Handmade Australian Flag : Petty Officer Penfold, HMAS Napier

Australian national flag made from parts of a number of cotton hemp signal flags. The Union Jack element has presumably been cut from another flag and applied to the new flag. There are rope and brass fittings atthe flagstaff attachment points.

HMAS Napier and HMAS Nizam were part of an American fleet which was operating near Japan in the final stages of the war. They became part of Task Force 37 which entered Tokyo bay at the cessation of hostilities. The donor states that Petty Officer 'Piggy' Penfold made this Australian flag from signals flags using his portable sewing machine. It may have been flown from the jackstaff on the bow of Napier on entry to Tokyo Bay and while she was docked near Yokosuka Naval Base. Able Seaman R B Glover, a non-drinker, traded his allowance of two bottles of beer, issued to celebrate the victory, with Petty Officer Penfold in return for the flag.