Robin Boyd travelled to Malaysia, Macau and Singapore in 1970, after a visit to Expo 70 in Osaka, where he was Exhibits Architect of the Australian Pavilion.Colour slide in a mount. Sultan of Brunei’s residence, Kuala Lumpar, MalaysiaMade in Australia / 22 / MAY 70M3 robin boyd, slide

Wooden plaque 15cm x 13cmEx Services Association BRUNEI

Paper. Colour. Different coloured arrows show troop movements in Brunei and Labuan Islandmap ww2. north borneo

Brassards were worn by Peacekeeping Forces to identify their identity. Belonged to Gary Clift R.127835 M8073771. For RAMSI was deployed as ship's company HMAS BRUNEI. For PNG was deployed from HMAS TARAKAN & BRUNEI.1. PNG Peace Keeping Mission Brassard. Bright yellow brassard. Stitched on white Australian ensign on arm picture of dove carrying a twig overlaid over a map of Bougainville in green. Blue background. 2. RAMSI brassard for Solomon Island Peace Keeping Mission. Dark green with Australian Flag sewn onto sleeve. As is RAMSI emblem (yellow border, white dove over map os islands).1. Embroidered "Peace" & "Peace Monitorial Group". 2. Embroidered patch "Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands" and "Helpen Frew".peace keepers, uniform, brassards, ramsi

The Japanese Government issued new currency within their occupied territories during WWII. Imperial Japan-occupied territories were Singapore, Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei between 1942 and 1945.Collection of Japanese Government-issued bank notes distributed in occupied territories during WWII. The notes are rectangular of various sizes, made from paper and either purple, blue, green or khaki decorative designs and text. The collection includes five centavos, four dollar notes, three gulden notes and four pound notes. Various japanese invasion money, banana money, occupation money, wwii

world war 2, new guinea, razorback, timor, kokoda track, brunei

Miniature Medals, all original, Court mounted. 1. Original - Defence Medal 1939-1945. 2. Original - War Medal 1939-1945, 3. Original - Australian Service Medal. 4. Original - Belgium Croix De Guerro WW2, 5. Original - British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF). 6. Original - Service Medal 1918-1962 (QEII), Malaya and Brunei Clasp.passchendaele barracks trust, pbt261to266, bob english collection

Hand made plaque commemorating 22 Repair and Servicing Unit RAAF 1943-45Rectangular timber top mounted on timber base which has inscription in gold coloured paint.This silver poplar is dedicated to 22 Repair and Servicing Unit, RAAF 1943-45 The unit serviced aircraft and transport in South West Pacific area, New Guinea, Cape Gloucester, Noemfoor, Morotaia, and Labuan LEST WE FORGET 22 R.S.U. Nazab, Cape Gloucester, Noemfoor, Morotai, Brunei Bay.22 repair and servicing unit raaf 1943-45, ww2

Born In Singapore of Chinese Parentage and raised as a Buddhist. As a teenager he joined a gangster group that stole chickens. Whilst at school Ang participated in a 3 day special program on Christ, at the end of which Alan give his life to Jesus Christ. In 1961 he joined the Bible society where he became Scripture Distribution Secretary for the Bible Society for Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei. B & W head and shoulders portrait of Rev. Alan Ang.ang, rev. alan; singapore; bible society; scripture distribution secretary for singapore, malaysia, brunei.

