Japanese Midget Submarine Black Bakelite fundraising Souvenir

Irregularly shaped piece of black bakelite through which a hole has been drilled to allow a label to be attached by a length of string. One edge of the bakelite has been snapped - the remaining three edges display evidence of having been sawn. Some faint traces of Japanese characters in white paint remain on one side of the piece. A manilla card label has been tied to the souvenir and reads 'A Guaranteed Souvenir from the Japanese Midget Submarine Sunk in Sydney Harbour, Sunday, May 31st, 1942. Proceeds to R.A.N. Relief Fund and King George's Fund For Sailors. July 30, 1942.' Written in ink on the reverse of the label is "Mrs L Morgan Benalla" - Benalla has been crossed out.

After the Japanese midget submarine attack in Sydney Harbour on 31 May 1942, parts of two submarines sunk in the attack were placed on trucks which then toured the country. Souvenirs from the submarines were sold to raise funds for the war effort. This particular piece was purchased when the tour reached Benalla, Victoria. The donor believed that the part was cut from the battery box.