Envelope decorated by R. Boland and addressed to Mrs Boland - HMAS ARUNTA
Artist
Robert Thomas Boland
(Australian, 1922 - 1985)
Date1942 - 1945
Object number00000674
DCMITypeStill image
NameEnvelope
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 91 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionDecorated air mail envelope from Stoker Robert Boland to his wife or mother, sent from HMAS ARUNTA and featuring a rather muscle-bound sailor, smoking a cigarette and apparently drawing (it may be a representation by Boland of himself). This air mail envelope has no stamps but 'Doing Active Service No Stamps Available' has been written in the space.
Stoker Boland enlisted into the RAN in November 1942. He served aboard QUICKMATCH during WWII and was discharged in 1950.HistoryIn the war years 1939 to 1945 Sydney's Cockatoo Island Dockyard constructed three Tribal class destroyers, named ARUNTA, WARRAMUNGA and BATAAN. ARUNTA was launched on 30 November 1940, and served in most of the South-West Pacific campaigns earning the following battle honours: Pacific 1942-45, New Guinea 1942-44, Leyte Gulf 1944, Lingayen Gulf 1945, and Borneo 1945.
ARUNTA commissioned on 30 April 1942 and soon commenced operational duties as a convoy escort between east coast Australia and New Guinea. In 1943 ARUNTA assisted in the evacuation of guerrilla troops from Timor and later joined the RAN/USN Task Force 74. Other duties included escorts, patrols, troop landings and evacuations, and bombardment tasks during the amphibious campaigns in New Guinea, Bougainville and New Britain. In October 1944 ARUNTA took part in the reconquest of the Philippines, including bombardments at Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Surigao Strait. Further involvement in the Philippines campaign occurred in 1945, including supporting the landings of Australian troops at Wewak, Brunei Bay and Balikpapan. After the war ARUNTA served in Japanese waters as part of the occupation force.
ARUNTA returned to Cockatoo dockyard in 1950 for a modernisation refit and then served in Korean waters, as well as part of FESR (Far Eastern Strategic Reserve) and finally a deployment to northern Australian waters for fishery patrols. On 21 October 1956 she paid off into Operational Reserve, finally being sold for scrap in November 1968. On 13 February 1969 ARUNTA sank 65 miles off the NSW coast while under tow to Formosa.
ARUNTA is named for the Arrernte people of central Australia; and its motto is Conquer or Die. HMAS ARUNTA (II) is an ANZAC class frigate launched in 1996.
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.
