Set up at his home, the museum houses medals, uniforms, old photos and even artillery covering just about every nook and cranny. 

The collection dates back to World I and II as well as the Vietnam War, Korean War, Afghanistan and Iraq.  

After 25 years of collecting the memorabilia, the 74-year-old says his passion for it all started when he was a young boy. 

“I’ve been interested in war history since I was at school and just old things in general,” he explains.

“In my teens I was purely interested in medals because at that time my brother Bert had returned home from serving in WWII.

“I have a big interest in the different campaigns. My grandfather and my great uncle were in the Boer War.

“Dad’s side is Italian and they were military people. My dad was a returned WWI soldier and my other brother Beppi from the Korean War.”

John labels himself a “fussy collector” as these days he finds himself only sourcing rare pieces.

“I stopped collecting when I got married and had kids and then started up again as the kids got older,” he said.

“When you get to this sort of standard of collection you’re much more interested in rare things – things that are hard to come by. It’s just a natural thing for collectors.”  

One piece that John recently picked up which he's described as the most unusual in his collection, is a form of trench food, commonly known among WWI diggers as a ‘dog biscuit.' The notoriously hard biscuits could crack teeth if they weren't soaked in milk or water for a couple of days. 

After being soaked, the biscuit would then take on a similar texture to porridge.

John’s biscuit, however, has a significant meaning as it was used by a WWI soldier by the name of Cecil Herbert Allard who was in the 13th battalion. 

Mr Herbert also worked in Failford at a timber mill for the Breckenridge family – the first settlers of the area. Mr Allard used the biscuit as paper to write a message to Wylie Brekenridge and his wife.

The message reads ‘1915 Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to All’ on one side and on the other ‘To Mr and Mrs Breckenridge, wishing you all a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. C. Allard.’

The biscuit was given to Mr Bonventi some years ago by a relative – Jack Breckenridge.

“He gave it to me because he knew I was a collector. I think it may have been given to his parents but I’m not 100 per cent sure of the relation,” he said.

John’s other favourite piece is a ‘trench art belt’ – intricately made by a digger using the cellophane off cigarette packets to incase small pieces of butterfly wings found in the jungles of New Guinea.

Soldiers would often find items on the battlefield and during their downtime would fashion them into familiar objects like belts, ashtrays or model aeroplanes.

“A lady came to visit me and she talked about the trench art. She said ‘I have one my late husband made for me’ and three days later she turned up to give to me - I couldn’t believe it.”

Mr Bonventi carefully holds up the framed belt which has been beautifully preserved. One of his hands trace the buckle which he says is made out of perspex from an old war plane. Even today, the belt is a remarkable piece of war history and an insight into the life our brave soldiers led.

It are pieces like these that Mr Bonventi says fascinate him and drive his passion for collecting. 

“I don’t think it stops. You just have this love for it and you can’t help yourself. I think my wife would like it if it stopped,” he said laughing.   

“I've got so much stuff that it had to be housed. I just thoroughly enjoy it. I love history. This is my hobby.”

TRENCH art, the ‘dog biscuit’, photos and many more items from Mr Bonventi’s diverse war collection will be on display at the Great Lakes Library on Monday April 27. 

Another display will also be at the Great Lakes Museum on Anzac Day – Saturday April 25 all day and from 1pm on Sunday April 26. 

Parts of his collection are also currently on show in the foyer of Club Forster. The items will remain in the foyer for about a year.