Cover of 'Anzac Memorial', published by the Returned Soldiers' Association of NSW, 1916

The cover of the publication features the NSW RSA crest and the words Anzac Memorial

Historical note:

In November 1915, public health campaigners Dr. Mary Booth and William Brooks established a Returned Soldiers' Association (RSA) and Soldiers' Club at the Royal Hotel on George Street, Sydney. The RSA hoped to 'bind the returned soldiers together, to give them new and wider interests, and, if possible, assits them to get work'. ('Returned Soldiers' Association', Sydney Mail, 22 December 1915: 28, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162493956).

The association established kiosks for returned soldiers in Hyde Park and published Anzac Memorial, marking the 'names and deeds of the soldiers and sailors of Australia and New Zealand'. (Sekuless & Rees, Lest we forget: the history of the Returned Services League 1916-1986, p.22)

Materials:

Paper

Category:

Souvenirs and ephemera

Conflict:

First World War (1914-18)

Location:

Sydney

Production Date:

1916

On this day

3 April

1885 — Battle of TAMAI. 770 men of the New South Wales Contingent were involved in this most significant battle of the war in the SUDAN

1942 — 23 survivors from HMAS PERTH surrendered to the Japanese in Sumatra. This group was part of the 307 who survived the sinking of their ship on the 1st. March in which 375 of their shipmates died. Their efforts to reach Australia failed due to winds, currents, and lack of food and water. Despite their lifeboat being fired upon by Japanese ships, they reached Sumatra where they surrendered and were imprisoned for the remainder of the war.