| Place | Oceania: Australia, Queensland, North Queensland, Townsville |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL36743.002 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Metal, Tin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1941 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Source credit to | This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government. |
Metal kit bag D-ring handle : Corporal B F Somerville, Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Description
Unusual variant of the standard brass kit bag D-ring handle/lock combination. This example is made from 6 mm rod, bent to shape with a flattened end, drilled to take a lock. A length of tubular tin, painted black and threaded onto the rod, forms the handle. Most of the paint has rubbed off.
History / Summary
Relating to the service of Beryl Frances Somerville, born in Camberley, England to Colonel George Cattell Somerville, CMG, SDSO, MID, CdeG, on 21 November 1919, during the period her father was studying at the Staff College, Camberley. The family returned to Australia in early 1920. Her elder sister Joan, enlisted with the Australian Army Physiotherapy Service on 17 September 1940 and was injured aboard Hospital Ship Manunda during the first air raid on Darwin on 19 March 1942, and was discharged immediately afterwards. Beryl enlisted on 23 July 1941at Sydney and served with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) until her discharge on 14 August 1946. She served in Townsville among other places, and reached the rank of Corporal. This lock, an unusual variant on the standard brass lock, was issued to Somerville with her kitbag (see REL36743.001).