Tally band : HMAS Lithgow

Sailor's cap tally band in black silk with a knotted bow decoration, featuring the name HMAS LITHGOW sewn in yellow silk wrapped with thin copper banding.

Associated with the Second World War service of W2961 James Hugh Brush, RAN, a stoker from Victoria who served for five years and completed the war as a Leading Stoker. His service was mainly associated with HMAS Lithgow, a Bathurst class Corvette (or minesweeper), launched on 21 December 1940 and which began operations in July 1941 as a part of the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla, responsible for minesweeping operations in Tasmanian waters. Following Japan's entry into the war, Lithgow moved north to Sydney, where she undertook anti-submarine patrols, before proceeding to Darwin as escort for a US convoy in January 1942. She remained in Darwin under Northern Command and, in company with HMA ships Deloraine, Katoomba and SS Edsall, took part in a successful anti-submarine operation of 20 January 1942 which sank the Japanese minelaying submarine I-124 in 27 fathoms of water some 95 kilometres off Darwin. Until the end of 1942, HMAS Lithgow was occupied on convoy and escort duties, either between Darwin and Thursday Island, or Townsville-Port Moresby. On the last day of 1942, she was recalled for refitting.