Signal flag fragment: Leading Cook Rowland Ambrose Pullin, HMAS Swan, Darwin Raid

Bomb damaged remains of a yellow and dark blue wool bunting signal flag for the letter 'D', with linen hoist and hemp halyard (original undamaged size 1015 mm by 1220 mm).

HMAS Swan, a Grimsby Class sloop, was launched in Sydney in January 1937. Following the outbreak of the Second World War the ship was fitted out as a minesweeper, and on 9 December 1939 became leader of the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla. Swan operated in Australian waters until December 1941 when she was sent first to Port Moresby and then, in January 1942 to Amboina in the Moluccas to evacuate civilians. Here the ship was targeted by Japanese bombers but escaped unscathed.

In February Swan was based at Darwin for anti-submarine patrols and escort duties. On 15 February she left as part of an escort for four transports carrying troops to reinforce Allied forces in Timor. Three hundred miles west of Darwin the ships were attacked by 45 Japanese aircraft. Although not seriously damaged the ships were ordered to return to Darwin. Consequently Swan was in Darwin harbour on 19 February when the first and most severe Japanese air raid on Australia took place. The ship was able to get under way without being hit, but was then damaged by seven attacks and a number of near misses. Three of her crew were killed and nineteen wounded.

This signal flag fragment was found in the remains of the flag locker after it was struck by a Japanese bomb fragment during the raid. Two sailors sheltering behind the locker were killed, Leading Seaman John Sault and Signalman Alywn John Breen. Able Seaman Gunner Albert Samuel Purdon was also killed in the raid.

The flag was taken as a souvenir by 19533 Leading Seaman Rowland Ambrose Pullin, an officer's cook, who had joined the RAN in 1930, shortly before his twentieth birthday. He saw seagoing service in HMAS Australia between May 1933 and September 1936, and HMAS Swan between January 1939 and May 1943. The attacks on the Swan affected his mental health and his remaining service in the RAN was shore based. Pullin was discharged in January 1945. He died in 1978.