A Brief Summary of the MILITARY AND MEMORABILIA MUSEUM, Ashby Lane, Childers, Queensland. (Owned and run by the Baker Family Trust).

Contact:  (07) 4126 1545

What started as a hobby for Allan Baker grew into a Museum of over 26,000 items on display from 140 countries, and which the family is most proud of.  Visitors from overseas and Australia, who work in museums, say it is one of the best they have seen, and of course, other visitors have made such wonderful comments also.

Over 80% of the items have been donated to the Museum from worldwide.  Every week there is at least one item sent to them for display and preservation.

Allan is trying to get as many photos as possible of men and women who have served during both War and Peace.  The museum already has hundreds and is continually looking for more. Every photo is displayed with honour.

There are also many battle photos as well as a photo of every ship that has served in the Australian navy (in addition to some other countries) since 1860.

Some of the special items on display are medals, hats, caps, helmets, and Pith Helmets, photos etc from the Afrika Korps Association. Many other items from the Zulu War in 1879 and second Boer War 1899-1902. A trunk used by General Sir Thomas Blamey to store his uniforms and gear was donated former neighbours from Victoria. Another trunk belonged to Captain Johnson of the Royal Fusiliers who was killed in action two weeks after he landed on D Day.  A complete uniform of Sergeant Ellsworth H Dolph includes all his medals including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.  Sgt Dolph was in the US Army 35 Division in WW2.

Some other displays of general interest include  items from the campsite at Adelaide River, Northern Territory; wireless and other items from the Coast Watchers main base at Thursday Island; handcuffs from the Japanese POW camp at Cowra; cameras and gear used in WW2 for aerial photography; equipment used by our Civil Defence. from the Great War (WW1), World WW2, Korea, Vietnam and Gulf Wars; a part of a telephone system from General MacArthur’s Headquarters, Brisbane.

Additionally equipment uniforms, hats, caps, helmets, photos and medals from Police, Ambulance and Fire services, SES and Railways.  Altogether over 900 headgear, 600 uniforms or part thereof, 200 medals, 400 badges, 3200 patches as well as  coins, fossils rocks, minerals, sea shells and items used in the home in both War and Peace, plus more intimate memorabilia such as letters from his father to his mother during World War 1.

All in all a fascinating and irreplaceable place where you could happily lose yourself for hours. Quite a few 6 Div Cav photos are beginning to appear in their own little space so any memoriabilia that you may have and needing to find a home for it then Allan is the chappie to contact!  Unless of course it relates to 2/6 Cavalry Commando Regiment, 6 Div. Cav. or our daughter Regiment 2 Cav. Now in action on 5 fronts; in which case it would go to the Regiment's museum in Robertson Barracks Palmerston N.T.

 (from the Josie Andrews collection)