These notes are generally referred to as Japanese Invasion Money (JIM). This note is one of a series issued by the Japanese forces of occupation in the Pacific theatre during the second world war. Following the fall of Singapore into the hands of Imperial Japan on 15 February 1942 the Japanese introduced new currencies to replace those previously in use in the occupied territories of Singapore, Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei between 1942 and 1945. The new currency in Malaya and Singapore were issued with the same value as the Malayan dollar and first entered circulation in 1942. This example of Japanese Invasion Money was intended for use in Malaya as indicted by the letter M in the block letters MN. The currency was also referred to informally as "banana money" because of the motifs of banana trees on 10 dollar banknotesGreen on cream lithographed banknote of ten dollar denomination. The face features a tropical scene with palms and a hand of bananas. A pair of block stamped serial letters (MN), in black, appear at the bottom of the note. The reverse is printed with a pattern featuring the value and a beach scene with palms centrally located.The Japanese Government promises to pay the Bearer on demand ten dollarsww2, currency, japanese, japanese invasion money, banana money

Prior to the Second World War Tarakan Island was part of the Dutch East Indies and an important oil-producing centre. In early 1942 it was occupied by the Japanese. The primary objective for the Allied attack on Tarakan (code-named "Oboe One") was to secure and develop the island's airstrip so that it could be used to provide air cover for subsequent landings in Brunei, Labuan and Balikpapan. The secondary objective for the operation was to secure Tarakan's oilfields and bring them into operation as a source of oil for the Allied forces. As part of the 26th Brigade the 2/24 Battalion landed at Tarakan on May1 1945. The task of capturing Tarakan's airstrip was assigned to the 2/24th Battalion. The Battalion's initial attack on the airstrip on the night of 2 May was delayed when the Japanese set off large explosive charges, and the airstrip was not secured until 5 MayThe 2/24th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II .A unit of all-volunteers, it was formed in July 1940 from primarily Victorian volunteers and was known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. It served in North Africa in 1941–1942 as part of the 26th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–1944 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946. The 2/24th suffered the highest number of casualties of any 2nd AIF infantry battalion. The Unit was granted the Freedom of the City by the Rural City of Wangaratta in 1996 and one of the first, if not the first, to receive this type of honour. Reproduced black and white photograph of metal pylon structures with man standing in bombed foreground Handwritten on rear - Oil wells on Tarakan2/24th battalion, tarakan, ww2

Framed print, list of floating docks at Williamstown "Floating docks at Williamstown 1852-1979/ The first dock (wooden) 1852- 1979/ the second dock (wooden) 1895-1958/ the third dock (steel) 1958-1979/ Owners/ 1852-1860 Dove & Oswald/ 18611866 Dove, Oswald & Inglis/ 1867-1870 Kilgour, McLean & Turpie/ 1870-1879 Hobson's Bay Dock co. (Prop.) James Deane & Co. & Hugh R REID & Co/1879-1884 James Deane & Co, Capt James McIntyre, and Mr. John Clark, Master Shiparight./ 1884-1893 Melbourne Coal, Shipping & Engineering Co./ 1893-1895 Melbourne Shipping Co./ 1895-1925 Melbourne Shipping Co/ 1925- 1979 Hobson's Bay Dock & Engineering Co./ 1979 Kuala Belait Shipyard, Brunei/ Notes: Hobson's bay Dock & Engineering Co. was owned by Melbourne Steamship company/ Howard Smith Ltd took over Melbourne Steamship Co. in 1961/ The steel dock was built for the Royal Australian Navu by Evans Deakin Pty Ltd in Queensland in 1941 at a cost of 80,000 pounds/ it was sold by the commonwealth government Dept. of Supply to the Melbourne Harbor Trust in 1958, it was then leased to Hobson's bay Dock and Engineering Co on a 30 year lease/ The steel dock was sold to Kuala Belait Shipyard on 22 March 1979 for 80,000 On 28 March 1979 it was towed away from Williamstown by the Japanese tug Ginyo Maru enroute to the Tanjong Rasau River, Kula Belait , Brunei"

