Allan O'Brien’s WWII Call to Arms
Cost: $0.00
Postage within Australia: $10
This is a one off item. It’s the original of Allan William O’Brien’s Call to Arms. Allan was Bill and Irene’s third child. Allan joined the RAAF during WWII, but was sadly killed during a training exercise over Egypt on 28 February 1944.
The Call to Arms was issued by the Shire of Illabo in appreciation of Allan’s response to the “country’s call, in the defence of Liberty, Truth and Justice”.
Illabo Shire was a local government area in the Riverina region of New South Wales, with its office based in Junee. It was amalgamated with he Municipality of Junee to form Junee Shire on 1 January 1981.
The Call to Arms is printed on study card and is 45cm x 31cm. It has some small damage and tears.
As you’ll see, it was issued on 5 April 1946, the year after WWII ended, and over two years after Allan’s death. I’m not sure why it ended up with Bill’s documents rather than with Allan’s wife Ethel (aka Joan).
As this is the physical Call to Arms, it’s a one off item. It will be posted to the first person to request it.