MV MANUNDA, Adelaide Steamship Company, napkin ring.

Maker Adelaide Steamship Company Limited (1875 - 1977)

Manufacturer Angus & Coote

Date1932 - 1956

Object number00007232

NameNapkin ring

MediumMetal: Electro-plated nickle silver

DimensionsOverall: 25 x 45 x 45 mm

ClassificationsTools and equipment

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis napkin ring was collected as a souvenir from MV MANUNDA, a passenger liner within the Adelaide Steamship Company's passenger fleet. The interstate passenger ship MANUNDA operated winter cruises to Fiji and Noumea.HistoryThe MANUNDA was a 9915-ton passenger ship built in Glasgow in 1929 for the Adelaide Steamship Co. On 22 July 1940 the vessel was recommissioned as a hospital ship and remodelled. It became well known in the war years for its duties bringing wounded Australian soldiers home from the Middle East on four trips between 1940 and 1941. The ship was also present in Darwin on 19 February 1942 when the city was bombed by Japanese aircraft. The ship's medical and nursing quarters were completely destroyed during this attack. After repairs MANUNDA was the first ship to arrive in Singapore after the Japanese surrender. It collected ex-prisoners from the camp at Changi and carried them to Labuan Island where they could recover and later be flown home to Australia. The Adelaide Steamship Company was founded in 1857 when a group of businessmen saw the opportunity to capitalise on the Adelaide to Melbourne shipping route. Two ships were ordered from England and the company soon established itself on the coastal shipping scene. Over time, the Adelaide Steamship Company extended its routes around Australia, bought out other companies, expanded its fleet and eventually became one of Australia's most powerful and enduring shipping concerns.SignificanceThis napkin ring is a good example of the types of souvenirs produced for and used aboard passenger vessels in the 20th century, on the Australian route.