David Miller (Dave) Mair (1879-1938) married Lily Vipond Deakin (1890-1945) in 1910. They had 5 children: Geoffrey David (1913-1970), Beryl (1916-1976), Gwynneth (1917-1997), Isabel Lillian (1921-1997) and Shirley Inez (1928-1968). Personal communication from Laurie Newton, Beryl's daughter: Dave and Beryl initially lived in East Melbourne after they married. Geoffrey, Beryl and Gwynneth were born in East Melbourne. They subsequently moved to Louise Avenue, Mont Albert and Isabel may have been born while they were there. Later they purchased 20 Barton Street, Mont Albert. Shirley was born after they moved to Barton Street. The children attended Mont Albert Central School. Lily's sister Alice married Hector Williamson (1892-1981) in 1921. Hector was a civil servant and worked at the Melbourne Museum, where accommodation was provided. They had one daughter Margaret. Another sister Minnie (Min) married Hector's brother Charles (Charlie) Prosser Williamson (1893-1961). Charlie was an engineer and ran a hardware business in Whitehorse Road (near the tram terminus). They lived at 12 Barloa Road and had one son, Donald Williamson, born 1924. Donald (Service number VX146389) entered RMC on 28 February 1942 and graduated on 14 December 1943. He enlisted the following day as a Lieutenant with the 2/32 Infantry Battalion. He was mentioned in Despatches "for exceptional service in the field S.W.P. area". Promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 6 March 1947; was killed in action in Brunei on 3 July 1945. Williamson was buried in grave B.C.10 in Labuan War Cemetery, Borneo, Malaysia.This is part of a large donation related to the Deakin, Mair and Young families with connections to the Surrey Hills / Mont Albert area.A sepia coloured photo with a cream border of 2 girls in either a front or back garden. One is sitting on a cane chair and holding a young baby; the other is standing close by. The fence behind appears to be of constructed of posts with a metal horizontal support and wire mesh. REAR: In blue biro "Isabel Beryl / Margaret Williamson / (cousin) / Auntie Alice & Uncle Hec / her mother & father" The handwriting is believed to be that of Beryl Mair. margaret williamson, beryl mair, isabel mair, children

The Ballarat School of Mines was established in 1870 through the initiatives of the Ballarat Mining Board making it the oldest site of technical education in Australia. The Board was concerned with the shortage of mine managers for the goldfields. Classes began in surveying, mathematics, and chemistry and a decade later they included metallurgy , assaying and geology. With the decline in goldmining the direction of the college changed and broadened, the art School was established and the Ballarat Junior Technical School developed. In 1976, the tertiary sector seperated from the School of Mines and Industries Ballarat to form the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. In the 1980s SMB was a Community College of Technical Education and Further Education (TAFE) offering a wide range of vocational, enrichment and preparatory programs. It is continuing the tradition of providing for the educaiton needs of people within the Central Highlands. During the 1970s and 80s it acquired and refurbished old buildings and developed new facilities to keep up with the needs of an expanding curriculum and student population. The era of these annual reports is just before the merger with the University of Ballarat.A number of soft card covered annual report for the Ballarat School of Mines. .1) 12 page black covered report featuring an image of the E.J. Tippett Library. Includes information on death of E.J. Tippett, disability policy, Peter Quinn, Patti McNulty, Bob Feary, Shane Everand, Integration, Fiona Watson, retirement of Robert Morgan, Opening of the carpentry and Joinery Facility in Davey Street, formation of the School of Business and Information Technology, Melissa Bone, opening of the E.J. T. Tippett Learning Resource Centre (Library), Refurbishment of the Administration Building, Food Service Building (Prospects), Court House Theatre, Enrolment centre, Museum, Creche, Women's Trade technical Program, Rural Education Program, Ararat Prison