Virtual War Memorial Australia

07/06/2026

Congratulations to friend of the Virtual War Memorial, Dennis Oldenhove!

Congratulations are in order ...........
The King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List
Medal of the Order of Australia
Mr Dennis Oldenhove
For service to veterans, and to the community of Macclesfield.

06/06/2026

D-Day - June 6 1944 - Allied Invasion of Europe - Normandy

The Allied invasion of Europe was undertaken as the greatest single operation in military history in terms of scale scope and risk. It was the beginning of the end of the domination of western Europe by the N***s of Germany, and complemented the massive land operations of the Eastern (or Russian) front.

Planning for the operation began in 1943. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial military deception, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to mislead the Germans as to the date and location of the main Allied landings.

The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne assault—the landing of 24,000 American, British, and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight. Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France at 06:30. The target 80 km stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach-clearing teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using specialised tanks.

The Allies failed to achieve any of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July. Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five beachheads were not connected until 12 June; however, the operation gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months. German casualties on D-Day have been estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men. Allied casualties were documented for at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. Museums, memorials, and war cemeteries in the area now host many visitors each year.

From an Australian perspective, our major contribution was in the air with thousands of RAAF aircrew, posted to RAF and RAAF Squadrons, taking part in a massive array of operations in the lead up, during the initial phases of the invasion and in the break out that followed. The graves of aircrew are scattered in small villages across NW France and Belgium, testament to the intensity of the air operations that were critical to success, disrupting re-supply, interdicting reinforcements, and in some cases destroying armoured formations.

04/06/2026

Archie Barley and his brother Ron Barley were identical 19-year twin old brothers, who emigrated to Australia from England and took up jobs as stockmen, at Hughenden west of Charters Towers in Queensland. The Barley twins enlisted together in March 1916 and were given consecutive regimental numbers of 1787 and 1788 in the 41st Battalion AIF.

They left Australia together and disembarked in Plymouth England 13 October 1916, transferred to the 44th Battalion 27 October 1916, and were sent overseas to France, from their place of birth, Southhampton, England on the 25 November 1916.

On 4 June 1917 the 44th Battalion was engaged in raids on German trenches at Catacombs, Hill 63 and Ploegsteert near Messines. They succeeded in entering the enemy lines, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing four soldiers of the 9th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. The Barley brothers became two of the Battalion’s 22 casualties that day.

Archie Reginald Barley was wounded very badly whilst on the raid and his brother stayed with him and spent the night out with him in No Man's Land in a failed attempt to keep him alive.

From the Red Cross Files

“There were two twin brothers of this name in the same company who were inseparable. One got wounded in a shell hole, the other brother got back and went out again to him and stayed with him all night. The brother in the shell hole died and his brother got wounded and a patrol brought him in. It was impossible to tell one from the other.”-827 Private J. Ramsden 44th Battalion.

“There were twin brothers of the name of Barley in my platoon. They were very much alike, and hard to distinguish from one another. They were both with me on the afternoon of 4 June 1917 on a raid. One of them got hit going over: the other went on and later he found his brother lying in a shell hole in “no man’s land”. He stayed with him and covered his body with his coat. The brother was badly wounded as he was getting back into our trench and went to hospital.” 695 Sgt. M. McGregor 44th Battalion.

“Archie Barley was hit by a shell which carried away part of his side. His brother stayed with him until he died and then in the dark returned almost clothesless, having used his shirt for bandages and his tunic for covering. When he returned, he was taken to a D/S wounded and Sgt. Panton who told me this says he was in a pitiful state, almost demented with grief and beyond giving particulars.” 869 Pte. H Everington M.I.D. 44th Battalion.

Archie Barley’s body was found 10 days later after the attacks on Messines had captured the German trench lines. His remains were originally buried in amongst the German wire, east of an overturned German concrete dugout, south of the mine crater, WSW of Messines Belgium, by a Chaplain J. E. N. Osborne of the 35th Battalion. He was later moved to the Strand Military Cemetery Ploegsteert, Belgium.

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/112128

02/06/2026

National Reconciliation Week, which ends today, is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

At the Virtual War Memorial, it is important that we honour the service, sacrifice and legacy of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans, who have fought in Australian forces in every war we have been involved in, from the Boer War to those serving today.

We have a growing collection of tribute profiles which honour and commemorate the service and sacrifice of the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders who have served. Be inspired by their stories and commitment to their country. This curated collection can be viewed at this link below.

https://vwma.org.au/collections/indigenous-service-people

02/06/2026

31/05/2026

*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people please be aware that this post contains images and names of deceased people*

Helen Annie McDonald (married name Powell) served in the Australian Women's Army Service from 1943 to 1946. She was an passionate cook, working at the Geelong and Western Orphanage prior to enlistment. During her service, she continued to cook for various hospitals and Army bases in Victoria.

