Souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy

c. 1939 - 1945
Overview

World War Two era triangular souvenir naval pennant in horizontal orientation made from a navy blue felt base with printed red, white and green detailing.
The graphics and text on the pennant are screen-printed using oil-based paint or thick lacquer ink.
The wide end of the pennant has two fabric ties attached to the edge for hanging. On the left, there is a distinctive vertical tricolour stripe in red, white and green. Adjacent to this is the official Merchant Navy (MN) monogram enclosed in an oval rope border, topped with a naval/maritime crown. Beneath the crest is a decorative scroll banner reading 'AUSTRALIA'.
To the right of the crest are the words 'Merchant Navy' extending along the centre of the tapering pennant.

The pennant has been personalised by the addition of three Australian items - a Rising Sun badge, an 'Australia' metal shoulder title, and a varnished wooden boomerang brooch featuring the word 'Australia'. There are red, white and blue stripes (representing the Empire) on both ends of the boomerang.
The reverse is plain and there is no maker's tag. The lugs of the two badges and the pin clasp of the brooch are visible from below.

Historical information

Felt naval pennants were highly popular wartime souvenirs throughout the British Commonwealth—most notably across New Zealand and Australia - during and post WWII.
They were frequently purchased by service members, merchant mariners, or civilians as patriotic keepsakes, homefront memorabilia, or gifts for family members to commemorate maritime service.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW01107
Item type
Collectibles
Ephemera
Pennants
Souvenirs
Material
Felt (Textile)
Ink
Paint
Width
725 mm
Height or length
284 mm
Inscriptions and markings

On pennant from left to right:

"MN
AUSTRALIA"

"Merchant
Navy"

Primary significance criteria
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Last modified
Wednesday, 23 September, 2026
Completeness
94
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Souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Close up of left end of souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Close up of left end of souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Close up of central section of souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Close up of central section of souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Close up of right end of souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Close up of right end of souvenir felt naval pennant with attached badges - Merchant Navy
Close up of Rising Sun badge
Close up of Rising Sun badge
Close up of 'Australia' shoulder title
Close up of 'Australia' shoulder title
Close up of boomerang brooch
Close up of boomerang brooch
Reverse of souvenir felt naval pennant with badges - Merchant Navy
Reverse of souvenir felt naval pennant with badges - Merchant Navy

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