Painted wooden canteen sign `BLUNDELL'S BAR' : 1 Joint Amenities Unit, INTERFET

Painted and bare plywood canteen sign. The sign has a spray-painted green border and `BLUNDELL'S BAR' in blue, red and orange in the middle. `Now that's a thing of beauty!! / Cheers to all! / James Blundell (autograph) / ET99 ? In memory of P.L. BLUNDELL / CPT 2/25th / NOW 25/49 RQR' has been written in black texta in the proper bottom left corner.

Associated with 1 Joint Amenities Unit (JAU), INTERFET, who operated three canteens in East Timor from 1999-2000. Blundell's Bar was at the Rest & Convalescing (R & C) Centre where soldiers spent between 24 and 70 hours on rest without weapons. On the nights after the 'Tour of Duty' concerts, James Blundell and members of the Royal Military College Band remained in Dili and played 'unplugged' concerts for the troops who were lucky enough to be on rotation through the R & C Centre.

During breaks in the entertainment Blundell helped JAU soldiers serve behind the bar. As a sign of appreciation it was agreed to name the bar after him, and the soldiers quickly painted and erected signage. Blundell dedicated the bar to his grandfather, QX6368 Captain Peter Blundell, 2/25 Battalion and it remained open until the R & C Centre closed on 29 March 2000. The two other canteens that were operated by the unit were known as 'The Toucan Express' (see sign REL28407.001) and 'The Suai Surf Club'.