Vernier Sextant with additional monocular : Captain H W Bolles Accession Number: REL38857

Description

Vernier sextant with additional monocular. The frame and the arc of the sextant are brass. Along the top of the arc are imprinted the gradations ranging from 0 to 150 with a steel runner inlaid underneath. The number '3792' is engraved beneath the runner and underneath the number is engraved the maker's details 'D MCGREGOR & CO GREENOCK & GLASGOW'. Mounted to the apex of the frame is the index bar which extends down over the arc. At the top of the index bar is mounted the index mirror with the viewing slit at the bottom. Above that is a monocular and viewing glass which is attached to a pivot mounted at the halfway point of the index bar. Underneath the end of the index bar are two brass adjustment knobs. One of these is used to tighten the viewing end of the index bar to the arc, the other is to adjust the readings if required. On the right hand side of the frame is a ring mount with a monocular attached. The monocular is brass with a pin hole at the viewing end. Halfway down the case is a ring with screw thread around it. This marries up to the ring mount which is also threaded. Underneath the ring mount is a brass knob which can be used to adjust the position of the monocular. On the left side of the frame immediately next to the index mirror, are a series of four shade glasses to diffuse haze and light. Further down the left side of the frame is the horizon mirror. The horizon mirror is divided vertically with the left side transparent and the right side mirrored. Mounted just behind the horizon mirror are three more shade glasses for the horizon mirror. Attached to the back of the frame by brass brackets is the handle. The handle itself is wooden and has a hole drilled through the middle for a lanyard to be attached. On the back of the frame are three brass legs to support the sextant when being used horizontally. The legs are located at either end of the arc and one at the apex of the sextant. The additional monocular is over twice as long as the one mounted on the sextant. It has a brass case and just over halfway down the case is a ring with a screw thread around it. The viewing end of the monocular is larger than the pin hole of the mounted monocular. When sighting through the monocular, there are two vertical and two horizontal lines dividing the tube.

Contextual Description

This sextant was used by Herbert Woodville Bolles during his career with the Merchant Navy.

Bolles was born in 1923 in Brisbane and he commenced his tenure with the Merchant Navy on 4 March 1941 when he signed his 'Indentures of Apprenticeship to the Sea Service' at the Mercantile Marine offices in Townsville. The first ship he served on was the passenger ship 'Ormiston' which sailed the Australian eastern sea board.

On 17 December 1941, Bolles along with another shipmate transferred to the cargo ship 'Macumba'. The 'Macumba' plied the eastern seaboard and travelled to Port Moresby on numerous occasions.

In March 1943, Bolles joined the passenger ship 'Tanda'. Over the next year the ship made many voyages to Sri Lanka and India with various cargoes and passengers, including on one journey General Sir Iven and Lady Mackay.
In June 1944, Bolles was promoted to Third Officer and joined the 'Mildura'. He was transferred again several months later to 'River Fitzroy'. In March 1945, Bolles was transferred to the 'Corinda'. This was his last posting of the Second World War. He finished the war as Second Officer on the 'River Fitzroy'.

Bolles had several lucky escapes during the war. The 'Ormiston' was damaged and 'Macumba' and 'Tanda' sunk after Bolles had been transferred. Post war, Bolles served on a variety of merchant vessels including as a Sydney Harbour sea pilot before retiring in 1984 as a Captain.