The Australian National Maritime Museum today welcomed historical items related to the famous Operation Jaywick into the National Maritime Collection.
The items, a collection of significant objects associated with Lieutenant Hubert Edward ‘Ted’ Carse and Operation Jaywick, an Allied commando raid against Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour in September 1943. The objects were sold recently via auction in London.
The objects, a faux Japanese flag, medals and knife are of great national significance to Australia.
A joint Special Operations Executive/Royal Australian Navy mission, Operation Jaywick has unique status among covert wartime operations in Australia as the only wholly successful mission of its type to be carried out during the Second World War. As commander of the mission’s ‘mothership’ MV Krait, Lt. Carse was responsible for safely delivering and extracting six covert operatives, and in doing so, ensured its success.
The purchase was possible due to the Australian Government’s support through the National Cultural Heritage Account and museum Foundation through the generosity of the families of Ted Carse's brothers.
The Hon. Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts said, ‘Artefacts of this nature provide a valuable opportunity to explore and enhance our understanding of the past.’
‘This is an opportunity not only to preserve, but also to showcase objects of historical significance that reflect Australia’s experience in the Second World War.’
‘These are objects which needed to remain in Australia and will now be added to the National Maritime Collection to form an important part of the Krait narrative. The objects are historically significant physical representations of the heroism of our forces in War World II. They will join other iconic objects from the Krait and Operation Jaywick in the Collection,” said museum Director and CEO Kevin Sumption.
‘I want to thank the Australian Government for its support through the National Cultural Heritage Account and the families of Ted Carse's brothers for the opportunity to unite these objects with the MV Krait.
‘The MV Krait is on loan to the Maritime Museum from our colleagues at the Australian War Memorial and forms a proud part of our floating fleet. Visitors to the museum can learn about the heroism of Z Force and Australian forces in World War II as part of the museum’s permanent Action Stations experience and Navy gallery.’
About the National Cultural Heritage account
The National Cultural Heritage Account is a grant program that assists Australian cultural organisations to acquire significant cultural heritage objects, to help retain and protect Australia’s cultural heritage for future generations and provide public access to important objects that tell a story about our cultural identity.
The Australian Government allocates $500,000 each financial year.
Funding can be accessed by Australian public galleries, libraries, archives and museums as well as historic buildings, local cultural organisations and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander keeping places for secret/sacred material.
For more information go to https://www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/national-cultural-heritage-account
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