Program, Community Studies Section, Ararat Adult Literacy Group. Literacy Assistance for Undergraduates, Fire training, fitness, open Learning, Training & Employment Group, Awards, Filipino Visitors, oil Seed Research, Brunei, Barometer (gift) for Horticulture, Special Equipment (guillotine and brake press; programmable logic Controller; theodolite: laser lever; Universal testing Machine; Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer)., organisational Structure. Photos include Ken Flecknoe, Peter Quinn, Patti McNulty, Bob Feary, Shane Everard, Fiona Watson,Linda Bland, Robert Morgan, David McCaughey, E.J. Tippett, Frank Sheehan, Julie Baulch, Jo Reeves, Col McCurry, Jenny Garnham .3) Blue covered book with a photograph of the M.B. John Building taken from Albert Street on the cover. Topics include: Ken Flecknoe, Peter Shiells, Ararat Campus, David Haddow, Kevin Martin, Rendle Hannah, Gary Eason, Geoff Pope, Albert Peart, M.B. John building opened, Hairdressing Salon, Community Centre, Creche, closure of Lydiard Street, Museum, Jenny Levison, Inskill, Small Business Training, Ballarat Eat free Library, Barkly Street, Wormalds Valve Group, Aboriginal Programs, Horticulture Center, Awards, Country fire Authority, tractor Donation, Women's Policy. Special purchases included surveying equipment with data recorder, test rig , CDT MIG welder, compact gas chromatograph with FID and single pen recorder, Olivetti stand-alone word processing unit. Images include Ken Flecknoe. Peter Shiells, John Crowe, Trevor Slater, Brian McLennan, Kerrie Cross, Albert Peart, John Cain, M.B. John, Enrollment Centre, Museum, Jo Watson, Wormalds, Brian Webber, Dianna Nikelson, Ian Aitken, Brendan B, Chez Dichiera, Heather Dixon, Julie Broadbent .4) 1993 - Brown and white soft covered annual review featuring students of the Ballarat School of Mines at work. Bill Gribble, Brian McLennan, Peter Shiells Retirement, Robert C. Lovett, Steven Mendelson, Max Palmer, Jenny Gough, Mary Molloy, Barrie Firth, Colin McCurry, Dora Hormann, Organisation Structure, Brewery Acquisition, Humffray Street Primary School, Grant Street Retaining Wall, Neville Bunning Plaque, VCE Plus, Ballarat Small Business centre, Ararat Prison, Ballarat Showgrounds Rotunda, .6) Green covered annual review with an aerial photograph over Albert Street, Ballarat. Content include Kerrie Cross, Peter Shiells. Kenneth Flecknoe Obituary, Ian Pimblett, Keith Boast, David Nicholson, Max Palmer, Brian Webber, Bob Lovett, Linda Bland, Prospects, Training restaurant, 3BBB, Malcolm Vallance, Aboriginal Programs, Ian Cathie, Koorie Support Unit, Caroline Hogg, 'Trained Men Make Their Own Terms' exhibition at the Gold Museum, Ricky Hains, Stephen Hughes, Jeff White, Dennis Bolster .8) Blue covered review for 1989. The contents include: Kerrie Cross, Peter Shiells, Ann McCaffrey, Kevin Alsop, Mary Molloy, Ross Furness, Robert Lovett, Victoria Street Student Hostel, Hugh Beggs, Ballarat Small Business Centre, Inskill, Ararat Campus, Hospitality and Tourism, Koorie Support Unit, Fiona Warsn, Bruce Staley, Terry Moran, Anthony Wonish, Ivan Deveson, Leo Shannon Memorial Award, Bryan Crebbin, Geoff Howard, R.C.W. Burdett, Jeff White, Ian Harris, Tom Wiseman, Bill Gribble, Allison Kay, Steven Mendelson, Keith Boast. .9) Grey covered book with a coloured photo of the Victoria Street Student Residence. Contents include: Kerry Cross, Peter Shiells, Morgan Bevan John Illuminated address. Jean Phillips, Koorie Support Unit, Andrew Sullivan, Victoria Street Student Residence, Horticulture, Inskill, Tertiary Awareness Project, Adult Education, Ivan Deveson, Brian Howe, Barry Jones, Joan Kirner, Andrew Trigg, Warren Perry, Murrell Rock Collections, Gwyn Hanssen-Piggott, Disability Awareness Day, Sebastopol Borough Logo, Phoebe Rimmer, Russell Jackson, R.J. Young Scholarship, Peter Muir, Founders Day Cake, Morgan John. .11) Black card covered booklet with five images of exteriors of the Ballarat School of Mines. the contents include: Jack Barker, Peter Shiells, Peter Ellyard, Ian Stoney, Terry Moran, Wayne Strong, David Ince, Simone Titheridge, Ian Aitken,Kevin Alsop, Bill Bridges, Clive Carmichael, Bob Feary, Rendle hannah, Roly Parfenovics, Graham Snibson, Kevin Stockdale, Len Wilson, Child Care Centre opening, Student