'Snake!' East Timor T-shirt : Lieutenant D J Perryman, RAN

Place Asia: East Timor
Accession Number REL32374
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Cotton
Maker Odd Clothing
Place made Australia: New South Wales
Date made c 2000
Conflict East Timor, 1999-2013
Description

Brown T-shirt printed on the front with 'ONE DAY SOMEWHERE OVER EAST TIMOR...' and an image of a Black Hawk helicopter. The helicopter has cartoon images of three soldier passengers, one of whom has just discharged a grenade launcher through the floor. A member of the helicopter's crew, wearing a flying helmet, leans out of the front of the aircraft to check the damage. 'SNAKE!' is printed on the back of the shirt in red. There are manufacturer's and care labels sewn to the inside back neck.

History / Summary

T-shirt purchased by Lieutenant Duncan John Perryman, RAN, while serving in East Timor as part of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) in 1999-2000. The t-shirt is said to record an incident that took place in East Timor in which a Blackhawk Helicopter carrying members of Special Forces had a grenade launcher go off inside the cab. Fortunately the grenade did not explode as it had not travelled the required distance to arm. The helicopter was recovered without further incident. The t-shirt was produced within days of this happening and were sold at the Dili Helicopter strip in Dili.

On 15 September 1999 the UN Security Council authorised a multi-national peace enforcement mission in East Timor, to restore peace and security and to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts.

7000 troops led by Australia secured East Timor, with the exception of the Oecusse enclave, which was secured in mid October 1999. International relief efforts were put in place and displaced people were permitted to return to their communities. Indonesian forces were withdrawn from East Timor. On 20 October 1999 the Indonesian Parliament resolved to formally ratify East Timor's separation from Indonesia allowing the UN Security Council to approve the establishment of a UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).