Canvas storage sleeve for answering pendant : Ordinary Seaman Signaller C H Michelly, HMAS Geelong

Dark grey painted, hand sewn canvas sleeve, secured at the bottom with a 610mm length of thick cotton twine. The ends of the twine have been whipped to prevent fraying. The sleeve is designed to protect the fabric of a signalling flag when it is rolled around its pole, although the bare end of the pole extends from the cover and is not protected.

In April 1944 the corvette HMAS Geelong was sent to New Guinea where she operated out of Milne Bay. On the evening of 18 October she was northward bound on a voyage to Madang and Hollandia, and in addition to her crew of 86 carried a further 16 passengers. The weather and visibility were good and the sea calm. The ship was unlit. At 8.05pm she was spotted by the southward bound US 10,448 ton tanker York, which was lit only be side lights and dimmed masthead lights. Both ships took immediate evasive action but collided half a minute later, York hitting Geelong on the port quarter and severing her stern. There were no casulaties and York's lifeboats were able to rescue all the men on Geelong before she sank at 9.51 pm. York arrived at Langemak Bay early the next morning and landed Geelong's survivors, who were then returned to Milne Bay. Before Geelong sank, Ordinary Seaman Signaller Colin Herbert Michelly, determined to save a relic from the ship and took this answering pendant in its cover from the signal locker on the bridge. This type of signalling flag was used to give a visual acknowledgment that a message had been received from another ship.