Decorated envelope sent from HMAS CERBERUS
Artist
Robert Thomas Boland
(Australian, 1922 - 1985)
Date1942
Object number00000665
NameEnvelope
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 105 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionDecorated envelope from Stoker R Boland to his mother, sent from the Flinders Naval Depot. Boland has decorated the envelope with a White Ensign and the name of the naval training establishment HMAS CERBERUS. The RAN crown is featured in the bottom left corner of this official piece of RAN stationery.
Robert Thomas Boland enlisted in the RAN in November 1942 at the age of 18 and remained in naval service until May 1950. At the time of his discharge he was serving aboard HMAS KUTTABUL as a stoker mechanic.HistoryHMAS CEREBUS is the Royal Australian Naval training facility located in Victoria. The base was officially opened in 1920 and became known as CEREBUS in April 1921.
From 1930 - 1958 it was also the base for the Royal Australian Naval College which is now located in Jervis Bay, New South Wales. At the beginning of World War II, extra buildings were erected to cope with the huge increase of recruits. There were approximately 400 per month (in addition ti the introduction of the WRANS).
This letter by Boland would have been written in the first weeks of his enlistment.SignificanceThis decorated envelope is part of the Boland collection which offers a small glimpse into the life of a sailor during his World War II service.