The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Aluminium ring with a square front with rounded edges. '1914 - FLEURBAIS - 1916' is engraved diagonally across the face.
Souvenir finger ring associated with the service of Hubert Hume Corney, born at Wilcannia, New South Wales, the son of Walter Thomas and Rebecca Louisa Corney. He was a 21 year old clerk when he enlisted in Melbourne as a private, with the service number 1764, on 28 May 1915. Corney embarked from Melbourne for overseas service on 16 July 1915 with the 2nd Reinforcements to 24 Battalion, AIF.
His battalion arrived at Gallipoli in late September 1915. He evacuated from Gallipoli to Alexandria, with gunshot wounds to the left leg on 18 December. In March his battalion left Egypt for France, arriving at Marseilles on 26 March 1916. On 13 August he was appointed lance corporal. For his devotion to duty as a stretcher bearer at Pozieres on 26 August 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal. On 21 April 1917 Corney was promoted to corporal. He transferred to 21 Battalion in May and was promoted to second lieutenant, then on 12 September to lieutenant.
He was killed by a shell at Passchendaele on 9 October 1917. Corney was initially reported missing in action but after a court of inquiry in February 1918 presumed that he had been killed in action. His remains were not located until 1920, near St Julien, a village north east of Ypres in Belgium. His body was identified by his pay book, which was still in his pocket. After the discovery he was moved to the Passchendaele New British Cemetery.
This ring was probably posted home to his family as a souvenir before he died as it is not mentioned in the list of his effects sent to his mother after his death. A cottage industry developed in the trenches during the war, making souvenir aluminium rings. The rings rings were made from melted down fuses from German shells, or from melted down aluminium mess kits and canteens. Collecting the fuses from unexploded ‘duds’ could often be dangerous and many men were wounded attempting to salvage this material. The aluminium would be melted, then roughly cast and filed down before being engraved or have an item, such as the front of a button, attached to the face.
Fired 7.65 x 53 mm Mauser ammunition projectile. Hubert Hume Corney was a bank clerk from Kyneton, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF on 28 May 1915, and was posted as a private to the 2nd Reinfor
1914-15 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. Hubert Hume Corney was a bank clerk from Kyneton, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF on 28 May 1915 and was posted as private 1764 to the
British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed edge with recipient's details. Hubert Hume Corney was a bank clerk from Kyneton, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF on 28 May 1915 and was posted as private 17
WALLET CONTAINING LEAVE PASSES, MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS AND PRAYER BOOK. NOTE BOOK CONTAINING LISTS AND NOTES ON VARIOUS TOPICS - EG. TRENCH MORTARS. RESUME OF SERVICE AND OBITUARY. LETTERS HOME FROM COR
Length of roughly torn cream wool flannel with the letters 'S B', cut from a piece of red cotton fabric, tacked to the centre with white cotton. The back of the armband is marked in purple indelible p
Military Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Hubert Hume Corney was a bank clerk from Kyneton, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF on 28 May 1915 and was posted as privat
Bronze Next of Kin plaque showing an image of Britannia and a lion together with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR'. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the
Handwritten note that accompanied an improvised Stretcher Bearer armband. It reads 'Armlet for Stretcher Bearer made and sent by my son then Corporal H Hume Corney at battle of Pozieres 1916 when he w
Brass finger ring with an embedded round turquoise blue coloured stone on the face. On either side of the stone is an engraved or impressed design. Souvenir finger ring associated with the service o
The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and oth
Victory Medal. Impressed edge with recipient's details. Hubert Hume Corney was a bank clerk from Kyneton, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF on 28 May 1915 and was posted as private 1764 to the 2n
Aluminium signet ring with a rectangular face. The face has been engraved diagonally across the front but the word is no longer legible. This ring is thought to have been made by 107 Driver William
Aluminium ring with a copper insert in the shape of a downward pointing arrow This ring is thought to have been made by 107 Driver William Francis Teague, born in Sydney on 30 June 1889, a married p
Aluminium signet ring with a small brass German army button attached to the front. The button bears the Prussian crown. This ring is thought to have been made by 107 Driver William Francis Teague, b
Aluminium ring with copper diagonal strip across the face. The word 'YPRES' is engraved into the copper. There is a 'V' shaped design on each side of the ring and an engraved design in the aluminium f
Aluminium ring with a diamond shape recessed into the front, which once held three diagonal strips. Only the middle, yellow, strip remains. The ring band is engraved with a leaf design along each side
Brass finger ring with an embedded round turquoise blue coloured stone on the face. On either side of the stone is an engraved or impressed design. Souvenir finger ring associated with the service o
