Angle head torch : Chief Petty Officer Buckingham, HMAS Manoora

Olive green plastic right angle head torch with red and subdued clear lenses fitted to the head. The blackened brass on-off switch has a push-button 'flash' feature, and is protected from accidental use by a pair of plastic guards. A blackened steel belt clip is riveted to the rear of the head, and there is a folding steel suspension loop built into the bottom cap. A spare bulb and replacement lenses (opaque white and transparent blue) are kept in small screw-on chambers attached to the base. Raised markings on the side of the torch read 'G.T.PRICE PRODUCTS, INC. LOS ANGELES, CA 90058' and 'U.S. MX-991/U'. Various engraved markings of a previous owner on the body, guards and base cap read 'PORP STEVE BUTT', 'SB' and 'PORP BUTT'.

Standard issue United States military forces right angle head torch. These torches became popular during the Vietnam War, and are often attached to the front of webbing harnesses for ease of use, although this practice is not encouraged in the Australian Army as they easily fall off. A spare bulb and several lenses are kept in small chambers in the base. These lenses are red, blue, white and a 'subdued' clear lens. The red and subdued lenses are fitted to this torch. These lenses make the use of the torch at night less visible at range. When using the red lens and reading maps, the user has to be aware that the distinctive red contour lines on maps often disappear. A similar effect occurs when using the blue filter lens and reading maps, as the rivers, dams and streams tend to seemingly disappear from the map. The previous owner, Steve Butt, held the rank of Petty Officer Radar Plotter (PORP), while the last owner, Chief Petty Officer Stores Naval (CPOSN) Buckingham, served aboard HMAS Manoora during Operation Slipper. HMAS Manoora (LPA-52) is a Landing Platform Amphibious ship that was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1994. The Manoora's primary role is to transport, lodge ashore and support an Army contingent of 450 troops, their vehicles and equipment. Manoora is fitted with helicopter hangers capable of supporting up to four Army Blackhawk or three of the larger Navy Seaking helicopters. Two helicopters can operate simultaneously from the aft flight deck, while a third can operate from the flight deck located forward of the bridge. Two Army LCM8 landing craft can also be carried on the forward flight deck to provide ship to shore transport.