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Remembrance Day: 100 years on

The Sydney Mail, 20 November 1918 Last Sunday, 11 November, marked 100 years since the official end of World War I. Initially called Armistice Day, it became known as Remembrance Day after the end of World War II. An article in…

Ruth L Lee,  Woman War Doctor: The Life of Mary De Garis

Ruth L Lee,  Woman War Doctor: The Life of Mary De Garis  Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2014, x + 197pp, ISBN: 9781925003420 (p/b), RRP: AUS$39.95 Pioneering Australian woman doctor Mary de Garis comes to life in this stimulating biography by Australian author and academic Dr Ruth…

The Ultimo World War I Roll of Honour

Ultimo Presbyterian Church World War I Roll of Honour, Nicole Cama 2015 Anzac Day commemorates all those who have served and died in war and on operational service. I recently published three articles in the Dictionary of Sydney about a World…

Soldier's Riot of 1916

'Unionism in Excelsis - Soldiers on Strike', Liverpool 14 February 1916, Daily Telegraph, 15 February 1916, p 7 The soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force who fought in WW1 are usually remembered as heroic and patriotic. But they weren't always compliant…

History Week 2015: War, Nationalism and Identity

Women lay wreaths on the wharf at Woolloomooloo where the WW I troops departed, c1931. By Hood, Ted. From the collection of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, hood_02026 / Home and Away 2026 History Week has been…

Creative responses to history

Seher Aydinlik, In Our Hearts (Postcards Series), 2015. Mixed media on paper. Image courtesy Peacock Gallery, Auburn Arts Studio. Anniversaries and events often prompt us to reflect on historical narratives. Not just what happened, but also the historical meanings of events,…

Anzac Day commemorations in Sydney

Legacy club members march past the Cenotaph 1930. By Hood, Sam. From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales, hood_05013 / DG ON4/5013 This Saturday will mark 100 years since Australian troops landed at the Gallipoli peninsula and…

Anzac bridge turns 20

New Glebe Island Bridge under construction 19 September 1995. Contributed by National Library of Australia, nla.pic-an12549240-94 This morning on 2SER Breakfast I spoke to Mitch about the history of the Anzac bridge. Next week, on 9 April, marks its 20th anniversary,…

Matraville Garden Village

The official opening of Matraville Soldiers' Garden Village 1918, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW MLMSS 473/6 Matraville Garden Village was the creation of the Voluntary Workers Association. Formed during World War I, the VWA’s main activity was providing homes for…