Stretcher Bearer in the 2/5th Infantry Battalion Second Australian Imperial Force, Cpl Leslie “Bull” Allen would participate in the Battle of Mount Tambu and assist forces of the 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, US Army. with casualties rising, and both US medics killed, Bull Allen would voluntarily walk into the battlespace and recover between ten and seventeen wounded American soldiers. He would carry them one after another on his back, only stopping when he physically couldn’t continue, and for his actions, he would receive the United States Silver Star, the third-highest medal of Bravery, and the highest that could be awarded to a non-US citizen. When asked about his gallant deeds during the Second World War, this Gentle Giant would simply say. “I was only doing my job.”
Shownotes Second World War
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I was fortunate enough to be able to Visit the Australian War Memorial during the Centenary of the First World War, to be present at the night vigil of the Unknown Australian Soldier by Australia's Federation Guard the night before Remembrance Day to mark the 25th anniversary of his interment in the Hall of Memory.
Places of Pride Memorial First World War Australian Capital Territory
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Sitting alone at the entrance to Eastgrove Park is a pair of gates, if there ever was a connecting fence it is long gone. On it is inscribed three names of men from the area on a simple bronze plaque.
Places of Pride Plaque Second World War New South Wales
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On 15 April 2016 I visited the Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria’s principal war memorial, built to honour those who served in the First World War and now commemorating all Australians who have served in conflict and peacekeeping operations.
Places of Pride Memorial Victoria
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Erected by the City of Sydney in 2015, Yininmadyemi – Thou didst let fall, honours the bravery and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served their country.
Places of Pride Statue New South Wales
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