Left handed learner's Kip for Two Up set : Private M G Heuston, 2/12 Commando Squadron, AIF

Description

Wooden left handed learner's Kip, part of the Two Up set used by NX203594 Private Milton George Heuston, 2/12 Commando Squadron.

History / Summary

Milton George Heuston was born at Narrabri, NSW, in 1925. He enlisted in the AIF in April 1944, aged 18, and joined 2/12 Commando Squadron at Bathurst. After training at Canungra, the unit was engaged in the recapture of British Borneo, principally in clearing the island of Labuan. While still in Australia, Heuston had purchased, from an AIF Middle East veteran who was awaiting a medical discharge, ownership and rights to a Two Up game. Many of the pennies which form part of the game had previously been used by the veteran's father during the First World War. This lucrative game travelled with Heuston for the remainder of the war, and was used at Townsville, Morotai, Labuan, Kuching and Rabaul. The variety of Kips in this set are to allow inexperienced Spinners to participate in the game. Since it was not permitted for Spinners to use their fingers to hold the coins on the Kip, and since it was otherwise difficult for a novice Spinner to prevent the coins from sliding off the smooth Kip, a number of Kips were produced with lips (made from Perspex taken from wrecked aircraft at Morotai) on the right or left hand edges. Details on the playing of the game can be found online in an Australian War Memorial Encyclopedia entry on Two Up.