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The Cross of Sacrifice and Stone of Remembrance commemorate those who died in service or were killed in action in World War One. The memorial was the first of its kind to be unveiled in Australia. The Cross of Sacrifice and Stone of Remembrance were unveiled by the Governor-General of Australia, Lord Forster on ANZAC Day 1924. Grouped around the cross were relatives of the heroic dead, the naval guard from H.M.S Dragon and presiding officials. An aeroplane from the Ascot garage whirred overhead and the pilot dropped a shower of evergreens for St Augustin's Memorial Church. The Governor and Lady Forster approached the cross through a long avenue of mourners to the strain of the National Anthem. Brisbane April 25. In the bright sunshine and morning stillness, broken only by the soughing of the neighboring pines, the Cross of Sacrifice and Stone of Remembrance erected in TooWong cemetery to the memory of those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War were unveiled this morning by the Governor-General (Lord Forster). The spectacle was a most impressive one, and worthy of the noble sacrifices it commemorated. Grouped round the Cross were the relatives of the heroic dead, a naval guard from the British cruiser Dragon, and representatives of the Returned Soldiers' League, while overlooking the site were headstones marking the resting places of some 350 departed heroes. An aeroplane whirred overhead, dropping a shower of floral tokens. Brisbane Citizens' Band played the majestic Beethoven. "Symphony" and the Dead March in "Saul." Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld), 26 April 1924. "Commemorating our beloved dead" said His Excellency " we turn to the Cross, the sign of Him through whose self-sacrifice they have passed through the vale into life immortal". His Excellency then quoted from a poem written in the early days of the war which was written by a friend in the House of Commons. 'O valiant hearts, who to your glory came Through dust of conflict and the battle flame Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.' The Brisbane Courier, 26th April 1924 Source: monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1/display/9270...

This is General John Magruder (not McGruder), second from left, head of the U.S. Military mission to China.

The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II Australian Women's Services. It was disbanded in December 1947. During the early years of World War II the necessity to make use of women in many new avenues of employment became apparent. Despite resistance from some members of the War Cabinet, bureaucrats and the Service, in February 1941 the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) received approval to create the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). Wireless telegraphists were urgently needed to assist in meeting a temporary deficiency of male wireless telegraphists. Airwomen were accepted into 73 different musterings (trades), including highly skilled technical employment on aircraft. In addition to telegraphists, women became armament workers, electricians, fitters, flight mechanics, fabricworkers, instrument makers and meteorological assistants, besides using skills in many clerical, medical, transport, catering, equipment, signals and radar fields of employment. Over 700 women held commissioned rank and like airwomen, worked in a great variety of administrative, technical and professional tasks. A number commanded units in operations rooms, at General Douglas MacArthur's Headquarters in Brisbane dealing with intelligence matters, at Operational Units, in RAAF Hospitals, Aircraft Depots, Radar Stations, RAAF Bases – wherever they were needed, they served. Airwomen were paid two-thirds of RAAF male pay for equivalent positions. The officers were paid a good deal less than male officers of equal rank. The value of the work and the skills of the WAAAF during a period when thousands of men needed to be released for operational duty overseas and Australia itself was at risk, encouraged the formation of the Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) in 1951. This branch of the RAAF was disbanded in 1977 when its members became an integral part of the RAAF. Source: www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0400b.htm