Summary

Found under the floorboards of the Gallery, Great Hall when replaced in 1989.

K. W. Farmer's World War II service number was 48156. Interestingly, Kenneth William George Farmer's service record (id. 4574162, p.56, which summarizes his places of service) does not locate him in the Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne, during World War II. However, he was in Melbourne 20 May to 30 July 1942, based at the Police Service Unit, Malvern, so may have been to the Exhibition Buildings at some stage, as it was a major RAAF billeting site .

Physical Description

RAAF Leave Pass, light green, from RAAF Service Police Unit Headquarters. Reverse, renewals grid unused. The leave pass was issued to RAAF serviceman K.W. Farmer on 1 July 1942. Leave was granted between 1 July and 6 July 1942 and permission granted for travel to Melbourne.

Significance

Reason for Acquisition: Transfer from the Trustees of the Royal Exhibition Building
From 1940 to 1945 the Exhibition Building was occupied by the Royal Australian Air Force as a training school. About 500 to 700 men lived in for varying periods of time. When the floorboard on the balcony level of the Great Hall were replaced as part of the restoration program, many items dating back to the 1940s were found. These provide an insight into the lifestyle and interests of RAAF personnel stationed in the building.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Royal Exhibition Building Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Public Life & Institutions, Royal Exhibition Building

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from Trustees of the Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Sep 1991

  • Printer

    Australia, 1942

  • Place & Date Used

    Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1942

  • Inscriptions

    Printed, front, black ink: ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE/LEAVE PASS / Form P/P. 26 / (Revised, Mar., 1941) / Unit (printed) R.A.A.F. Service Police Unit Headquarters / 10 - 12 Latrobe Street / Melbourne (stamped) / No 48156 (handwritten) [Rank] ACI (handwritten) / [Name] FARMER, K. W. (handwritten) / has been granted leave from 10.30 (handwritten) hours 1/7/42 til 0715 (handwritten) hours 6/07/42 (handwritten) and has renewed on the reverse side of this pass, with permission to proceed to (printed) Melbourne (handwritten) / Place (printed) / 1 JUL 1942 (Stamped)/ Signed / Commanding (printed) / OFFICER COMMANDING R.A.A.F. SERVICE POLICE UNIT (stamped) Reverse, printed: RENEWALS / From / To / Hours / Daye / hours / Date / Flight Commander's Signature / 4.41 T.H. TENNANT GOVERNMENT PRINTER / St 1057

  • Classification

    Military history, Service, Official records

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Document

  • Overall Dimensions

    16.5 cm (Length), 10 cm (Height)

  • Exhibition Collection Management

    164 mm (Width), 111 mm (Height)

  • Keywords

    Wars & Conflicts, World War II, 1939-1945