The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Cast iron ships badge. The central medallion features the bust of a young woman, with the name 'VICTORIA' in raised letters around the border. On either side is a flag, with a bar beneath the central medallion. Above the central medallion are leaves and scrollwork. The item has been painted in red, blue, gold and white, with one flag painted as a white ensign and the other as the Australian blue ensign. On the reverse is written 'Ships badge HMAS Parramatta".
This plaque was part of the original decoration from Her Majesty's Colonial Ship (HMCS) Victoria (also known as Her Majesty's Victorian Ship (HMVS) Victoria, and Her Majesty's Colonial Steam Sloop (HMCSS) Victoria) a colonial steam ship acquired by the colony of Victoria in 1856. It was later attached to a bulkhead on HMAS Parramatta I.
Victoria is best known for transporting troops from the 40th Regiment of Foot to New Zealand in 1860 during the First Taranaki War and patrolling and taking part in actions there. In 1861 - 1862 Victoria transported searches looking for missing explorers Burke and Wills.
HMAS Parramatta I was launched on 9 February 1910, one of the six 'River' Class torpedo boat destroyers built for the Royal Australian Navy. During the First World War Parramatta served in the South West Pacific and took part in the capture of German colonies and later served in the Mediterranean on anti-submarine patrols.
The plaque was placed in HMAS Parramatta around 1912 after being “souvenired” by crew members at the naval dockyard at Williamstown, Victoria. Presumably the plaque had remained there from the time Victoria was decommissioned in the late 19th century. It was then attached to one of the bulkheads on Parramatta. One account relates it was over the entrance to the officer’s mess, another that it was above the ship’s bell on the quarter deck between the Engineer Officers and Captain’s cabins. It was above the wardroom door in 1918 when it was painted.
The colourful paint on the plaque is the work of 1861 Leading Signaller Arnold Mellor. Soon after he joined Parramatta in September 1918 , he received permission from the commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Cyril Hill ‘to tiddivate’ (Mellor’s words) the plaque, which had earlier been painted service grey to match the bulkhead. Mellor painted the Royal Navy white ensign and the Australian blue ensign on the plaque and added the name “PARRAMATTA’ to the bar at the base.
This badge was removed from HMAS Parramatta I in 1919.
New Zealand Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 2442 Able Seaman William Jones served aboard Her Majesty's Colonial Ship (HMCS) Victoria, a gunboat belonging to the colony of Vict
Removable brass lens cap from 19th Century single draw telescope (REL34389.001) acquired from HMCS Victoria - a steam sloop operated by the Victorian Government from 1856 - 1896. The cap was originall
19th Century single draw telescope with removable lens cap (REL34389.002) acquired from HMCS Victoria - a steam sloop operated by the Victorian Government from 1856 - 1878. The body of the telescope i
19th Century single draw telescope with removable lens cap (REL34389.002) acquired from HMCS Victoria - a steam sloop operated by the Victorian Government from 1856 - 1878. The body of the telescope i
Removable brass lens cap from 19th Century single draw telescope (REL34389.001) acquired from HMCS Victoria - a steam sloop operated by the Victorian Government from 1856 - 1896. The cap was originall
New Zealand Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. 2442 Able Seaman William Jones served aboard Her Majesty's Colonial Ship (HMCS) Victoria, a gunboat belonging to the colony of Vict
Group portrait of the ship's company of HMAS Parramatta. At that time the Parramatta was deployed on the 23rd rotation to Operation Slipper. On this deployment the Parramatta was under the operational
A Kookaburra in the voided centre perched on and surrounded by a waratah wreath, the flowers of which support an Imperial crown at the top. At the base a banner inscribed 'P'MATTA BLUE MTNS. REGT.'.
Coat of arms for the city of Emden, mounted on wooden plaque. Positioned above the coat of arms is a rectangular brass plaque engraved with 'Geleitboot 'EMDEN'. This boat badge is from the Geleitboo
