| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/18092 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Personal Equipment |
| Physical description | Aluminium, Plastic, Rubberised fabric, White metal |
| Location | Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery: Gallery 1 - Mediterranean: Sink Syd |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | c 1930s |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Life jacket : Commander A Detmers, Auxiliary Cruiser Kormoran
Description
German Navy yellow rubberized canvas life jacket with a black rubber mouth piece at the neck for inflation. The side straps have adjustable metal buckles, and there are eight pale green plastic plugs fitted to the bottoms of the internal inflation bladders. The left hand shoulder strap is stamped in black with the marking 'bvn 40'. There are black oil or tar smears on the back of the jacket, which is also marked 'F/LT N ROOKE' in blue ink. Other ink markings inside the front panel read '"KORMORAN" 1941' and 'F/LT N. ROOKE'.
History / Summary
Life jacket worn by Commander Anton Detmers, captain of the German Auxiliary Cruiser 'Kormoran', on 19 November 1941, when the ship sank after her fight with HMAS Sydney. The vest was later given by Detmers to 280519 Flight Lieutenant (later Squadron Leader) Neville St Roque Rooke, RAAF, whose aircraft located some of the 'Kormoran' survivors.