War artefacts unearthed

A World War I medal found in the sand at Middleton Beach and a topographical map of Gallipoli are rare artefacts that have been added to Albany RSL's inventory of memorabilia since a project to uncover local items began recently.

Albany RSL sub-branch president Geoff McNeill and WA Museum Albany regional manager Rachael Wilsher-Saa are encouraging the community to contribute to their vision to create a database of local war memorabilia for future record.

Mr McNeill said unusual items, such as a small booklet distributed to "rookies" by the Royal Australian Air Force in the early 1900s and a medal discovered at Middleton Beach once owned by a Private Crowe, have been handed to him and Ms Wilsher-Saa has been presented a collection of memorabilia, including a map of Gallipoli and photographs owned by former Albany man Arthur Priestley.

"There is so much out there in the community that we don't know about and what I don't want to happen is that somewhere down the track someone will die (and it will be lost)," Mr McNeill said.

"People aren't aware of how valuable it is in a sense of the history, so we want to tap into that and find out what's out there so it doesn't get lost."

Ms Wilsher-Saa said the museum would be on hand to educate families about how to preserve the artefacts so they could last for generations to come.

"Often they are found in the bottom of a box, in a tin, or out the back in a garage among other things," she said.

"So I really applaud the RSL's move to get a handle on what's out there, so at a future time if they want to develop an exhibition they can go out to those people."

The community is welcome to hand in their memorabilia at the RSL clubrooms on Stirling Terrace on Tuesdays between 9am and 11am.