| Place | Asia: Vietnam, Binh Dinh Province, Qui Nhon |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/14499 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Chrome-plated brass, Cotton wadding |
| Maker |
Penguin |
| Place made | Japan |
| Date made | c 1967 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
Penguin cigarette lighter : Lieutenant B O'Sullivan, 32 Small Ships Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers
Description
Penguin brand chrome-plated brass flip-top cigarette lighter. Both sides of the lighter have a printed white background. The obverse features an orange shield with a red scroll along the top portion bearing '854TH TRANS. CO (TS)', and a similar red scroll along the lower portion of the shield with 'LOOK ON YE MIGHTY AND ESPAIR [sic]'. In the centre of the shield is 'JONNAGE SUCKS'. The reverse has 'QUI NHON VIETNAM 1967-1968' printed in black. The lighter is contained in its original box.
History / Summary
Cigarette lighter related to the service of 256989 Lieutenant Bernard O'Sullivan, 32 Small Ships Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers.
O'Sullivan was born at Darlinghurst, New South Wales in 1944. He deployed to Vietnam in December 1967, serving in the 32 Small Ships Squadron vessel AV 1356 Clive Steele until August 1968. It is thought that Lieutenant O'Sullivan acquired this cigarette lighter from a member of the US Army 854th Transportation Company, who, from 1966 until 1971, were based at the ship's terminal at Qui Nhon, one of the ports serviced by 32 Small Ships Squadron.