Carlsberg Beer Sign : Able Seaman L Bailey, HMAS Melbourne II

Rectangular red, black and white enamelled sign. The word 'Carlsberg' with a small white crown above the 'C' is printed in white and black enamel. Under this is 'BEER' in black and white enamel. The reverse surface of the sign is unpainted natural metal. There is a circular hole in each of the top corners of the sign, with two elongated oval holes in the bottom corners.

This sign was removed from a bar along Bugis Street in Singapore by Able Seaman Les Bailey. Les was a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) sailor from the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne on leave in Singapore during April-May 1960 as a member of the Far Eastern Strategic Reserve (FESR). Bugis Street was a popular location for clubs and bars in Singapore from the 1950s to the 1980s. The street was universally known as 'boogie' street by both British and Commonwealth servicemen and local Singaporeans. Carlsberg is a Danish beer brewing company founded in 1847. The sign was brought back to Australia by Les Bailey and it held pride of place in a number of personal bars. It was then converted into a bar table with a wrought iron frame and legs. It was later restored as a beer sign, hanging in the garage. It then spent a number of years in storage. The sign was used as a centrepiece of the 50th anniversary national reunion of FESR, that occurred in Australia between 30 June and 3 July 2005. Les Bailey joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 28 February 1958. He served as both a full-time and part-time member of the RAN until he left on 20 March 1994 at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.