The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Six brass trench art coffee cups or mugs. The bodies are made from United States 37 mm cartridge cases (used in both Stuart Tanks and 37 mm anti tank guns) and the handles from Australian .303 Mk VII rifle cartridges. The handles are held at an angle from the bodies of the cups by circular brass strip attached with solder. There are a variety of headstamps on the bodies of the cups: '37MM M16 GMS 1942 LOT 4 23139-31' (x 2); '37MM 16 GMS 1942 LOT 1 - 90013'; '37MM M16 AGM 18 1943'; '37MMM16 LOT 36 33138 41 GL'; and '37MM M16 LOT 36 23138 42 GL'. Four of the cartridge case handles bear the headstamp 'MH VII 1942', and the other two 'MJ VII 1942'.
James Harold Ambrose Wilkes was born at Old Bar, New South Wales, on 27 June 1907. His family circumstances only allowed him to complete his primary education and he left school at 12 to run the family dairy farm while his father worked as a boss ganger on the roads. At 19 he moved to Sydney and trained for five years as a fitter and turner with his brother-in-law's firm, F F Fitzsimons & Co, although he was by this time too old to be formally apprenticed. He subsequently worked for Sidney Williams & Co, and Thomas Thomley & Sons, before joining the Australian Iron and Steel Company at Port Kembla when it opened there in 1928, followed by Lysaghts at Wollongong.
On 30 March 1937 Wilkes enlisted as a permanent member of the RAAF and was allocated the service number 2815. He undertook basic training at Laverton and Point Cook in Victoria, before being posted to the Richmond Airbase outside Sydney in July 1937. He was attached 4 Squadron, and later to 3 Squadron, as a fitter and rigger. He was posted to 23 Squadron in May 1939 and promoted to leading aircraftman in October, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War.
In November 1940 Wilkes was posted to 3 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Amberley in Queensland. He was promoted to sergeant and transferred to 6SFTS at Mallala in South Australia in April 1942. In March 1943, newly promoted to flight sergeant, he was posted to the Wireless Air Gunners School at Ballarat in Victoria. He returned to Richmond, to the Paratroop Training School, at the beginning of 1944. While at Richmond, Wilkes passed the examination for warrant officer engineer, although he was never promoted to this rank.
On 31 October 1944 Wilkes was posted to 38 Squadron, then flying DC-3 Dakota aircraft employed in the transport of supplies and medical evacuation flights. Although based in Australia, the squadron operated to Dutch New Guinea using American airfields at Hollandia, Biak and Noemfoor. Wilkes was among the ground crews from the squadron posted to these airfields to undertake maintenance and repairs to the aircraft before they made the return trip to Australia. While in Dutch New Guinea he collected American shell cases, from which he made this coffee set in the airfield workshops.
Wilkes developed a peptic ulcer and returned to Australia for hospital treatment in February 1945. He spent the next three months at the RAAF convalescent and rehabilitation depot at Southport in Queensland. Wilkes undertook fine woodwork as part of his rehabilitation, creating a number of trays utilising Queensland native timber which featured inlaid maps, flags and badges. He was discharged from the RAAF on 25 August 1945.
Wilkes returned to F F Fitzsimons & Co as a fitter and turner. He later moved to Taree, near his birthplace, where he was appointed the engineer in charge of the manufacturing plant at the Peter's ice cream factory. James Wilkes died on 30 August 1980.
Studio portrait of 2815 Sergeant (T) (later Flight Sergeant) James Harold Ambrose Wilkes, RAAF. On 30 March 1937 Wilkes enlisted as a permanent member of the RAAF. He undertook basic training at Laver
Prototype brass trench coffee cup or mug without a handle. The body is made from a United States 37 mm cartridge cases (used in both Stuart Tanks and 37 mm anti tank guns). It was evidently cut down t
Brass trench art coffee pot with lid. The body is made from a United States M23 A2 57 mm Anti-Tank cartridge with headstamp markings '57 MM M23 A2 F.A. 1944' ; the handle from a United States 20 mm ca
Brass trench art milk jug. The body is made from a United States M23 A2 57 mm Anti-Tank cartridge, with headstamp markings '57MM M23 A2 LOT 34 F.A. 1944', and the handle from a United States .50 mm c
Brass trench art sugar bowl with lid. The body is made from a United States M23 A2 57 mm Anti-Tank cartridge, with headstamp markings '57 MM M23 A2 F.A. 1944', and the handles from two United States
Pair of brass 40mm anti-aircraft cartridges for a United States M40 Bofors gun. Each bears headstamp markings 'M3841 WC-9-53 1043'. The empty cases were intended for use as flower vases. James Harol
Studio portrait of 2815 Sergeant (T) (later Flight Sergeant) James Harold Ambrose Wilkes, RAAF. On 30 March 1937 Wilkes enlisted as a permanent member of the RAAF. He undertook basic training at Laver