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

Blue cotton jean sailor's square rig collar. The top section of collar which sits on the back is square edged. The bottom section is divided into three panels. The middle panel fits down the back inside the sailor's flannel and the outside pieces sit on either side of the neck in front. The back and sides of the collar are trimmed with white tape which has two embroidered navy stripes, giving the appearance of three white stripes. The ends of the three panels have tapes and loops for securing the collar inside the flannel, around the waist. The collar is lined with white and blue striped cotton twill. At the end on the proper right panel is a black stamp of G.E.R.LTD 1901

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.

The HMAS Melbourne was a light cruiser, with a crew of 485, and was employed during World War One 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. 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 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. The HMAS Melbourne was not involved in any conflicts at sea, and had no loss of life.