The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection of insignia consisting of one 'Australia' brass shoulder title; two large brass 'Australian Military Forces' (AMF) buttons (one made in Sydney, the other in Cairo); two small brass AMF buttons (one made in Melbourne the other in Cairo); two large brass rank pips; one small enamelled brass rank pip; three crowns (one still retaining a vestige of red velvet); and two crossed sword and baton badges, one of which has had melted aluminium fused to it.
Recovered from the uniform of General Sir Brudenell White, Chief of the General Staff, after the crash of Hudson A16-97 near Canberra on 13 August 1940. White was travelling to Canberra with government and military officials. All aboard were killed.
Born at St Arnaud, Victoria, in 1876, White spent his early life in Queensland. He joined the Militia in 1896 and in 1899 successfully sat an examination to join the permanent forces, becoming a Lieutenant in the Queensland Regiment of Royal Australian Artillery. He served with the 1st Commonwealth Horse during the Boer War, and after his return to Australia received a staff appointment, as temporary captain and aide-de-camp to Major General Hutton, commander of the Australian Military Forces. Nominated by Hutton, he attended the British Army Staff College, Camberley, in 1906, and graduated with good results.
After several years in England, attached to the British War Office, White was recalled to Australia as a major, to become director of military operations at Army Headquarters. At the outbreak of war in 1914 he was selected by Major General Bridges to be chief of staff for the new Australian Imperial Force, and took part in the landing at Gallipoli in April 1915. After the death of Bridges in May, he became chief of staff to the new commander, Lieutenant General Birdwood.
Promoted brigadier general in October, he was largely responsible for planning the successful evacuation of Anzac in December. Serving on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, he exerted great influence in his role as staff officer to Birdwood. He was suggested as a suitable leader for the Australian Corps when it was formed in 1918, but remained with Birdwood, becoming senior staff officer to the 5th Army. Disappointed with cuts made to the Australian military after the war, he retired as CGS in 1923 to take up civil appointments. In March 1940 White was recalled as CGS, but held this position for only five months before he was killed.
Khaki woollen double-breasted overcoat of the type known as a 'British Warm'. The coat is knee length, and has a single vent at the rear. Closure is by six plaited leather buttons, arranged in two row
Khaki cotton satchel to hold the 'PH' gas helmet. The satchel has a 90 cm shoulder strap, adjustable for length by a series of three black plastic buttons. The bag itself has two compartments, one in
1914-15 Star. Impressed on reverse with recipient's details.
Australia Service Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient’s details.
Montenegrin Medal for Merit, (Gold) unnamed as issued.
Belgian Croix de Guerre. Unnamed as issued.
Curved brown leather case for binoculars. The lid is attached to the case with a strip of leather at the back and is stamped on the top below a small leather handle 'LIEUT.C.B.B.WHITE'. The case faste
Small cardboard box in two sections, the lid and base. Each section has been flattened with the corners torn. The front of the lid has a piece of paper attached typed with 'Of.Dtls/1A Lieut.Col, C.B.B
Complete cardboard box of large matches. The front of the box has a red abrasive strip across the middle for lighting the matches and in red writing reads 'The "EDDYSTONE" Torch TEN SURE LIGHTS.' The
Lieutenant General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George in January 1919 for service on the Western Front during the First World War. The Order of
Breast Star, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. Unnamed as issued.
Breast star, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Unnamed as issued.
British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient’s details.
An improvised folding chair back or seat which has been cut from a larger piece of thin canvas and crudely sewn with hems and foldovers to create pockets for the seat to slot into. The longer base has
Rectangular black steel number plate with 'VIC' down the side in enamelled white lettering and '42' across the front. Each side has a reinforced hole for attachment to the car. Car number plate from
Collection of six gilded brass badges for the rank of General. They consist of two King's crowns, two officer's pips, two crossed sword and batons and two George V cypher badges. Worn by General Cyr
Distinguished Service Order. Unnamed as issued.
Backing for a canvas folding chair, consisting of a sheet of faded and heavily stained green canvas 34.5 cm high by 41.5 cm wide, hemmed top and bottom, and tacked to two 58.4 cm high wooden seat upri
French Croix de Guerre avec Palme. Unnamed as issued
A portrait of Major General Sir (later Lieutenant General) Cyril Brudenell Bingham White, KCMG, KCVO, DSO (later KCB), General Staff 5th Army; Western Front 1st Australian Imperial Force, British 5th
George V Coronation Medal. Unnamed as issued.
George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935. Unnamed as issued.
George VI Coronation Medal. Unnamed as issued.
