Trench art featuring crest of HMAS WESTRALIA
Maker
Lewis Florrie
Date1945
Object number00028978
NameSouvenir
MediumCopper alloy, wood, perspex, silver gelatin print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 202 x 140 x 60 mm, 0.75 kg
ClassificationsDecorative and folk art
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis souvenir from WWII features a 40mm Bofor shell case as the base, with a frame formed by two upright .50 calibre rounds. The bullet uprights support a two-sided oval frame, which rotates. One side features a wood block painted with the crest of HMAS WESTRALIA (I). The reverse is a black and white photographic print of an island beach with palm trees. The wording on the base reads: "Tarakan / 1945 / Labuan / Lewis Florrie / Balikpapan".HistoryMV WESTRALIA (II) was built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast in 1929 with luxurious accommodation for 360 1st class passengers, and 90 3rd class. It was the second ship named WESTRALIA by Huddart Parker Ltd. It served on the Sydney-Melbourne-Adelaide-Fremantle passenger service until 1939 when it was requisitioned by the RAN for service in World War II as HMAS WESTRALIA (I). It had a distinguished career as, among other things, a landing craft and a troopship. It served in the East Indies Station and Nauru area.
WESTRALIA was not released back to commercial service until 1951, where it rejoined the Fremantle route. In 1958 it was removed to the Sydney-Auckland-Wellington run, but was back on the Fremantle run the following year. In 1960 it was purchased by the Asian and Pacific Shipping Co as a livestock carrier and renamed the DELFINO. In 1961 it was renamed WOOLAMBI but never sailed under this name. It was towed to a Japanese scrap yard the same year.
SignificanceThis piece of trench art, made from naval souvenirs, highlights the role of the WESTRALIA as a landing craft at several key battles in the Pacific during World War II.