accommodation, Victoria Street, Brewery site. naming buildings, E.J. barker. A.W. Steane K.J. Flecknow, Carpentry and joinery, Inskill, Hospitality, Pottery, ceramics, Founders' Day, Warren Perry, Agreement between Ballarat School of Mines and Ballarat university College, merger, Peter Baldwin, Awards, obituary Lindsay Hillman. Images include: Wayne Strong, David Ince, Simone Titheridge, kerrie Cross, Joan Kirner, Frank Sheehan, Bill Gribble Ros Wilkie, Judi O'Loughlin, Tony Leonard, Gemma Hearnes, Brendan Hill, Joanne Bell, Karl Moon, Stella Savy, Shirley Falkinder, Peter Baldwin, Jack Barker, Michael Ronaldson, David Kemp, Peter Shiells, Margot Healey, Sharon McLennan, Kerrie Firns, Petrena Brookers, Deb Goudappel, Claire Bond, Administration Building Lindsay Hillman. .13 ) Brown covered report with photographic images. Content includes: Pam Merrett. , Peter Shiells, Robert Lovett, Steven Mendelson, Max Palmer, Jenny Gough, Barrie Firth .14) Brown covered report with photographic images. Content includes: .15) Green covered report with photographic images. The blond woman standing on the right looking at a computer screen is Pam Merrett. Content includes: Bill Gribble, Ron Wild, Doug Sarah, Martin Hill, John Kemp, David Manterfield, Leslie Comy, Linette Penhall, Glen Martland. Virginia Fenelon. Michael Bracher, Brewery Building. Child care centre, Prospects Cafe Opening, Horticulture Training Centre, Retaining Wall, The Gordon, University of Ballarat and Ballarat School of Mines affiliation, Geoffrey Blainey, Ararat Community College Memo of understanding, Brian McLennan. Founders Day (Hadden Storey), Gwyn Hanssen-Pigott, Ken Latta, Neville Bunning Outstanding Achievement Award, Valerie Wilson, Jack Barker, John Sharpham, Jack Barker Resignation.ballarat school of mines, university of ballarat, integration, shane everard, robery morgan, linda bland, ballarat junior technical school, former court house, ken flecknoe, bruce muir, lindsay hillman, neil crouch, jack barker, keith boast, rex hollioake, m.b. john, bob lovett, brian mclennan, peter shiells, bruce tanner, jeff white, bryan crebbin, kerrie cross, ric dunlop, tom wiseman, barbara hughes, chris matheson, morgan b. john, albert street, steven mendelson, john crowe, ann mccaffrey, kevin alsop, mary molloy, ross furness, robert lovett, victoria street student hostel, student residences, hugh beggs, ballarat small business centre, inskill, ararat campus, hospitality and tourism, koorie support unit, fiona watson, bruce staley, terry moran, anthony wonish, ivan deveson, leo shannon memorial award, geoff howard, r.c.w. burdett, ian harris, bill gribble, allison kay, liz eddy, pam merrett, doug sarah, martin hill, john kemp, david manterfield, leslie comy, linette penhall, glen martland, virginia fenelon, michael bracher, brewery building, child care centre, prospects cafe, horticulture training centre, retaining wall, the gordon, university of ballarat and ballarat school of mines affiliation, geoffrey blainey, ararat community college memo of understanding, founders day, hadden storey, gwyn hanssen-pigott, ken latta, neville bunning outstanding achievement award, valerie wilson, john sharpham, kerry cross, morgan bevan john illuminated address, jean phillips, andrew sullivan, victoria street student residence, horticulture, inskill, tertiary awareness project, adult education, brian howe, barry jones, joan kirner, andrew trigg, warren perry, murrell rock collections, gwyn hanssen-piggott, disability awareness day, sebastopol borough logo, phoebe rimmer, russell jackson, r.j. young scholarship, peter muir, kenneth flecknoe obituary, ian pimblett, david nicholson, brian webber, prospects, training restaurant, 3bbb, malcolm vallance, aboriginal programs, ian cathie, caroline hogg, 'trained men make their own terms' exhibition at the gold museum, ricky hains, stephen hughes, dennis bolster, aboriginal education, e.j. tippett obituary, patti mcnulty, bob feary, equal opportunity officer, robert c. morgan, school of business and information technology, e.j. tippett library, e.j. tippett library opening, carpentry and joinery, women's trade and technical program, rural education program, ararat prison program, barometer, oil seed research, . bill gribble, peter shiells retirement, robert c. lovett, max palmer, jenny gough, barrie firth, colin mccurry, dora hormann, organisation structure, brewery acquisition, humffray street primary school, grant street retaining wall, neville bunning plaque, vce plus, ararat prison, ballarat showgrounds rotunda

