Decommissioning vintage port of HMAS VAMPIRE
Date1986
Object number00055132
NameBottle
MediumGlass, paper, alcohol (vintage port)
DimensionsOverall: 285 × 83 × 83 mm
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Amanda Reed
DescriptionBottle of vintage port produced to commemorate the decommissioning of HMAS VAMPIRE (II) on 13 August 1986. It was presented to Commodore James Laurence Wilfrid 'Red' Merson, who served as HMAS VAMPIRE's commanding officer between 18 June and 13 July 1966, during the Indonesian Confrontation.
The unopened brown bottle features a label showing HMAS VAMPIRE's badge consisting of a bat in the centre of a roped circle surmounted by a ribbon reading VAMPIRE.
On the back of the bottle, a second label in light blue with a colour photograph depicting a port side view of HMAS VAMPIRE at sea. Under the image, the technical details of the vessel. The number '0859' is printed in the lower right corner of the label.
HistoryThe midshipman's journal belonged to James Laurence Wilfrid 'Red' Merson during his service aboard HMAS AUSTRALIA (II), and was kept between September 1939 and July 1940. Merson retired from the Royal Australian Navy with the rank of Commodore in 1977.
Commodore Merson served in four conflicts: The Second World War, Korean War, Indonesian Confrontation, and Vietnam War. His Second World War service aboard HMAS AUSTRALIA (II) occurred in conjuction with the outbreak of the conflict. Merson later went on to serve as commanding officer of HMAS VAMPIRE (II) during the Indonesian Confrontation, when VAMPIRE conducted patrols off the coast of Borneo and Malaya and was called upon to provide fire support for Commonwealth land forces. His command of VAMPIRE covered the period between 29 April 1965 and 6 December 1966.SignificanceThe bottle of HMAS Vampire (II) decommissioning port was presented to James Laurence Wilfrid 'Red' Merson, who retired from the Royal Australian Navy with the rank of Commodore in 1977. Merson served in four conflicts: The Second World War, Korean War, Indonesian Confrontation, and Vietnam War. In the case of the Indonesian Confrontation, he was commanding officer of Vampire between 18 June and 13 July 1966, when it conducted patrols off the coast of Borneo and Malaya and was called upon to provide fire support for Commonwealth land forces on two occasions. Merson's command of Vampire covered the period between 29 April 1965 and 6 December 1966.
1970 - 1971
