Second Lieutenant Alexander John Robertson - Killed in action at Gallipoli, August 1915, a group of items associated with Robertson's death, shortly after his arrival at Gallipoli, together with some Robertson family items: 1: the 'Dead Man's Penny' issued in Robertson's name, accompanied by the 'Letter' from George V headed 'Buckingham Palace' and the folded cardboard case in which it was delivered. 2: an original letter on crested letterhead from Lt. Col. J. Lyon Johnston, headed XI Battalion 1st A.I.F., Aug. 15th 1915, addressed to Robertson's wife, violet. The letter informs her of her husband's death on August 6th, two days after joining the 6th Reinforcements on the 4th. 'On that morning the Turks made an attack in force on a trench which we had previously captured....A few of the Enemy succeeded in getting into our trench near where Lt. Robertson was stationed, and in the severe fighting that ensued he was unfortunately shot...', the letter still contained in the original Ohms envelope bearing a 15th August 1915 '3rd Aust Inf. Bde. Field P.O.' datestamp. 3: another original letter to Mrs Robertson from the same correspondent and on the same date: 'Since writing to you this morning.....I have received from one of my officers a fuller report of the surrounding circumstances.......you will see that he died bravely fighting to the end, and exposing himself to inspire confidence in the men under his command. Thus he died a gallant Australian Soldier.', the letter enclosed in the original Ohms envelope bearing a 16th August 1915 'Aust & New Zealand army Corps /Headquarters/ field P.O.' datestamp. 4: a leather tobacco pouch (returned to the widow) with 9ct rose gold plaque engraved to A.J.Robertson 'From the staff of the G.S.O. W.A. 20.5.15'. At the time Robertson applied to join the A.I.F. As an officer he was employed as a mining engineer and geologist by the W.A. Mines Department. Associated items: 5: James Robertson (Alexander's father): bank Street school, emerald hill silver medal (41.5 mm, by W.J. Taylor, London) engraved verso 'James Robertson / first prize / Highest Class / 22nd Dec. 1870 / JAs. Smith / Headmaster', 6: February 1884 Victorian Teacher's certificate of Competency (printed on vellum by Sands & McDougall issued to James Lang Robertson; additionally endorsed in mss verso regarding his position as head teacher of school no. 1976 (Bendigo), describing him as a 'Very good school manager and trainer of junior teachers...', 7: May 1886 University of Melbourne master of Arts certificate (vellum with full seal) issued to James land Robertson and signed by the Acting Chancellor and the committee. 8: St. Andrews College, Sandhurst, Victoria, Dux silver medal engraved to A.J.R. Robertson 1902. 9: Mrs Annie McArthur Robertson's Commonwealth Savings bank passbook (1932-34). (Ann was Violet's middle name).
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- Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".
- George V - George V (1865 ? 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 1910 until his death in 1936.
- Victorian Period - The Victorian period of furniture and decorative arts design covers the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. There was not one dominant style of furniture in the Victorian period. Designers used and modified many historical styles such as Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, English Rococo, Neoclassical and others, although use of some styles, such as English Rococo and Gothic tended to dominate the furniture manufacture of the period.
The Victorian period was preceded by the Regency and William IV periods, and followed by the Edwardian period, named for Edward VII (1841 ? 1910) who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India for the brief period from 1901 until his death in 1910.
- Emeralds - Emeralds have been used in jewellery making for thousands of years, and are prized for their deep green colour, which is caused by the presence of chromium and vanadium in the mineral beryl. Because of their rare colour, emeralds are often more valuable than diamonds of a similar size and quality. In jewellery making, emeralds are typically cut into round or oval shapes to maximize their color and clarity. They are often set in gold or platinum and used as the centrepiece of a piece of jewellery, such as a ring or necklace. They can also be used in combination with other gems, such as diamonds, to create intricate and beautiful designs.
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