The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Printed White Ensign on wool bunting with a linen hoist. The flag carries the signatures of some, but not all, of the members of the 250 strong Australian Victory Contingent of 1946. The upper left canton bears the signatures of Major General Kenneth Eather, commanding officer of the Contingent, and Brigadier John Moten, his second in command. The lower left canton has been signed by eight members of the Royal Australian Navy contingent, the upper right canton by numerous members of the army contingent and women's services, including Victoria Cross recipient Frank Partridge, and the lower right canton by members of the Royal Australian Air Force contingent.
This flag was collected by PM4145 Norman Leslie Parks, RAN, a Sick Berth Attendant serving in HMAS Shropshire when it transported the 250 members of the Australian Victory Contingent to London in 1946 to take part in the Allied Victory Parade, which took place on 8 June. The ship sailed from Melbourne on 8 April, making stops at Colombo, North Africa, Malta and Gibraltar, before docking at Portsmouth, UK.
The Contingent, which included 19 members from the women's services, comprised 25 members from the RAN, 159 from the army and 59 from the RAAF. Eighty seven members had received wartime decorations, including Victoria Cross recipients, Kelliher, Partridge and Rattey. Generally members were chosen to represent as many theatres of war or ships as possible, as well as a considerable number chosen for their physical fitness or marching ability.
Outdoor portrait of King George VI pausing to talk to Australian Victoria Cross winners, from left: NX700426 Frank Partridge VC; QX500601 Private Richard Kelliher VC and NX700427 Sergeant Reg Rattey V
A woven cloth formation patch of a blue square with an embroidered yellow rising sun, a red crown, and a red edged scroll with the title 'AUSTRALIAN VICTORY CONTINGENT' in white. Worn on each upper
Three members of the Australian Army who were awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in the Pacific Theatre and who were in Australia's Victory Contingent to Britain after the war. From the left they
Australia sent a contingent of 250 officers, men and women of the three services to participate in the Victory Parade in London, 8 June 1946. This painting depicts the Army detachment of the Australia
White ensign ensign with a printed Union Jack in the upper left canton and printed dark blue stars, representing the Southern Cross and Federation star. The synthetic bunting flag has a white nylon ho
TOBRUK, LIBYA, 1953. GROUP PORTRAIT OF FIVE VICTORIA CROSS WINNERS, MEMBERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CORONATION CONTINGENT IN FRONT OF CORPORAL JACK EDMONDSON'S GRAVE IN THE TOBRUK WAR CEMETE
