The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Nine carat gold watch fob presented to Private John McMillan upon his return to Australia after the First World War. The obverse shows a central soldier raised on a shield within an engraved garter 'HE ANSWERED HIS COUNTRY'S CALL,' surmounted by a crown. The reverse is engraved 'The Great War 1914-18 Presented by Citizens of Hamilton N.S.W Australia to Pte John McMillan'.
Born in Ashfield, Sydney, New South Wales, John McMillan was employed as a plumber in Newcastle, when he enlisted in the AIF on 31 August 1916, aged 31. After initial training at Rutherford he was posted a private, service number 2634, to the 5th Reinforcements to 35th Battalion. The unit embarked from Sydney on 25 October, aboard HMAT A11 Ascanius, and arrived in England at the end of December.
After further training with the 9th Training Battalion at Durrington on Salisbury Plain, McMillan moved to France in March 1917 and joined his battalion in the field on 4 April. He survived the battles of Messines in June, and Passchendaele in October, when the battalion was left with only 90 men and was so depleted that it was unable to fight for the next five months. McMillan was attached to 9th Brigade Headquarters at the beginning of 1918 and remained there until he contracted trench fever in May. After his recovery he returned to his battalion for the final battles of the war. He left England to return to Australia in June 1919.
Presentation rose and white gold watch fob presented to Private John Hardie upon his return after the First World War. Obverse features a soldier within a circle surrounded by a wreath. Reverse is en
9 carat gold watch fob presented to Private Norman Brown Copeland upon his return to Australia after the First World War. Fob is in the shape of a shield. Obverse features a Rising Sun, crossed rifles
9 carat gold watch fob presented to Private Mersey Albert Reid on his departure from Australia for the First World War. Obverse features a map of Australia engraved with a locomotive, set within a cir
9 carat rose gold watch fob presented to Private William Harold Daymond upon his return to Australia after the First World War. obverse features crossed rifles, a shield engraved with ‘RIVERSLEA’ surr
9 carat rose gold watch fob presented to Corporal Frank McArthur on his return to Australia from the First World War. Obverse features a shield with 'F McA' engraved and crossed rifles. These are surm
Presentation 'welcome home' watch fob in the shape of a voided rose gold circle with suspension ring at the top, with a gold map of Australia in the centre. Australia is engraved 'J. FAULKNER', and th
