Seaman's jumper : Leading Seaman S J Trebble, RAN

White, linen duck in the pre-federation jumper pattern from 1900-1909. '5226' is printed in small numerals on the inside tail of the collar. There is a knife pocket on the inside left breast and are four button holes along the narrow lower hem. The jumper has a sailor collar, with a square back and deep V opening. There are no buttons on the front or cuffs and the set-in sleeves have a narrow hem. The sleeves are 'to extend one inch above the wristbone'.

5226 Leading Seaman Samuel John Trebble was born on the 13th August 1872 at Newtownards, Ireland. He served with the Royal Navy, but was seconded (along with about 850 other men) to the Royal Australian Navy and served at HMAS Penguin from 1 July 1913 to 2 August 1914, transferring to HMAS Melbourne from 3 August 1914 to 11 December 1917. Trebble was then employed by the London office from 12 December 1917 until his discharge in November 1918. He applied for the position of petty officer, but did 'not [pass] educationally or professionally for P.O. May continue to receive special pay as a special case'. He received a pension from the Royal Navy from the 4 December 1913. The composite sloop, HMAS Penguin was used to conduct hydrographic surveys from 1889 until 1907. After a major reconfiguration, she was moved to Garden Island in 1913, for service as a depot ship with the RAN.

HMAS Melbourne was a light cruiser, with a crew of 485, and was employed during the First World War to protect Australia trade routes and waterways. She was a unit of the Australian Squadron who were operating against the German Pacific Squadron. In the capacity of seizing German Pacific possessions, she escorted 1400 new Zealand troops to occupy German Samoa, and in 1914 landed a naval party of 25 on the German territory of Nauru. The mission was to destroy the wireless station there, and this was achieved with no opposition. On the 1 November 1914, HMAS Melbourne sailed from Albany, WA as part of a convoy of 38 ships. On the 9 November, as the commanding ship, HMAS Melbourne detached the HMAS Sydney to investigate a 'strange warship' near the Cocos Islands. This turned out to be the German ship EMDEN. The HMAS Melbourne detached from the convoy later that month in the Indian ocean, heading for the Caribbean to search for the German cruiser KARLRUHE. HMAS Melbourne undertook patrols around the Caribbean as a unit of the North American and West Indies Squadron until August 1916. Serious engine trouble eventually forced the HMAS Melbourne back to Australia for repairs. Finally, on the 27 June 1917, she was able to rejoin the Grand fleet at Scapa and became a unit of the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron. In this capacity, she undertook fleet exercises and patrols, returning to Portsmouth in November 1918.

• Seaman's collar : Leading Seaman S J Trebble, RAN