Remember the important service of Helen McDonald by viewing her profile on the Virtual War Memorial: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/924599

29/05/2026

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial is situated on the land of the Kaurna people adjacent to the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari - 'in the vicinity of the red gum forest river', to recognise and commemorate the service and sacrifice of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have served Australia.

This memorial honours the bravery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders during wartime. It was the first such national memorial when it was unveiled in 2013. It recognises a part of war history that until recently has been largely ignored.

Indigenous Australians served in every conflict and peacekeeping mission the country has been in, from the Boer War at the start of the 20th century to the present-day theatres of war such as Afghanistan. Indigenous people were not considered Australian citizens until 1967 and in the first half of the 20th century, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were actually banned from the armed forces. Many enlisted in spite of this.

Tony Rosella, Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin and Michelle Nikou designed this bronze sculpture. It shows a World War I male soldier and a World War II female nurse standing above a coolamon, a traditional Indigenous Australian holding vessel. The Rainbow Serpent surrounds the two figures. This creature is part of the Indigenous Australian creation story and the Dreamtime.

A walkway of honour leads to the memorial. It bears the names of those Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander men and women who served.

At the official unveiling on November 10, 2013, former Governor General Quentin Bryce said of the memorial “It stands in noble testimony to the service of Indigenous personnel across Australia in peace and war.”

Read more on this memorial here: https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1792

29/05/2026

55537 Private Andrew Drummond, Age 27, 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

A farm hand before enlisting on November 7 1967, Drummond was the forward scout operating in Phuoc Tuy on 30th May 1969 when the man who was behind him slipped and discharged two rounds from his M16, both rounds hit Drummond.
A mate remembers:-
"I will never forget the moment we ' lost ' Andy. It was gut wrenching, difficult to accept. If anyone was bullet proof in 4 Platoon it was Andy.

Andy was one of the most popular members of B Company. Many blokes relied on him to get them home in one piece after a heavy night out."

We will remember him.

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/654306

27/05/2026

Kathleen Jean Mary WALKER was born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska on 3 November 1920 on North Stradbroke Island to Edward (Ted), an oysterman and his wife Lucy Ruska (nee McCulloch), of the Noonuccal people. Educated at Dunwich State School until she turned thirteen, she left schooling to become a domestic servant on the mainland.

At the age of 21 years (9 months), she enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 28 July 1942, at the City Recruiting Depot in Brisbane. Her motivation to join up came after 2 of her brothers, Eric and Eddie, went missing in Malaya in April 1942. They had both been captured by the Japanese and as with most prisoners captured in the Asia-Pacific area, ended up at Changi. At her enlistment, her father was nominated as her next of kin and she nominated her permanent address as One Mile, Dunwich, Stradbroke Island.

During her time in the army, serving as a signaller, she met many black American soldiers, along with European Australians. These contacts helped build the base for her later advocacy work for Aboriginal rights. Whilst passionate about fairness, justice and respect, she was at heart a very gentle and peaceful person.

She married a childhood friend, Bruce Raymond Walker, a waterside worker, in late 1943. Walker was descended from the Logan and Albert River peoples near Brisbane. She was discharged from the Australian Women's Army Service in January 1944.

The couple had a son in 1947, Denis Walker but later separated. During her time working for the Cilento family at "Sieano" (on the corner of Villa Street and Ipswich Road, Annerley), she became pregnant with son, Vivian. His father, Raffael Cilento junior, never acknowledged paternity. Much later, Vivian changed his name at the same time as his mother (Oodgeroo Noonuccal), to Kabul Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
The 1960s saw Oodgeroo become heavily involved in civil rights and the Aboriginal activist movement, holding several public positions. She played a key role in the campaign to grant Aboriginal people full citizenship rights in the 1967 referendum.
As a poet, writer, educator, delegate and spokesperson for indigenous causes, she travelled widely internationally. In 1974 she was aboard a British Airways Flight that was hijacked by terrorists campaigning for Palestinian liberation. The hijackers shot a crew member and one passenger and forced the pilots to fly to play to several different African destinations. Oodgeroo somehow kept calm enough to use a blunt pencil and an airline sickbag to write two poems during the 3 day hostage period.

In 1987, in protest of the Australian Government's intention to celebrate the Australian Bicentenary (glossing over what had happened to Indigenous Australian over that period), she returned her 1970 Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and changed her name from Kath Walker to Oodgeroo (paperbark tree) Noonuccal (her people's name).

Oodgeroo Noonuccal died from cancer on 16 September 1993 at (then) Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital, aged 72. She was buried at Moongalba on North Stradbrook Island.

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/769264

26/05/2026

Today we move into National Reconciliation Week, which runs from the 27th of May to June 3, the anniversary of the Mabo decision in 1992.

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

At the Virtual War Memorial, it is important that we honour the service, sacrifice and legacy of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans, who have fought in Australian forces in every war we have been involved in, from the Boer War to those serving today.

Throughout this week we will highlight the service of individuals, as well as share with you some of the resources on Indigenous servicemen and woman that we have.