condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white
discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

bottle

human history
  • Other Name

    'message' bottle, WW2 (descriptive name)

  • Description

    Large, brown bottle in two parts, broken at neck, body of bottle covered by glued on pieces of paper: deteriorated fragments of newspaper articles, undated. First headed 'SAFE IN SWITZERLAND REPATRIATED PRISONERS / WELLINGTON, Monday': lists of servicemen. Second (deteriorated) headed 'MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE / Containing a sheet of notepaper with the names and regimental numbers of eight soldiers, a bottle thrown overboard from a [large] troopship [...] by [Mount] Stuart [...

    Mc...] Mount [G]ambier, South Australia a point about one mile on the western side of Cape Banks lighthouse on June 28. The names written on the sheet are as follows: Corporal W.H. Kenny, [...] Corporal R.J.R Moyle, Privates [... Cr...], S.A. Wright, J. Bogun, J.H. Erskine, H. Freeman and S.J.T. Bramble. It was indicated that the men occupied cabin 314 on "B" deck. On the opposite side of the sheet is written the request: 'Please send to "Auckland Star", New Zealand' with which the finder complied. The soldiers apparently came from New Zealand.'

    Also glued on is Commonwealth of Australia PARCEL POST sticker with two postage stamps and two postmarks indicating Mount Gambier. S.A. Possibly dated 4 Sep. Other details include sender's information [S.K. H. Eachorn. Box 11 / Mt Gambier], and customs 'TO PAY' sticker.

  • Accession Number
    2019.62.103
  • Accession Date
    19 Sep 2019
  • Department
bottle, 2019.62.103, Photographed 31 Jan 2020, © Auckland… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

The gift of curiosity

With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

The gift of curiosity