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Souvenir menu commemorating the opening of Clinton Airfield.

Subject or historical figure Eric Bolton Beeham (Australian, born 1917)

Date1957

Object numberANMS0840[146]

NameMenu

MediumPaper, ink, string.

DimensionsHeight: 165mm, width: 103mm.

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Elaine Beeham

Terms

DescriptionSouvenir toast list and menu commemorating the official opening of Clinton Airfield with text reading "Souvenir toast list / and / menu / commemorating / the official opening / of / Clinton Airfield."HistoryThe extensive career of merchant mariner Captain Eric Beeham spans the period from 1936 to 1961, during which there was a great deal of change in the Australian commercial and industrial shipping industries. Beeham first went to sea as a cadet with P&O working on RMS MALOJA and RMS STRATHNAVER in 1936. During World War II Beeham worked on troopships and minesweepers and commanded the patrol boat HMAS NEROUS amongst others. After the war he worked for a number of different shipping companies including Australian & Oriental Line, later becoming a pilot for the Maritime Services Board in NSW. SignificanceThis menu was collected by Captain Eric Beeham who was master of SS CHANGTE during the 1950s. Menus such as these were often printed to be souvenirs and were collected as mementos by staff and guests.