This life jacket was issued by the Australian Government's General Naval Store in N.S.W.. It was inspected in 1940. Life Jackets - Life jackets were part of the equipment carried by the Life Saving Rescue Crew of South Western Victoria, including Warrnambool, from around 1858 until the 1950s. The purpose of a life jacket is to keep the wearer afloat until he or she is rescued from the water. Life jackets were first invented in 1854 by Captain Ward of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Britain. The early life jackets were filled with cork, which is very buoyant. However, many times he cork caused the jacket to rise up quickly with a force that caused unconsciousness, sometimes turning the person face down in the water , causing them to drown. After the tragic loss of the ship RMS Titanic in 1912 and the lost lives of those onboard, a woman named Orpheus Newman designed the Salvus life jacket (Salvus means safe), which was filled with kapok instead of cork. Kapok comes from seed pods of the Ceiba Pentandra tree and is waterproof as well as buoyant. These Salvus jackets were used by the Royal Navy until new synthetic materials became available around the time of World War II.This life jacket is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Life jacket, canvas covered, with two padded compartments filled with kapok. Designed to slip over the head. it has shoulder straps and straps for tying under the arms. An inscription and symbol is stamped on one shoulder strap. The life jacket was supplied by the General Naval Store, Defence Department, N.S.W., and inspected in in 1940.Inscription "G.N.S. [crown symbol] N.S.W / 12 JUN 1940 / INSPECTED".flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, g.n.s., general naval store, 1940s life jacket, captain ward, royal national lifeboat instution, cork, kapok, life jacket, orpheus newman, salvus jacket, life saving, rescue, rescue crew, l.s.r.c., life saving equipment, marine technology, lifeboat, shipwreck victim, vintage

Small lead model Japanese midget submarine made from the ballast of two submarines sunk during the raid on Sydney Harbour in May 1942.Wording on both sides of model: “Made from ballast Jap midget sub sunk in Sydney Harbour in May 31 1942”military history - souvenirs/navy, handcraft - trench art, submarine

Arthur George Holley No 13556 RAN. Refer 2134 for service history also 2137, 2147..1) Certificate of service re A.G Holley 13556 RAN. Water proof parchment paper 4 pages, yellowed, black and blue writing in ink, details his history, ships sailed on, awards, personnel etc. .2) RAN Trade Certificate re A.G Holley, Able Seaman, Seaman Torpedoman, parchment paper, yellowed, typed, pen and ink, details his proficiency. .3) RAN Certificate for Educational test Part One. Parchment paper, yellow certifying that A.G Holley 13556 has passed Educational test Part One dated 3.12.1923. .2) & .3) are attached inside .1) via a metal clip. documents, service, ran

RAN Blue Sergeuniform, ran

Arthur George Holley No 13556 RAN HMAS Hobart. This is the 4th part of diaries relating to Cat No2147. Refer also 2134 for service history also 2135.3, 2137.Diary, A.G.Holley RAN. One page typed in black titled "Wiping the Japs". Begins on 18.8.42 with the sea battles around Gaudalcanal and finishing on 24th August. diaries, literary work, ran

RAN Greatcoatuniform, c1950, ran

Badges of the RANpicture, current, ran

RAN Whiteuniform, c2000, ran

RAN Whiteuniform, 1991, ran

RAN Jacket Blue Sergeuniform, ran

RAN Dark Blue Sergeuniform, ran

RAN Mess kit jacketuniform, ran

RAN Poly. White narrowuniform, ran

The scroll relates to Sidney Charles Rowley No H1258, enlisted in the RAN on 14.6.1940 age 21 years, KIA 6.1.1945 while serving on HMAS Australia.Memorial scroll on light fawn coloured card, top has Coat of Arms with the letters “GVI RI” over. The following text in black and red relates to the death of a RAN Sailor in WW2.In red print, “Leading Seaman S.C.Rowley Royal Australian Navy”memorial scrolls, ran, hmas australia,

RAN 8 inchammunition, ww2, ran

RAN No 8'suniform, 1988, ran

RAN White. Messuniform, c1980, ran

RAN White. Dress.uniform, 1989, ran

RAN Jacket Whiteuniform, 1997, ran

RAN Fleet chartposter, 1970, ran

RAN Senior Sailorsuniform, c1990, ran

RAN White non bell bottomuniform, ran

RAN sailor with 'VENDETTA' Tallyheadgear, c1960's, ran

RAN White, Lt, Dressuniform, 1970, ran

RAN White Square Topuniform, 1967, ran

RAN Serge. Dress with insigniauniform, c1970, ran

RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnamplaque, vietnam, ran

RAN Officers Tropical Uniformuniform, 1980, ran

RAN Blues Jacket Lieutenant (service ribbon in pocket)uniform, ran

Cap RAN sailors with HMAS tallybandheadgear, c1970's, ran