| Place | Oceania: New Guinea1 |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL44141 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Paint, Wood |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | New Guinea1 |
| Date made | c 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
New Guinean kundu drum : Corporal H Tydeman, Australian & New Guinea Administrative Unit
Description
Long carved wooden kundu hand drum, bearing a handle on one side and a carved crocodile head on the other, carvings above the handles on each side depicting an open crocodile's mouth, and a pair of opposing painted face masks. One end of the drum features a sleeve cut into it to accept a snake or (more traditionally) a lizard skin for the drum head - this was present when first given to the donor's family, but is now perished. The other end of the drum is open. There is a longitudinal split reaching almost the full length of the drum. The drum bears evidence of original dark red paint and clay-based white finish, but has a modern red paint overlay. The donor has wired up the drum to prevent complete splitting.
History / Summary
New Guinea kundu drum acquired during service by NX38823 Corporal Hector 'Tim' Tydeman, born 7 March 1921 at Ryde, NSW, a resident of Fairfield, who enlisted on 15 July 1941 at Paddington, NSW. He was transferred to the Australian and New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) after its formation and served with them until his dicharge on 18 June 1946.
ANGAU was formed in February 1942 and performed the function of a civil government for the of Territory of Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea during the Japanese invasion and occupation. In this role it was responsible for the maintenance of agriculture and industry, law and order, medical services, and the supply and management of labour, carriers and trackers for the war effort. It mostly drew its administrative members from men experienced in pre-war New Guinea affairs or who knew the country and its people.
When Hector Tydeman returned home to Fairfield, he passed this kundu drum onto a family friend and close neighbour, 15 year old William McDougall. It has been passed down through the family since, losing its lizard skin drum head when being use as a child's toy in the 1960s. The carvings on the drum represent a stylised pair of open crocodile mouths, a common theme.