English-Speaking Union funding for IAC heritage project

The English-Speaking Union (Victoria Branch) has very kindly and generously supported the work of the Institute of Australian Culture, by providing funds for the purchase of various items regarding Australian heritage and culture, for scanning and uploading to the website of the IAC.

The ESU is a cultural, educational, and literary organisation. According to the website of the ESU (Victoria Branch), “The ESU promotes friendship and closer ties between the peoples of English-speaking democracies through our common heritage and language. … We sponsor and run educational and cultural programs with a focus on public speaking and the celebration of national and cultural events relevant to the English speaking peoples. The ESU also promotes worldwide communication through the English language.”

The ESU has funded many worthy projects carried out by various organisations, such as the CJ Dennis Society, the Jane Austen Society of Melbourne, and the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network, as well as funding the work of individuals working on worthwhile projects, including supporting authors like Dr. David Martin Jones.

The list of items purchased with ESU funding for the IAC heritage project specifically features a number of military ephemera regarding the First World War; however, the project is not limited to that time period, but includes ephemera and literature relating to the wider genre of Australian history and heritage.

In all, 50 items were obtained with the funds provided by the ESU. The items have been reproduced in digital format on the Institute of Australian Culture website, therefore making these resources widely accessible to all those with internet access. Each item has been reproduced as a graphic (digital scan) along with a transcript of text (where appropriate). The desired outcome of the reproduction of these items is to add them to the wide range of items on the IAC site, so as to provide an outstanding resource for Australian students, and for Australians in general, regarding Australian history, heritage, and culture.

The project list includes several photos of Australian soldiers, which are generally one of a kind. During the World War One era it was common for soldiers to have their photographs taken and printed as a postcard, which they could then send to their loved ones. Usually these photographs are unique; if lost, they are gone forever; when placed into private hands, they are commonly lost to the public view. Whilst the photographic studios of that era normally offered to make copies of these postcards for soldiers, it has been rare for a second copy to appear on the open market (although, with a photo-postcard of a group of soldiers, it is possible that each of the people included may have had a copy made). Digitising these items means that they can they be preserved forever; uploading these images to the IAC site makes these items of Australian history, heritage, and culture available to the general public, rather than remaining unseen in the hands of families or private collectors.

Links to the items on the IAC website which were obtained with ESU funding are listed below; they can also be accessed via the ESU funding tag.

The assistance of the English-Speaking Union (Victoria Branch), in funding this project, is very much appreciated.

Items obtained via ESU funding:

“Christians awake!” [First World War postcard, sent by Charles Fell to his girlfriend, 28 June 1917]

Bill Dyer [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

C. R. Evans [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier, 27 February 1919]

From Phil to Annie [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Unknown Australian soldier [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Sincerely yours, T. J. Collins [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Australian soldiers in a mess tent [First World War postcard, with a photo of a group of Australian soldiers]

To dear Mother, from Mont [First World War postcard, with photo of Australian soldiers in the snow]

Dear Mother [First World War postcard, with a photo of a group of wounded Australian soldiers]

Another photo of our clique [First World War postcard, with a photo of a group of wounded Australian soldiers in a hospital]

Unknown Australian soldier [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Light Horsemen on a ship [First World War postcard, with photo of two Australian soldiers]

Lots of love [photo of a female member of the Australian military, Second World War]

Dug outs at Anzac Cove (Dardanelles) [First World War postcard, with a photo of military dug outs on a hillside at Gallipoli]

Light Horseman [Second World War photo, of an Australian soldier]

Your loving Bro, Chas [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier, 28 August 1918]

Australian soldier, sitting [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Group of Australian soldiers [First World War postcard, with photo of four Australian soldiers]

Australian colonial sailor [photo, circa 1880s-1890s]

Surrender souvenir leaflet [9 September 1945, Second World War]

HMAS Canberra, Christmas card [circa 1929-1941]

Leave or Duty Ration Book [issued to Charles Fell, January 1919]

French ration coupons [property of an Australian soldier, November 1918]

Demobilisation Movement Card [for an Australian soldier, 24 January 1919]

Certificate of Discharge, for Frederick Raymond Stewart, 1942 [Second World War military document]

Certificate of Discharge, for Henry Dayrell Herdson, 1919 [First World War military document]

Certificate of Discharge, for Henry Dayrell Herdson, 1943 [Second World War military document]

Australian sailor, portrait photo [Second World War (1939-1945)]

Australian soldiers, 1972 intake [group photo, Vietnam War era]

No. 1: General Birdwood [First World War postcard]

An Australian soldier [First World War postcard]

Snow Scene, Ballarat Gardens: 1905 [postcard, dated 11 June 1908]

Ohio ship [postcard, Great White Fleet visit to Australia, 1908]

Henry Leslie Pender (soldier from Ballarat) [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Unknown Australian soldier [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Unknown Australian soldier (Australian Light Horse) [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Allan Robertson Campbell [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier]

Unknown Australian soldier, from the Australian Army Medical Corps [First World War postcard, with photo of an Australian soldier, 22 December 1915]

Inter-Collegiate Football, 1923 [postcard, with photo of a football team, 1923]

An Australian Bush Study [postcard, 6 March 1911]

Central Railway Station Melbourne [postcard, 10 July 1911]

In charge [postcard, 1906]

Road scene, Black’s Spur [postcard, 14 May 1906]

Sturt St. Gardens Ballarat: Under the snow mantle [postcard, 19 June 1906]

Two Australian soldiers and a Frenchman [First World War postcard, 26 July 1917]

Two Australian soldiers [First World War postcard]

Two Australian soldiers, including a corporal [First World War postcard]

Two soldiers (one Australian, one British) [First World War postcard]

An Australian soldier [First World War postcard, 28 February 1918]

Sergeants’ Mess [postcard, 22 December 1914]

Items which were obtained with ESU funding can also be accessed via the ESU funding tag.

References:
Introduction to the ESU, The English-Speaking Union Victoria Branch
Our aims, The English-Speaking Union Victoria Branch
Awards, The English-Speaking Union Victoria Branch

Updated 15 May 2022