MEMORABILIA from wars dating back to the turn of the 20th century are treasures of interest to Coffs amateur historian and collector of military items, Doug Young, who is coordinating the transport of found items to the new Military Museum being built in Alice Springs, adjacent to the Motor Transport Museum.

In a chance meeting on a camping trip Doug and his wife Vicky heard about the Museum being built and welcoming the donation of interesting artefacts like helmets, morse code and radio equipment, photographs, journals, badges, uniforms and in fact any war-related memorabilia.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

All the kinds of things Doug, 71, collects himself.

“I bumped into a guy a few months ago who used to work at a tip in Sydney, who told me he used to find all kinds of military items dumped at the tip and take them home,” Doug told News Of The Area.

“It’s often because when someone died the family didn’t want these old things and they threw them out.

“If he found it he took it home.

“While I was visiting him one day, I told him I was sending some stuff up to Alice Springs because I’ve decided what I have collected and no longer need I will pass on to a museum.

“He thought that was a good idea and he’s given me some gear which we’re going to send up to the Alice Springs Military Museum.

“It’s a big organisation up there.”

From Doug’s experience a lot of soldiers from World War I and World War II, the Vietnam and Korean Wars brought souvenirs home.

When those people died their families threw these items away as they saw no value in them.

However, to war historians, they are items of interest.

“The best thing you can do is put them in a museum,” said Doug, who has been inspired to make a call to the Coffs Coast community to donate any old war memorabilia to him and he will send it up to the museum in Alice Springs.

“What we’re looking for are any military items, letters, photos, journals, mess kits, badges, hats, anything at all that saw active service in any war in the last 120 years.

“If someone has got a vehicle that could go as well.

“There are items standing around getting rusty on people’s farms.

“People may even find items in charity shops, where military uniforms are sometimes donated.”

Rather than see them going into landfill, they can go into the museum.

With Doug’s knowledge he anticipates being able to identify most military items.

“But if I can’t, I have a mate in Coffs, John Lambert, who was a teacher at Bishop Druitt College and he knows more than I do,” he said.

“As far as history and battles and parts and bit ‘n’ pieces…he’s my go-to if I don’t know.”

John runs the World War II Day at Bishop Druitt College, an annual educational event where Diggers come to the college and relate their experiences of war to the students.

“The Alice Springs museum building is huge, there’s room for around a million items.”

The main call out to the Coffs Coast is to salvage items which would be thrown out but may be of interest to other people.

When these items go to the museum people can have their name on them for the sake of their family who may visit the museum.

People can drop their items off to Doug or he can go to their homes to collect pieces.

Phone Doug Young on 0431 622 120 or email at dv_young@yahoo.com.au.

“If there’s no answer, please leave a message,” said Doug.

By Andrea FERRARI