Commemorative badge : Able Seaman H A Roope, HMS Submarine K.6

Rectangular shaped white painted badge with the words 'SUBMARINE / K6' printed on the front in black lettering. The reverse of the badge features an attached rusted safety pin.

This object relates to the service of Petty Officer Hubert Arthur Roope as a boy sailor and submariner of the Royal Navy (RN) during the First World War and later as a sailor with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) before and during the Second World War.

Roope was born on 19 February 1897 in Birchington, Kent. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy II Class on 22 April 1913. On 19 February 1915 at age 18 he entered into a twelve year engagement. After training in the United Kingdom and promoted to Leading Seaman he served aboard several surface navy vessels including HMS Devonshire before undertaking submarine training and being posted to the submarine K.6. In 1919 he crewed a J class submarine from the UK to Australia and was temporarily seconded to the RAN. He permanently transferred to the RAN on 12 October 1921 as an Acting Petty Officer. In 1927 he left the RAN and the following year he rejoined this time as a Constable with the RAN Police at Garden Island serving in this position until 1931. In 1940 he became a member of the RAN Reserve serving at home and abroad until March 1945 with the rank of Petty Officer.

During his wartime service he served upon several ship and shore establishments including travelling to the UK in 1941 to crew the newly launched HMAS Norman. Between 1941 and 1943 Roope served upon both HMAS Norman and Nepal. Hubert died in 1987.

The service medals and name tag of Petty Officer Roope are representative of the long naval career of an Australian who served in both the First and Second World War in a diverse range of specialisations onboard several significant types of Naval vessels and shore establishments.

This particular name plate for the Royal Navy submarine K6 was worn by Hubert Roope at ex-service events and ceremonies after the First World War. By wearing this badge he publically identified himself as one of the "J Class" submarines that he crewed from the UK to Australia during the 1920's.