Pair shoulder boards : Sub Lieutenant M A P Mattingley, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Pair of black wool covered shoulder boards, lined with white cotton, bearing wartime economy issue gold cotton 'lace' for the rank of a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve. A hole at each neck end bears a small gilded brass RAN officer's button (one missing). A white shoe lace is threaded through the lining at the base of each board to allow it to be secured to a white or khaki summer jacket or shirt.

Maxwell 'Max' Albert Percy Mattingley was born in Launceston, Tasmania, on 5 April 1913. He was working in Queensland when he enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) in Brisbane on 31 August 1942.

Before his enlistment, Mattingley had already served as a skipper in the Naval Auxiliary Patrol, a volunteer group operating small private craft in port patrols. By December 1942 he had progressed from the rank of ordinary seaman to that of acting skipper (petty officer equivalent). In September 1943 he was confirmed in the rank of skipper (then noted as sub-lieutenant equivalent). He was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in November 1944.

During his naval service Mattingley commanded a number of small ships, including Tonga 2 and Leilani, operating out of HMAS Moreton (Brisbane), HMAS Magnetic (Townsville), HMAS Melville (Darwin), Thursday Island, and Madang in New Guinea. He also served as first lieutenant in the Fairmile Motor Launch 424.

In July 1945, Mattingley transferred to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria as an instructor in coastal craft. He was promoted to lieutenant in March 1946, shortly before his discharge in May. Soon after, he was reappointed to the RANVR as an instructor, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. His appointment was terminated in March 1958.

• Pair shoulder boards : Chief Petty Officer (Skipper) M A P Mattingley, Naval Auxiliary Patrol