© 2018 Greg & Sylvia RAY

Militaria

Read more about the article A cavalcade of Newcastle shipping
Sailing ship Mount Stewart, photographed by Sam Hood.

A cavalcade of Newcastle shipping

Newcastle has long been a busy shipping centre, and the list of ships to have visited the city would be enormous - if it was even possible to compile. The interwar years were very busy, and our collection of negatives from that period is especially fascinating, particularly given the often-tragic fates that awaited some of the vessels during World War 2. Here are a few examples of some of the ship photos that appear in our most recent book, Travelling Through Time. The lovely photo at the head of this post shows the Glasgow-built steel ship…

Continue ReadingA cavalcade of Newcastle shipping
Read more about the article When Mum made guns for Aussie soldiers
Jean Dunbar (right) and another worker in Lysaght's Owen Gun shop in Newcastle

When Mum made guns for Aussie soldiers

"Oh my God, that's my Mum!" I was showing the general manager of The Newcastle Herald, Julie Ainsworth, a proof copy of our 2011 book, Recovered Memories, which contained many rare photographs taken around the Newcastle area during World War 2. Julie was flicking through the pages, making polite noises and nodding approval, when suddenly she spotted her mother in a picture. "That's my mother, Jean Dunbar, and she's working in the Owen Gun shop at Lysaght's in Newcastle." Julie declared. It was a wonderful insight into a photo about which I knew little - beyond…

Continue ReadingWhen Mum made guns for Aussie soldiers
Read more about the article Newcastle’s Gardner Memorial: Australia’s first Great War soldier statue
The Gardner Memorial, outside Newcastle's old post office building

Newcastle’s Gardner Memorial: Australia’s first Great War soldier statue

In September, 1916, as details of the horrific slaughter of Australian troops at Fleurbaix/Fromelles on the Western Front were filtering back home, preparations were underway for the unveiling of what is reputed to be Australia’s first Great War soldier statue memorial, outside Newcastle’s post office.The Newcastle Morning Herald reported on September 11 that: “The statue for the Gardner Memorial has arrived in Newcastle from Italy, and is at present at Brown’s Monumental Works, Newcastle West, where it will remain until the unveiling ceremony takes place. Mr Frank Gardner inspected the statue on Saturday, and expressed himself…

Continue ReadingNewcastle’s Gardner Memorial: Australia’s first Great War soldier statue
×
×

Cart