Enamel tray presented to Volunteer Defence Corps (V.D.C.) Major F. Llewellyn
1942Rectangular, white enamel tray with raised black edges featuring hand-painted sketches and inscriptions.
The naive-style sketches depict two British Army bugle horn badges either side at the top, an officer standing at attention on the left, a bugle being played by a soldier wearing a tin hat above a Rising Sun badge in the centre, and a sailor in a coastal defence or outpost setting on the right.
The text on the tray reads 'Presented to Major F. Llewellyn, by the members of No. 14 Platoon - C Coy - Fremantle Battalion V.D.C. In appreciation of services rendered, Sept. 1942'.
The reverse of the tray is plain. There is a lot of age related wear. The enamel has cracked and chipped to reveal the steel under layer which has rusted.
The Volunteer Defence Corps (V.D.C.) was an Australian part-time volunteer military force created on June 6 1940, based on the British Home Guard. Members were often men ineligible for regular military service due to their age or employment (being in a reserved occupation). Many members were World War One veterans still keen to play their part.
The 2nd (Fremantle) V.D.C. Battalion was formed in July 1940, providing a home defence role in Western Australia, particularly around the crucial port area. The 1st (Perth) and 2nd (Fremantle) V.D.C. units would have had large numbers of volunteers who would be assigned to various companies and platoons.
This tray was presented to Major F. Llewellyn by members of the 14th Platoon, C Company, Fremantle Battalion, V.D.C. in appreciation of services rendered.
The tray was rescued from a rubbish dump on a farm in rural Western Australia.
Details
Details
From top to bottom:
"PRESENTED
TO
MAJOR. F. LLEWELLYN. BY
THE MEMBERS OF
No. 14 Platoon . C COY . Fremantle.
Battalion. V.D.C."
"In
appreciation of services rendered"
"SEPT. 1942"
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