Published: unknown, however, on 26 June 1935 a similar, but not the exact photo in the McKenzie Collection, was published in The Age: Published title: Shipping Victorian Flour to the East Published Caption: Flour and wheat figure prominently in all cargoes carried by ships trading to Chinese, Japanese and Eastern ports. Victorian millers are eager to extend lids outlet for their produce, and every opportunity is grasped. The pictures show Australian labourers unloading from railway trucks some of the 2300 tons of flour which will go into the hold of the Burns, Philp motor ship Neptuna for shipment to Hong Kong, while Chinese seamen are busy cleaning and painting the rudder post of the ship. Hard by the Neptuna, other ships are taking on flour for the East. Research by Project Volunteer, Louise McKenzie: The image was described by Hugh Bull on the rear of the glass plate as – “Lascars cleaning ships rudder 1933”. Basically, a “lascar” is a seaman. Image No. 032 in the McKenzie Collection shows two lascars perched on the rudder of a ship, with two others standing in a rowboat along side. They are dressed in baggy trousers and jackets and wearing caps. Across a very calm dock area is a single funnel ship with on-deck derricks. The rudder of the ship being cleaned is white, with large black roman numbering denoting the depth at which the ship is sitting, depending on whether it is loaded or empty. Whilst the exact photo in the McKenzie Collection has yet to be located in The Age in 1933, the date when it was taken, there is a photo published in The Age on 25 June 1935 which appears to be one of a series of photos taken on the same day, featuring lascars cleaning a ship’s rudder. It bears a striking resemblance to MCK 032, but it is taken from a slightly different angle. The 1935 published photo is a close up of a ship’s rudder being cleaned, with same style of roman numerals in black on the white of the rudder. One lascar is standing on the rudder, one is standing in a small clinker style rowboat, with its characteristic wooden overlapping hull planks, holding a broom; two more lascars are sitting in the bow and stern of the rowboat. The ship being cleaned is in a dock, as a wharf and warehouses can be seen in the background, the water is very calm, and there are two other ships moored nearby – one across the other side of the dock with a black and white hull and derricks on its deck, and one adjacent, with its mooring lines clearly visible. The lascars are wearing caps, baggy trousers and jackets. Compelling similarities therefore exist between the two images. Whilst it is difficult to positively identify the cultural background of these particular lascars in either photo, the newspaper article dated June 1935 advises they are “Chinese”. This is possibly because the ship they are associated with, the Neptuna, is reported to have sailed from Melbourne on this date, bound for Hong Kong. However, the men are probably from South East Asia. Wikipedia describes the term “Southeast Asia” as covering ” … the people of Southeast Asia from prehistory to the present in two distinct sub-regions: Mainland Southeast Asia (or Indochina) and Maritime Southeast Asia (or Insular Southeast Asia). Mainland Southeast Asia comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (or Burma), Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam whereas Maritime Southeast Asia comprises Brunei, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, East Malaysia, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. Additionally, Wikipedia “Lascars” states that “Lascars were sailors from the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia, the Arab world, British Somaliland and lands east of the Cape of Good Hope, who were employed to work on colonial merchant ships. The practice ran from the 16th century to the mid 20th century”. Indian seamen were used as early as the 16th century by Portuguese explorer Vasgo da Gama in his successful voyage to India, and subsequently by