Stories of service and sacrifice may cause distress.
See this resource list for help.

Loves lost

War kills.

Bereft lovers must decide how they will proceed—alone, or with new partners.

Finding someone new can be challenging enough, but the phantom of a dead hero whom ‘age shall not weary’ has doomed many post-war relationships.


Their marriage was very happy, but each retained keepsakes of their former lives.

Bob and Merle's lost loves

ON LOAN COURTESY OF TARRAN JAMES

Wedding photograph 6 January 1945
Private Robert James and Aircraftwoman Merle James (nee Downie)

Love letters 1945–46
exchanged between Private Robert and Aircraftwoman Merle James (nee Downie)

Kodak Box Brownie camera c 1940
belonging to Private Robert James

Gilt framed portrait 1943
Aircraftwoman Merle James (nee Downie)

Private Robert James’ dugout ‘Shrapnel Shanty’ 1941
Tobruk, Libya

Personalised wallet and prayer card signed by ‘Minnie’ 1941
belonging to Robert James

Identity discs, RAAF pin and General Service Badge 1942 – 45
belonging to Aircraftwoman Merle Downie

Sixteen letters from Merle Downie's boyfriends 1942 – 45
belonging to Aircraftwoman Merle Downie

Pin with the motto ‘AMOR VINCIT OMNIA’ (Love conquers all)
belonging to Aircraftwoman Merle Downie


Group portrait of War Widows Guild members, c 1950

Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE COLLECTION

Major-General George Vasey’s death in an air crash near Cairns, Queensland, on 5 March 1945, spurred his wife Jessie to advocate on behalf of other war widows. Founding the War Widows’ Guild of Australia on 22 November 1945, Jessie Vasey achieved an increase in the war widows’ pension and other benefits, such as free public transport and allowances for children.

The Guild established a nationwide housing auxiliary to support ill and elderly war widows and organised craft groups to keep members happy and engaged. The symbol of the Guild is the kookaburra—an industrious and cheerful bird who mates for life, is fearless and aggressive in the defence of its young.


War Widows Guild bus pass

SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE COLLECTION

Mothers' and Widows' badge, 1919

SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE COLLECTION

Updated