Commemorative handkerchief for members of C Company, 2/30 Battalion

Standard army issue khaki cotton handkerchief with a 2cm hem on each sides. On the top right hand corner is a small 'x' with a dash. The same symbol is on the opposite corner but on the back. The back of the cloth has been signed in black ink 'B.C Badgery'. A title, '2/30 Bn.A.I.F.MALAYA' appears centrally at the top of the handkerchief, finely drawn in blue ink. Also in the same ink are two rectangular memorial panels on the right and left side of the handkerchief, which have triangular caps. The left panel is titled 'C COY ROLL OF HONOUR'. In smaller writing below is 'written 'LEST WE FORGET' and 'KILLED IN ACTION. Listed vertically are 13 names: 'Lieut. CLEMENS.P., Sgt. JENNINGS.E.H., L/Cpl. WHITBREAD.N.H., Pte. CAMERON, FERGUSON, HENDERSON, KENT, PEARCE, PURSE, SANDS, WEBSTER,WILSON, L/Cpl. STARK'. This is followed by 'MISSING', with the name 'Pte. CAVANAUGH.C'. The left panel is titled '2/30 BN.' followed by 'STATIONS'. It then lists 'TAMWORTH, BATHURST, SINGAPORE, CHANGI, BATU PAHAT, KLUANG, JEMALUANG, BATU ANAM, NORTH GEMAS, GEMAS, FORT ROSE ESTATE, JOHORE ESTATE, BATU ANAM, LABIS ESTATE, SEGAMAT, YONG PENG, AYER HITAM, SEMPANG RENGAM, AYER BINBAN, 25 MILE PEG, 23 MILE PEG, 21 MILE PEG, 19 MILE PEG, 14 MILE PEG, CAUSEWAY, MANDAI Rd., MANDAI WOODLANDS XRds, NEE SOON, ANA MIKIO, TANGLIN GARDENS, SURRENDER, and then in larger writing, P.O.W.'
In the centre of the handkerchief, in red, blue and indelible purple pencil, is a laurel wreath surrounding a simplified version of the Australian coat of arms with the legend '1939, Advance Australia, 194-'. The laurel is topped with a St Edward's crown in blue and red, either side of which is a flag. On the left is a Union Jack and on the right an Australian red ensign.

This handkerchief was carried by NX26865 Corporal John Sidney Malcolm Pope while he was a prisoner of war of the Japanese. It bears a Roll of Honour of 14 names, detailing those in C Company 2/30 Battalion, who died during the defence of Malaya and Singapore. It also has a list of locations (or 'stations') that the company occupied, from training in Australia until they were captured by the Japanese in Singapore.

The names of those killed are NX32588 Lieutenant P W Clemens (KIA 15/01/1942), NX29283 Sergent S E H Jennings (KIA 28/01/1942), NX18363 Lance Corporal N H Whitbread (KIA 11/01/1942), NX44900 Private A Cameron (DOD 28/05/1943), NX37588 Private R J Ferguson (KIA 28/01/1942), QX19291 Private P E Henderson (KIA 11/02/1942), NX55401 Private C S Kent (KIA 9/02/1942. Recently transferred from 2/19th Battalion. Official records of death and service record were not updated to reflect his new unit), NX47566 Private T F Pearce (KIA 15/01/1942), NX40711 Private F W Purse (KIA 16/01/1942), NX33725 Private R A Sands (KIA 15/01/1942), NX47702 Private C Cavanaugh (Presumed killed 15/01/1942), NX37312 Private J W Wilson (Presumed killed 11/02/1942) and NX59092 Lance Corporal R Stark (KIA 28/01/1942), NX36533 Private S L Webster (KIA 11/02/1942). The back of the handkerchief has been signed by NX58441 Lance Corporal B C Badgery, who died of disease in Thailand on 9 July 1943.