Portuguese ships in the 16th and 17th centuries. “Through the Portuguese and Spanish maritime world empires, some Indian lascars found their way onto English merchant ships, and were among the sailors on the first English East India Company (EIC) ships to sail to India.” In the 17th Century “When the English adopted the term "lascar", they initially used it for all Asian sailors on English-flagged ships, but after 1661 and the Portuguese ceded Bombay to England, the term was used mainly to describe Indian sailors specifically. The term "topaze" was used to describe Indo-Portuguese personnel, especially those from Bombay, Thana, Diu, Dammam and Cochin. The term "sepoy" was used to describe Indian soldiers in European service. The number of lascars employed on EIC East Indiamen was so great that the Parliament of England restricted their employment via the Navigation Acts (in force from 1660 onwards) which required that 75% of the crew onboard English-flagged ships importing goods from Asia be English subjects. The restriction arose due to the high rates of illnesses and death among European sailors on East Indiamen, and their frequent desertions in Asia, which left such ships short of crew for the return voyage. Another reason was the frequent impressment of European sailors from EIC East Indiamen by the Royal Navy in times of war“. The term “impressment” colloquially refers to “the “press gang” …”a type of conscription of people into a military force, especially a naval force, via intimidation and physical coercion, conducted by an organized group (hence “gang”). .. The large size of the British Royal Navy in the Age of Sail meant impressment was most commonly associated with Great Britain.”. (Wikipedia – Impressment). By the 20th century these sailors served on British ships under "lascar agreements", which allowed shipowners more control than was the case in ordinary articles of agreement. The sailors could be transferred from one ship to another and retained in service for up to three years at one time. “Lascars served all over the world in the period leading up to the First World War. Lascars were barred from landing at some ports, such as in British Columbia. At the beginning of World War I, there were 51,616 lascars working on British merchant ships in and around the British Empire. In World War II thousands of lascars served in the war and died on vessels throughout the world, especially those of the British India Steam Navigation Company, P&O and other British shipping companies. The lack of Canadian naval manpower led to the employment of a total of 121 Catholic Goans and 530 Muslim British Indians on the Empress vessels of the Canadian Pacific Railway, such as the Empress of Asia and Empress of Japan. These ships served in the Indian Ocean both as ANZAC convoy ships and in actions at Aden. The ships were placed under the British Admiralty as part of Canada's contribution to the war effort and all of the Indian men were awarded medals by the Admiralty, though none of them were delivered. In the 1950s the use of the term "lascar" declined with the ending of the British Empire. The Indian “Lascar Act” of 1832 was finally repealed in 1963. However, "traditional" Indian deck and Pakistani engine crews continued to be used in Australia until 1986 when the last crew was discharged from the P&O and replaced by a general-purpose crew of Pakistanis. The term lascar has been widely used to engender an element of exoticism in literature eg “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created a Lascar foil to Sherlock Holmes in "The Man with the Twisted Lip" in 1891. Lascars aboard the ship Patna figure prominently in the early chapters of Joseph Conrad's novel Lord Jim. Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel A Little Princess features a lascar named Ram Dass. Also, Caleb Carr portrays two lascars as bodyguards for a Spanish diplomat near the end of The Angel of Darkness. In Wuthering Heights, it is speculated that Heathcliff, the main character, may be of lascar origin." (Wikipedia – Lascar) And what has become of these “forgotten heroes of the World Wars”? The South Asian Heritage Trust, which seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, stories, and communities, published an article in July 2025 entitled – The Lascars: Seafaring Roots of Modern Britain. It particularly honours the role of the 80,000 lascars who served Britain in WWI, and the over 100,000 who served in the British Merchant Navy in WWII, and concludes: “The hardships faced by Lascars were profound. They were often assigned the most dangerous tasks, lived in substandard conditions aboard ships and, even after their immense contributions to the war efforts, many veterans found it difficult to secure the recognition, pensions and rights afforded to other veterans. Many were employed under ‘Asiatic Articles’, which offered less protection and lower pay than their European counterparts. Yet, their legacy endures. The multicultural fabric of areas like East London owes much to these early seafarers and settlers. The East London Mosque, established in 1910, became an important spiritual and community hub. Today, efforts to bring their stories out of the shadows are growing. The Museum of London Docklands features exhibits on their history. Memorials, such as the P&O headstone in Dover for the 22 Lascar crew members of the SS Maloja sunk in 1916 and the careful restoration of the Lascar War Memorial in Kolkata, serve as important reminders of the sacrifices. The journey of the Lascars – from their homelands, along dangerous wartime shipping routes, to the docklands of Britain – is a story of personal courage and of a rich contribution to Britain’s history and identity.” The ship MV Neptuna, mentioned in the 1935 article, had that year been purchased from a German company by Australian-owned Burns Philp, with Australian Government assistance, and it was instrumental in ensuring the shipment of rice from Vietnam to Papua New Guinea. Rice is still a household staple in PNG. Despite it being introduced into PNG more than 100 years ago, the crop has not been sufficiently integrated into the country’s traditional agricultural production system, and today PNG imports still account for nearly 98% of rice. (Spotlight Magazine Sept. 2016) The 1935 newspaper article states that the Neptuna is involved in moving flour for the East. Australian wheat exports began in 1845, but were not regular until the 1870s. New land clearing methods in Australia allowed large tracts of land to be cleared more efficiently – this included the invention of the iconic ‘stump jump’ plough. With the success of the wheat harvests, flour mills began to spring up around the country. By the 1870s, many large country towns had their own mills, with around 500 mills producing flour across the country. Flour exports were an important part of the wheat industry until around the 1930s. After the Second World War, many of Australia’s export partners (which were mainly in the developing nations of Asia) began setting up their own flour industries and the Australian product was no longer in demand. In 1942 MV Neptuna was being utilised for the war effort, and carrying depth charges and other armaments for Australia, when on 19 February it was sunk in a bombing raid on Darwin, and where part of her hull still lies. References: SHIPPING VICTORIAN FLOUR TO THE EAST. (1935, June 25). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204357218 Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 25 June 1935, page 11 Wikipedia, Clinker (boat building), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinker_(boat_building) Wikipedia, Lascar, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascar Wikipedia, History of Southeast Asia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Southeast_Asia Wikipedia, Impressment, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressment NEPTUNA LEAVES FOR CHINA WITH TOURISTS (1935, June 25). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244841163 National Research Institute SPOTLIGHT paper Vol 9, Issue 7, https://pngnri.org/images/Publications/Spotlight_No_9_Vol_7_-_201609_-_Sofe__Odhuno_-_Rice_Import_Quota1.pdf South Asian Heritage Trust, The Lascars: Seafaring Roots of Modern Britain, July 11,2025 : Royal British Legion. https://southasianheritage.org.uk/royal-british-legion/the-lascars-seafaring-roots-of-modern-britain/ Photographer notations on slide: "Lascars cleaning ships rudder 1933".lascars, ships, 1930-1939, employment, ethnic communities