The Argus was a major daily Melbourne newspaper that was published from 1846 until 1957. State Library Victoria holds a collection of over sixty thousand photographs from The Argus, 15,000 of which have been digitised.

When The Argus ceased publication in 1957, their extensive photographic files were transferred to The Age. In 1976, Fairfax donated the collection to the State Library of Victoria. The collection consists of mostly WWI and WW2 material relating to Australia. The below images were chosen from among the 165 Christmas-related pictures from the Argus Collection available in our digital image pool.

Sgt. G. Spedding enjoying Christmas dinner at Caulfield Military Hospital

[Sgt. G. Spedding enjoying Christmas dinner at Caulfield Military Hospital],
ca. 1940-ca. 1941. H98.100/3885.

Cpl. A. B. Clack on Xmas leave from New Guinea with his wife child ...

Cpl. A. B. Clack on Xmas leave from New Guinea with his wife & child, H99.201/5286A

Nurses decorating damaged children's ward at Christmas time.

[Bomb damage to hospitals London World War II.] ca. 1941-ca. 1943, H99.205/1254.

Image H99.205/315. "An Empire Xmas party was held at the Empire Rendezvous in London ...". ca. 1941. Sailors from Australia, New Zealand and Holland and soldiers from Canada and New Zealand and airmen from South Africa and New Zealand, blowing up balloons at the party.

An Empire Xmas party was held at the Empire Rendezvous in London, H99.205/315

Shows troops on the flight deck of Britain's largest carrier, H.M.S. Implacable as the ship moves up Sydney Harbour."

Christmas ship arrives with Australian servicemen from New Guinea ca. 1945, H99.201/1552

Shows mail bags being unloaded by Postal Unit members Dvr. P. Wiseman from W.A., Pte. L.R. Lloyd from N.S.W. and Sgt. E.K. Robinson from S.A.

Xmas [i.e. Christmas] mail for BCOF troops has arrived in Japan, H98.100/217

Children seated in front of conjurer watched by soldiers and "Santa Claus"; Pte Harry Miller (Sydney, N.S.W.) holding two children of the Futaba Hoikuen orphanage. Driver Clive Harries of the Royal Army Services Corps (British) at right hand side of image.

BANZCISA Club holds a Christmas party for Japanese orphans, Tokyo Japan. ca. 1953, H2002.199/3146

Shows Father Ivan Prasko giving Lesia Maria Pundiak her first communion at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.

[Ukranian Christmas Mass St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne],  H2002.199/514

Shows Cpl. Jack Philpott from St. Kilda, Vic. dressed as Santa Claus in a jeep talking to some soldiers.\

At 2 Bn The Royal Australian Regiment in Korea Santa Claus toured the whole area on Christmas Day in the Fire-Marshall’s jeep. H98.103/4699

Korean children receiving Christmas presents from Santa Claus of the 1 Bn Royal Australian Regiment

Australian armed forces in Korea. ca. 1950-ca. 1955, H2002.199/3503

H2002.199/3089. "A white Christmas ... for ground crew men of No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, in Korea". ca. 1952. Making a snowman, L-R: R.J. Page, armorer (West Ryde, Sydney, NSW), Cpl. J.E. Hainsworth, fitter IIE (Williamtown, NSW), Sgt. T.J. Yewers, fitter armorer (Alphington, Vic.), Cpl. R.C. Scott, fitter IIE (Sandwell, S. Aust.), Cpl. M.G. McKenna (Murgon, Q'ld.), LAC R.J. Milner (Turrawan, NSW), LAC S.J. Manning (Leichhardt, Sydney, NSW) and in front, LAC D.J. McKeever, flight rigger (Swanburn, W.A.).

A white Christmas … for ground crew men of No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, in Korea., ca. 1952, H2002.199/3089

 

Thanks for reading Such was life in 2015. Have a safe and happy New Year.

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