Unofficial hand-cut curved brass shoulder title with the voided word 'AUSTRALIA'. Some solder remains where the lugs were attached. Associated with the Boer War service of Lieutenant Cyril Brudenell
Khaki barathea wool tunic with reefer style collar decorated with scarlet superfine gorget patches on the back lapels. Each gorget patch has silver bullion oak leaf embroidery and a single small gilt
Brown leather purse with two pockets. The front pocket has a flap closed by a plastic covered stud. The front of the purse is impressed 'THE "CARNTAKE" PURSE'. A metal pin is threaded through a leathe
Folding set of four sided legs for collapsible camp table. The legs are made up of diagonal wooden struts with pivoting metal braces at their centres, each side forming an 'X' shape. The four sides ar
Folding set of legs for collapsible camp table. The legs are made up of two sets of crossed black-painted wooden struts, pivoting at their centres. The two are joined by pivoting 'X' shaped metal brac
Official war artist James Quinn was instructed to paint the portrait of Major General Sir Cyril Brudenell White, as part of an ongoing series of portraits that acknowledged senior military leaders in
Brass matchbox holder containing an empty box of 'THREE STARS SAFETY MATCHES'. An enamelled ship's crest is attached to the top of the holder. It shows a wreath, surmounted by a crown, surrounding a f
Circular bronze medallion in blue, velvet and silk lined presentation box. The medallion features the profile, in low relief, of Cyril Brudenell Bingham White and is inscribed on the outer edge in rai
Black leather kidney shaped case open at one end for the monacle to be inserted. The case is embossed in faded gold lettering with the maker's details. The monacle is a round glass within polished bra
Neck badge, Grand Officer Military Order of Avis (Portugal). Unnamed as issued.
Neck Badge, Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. Unnamed as issued.
Neck Badge. Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. Unnamed as issued.
Neck Badge, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Unnamed as issued.
Order of Rising Sun 2nd Class. Unnamed as issued.
Officers' custom made Bedford cord breeches, strapped at the knees with suede for mounted service. The breeches have a five-button concealed fly, with a larger button at the waist. There are six furth
Pair of private purchase brown leather knee or field boots with leather soles. The top of each boot is fitted an external leather loop and two white internal cloth loops for pulling the boot on. The l
Pair of private purchase brown leather knee or field boots with leather soles. The top of each boot is fitted with an external leather loop and two white internal cloth loops for pulling the boot on.
Pair standard issue brown leather, officer's saddle wallets. Wallets have adjustable stud fastenings and flaps lined with brown checked waterprooof fabric. The linking strap has slit in leather and a
Wooden pencil used by General White whilst at Headquarters 1st Australian Division and Anzac Corps in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. Brigadier General Brudenell White used this pencil to draft plans f
Queens South African Medal with 'SOUTH AFRICA 1902','TRANSVAAL' and 'CAPE COLONY' clasps. Engraved around edge with recipient's details.
Padded Royal Australian Artillery collar badge in the shape of a flaming grenade, embroidered in gold bullion thread. Worn by Lieutenant Cyril Brudenell Bingham White. He was born at St Arnaud, Vict
Signature stamp made of a rounded black painted handle attached to a red varnished piece of wood. The handle is designed to be joined to a black foam rubber pad with the signiature block attached. The
Small thin silver shield with Chester hall marks for 1910 at the top and the remains of a fastening on the back. The front of the shield has been scratched with 'C B B W/1911'. The shield may once hav
Pencil from Princess Mary's Gift Tin. Brass .303 cartridge case inscribed with Princess Mary's monogram. In the top of the case sits a small graphite pencil with a sterling silver 'bullet' base. The
Black steel trunk with hinged lid. The trunk is painted black and has two handles soldered to the sides and a lock at the front. Each bottom corner is reinforced with a steel bracket and three strips
Top for collapsible camp table. The table top is made up of twenty 800 mm long wooden slats, covered by a sheet of heavy khaki canvas, which is attached to the two outermost slats by a row of tacks. O
Top for collapsible camp table. The table top is made up of thirteen 625 mm long wooden slats. On the underside, at the outer edges, are a pair of leather straps, which run across the slats, and are s
Handmade leather Turkish identity disc, possibly cut from a boot - there is a metal eyelet at the apex of the tag, through which a length of red cord has been tied. The smooth side of the leather has
Small brown waterproof valise for mounted service. The valise is a cylindrical canvas bag with an internal coating of a dark brown waterproofing compound. There is a single main compartment, the edge
Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches oak leaf. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
Round silver watch with a white dial and smaller second hand dial at the bottom. All the numbers are black, except for the '12' which is in red. The hands are made of blue metal. The brown leather has
Collection of personal and official papers of General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White KCB, KCMG, KCVO, DSO, Australian Army, 1896-1940. The collection spans White's military career from pre-federat
Small rectangular piece of plywood which has been painted black on one side and which displays evidence of having been glued on the other side. There are two lines of dried glue running across the pie
Officer's khaki wool gabardine winter service dress tunic lined with brown polished cotton. There are two pleated breast pockets with triple pointed flaps and two large expanding pockets, with plain f
Collection of six gilded brass badges for the rank of General. They consist of two King's crowns, two officer's pips, two crossed sword and batons and two George V cypher badges. Worn by General Cyr
Black leather kidney shaped case open at one end for the monacle to be inserted. The case is embossed in faded gold lettering with the maker's details. The monacle is a round glass within polished bra
Signature stamp made of a rounded black painted handle attached to a red varnished piece of wood. The handle is designed to be joined to a black foam rubber pad with the signiature block attached. The
Rectangular black steel number plate with 'VIC' down the side in enamelled white lettering and '42' across the front. Each side has a reinforced hole for attachment to the car. Car number plate from
Small cardboard box in two sections, the lid and base. Each section has been flattened with the corners torn. The front of the lid has a piece of paper attached typed with 'Of.Dtls/1A Lieut.Col, C.B.B
Officers' custom made Bedford cord breeches, strapped at the knees with suede for mounted service. The breeches have a five-button concealed fly, with a larger button at the waist. There are six furth