The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
German manufactured `Melba' piano accordion. The black concertina section in the centre is decorated with light-blue patterned fabric. The two wooden ends have a glossy burgundy-coloured finish. Lists of names of servicemen (possibly 2/9th Field Company, RAE) have been written in white on many of its surfaces. On the keyboard-end is a list of places in the Middle East and North Africa to which the accordian was taken, including; `Bombay, Suez, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Hill 69, Jezzine, Marj-Ayoun, Dimra, Tripoli, Aleppo, Damascus. Some other names are now indecipherable due to wear. The stops on the opposite end from the keyboard have had the original caps replaced by two Palestinian coins and a New Zealand sixpence. `Thanks..., for sharing your musical talent with us, the boys of the 2/9th' has been written on the rib in the centre of the concertina section.
Associated with VX24288 Sapper F W House, 2/9th Field Company, RAE. Sapper House carried this piano accordion with him on service in the Middle East and North Africa during World War Two. He played it to entertain troops on a convoy of ships that was held up in the Suez Canal for a few weeks after a vessel was sunk in the channel.
Boselli, Emdeo VI, black bakelite and wood piano accordion (Serial No.7827). The piano accordion has ornamental fretwork across the curved panel adjoining the keyboard, and in the wooden base. It has
Small ivory crucifix attached to a paper label by a short length of green cotton thread. Written in black ink on the label obverse is, "Carved by Frank Brydes [sic] when a POW in 1943 on the Burma-Si
Black fabric covered wooden case for Boselli, Emdeo VI, piano accordion. '408190 / Sgt. Harrison A.L. / R.A.A.F. / NOWRA / N.S.W.' has been painted in white on the lid, adjacent to the leather handle.
Victorian period upright piano, the front and upper faces finished in a burl walnut veneer. Displays signs of heavy usage and handling, with both the upper and lower doors loose in their supports, a p
Doll made from woollen felt and cotton wadding. The doll is a girl with plaited yellow hair and a cap appliquéd with flowers and a red love heart. The front of the cap, which has a wide winged brim, i
Robinson short upright piano, originally with olive green wash finish to body, later given cream wash when used by the Changi Concert Party 1942-1945, and subsequently painted cream in Australia. A st
