Clarinet in case : Signalman H W Almond, 8 Division Signals, AIF Concert Party

Clarinet in plastic with plated metal keys and mouthpiece cover. Each separate section of the clarinet (mouth piece, barrel joint, body and bell), is impressed with serial number 34651. The upper body is also impressed 'MADE BY BOOSEY & HAWKES LTD LONDON L.P.' A small silver shield engraved with a royal crest and arabic characters is screwed to the front of the bell. The case is made with a chipboard base, bound in black grained leather and supplied with a leather handle and a pair of suitcase locks. The interior is fitted out in blue velvet and has storage slots for a cleaning brush, a music clamp for attaching to the body of the clarinet, a small tin of cork grease, and a leatherette wallet containing seven spare reeds. The wallet is gold stamped with the maker's name. The exterior of the case is marked in gold paint 'NX56258 H. W. ALMOND / A.I.F. CONCERT PARTY'.

NX56258 Herbert Wardley Almond was born on 5 July 1914 in Sydney. He was a storeman living in Oyster Bay, NSW when he enlisted on 4 July 1940 at the Paddington Drill Hall, Sydney and, being a clarinettist, soon joined the AIF Concert Party. After five months of training he was transferred to the 8th Division Signals.

Almond was detached to 2/15 Field Regiment at Holsworthy in February 1941. At the end of July he had embarked with his unit for Malaya. He spent just over a month from mid September to late October in the 10th Australian General Hospital before returning to his unit.

When Singapore surrendered on 15 February 1942 many troops were imprisoned in Changi, including Almond. The Australians formed what became known as the Changi Concert Party within a few days of entering captivity for which a core of about 30 men was selected, among them Almond. These men did not leave Singapore; later, other talented performers, who had been sent on work parties for the Burma Thai Railway were selected to join the Concert Party when they returned to Changi. According to the 8th Division Signals regimental history Almond was one of the leading entertainers of the group. The Concert Party worked hard to keep the moral high in the camp. The musicians played concerts, accompanied theatrical performances, and entertained the sick in the hospital wards as well.

After spending four years in Changi Almond returned to Australia on 10 October 1945. He was discharged from the AIF at the beginning of 1946 and died in 1978.