RAN Ship's Badge, HMAS Warramunga (I), Circa 1943

This is a rare hand painted HMAS Warramunga plaster cast badge fashioned after the original 1943 design attributed to Petty Officer Hugh Anderson (a graphic artist in civilian life). The badge is mounted on a 10 mm thick piece of vintage hardwood marine ply. The design depicts a warrior in the act of throwing a boomerang above the motto 'COURAGE IN DIFFICULTIES'.

Hugh Anderson's concept was the wining entry for the Warramunga's badge design competition held in 1943. The wood carving he produced was then sent to the foundry on board the repair ship USS Dobbin to produce two bronze castings. One casting was presented to the Warramunga's wardroom, and the other to the petty officer's mess. The original wooden carving was later presented to the Dechaineux family.¹

HMAS Warramunga was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Built during World War II, the destroyer entered service in late 1942. She was initially assigned to convoy escort duties, but was assigned to the joint Australian-American Task Force 74 in 1943, and was involved in supporting numerous amphibious landings through the South-east Asian region until the end of the war. From 1950 and 1952, Warramunga fought in the Korean War, then was converted into an anti-submarine destroyer. Returning to service in 1954, the destroyer was one of the first RAN ships to operate with the Far East Strategic Reserve, and undertook two tours with the organisation before she was decommissioned in 1959 and sold for ship breaking in 1963.

For a complete history of the HMAS Warramunga visit the Royal Australian Navy's Warraminga page here.

¹The Destroyers: Their battles and Their Badges, Vic Cassells, 2001, ISBN:9780731808939