Denmark in the South West of WA; Recollections of War (2021)
Australia So Much to See
A collection of poignant charcoal sketches by artist Brian Simmonds, who has illustrated a number of books, including ‘In the Lamplight’,
written by Dianne Wolfer. The two sketches above are from that book.
The two sketches below are from the book ‘The Light Horse Boy’ written by Dianne Wolfer which Brian Simmonds also illustrated.
These wartime stories are aimed at the younger generation, to bring history to life for them.
This display relates to Thomas Picton Fleetwood, and includes a beautifully and intricately carved fold-out lap desk he made for his
wife (above left).
Whilst Lieutenant Colonel Fleetwood was making the desk, the chisel slipped and cut his thumb, and
as a result he suffered blood poisoning from which he died in 1893.
His widow made an embroidered box to store the desk, which
is here as part of this display (at left).
Inscription on the inside of the desk reads:
Making the lock on this desk
caused the death of my darling husband Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Picton Fleetwood December 6th 1892. The chisel slipped and almost
cut off the top of the thumb of his left hand causing blood poisoning. He died 5th January 1893 at 3:36 in the morning.
Alas.
Also displayed here (at left) is a leather-bound copy of Cromwell's Soldiers Bible, dated 1895 and bearing
an illustration of the Fleetwood family crest, with the inscription "T.P Fleetwood, Lt. Colonel, The King's and Lancashire Fusiliers
Regiments" and two bookmarks which may have come from the family bible.
Above is a patriotic British display featuring Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Montgomery. There are also souvenir items
such as pieces of the Houses of Parliament which were sold to raise money for rebuilding after it was bombed during WWII.