Australia So Much to See

M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier (below) was first used by the Australian Army during the Vietnam War. Weighing 11.515 tonne, it was powered by a Detroit GM 6V53 2 stroke diesel engine. It carried two crew plus eleven fully equipped infantry. Armaments were 1 x .50cal Browning MG and 1 x .30cal Browning MG.

Leaving the courtyard, first in the series of display rooms is the WW1 room, including a sub room devoted to the light horseman.

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Bell Kiowa OH58B. Flown in Vietnam, this Kiowa was delivered to ten army in 1973 and finished service in 2005. The whole Kiowa fleet was withdrawn from service in 2018.

Looking up at the propeller of the Bell Kiowa, with part of the helicopter seen at to the right of the Bell XH-40 hew UH-1, nicknamed Huey.

These Bell XH-40 helicopters were the workhorses in Vietnam. Photo below right.

A collection of original Australian Light Horsemen uniforms.

Merredin Military Museum

Although we had lived in Merredin forty five years earlier, I was unaware of the extensive contributions the district had to the war effort. A Military Museum is managed by a dedicated group of volunteers, formed initially by the amalgamation of three private collections.

Entry a low $10 or $7 concession, cash only. There are rooms devoted to the different wars and to different aspects such as the firearms collection. This museum is open daily between 10 am and 3 pm.

Military vehicles are on display outside the main building as well as in a large shed and is said to be Western Australia's largest collection of restored military vehicles and equipment. Many are restored and maintained in running order. This collection comprises of vehicles that were used by the Australian Armed Forces during the two World Wars, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars. More are being collected and restored.

We are shown the BL 6" Howitzer on our arrival. BL 6” Howitzer 26 cwt Mk I. Only the Mk I was ever produced. Built by the Coventry Ordnance Works in 1918.

Originally fitted with wooden wheels and later modified during WW2 and fitted with pneumatic tyres.

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The radio room displays a range of communications equipment dating from WW2

The WW2 rooms have extensive displays of models and equipment, and displays honouring servicemen who went away to fight in WW2.

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Folboat: A light collapsible kayak type craft made from a rubberised canvas skin fitted over a collapsible wooden frame. Propulsion was usually by paddle, but outboard motors could be fitted, or a single sail used. With a length of 17' (5.2 metres). the craft weighed 110 lb (40.5 kilograms). These were used during WW2.

Bicycles such as this one were used for despatches. The picture below the saddlebag shows a messenger cycling through a river in Papua New Guinea, with the bicycle under water up to the saddle.

The searchlight at right is a portable 12 volt 420 watt lamp that would light a wide area up to 1,000 yards (914 metres).

Firearms collection room has a range of military firearms from pre 1900 to today. For safety, these weapons have been rendered incapable of operation.

See more of the Merredin Military Museum on the next page.

Australian pattern light horse saddle. These were designed for lightness and easy field repair. Donated to the museum by Mrs Lyn Ritchie, in memory of her husband John.