Vagg, Harold John (Leading Seaman, b.1924 – d.2009)

Collection relating to the Second World War and Korean War service of R/25011 Leading Seaman Harold John Vagg, Royal Australian Navy, Australia, Korea, England and Libya, 1942-1964.

Wallet 1 of 4 – Consists of 2 folders of material relating to the service of Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 1944 to 1955.

Wallet 1 of 4, Folder 1 of 2 contains 10 items including a diary, telegrams and letters relating to Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 1944 to 1951. The telegrams relate to Leading Seaman Vagg’s communication with family member’s concerning his movements.

1x Diary belonging to Leading Seaman Vagg, London, England, dated from 1 January 1944 to 31 January 1945. This diary contains entries relating to his movements, patrols, training exercises, meeting friends and attending parties. This diary also includes a list of boats and contacts.
1x Telegram from Mrs Mary Elaine Vagg (née Brown) [Leading Seaman Vagg’s wife] to Leading Seaman Vagg, Wingham, New South Wales, dated 30 June 1950. In this telegram she informs him of a future phone call.
1x Telegram from Leading Seaman Vagg to Mrs Gladys Vagg [thought to be a member of Leading Seaman Vagg’s family], Garden Island, New South Wales, dated 18 August 1950.
1x Telegram from Leading Seaman Vagg to Mrs Gladys Vagg, Watsons Bay, New South Wales, dated 13 September 1950.
1x Telegram from Leading Seaman Vagg, to Mrs Gladys Vagg, Watsons Bay, New South Wales, c 1950.
1x Urgent telegram from Leading Seaman Vagg to Mrs Gladys Vagg, 2 Warship, Tobruk, Libya, dated 17 August 1951.
1x Telegram from Leading Seaman Vagg, to Mrs Mary Elaine Vagg (née Brown), Garden Island, New South Wales, dated 17 December 1952.
1x Letter written from ‘Jim’ [thought to be Leading Seaman Vagg’s brother] to Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 20 February c 1951. In this letter Jim writes regarding Leading Seaman Vagg’s recent engagement breakup, coping with depression and support on future business goals.
1x Letter of recommendation written by J A Pacoe [exact identity unknown], for Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 10 April 1951.
1x Letter of recommendation written by H J Walshe [exact identity unknown], for Mrs Mary Elaine Vagg (née Brown), dated 10 April 1951.

Wallet 1 of 4, Folder 2 of 2 contains 8 items including service documents relating to Leading Seaman Vagg, date 1942 to 1964.

1x Admission ticket to the musical ‘The Showboat’, HMAS ‘Penguin’, dated 18 February 1954.
1x Naval Pay and Identity book issued to Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 6 May 1955.
1x Pay envelope issued to Leading Seaman Vagg, dated December 1961.
2x True Extract of Certificate of Service documents relating to Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 5 February 1962. These documents relate to his physical descriptions, ships served in, assessment of character and clothing rations.
2x Service documents [with associated envelope] relating to Leading Seaman Vagg, Sydney, New South Wales, dated 26 August 1962. The service documents include certificates of service containing information Leading Seaman Vagg’s medals, postings, qualifications and promotions.
1x Service documents and certificates [with associated envelope] relating to Leading Seaman Vagg, Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales, dating from 1942 to 1964. The service documents include a seaman’s history sheet, trade certificates, record of Torpedo and Anti-Submarine and professional service, examination results, conduct records, claim for marriage allowance and associated statuary declarations.

Wallet 2 of 4 – Consists of one notebook titled ‘Party Records’, dated 22 April 1947. This notebook contains training notes written by Leading Seaman Vagg on safe mine rendering, electrical magnetism and circuits and demolitions. Additionally, this notebook includes one document relating to the calculation of torpedo runs by counter wheels, [date unknown].

Wallet 3 of 4 – Consists of 2 folders containing letters [with associated envelopes] written by Leading Seaman Vagg during his service in Korea and Australia, to his wife, Mrs Mary Elaine ‘Lou’ Vagg (née Brown), dating from 1951 to 1954.

