PRESENTATION WALLET
1940 - 1945Brown rectangle leather wallet that folds in half along the length of the wallet. Light brown stitching around inside edges. Held closed by a single leather strap that is attached to the back, in the middle of the back edge, and has a stud clasp on one end. Other part of clasp is a round metal stud on the front, middle near the edge.
On the inside, left side is a pocket that runs the length of the wallet. A second pocket sit on top of the main long pocket that opens at the top. Along the bottom edge of the left side is gold embossed text [Armadale - Kelmscott Road Board].
A black elastic band runs down the inside of the spine of the wallet.
On the right side is a single pocket with a clear plastic rectangle window.
The wallet also comes with a rectangle steel mirror and a note book with a tan cover and plain lined pages, held together by two metal staples along horizontal spine. Also in the wallet is a black and white photograph of a woman standing on a veranda with a plant to her right.
The wallet was presented to Raymond 'Ray' Eric Gerard Bennett by the Armadale Kelmscott Roads Board when he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War II.
On the 1 July 1940 the Citizens Committee, a community and Councillor committee, held a meeting where they agreed to arrange farewell events for residents going away and joining the AIF. At an Armadale Kelmscott Road Board (AKRB) meeting on the 16 September 1940 it was agreed that the AKRB would provide these gift to those enlisting. On 18 of November in AKRB Council meeting minutes it was recorded that wallets had been purchased from Mallabones, a prominent leather goods making company in Perth. At a meeting on the 16 December it was moved that the wallets be presented by the AKRB chairman at functions organised by the District Soldiers Welfare Committee. Further wallets were purchased in February 1941 and March 1941and a further 50 wallets in June 1941.
Ray was living and working in Armadale as a truck driver when he enlisted on 7 November 1939 aged 32 years old. He was sent to Sydney and joined the 2/3rd Australian Field Regiment. In 1940 the Regiment was sent to Great Britain where Ray underwent further military training. In December 1940 the unit was sent to North Africa and saw action at Tobruk, Benghazi and Marsa Brega. In March 1941 the unit was sent to Greece where Allied forces tried to stop the German advance but after several unsuccessful engagements and several retreats under fire Ray was evacuated in April 1941 to Crete. The Regiment saw action again as German forces invaded the island. Once again Ray was part of an evacuation of Allied forces, this time to Egypt.
In 1942 the Regiment was returned to Australia and arrived at Fremantle in March 1942. Ray was granted leave and this may have been when he was presented with the wallet. On 6 June 1942 Ray rejoined the 2/3rd Field Regiment and relocated to Queensland. Following two series cases of dermatitis, which required hospitalisation, Ray was transferred to the Australian Ammunition Service. Unfortunately his dermatitis flared up again, putting him in hospital again. He was eventually medically discharged in November 1944.
This is a rare example of the presentation wallet as it still include the note book and steel mirror.
Details
Details
This object is part of collection that tells the story of the City of Armadale's connection to armed conflicts around the world from the late 1800s to today. The collection explores the experiences of people associated with the City of Armadale who went to war, their experiences when they returned as well as how these conflicts impacted the community who stayed behind.
