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Boatswains Call belonging to Able Seaman Mostyn Moss Berryman RANR
Boatswains Call belonging to Able Seaman Mostyn Moss Berryman RANR

Boatswains Call belonging to Able Seaman Mostyn Moss Berryman RANR

Date1942-1946
Object number00056573
NameWhistle
MediumSteel
DimensionsOverall: 130 x 35 x 30 mm, 24 g
ClassificationsSound communication
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Gift from Rosemary Hayward
DescriptionBritish Commonwealth steel boatswain’s call (‘bosun’s whistle’) issued to Able Seaman Mostyn ‘Moss’ Berryman during his service in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve during the Second World War. It is of great national significance to Australia due to its association with AB Berryman and Operation Jaywick, a joint Special Operations Executive/Royal Australian Navy mission that has unique status among covert wartime operations in Australia as the only wholly successful mission of its type to be carried out during the Second World War.SignificanceThe boatswain’s call is of great national significance to Australia due to its association with AB Moss Berryman and Operation Jaywick. A joint Special Operations Executive/Royal Australian Navy mission, Operation Jaywick has unique status among covert wartime operations in Australia as the only wholly successful mission of its type to be carried out during the Second World War. Although not a member of the folboat team that entered Singapore Harbour and damaged or destroyed Japanese shipping moored there, Berryman was present aboard the mission’s ‘mother ship’ MV Krait and responsible for looking after the vessel, as well as safely delivering and extracting the six covert operatives, ensuring the mission’s success. While Jaywick operatives are known to have been issued boatswain’s calls in some instances, no other examples are known to have survived the war, nor are any currently curated in Australian or overseas collecting institutions. This, in conjunction with its excellent overall condition, makes Berryman’s boatswain’s call exceptionally rare, historically valuable, and significant.