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Cap tally from the French ship LA DUNKERQUOISE
Cap tally from the French ship LA DUNKERQUOISE

Cap tally from the French ship LA DUNKERQUOISE

Date1938-1998
Object number00039632
NameCap tally
MediumFabric
Dimensions30 x 620 mm
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Jean-Pierre Sourdin
DescriptionA black and gold cap tally from the French LA DUNKERQUOISE. This cap tally was donated by Jean-Pierre Sourdin who collected badges and tallies as souvenirs from visiting French naval vessels from 1938 to 1998. During each visit, the ship's Captain would hold a cocktail party on board and invite prominent French figures in the local community. As editor of Le Courrier Australien from 1954 to 1988 (a monthly French newspaper that has been distributed throughout Australia since 1892), Mr Sourdin was invited to the cocktail parties to generate press coverage on the French port visits. Mr Sourdin was presented with these cap tallies and badges as souvenirs of his visits on board. HistoryThe Bay class patrol boats LA DUNKERQUOISE and LA LORIENTAISE were commissioned for the Royal Canadian Navy in 1954 as HMCS FUNDYLL and HMCS MIRIMICHI respectively. Built as minesweepers in 1951, FUNDY and MIRIMICHI's mechanical mines weeping equipment and Bofors guns were later removed, relegating the ships to patrol and training duties. FUNDY was paid off and transferred to Marine Nationale on 31 March 1954, where she was renamed LA DUNKERQUOISE, with MIRIMICHI following on 1 October 1954 as LA LORIENTAISE. Both ships served with Marine Nationale till 1984 before disarming on 15 October 1986. LA DUNKERQUOISE, LA LORIENTAISE and LA CAPRICIEUSE often travelled to Australia as a back up for important French defence or political chiefs visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.SignificanceVessels of Marine Nationale (French Navy) have visited Australia throughout the twentieth century for rest and recreation, goodwill and to represent France at official celebrations such as Australia' s sesquicentenary and bicentenary. These visits remind us of the links forged by early French explorers of Australia such as Jean Francois Galaup, Comte de Laperouse, Nicolas Baudin, Louis - Antoine de Bougainville and Jules Dumont d' Urville .