The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
A piece of sun helmet liner in the shape of a skull cap. Has written on it in black ink 'GOOD LUCK P.O. J. I. NICOL / DROPPED BY 13 Flight Bomber on Dec 9th 1942 to survivors in whaller [sic] 150 miles from DARWIN. Returned with appreciation & thanks by A/B DR. Pullen PM 4102 survivor HMAS ARMIDALE'.
This good luck note was written on the lining of a sun helmet owned by Petty Officer James Innes Nicol, based near Darwin. He donated the item following a general call for suitable clothing to be dropped by aircraft to survivors from the sinking of HMAS Armidale on 1 December 1942. The survivors had been trying to reach safety in the ship’s damaged whaler for more than a week before being found. The helmet was dropped with other supplies from a RAAF bomber on 9 December, around three hours before the 29 men were rescued by HMAS Kalgoorlie. One of the survivors, Able Seaman Donald Pullen later returned the sun helmet to its original owner.
During the attack on the Armidale, Ordinary Seaman Edward "Teddy" Sheean was killed manning an anti-aircraft gun while firing on enemy aircraft strafing men in the water. Originally Mentioned in Despatches, he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for Australia in 2020.
Typed transcript of memoirs written by Rex Pullen for a commemoration ceremony in 1998 titled: "Survival at Sea: in the whaler after the sinking of HMAS Armidale in 1942"; original and copies news cli
Turned wooden thwart support from HMAS Armidale whaler. This thwart support is a remnant of HMAS Armidale's whaler. The damaged boat was used by 29 survivors of the sinking of the Armidale by Japane
Depicts the figure of Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean, HMAS 'Armidale' from back half prone on deck at stern of ship dressed only in shorts and boots, a wound on his right thigh, firing an Oerlikon anti
Pacific Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details. Edward 'Teddy' Sheean was born on 28 December 1923 at Barrington, Tasmania. He entered the RAN on 21 April 1941. He was initially attached t
Piece of shrapnel. Shrapnel collected by Lieutenant Lloyd George Palmer following an attack by Japanese aircraft on HMAS Armidale during Operation Hamburger in 1942. In an attack on the afternoon of
Piece of shrapnel. Shrapnel collected by Lieutenant Lloyd George Palmer following an attack by Japanese aircraft on HMAS Armidale during Operation Hamburger in 1942. In an attack on the afternoon of