HMAS Kanimbla (I) Anzac Day marching banner

Blue cotton marching banner with white applique and voided lettering. In the centre is the ship's badge on a circular white background with a red rope border, and yellow text with the motto 'cry havo' at the base on a black scroll. Underneath the badge is '22 ENEMY SHIPS CAPTURED' in white and above is 'KANIMBLA' in a larger font. The battle honours of the Kanimbla are listed separately on either side of the badge. The left side reads 'ARMED MERCHANT CRUISER 1939-42/ CHINA STATION/ EAST INDIA STATION/ STH AFRICA STATION/ PERSIAN GULF/ INDIAN OCEAN/ PACIFIC OCEAN'. The right side reads 'LANDING SHIP INFANTRY 1942-45/ TANNAH MERAH BAY/ MOROTAI/ LINGAYEN/ LEYTE/ BRUNEI BAY/ BALIKPAPAN'. The top and side seams of the banner are open, forming pockets to accept the carrying poles.

This marching banner was carried by veterans of HMAS Kanimbla (I) since the end of the Second World War and as members of the Armed Merchant Cruiser & Landing Ships Association since the 1970s at ANZAC day ceremonies.

Previously an Australian coastal passenger vessel operating between Cairns and Fremantle HMAS Kanimbla (I) was requisitioned in September 1939 and converted into an armed merchant cruiser. Commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Kanimbla in October 1939, she patrolled the coats off China and Japan for enemy raiders, and the Pacific and Indian Oceans from 1940 to 1941. Between 1942 and 1943 she carried out convoy duties and was converted to an infantry landing ship (LSI) for Allied troops in the Pacific region. On 1 June 1943 she was recommissioned as HMAS Kanimbla, and undertook transport duties in the Pacific and later for the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan. She was paid off in March 1949 and returned to her owners the following year. Her battle honours are proudly listed on the banner.

Veterans of HMAS Kanimbla (I) marched behind this banner every ANZAC Day until late 2008 when it was decided that there were insufficient numbers to march under the single banner.