Shell necklace: Lance Corporal Edward Victor Newman, 11th Australian Field Ambulance

Necklace made from 36 small and medium yellow and grey cowrie shells, graduating from small to medium and back to small and ending with two larger shells forming a dangling pendant. Each shell is joined together by a piece of steel wire (obtained from electrical cords) through the middle of each shell, securing it in place with pieces plaster of Paris bandages, with the ends of the wires turned over to form a link at each end which joins to the other shells. There are no clasp fittings at the open ends.

This shell necklace made by Ned Newman and sent to penfriend Ruth Laurie in late 1944. Newman’s sister introduced him to Ruth at the start of the war and while serving overseas he made her a number of shell necklaces and other items. He was offered £3 (the equivalent today of around $220) for one of the necklaces he made for Ruth but refused to sell it. He wasn’t too concerned about money and he had put a lot of effort in to make them nice for Ruth – even making sure the shells were matched by size and colour as far as possible.

Newman served with the 11th Field Ambulance in the South west Pacific Area. He served in New Guinea until November 1944 when he embarked for Bougainville. The necklace was made in either New Guinea or Bougainville, but most likely in the former place

After the war Newman met and married Dorothy Helen Allen and they had six children. Dorothy and Ruth maintained contact with each other and in the early 2000s, Ruth gave the necklace and a letter from Newman describing how he made the necklaces to his family.