The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Small brass key with attached brass tag stamped 'CAPTAIN's & OFFICERS W.C.' and part of an aluminium tag for the gunroom pantry, both from the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (I). The aluminium tag is stamped 'GUNR / PAN'. A small piece of dark green coloured silk thread was tied through the key, it is now undone and loosely threaded through the key and tags.
F3160 Steward John Ernest Bast enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy at Fremantle, Western Australia, on 12 September 1940. He had served as a merchant seaman before the Second World War and for part of the war, including the evacuation of Dunkirk. He transferred to the RAN and served in HMAS Canberra, surviving her sinking in August 1942 during the Battle of Savo Island. These keys were in his pocket when the ship sank. The key to the gunroom pantry was lost. Bast subsequently served in HMA ships Warramunga, Barcoo and Shropshire. Although Bast's substantive rank was Steward, he also served, as was common practice for stewards and cooks in this period, as part of an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun crew when required. He was discharged on 12 February 1946.
W.C. is a the abbreviation for water closet, or toilet.
Aluminium key and tag manufactured from a piece of aircraft metal. Hand engraved on one side of the tag is 'QX12327 2/26TH BN / N T DERRINGTON'. On the other side is 'from Wally / CHANGI / 9-3-44'. E
Hand made waterline model of the Kent-class cruiser, HMAS 'Canberra', with carved solid wood hull with deck timbers realised with ruled black ink lines. The superstructure, turrets, bridge and funnels
Souvenir pennant of HMAS Canberra. The pennant is navy blue felt with painted gold illustrations and text. At the top is the city’s coat of arms; a Royal Crown flanked on either side by a swan, and he
Wooden ditty box that has been hand crafted from a honey coloured timber. Each corner of the box has eight dovetailed joints (six for the box & two for the lid). The lid is hinged with two small brass
Sailor's cap with an HMAS Sydney tally ribbon tied over the blue wool cap band. The cap outer is constructed from whitened canvas and features two brass eye vent holes on each side. Internally, the ca
Large polished steel Chubb key. The oval ring end of the key is stamped on one side 'CHUBB LONDON' and on the other side 'G'. This master key to G Block of Changi Gaol was 'liberated' by an Australi
