Posted 14 years ago
ttomtucker
(314 items)
During World War 2 my father was stationed at Mount Coot-tha Brisbane, Australia. He had taken this Navy ammunition container and fixed it up to be a saving bank. On the front of the bank it has three Australian coins two of them being 1943 half penny and a V shaped emblem with the words Australia with a Kangaroo in the center.
I'm so glad that you have this wonderful piece!
Hi ttomt! Can I explain the coins? There are actually four coins here. The smallest is a sixpence made of silver. The other three coins are copper coins that have been plated. I suppose the whole box has been plated over a brass base with the four coins set onto it. The two smaller coins are half-pennies. Note the kangaroo faces to the right. The V-shaped emblem is a penny coin cut down. The kangaroo on a penny faced to the left. It is a pretty clever cut down of a penny; it includes the Australia at the top and the outline of the 'roo. I think about a half of the penny has been cut away. So six pence plus another penny and a half. After we went decimal this would be equal to about 6.5 cents.
Have you seen this article about the ammunitions depot at Mount Coo-tha?
Perhaps your father is among the Seabees personnel listed here!
I find it interesting too that this is an ammunition container, given the work of the Seabees at Mount Coo-tha.
Construimus, Batuimus!
http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/seabee/UnitListPages/NCB/084%20NCB.pdf
vetraio50, Thanks for the great information about the Australia money. My dad wasn't in the Seabees, he was a Chief Mineman who helped set up the ammunition depot at Mount Coo-tha. He and the men assigned to him worked with the Seabee's during the construction of the mine storage units.
So cool!
Thank you miKKoChristmas11, petey, BELLIN68, vetraio50, mrmajestic1
The other thing that occurred to me was that the V of the penny was a V for victory.
Did your father tell you about the function of the box?
The hole in the lid is wide enough to accommodate the larger penny.
It was the widest coin in circulation at the time.
One thought I had was as a 'swear-box'.
What I do remember is he came back home in 1946, the bank full of pennies, nickels, and some dimes. There were lots of Australian coins mixed in with U.S. coins. He gave the money to my brother, sister and I. We thought we were the richest kids on the block, but we found out you can't do alot with Australian money in the U.S.
Gentlemen, thank you for this charming, fascinating and poignant exchange. Reading your generous exchange has been thoroughly engaging and satisfying. Regards, miKKo
Well that was a lesson in itself. Thanks for sharing your memories!
Hi ttomtucker
I read your post about your Father being stationed at Mt.coot tha during ww2, I was born in 1947 in Bardon at the foot of the mountain and we lived just a few hundred yards from the camps.
My family owned a farm across the creek from the firing range, and Iam sure your Father would have eaten fresh eggs and poultry from there.
I still like walking around the old site, just last year I had lunch at one of the bunkers your Father would have built, I would be happy to send some photos of the area as it was, and how it is today.
All the best Ron.