Australian Militaria

Australian Militaria We are an Australian military history business and our goal is to bring you quality Australian milit Badges - Patches - Medals - Uniforms - Helmets - Bayonets

We are an Australian military history business and our goal is to bring you quality Australian military collectibles.

The Royal Australian Artillery UAV Operators brevet.
24/10/2025

The Royal Australian Artillery UAV Operators brevet.

The hat and collar badges of the Australian Intelligence Corps - circa 1900s.
23/10/2025

The hat and collar badges of the Australian Intelligence Corps - circa 1900s.

The battledress flash of the 31st Battalion (The Kennedy Regiment).Circa 1950s.
22/10/2025

The battledress flash of the 31st Battalion (The Kennedy Regiment).

Circa 1950s.

A great photo of members of 2nd/14th Queensland Mounted Infantry wearing insignia from the 1930s during the early 1950s.
22/10/2025

A great photo of members of 2nd/14th Queensland Mounted Infantry wearing insignia from the 1930s during the early 1950s.

A modern association badge - 10th Light Horse Regiment Association.
20/10/2025

A modern association badge - 10th Light Horse Regiment Association.

An unofficial 'C' Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment patch.Circa 2023.
19/10/2025

An unofficial 'C' Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment patch.

Circa 2023.

The Mothers and Widows Badge belonging to Mrs Mary Hutchins. Mrs Hutchins had nine sons and two daughters with her husba...
17/10/2025

The Mothers and Widows Badge belonging to Mrs Mary Hutchins.

Mrs Hutchins had nine sons and two daughters with her husband Henry in Woorinen, near Swan Hill in rural Victoria. All her sons worked in the local agricultural community before war broke out and seven, William, Malcolm, Ivan, Alan, David, Fred and Eric, enlisted with the Second Australian Imperial Force.

Four of Mrs Hutchins' sons, Alan, David, Fred and Eric died during the war.

Alan enlisted in June 1940, and served with 2/22 Battalion. He was 22 and had a young family with his wife Edna May. He was sent to Rabaul in April 1941, serving with Lark Force. When the Japanese invaded in January 1942, Lark Force was easily outnumbered. The commander ordered a withdrawal within hours of the invasion. Unprepared for retreat, chaos ensued and Lark Force disintegrated. Alan Hutchins died in late March 1942, reportedly from illness, however his body was never recovered so this remains unconfirmed. He was 24 years old.

David, Fred and Eric enlisted together in August 1941 and served with 2/21 Battalion. Fred and Eric falsified their ages from 18 and 17 to 20 and 19. David was older and married with two children with another on the way. The brothers were sent to Ambon in December 1941.

David, Fred and Eric were in Ambon as part of Gull Force. They too were overwhelmed by the invading Japanese in January 1942. In February, almost 300 servicemen were massacred around Laha Airfield. Eric Hutchins was among them, killed on 20 February at only 18 years old. The remainder of the battalion surrendered and was imprisoned at their former barracks on Tan Tui. Conditions for the prisoners on Ambon were harsh and they suffered the highest death rate of any Australian prisoners of war with three-quarters dying during their captivity due to mistreatment, malnutrition and disease.

After surviving over 3 years in captivity, Fred was severely bashed by a guard into a state of unconsciousness and died on 6 July 1945. He was 22 years old. His older brother David died later that month, reportedly from beriberi, aged 32. While his records state he died of beriberi, this disease was often recorded to conceal death caused by mistreatment. Within weeks Japan surrendered.

For years the Hutchins family knew little of the fates of the four brothers until in 1946 when four telegrams arrived within days of each other confirming the deaths of David, Alan, Fred and Eric.

According to the Hutchins family and their descendants, Mrs Hutchins never wore her Mothers and Widows badge, nor did she ever speak about her grief of losing four of her sons. Yet she wore her Female Relative Badge every day for the rest of her life.

A great reference photo - Lieutenant G.V. Lansell of the 8th Australian Infantry Regiment.Circa 1908.
16/10/2025

A great reference photo - Lieutenant G.V. Lansell of the 8th Australian Infantry Regiment.

Circa 1908.

A Department of the Navy Home Service lapel badge.
16/10/2025

A Department of the Navy Home Service lapel badge.

A selection of various unofficial Australian Boer War shoulder title photos.
15/10/2025

A selection of various unofficial Australian Boer War shoulder title photos.

An unofficial Army College of TAFE hat badge - circa early 1990s.
14/10/2025

An unofficial Army College of TAFE hat badge - circa early 1990s.

The Australian Merchant War Service Badge.
12/10/2025

The Australian Merchant War Service Badge.

Address

22 Zealand Street
Brisbane, QLD
4018

Telephone

+61412193945

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Australian Militaria posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share