Wallet 3 of 4, Folder 1 of 2 contains 12 letters written by Leading Seaman Vagg to Mrs Mary Elaine ‘Lou’ Vagg (née Brown), dated from 2 February 1951 to 28 September 1954. In his letters he writes to inform her of movements, local weather, seeing picture shows, longing to return home, daily duties and operations, impressions of Darwin, prices of food, drink and souvenirs, an upcoming trial with the Supreme Court, sending and receiving mail, requests supplies and encountering a Japanese pearling fleet. He also enquires about his daughter, Judith Anne Vagg, and sends his love to his friends and family back home.

Wallet 3 of 4, Folder 2 of 2 contains 18 letters written by Leading Seaman Vagg to Mrs Mary Elaine ‘Lou’ Vagg (née Brown), dated from 1 October to 8 December 1954. In his letters he writes to inform her of his life at sea, movements, local weather, looking forward to his return home and Christmas, daily duties and operations, capturing a boat of Japanese poachers, sending and receiving mail, recreational leave, his health, his promotion to Leading Seaman, observations of indigenous lifestyles and purchasing souvenirs. He also sends his love to his daughter, Judith Anne Vagg and sends his love to his friends and family back home.

Wallet 4 of 4 – Consists of 2 folders of letters [with associated envelopes] written by Mrs Mary Elaine ‘Lou’ Vagg (nee Brown), New South Wales to her husband, Leading Seaman Vagg, dating from 1954 to 1961.

Wallet 4 of 4, Folder 1 of 2 contains 16 letters written by Mrs Mary Elaine ‘Lou’ Vagg (nee Brown) to Leading Seaman Vagg, Narrabeen, New South Wales, dated 13 November 1954 to 29 April 1961. In these letters she writes to inform him of the health of their daughters Judith and Fiona, developments and educational activities, updates on friends and family, spending time with friends, seeing pictures shows, going to dinners, suffering from loneliness, longing for his return, her health, gardening activities, seeing local servicemen and a possible move to Canberra. One of the letters from Mrs Vagg also includes one letter written by Judith Anne Vagg to her father, Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 14 April 1961. In this letter she informs him of her basketball game and visits from family.

Wallet 4 of 4, Folder 2 of 2 contains 18 letters written by Mrs Mary Elaine ‘Lou’ Vagg (nee Brown) to leading Seaman Vagg, Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales, dated 1 May to 27 June 1961. In these letters she writes to inform him of the health of their daughters Judith and Fiona, developments and educational activities, updates on friends and family, an insurance policy for a loan of £18 [with one policy document from the National Mutual Life Association included], local weather, housekeeping and gardening activities, moving to Canberra and their family’s financial budgets. One of the letters from Mrs Vagg also includes one letter written by Judith Anne Vagg to her father, Leading Seaman Vagg, dated 14 April 1961. In this letter she informs him of her basketball games, school activities and attending Brownies. She also includes an illustration of the Vagg family members.

Oversized item 1 of 1 – Oversized item consists of one envelope with associated documents [two documents]. The envelope is addressed to Leading Seaman Vagg, Colloroy Plateau, New South Wales, dated 20 August 1953. The two documents relate to the TD2 Class 1/49 Examination, and include examination questions, marks and time allotments. The first document, titled ‘TD2 Class 1/49 Theory Examination’ is dated 25 March 1949. The second document, titled ‘TD2 Class 1/49 Examination, A/S and F/S Material’ is dated 29 April 1949.

It is thought that Leading Seaman Harold John Vagg first enlisted in the Royal British Navy in Portsmouth, London in 1942. After moving to Australia he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in Sydney, New South Wales in 1948. From 1948, Leading Seaman Vagg served at various naval bases including HMAS Platypus, Penguin and Harman in New South Wales and Canberra, Australia. In 1951, Leading Seaman Vagg served in Korea aboard HMAS Tobruk until 1954. Leading Seaman Vagg continued his service until being deemed physically unfit for service, and was discharged on 21 February 1963.