Rum Flask : Able Seaman Harry Munford, Victorian Naval Contingent

Pewter and glass spirit flask. The top of the glass flask is covered by a textured brown leather covering with a slot on either side to reveal the measure of rum or whiskey to be poured. The bottom half of the flask is encased in a pewter sleeve which could be used as a cup.
Engraved onto the flask is the text 'To H. Munford / from Employees CSR Co & / IVY LEAF LODGE U.A.O.D / on his departure with / VICTORIAN NAVAL BRIGADE / for service in CHINA / 14 - 7 - 00'

Able Seaman Harry Munford of the Victorian Naval Brigade was presented with this inscribed flask by his colleagues shortly before his departure for China in 1900. The Victorian contingent embarked in the troopship Salamis in early August, along with 260 men from the NSW Naval Brigade and sailed for China on 8 August 1900. They arrived in China on 9 September, but by then much of the heavy fighting against the Boxers was over and they operated mainly as a police force maintaining the peace and re-asserting the rule of the foreign Governments in China. Munford and the Victorian Naval Contingent returned to Australia, now a Federation, on 25 April 1901.

Aged 44 and still a seaman, Harry Munford enlisted in the AIF on 14 February 1916. He was allotted to the 12 Reinforcements 23 Battalion and embarked for active service on 4 April. After training in England he joined his unit in France on 27 September 1916. After nine months at the front he was invalided home to Australia due to 'advanced age' and chronic rheumatism. He disembarked in Australia on 11 October 1918. Harry Munford died in 1929 aged 57.