| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/05673 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Wood |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | pre 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Thwart support: Lieutenant Lloyd George Palmer, Royal Australian Naval Reserve, HMAS Armidale whaler
Description
Turned wooden thwart support from HMAS Armidale whaler.
History / Summary
This thwart support is a remnant of HMAS Armidale's whaler. The damaged boat was used by 29 survivors of the sinking of the Armidale by Japanese aircraft off the coast of Timor on 1 December 1942. The survivors were rescued on 9 December by HMAS Kalgoorlie 150 miles north-west of Darwin, but the fragile whaler disintegrated when an attempt was made to hoist it onboard.
An inscription written on two sides of the thwart reads: 'FROM WHALER OF H.M.A.S. ARMIDALE SUNK BY JAPANESE BOMBERS [possibly DEC 1] 29 SURVIVORS DRIFTED IN THIS BOAT FOR SIX DAYS IN TIMOR SEA PICKED UP BY H.M.A.S. KALGOORLIE'.