| Place | Asia: Ceylon |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL28204 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Rubber, wool, cotton, brass |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1940-1941 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Life belt : Able Seaman Maxwell Colin Plummer, HMAS Vampire (I)
Description
Inflatable brown rubber life belt. Designed to fit around the chest and under the arms, it secures to the wearer's body with canvas tie straps stitched to each end of the belt. An additional strap passes around the wearers neck. A rubber and brass inflation tube/valve is located at the centre front for inflating the belt when in use. The rubber bladder has a covering of fine knit black wool.
History / Summary
Born in Yorketown, South Australia in 1923, Maxwell Colin 'Max' Plummer was employed as farmhand when he joined the Royal Australian Navy on 7 May 1940. After basic training at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria he signed up for 12 years service in March 1941 and was posted as an Ordinary Seaman to HMAS Adelaide, where he was issued with this life belt.
In October 1941 Plummer left Adelaide and was sent to Singapore to join the V Class destroyer, HMAS Vampire, which was undergoing a refit in singapore after service in the Mediterranean.