Remembering them: People of St George & the First World War

Family keepsakes

Many objects on display in our ‘Remembering them: People of St George& the First World War’ exhibitions are family treasures preciously kept for generations and generously loaned to the Museum & Gallery.

Carmel and Ellis Bollard
Photograph: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery

Oatley residents Carmel and Ellis Bollard presenting here their war memorabilia. Ellis’ father, Raymond Thomas, joined the 13th Battalion, 26th Reinforcement in 1917 and returned to Australia in December 1918. Among the memorabilia are Raymond Thomas’ diary and letters.

Ken Muggleston is preciously keeping his father’s war memorabilia. Here, he is reading from old letters and diaries. Alfred ‘Laurie’ Muggleston was a 29 year old station master of Hurstville when he enlisted in December 1916. He served at the railway station in Proven and Poperinge, near Ypres, France. 

Ken Muggleston
Photograph: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery

Written letters, documents, diaries, photographs, medals and other war related objects have a deep personal significance to many families to remember their ancestors who were involved in the war.

All these objects from the First World War are at least 100 years old! Some of them, especially paper documents and photographs are delicate items and need special care for their preservation.

Here are some quick facts how to handle and store your paper based memorabilia:

• Have clean dry hands when handling your artefacts
• Use both hands when handling your items
• Making copies of your paper documents and photographs limit the need to handle originals
• Store your items in a clean, dry and insect free place. Silver fish love to eat paper!
• Place the items in archival plastic sheets. Food storage bags made of polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene are suitable alternatives.
• Do not store them in direct sunlight or near heaters or fireplaces, where there are rapid changes of temperature. This can cause discolouration and staining of items.
•  Remove rubber bands and metal clips; they can cause damage to paper as they perish and rust over time.

This information is copied from: ‘Memories & Memorabilia. Recognising and Preserving Australia’s War heritage’, written by Dr Richard Reid, Department of Veterans’ Affairs; Dr Gordon Forth, Deakin University; and Sophie Lewincamp, Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, The University of Melbourne; published by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Canberra 2014.

Do you want to find out more about how to care for your wartime memorabilia?

Available online from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ website is a guide to preserving your family's heritage items. View it here.

Interested in more? 

come and visit the exhibition 'Remembering them: People of St George & the First World War' at Hurstville Museum & Gallery until 31 May 2015.