Sutho wrote:
When did you last ask them?
I just had a reply today advising that most maintenance records are now held by the National Archives. They have also forwarded my request on to another department Military Heraldry and Technology who may be able to help.
They suggested I may well find what I am looking for in the National Archives.
I have been doing an annual trek to the AWM and NAA in Canberra for a few years. Back there in 2 weeks in fact. The NAA in Sydney has some Dakin files. 4 hours away sounds like that is where you are.
The AWM holds all the AFOs, CAFOs and CNOs but many of the war years are missing and, any they have, are not AFOs or CAFOs which would have held sample cards in them. The AWM/Navy hold little in the way of camouflage info, the NAA holds most of it. Much of the info is in Professor Dakin’s files. However, no samples of colours.
Colour footage of PoW in Singapore does come from the AWM though. There are some frame shots of them in this topic.[/quote]
It sounds like a good project. I will be happy to get involved and start looking for material too if it can be arranged.
I am finding the home fleet grey concerning/confusing as I am certain that the RN would have had darker decks opposed to all grey ships like the Japanese Navy did during WWII.[/quote]
I’ve found most data in Sydney & the ACT. Well those that can be found. Unfortunately, quite often items shown as in the archives can’t be located. That could mean anything from lost, misfiled or mis-recorded in the system and never existed. There are possibly more in Victoria as they hold Williamstown’s records but the only way to get access is to visit there. You can order online, pay for it and read it but the last time I tried that a kind lady rang me up and explained that the archive item I was after was quite large and just looking at the items in the first folder that alone would be over $700. Would I like to cancel the order? I did very quickly. On the other hand, it is free if you go down there.
Decks are fun. Anti slip paint was available in HF Grey as well as “Dark Grey” whatever that might be. That is the description in the fleet order. Being anti slip and presumably fairly matt, even HF Grey would probably have looked different on the decks versus the hull.
From the 1943 CB3098, decks could vary depending on the camo scheme using B30, G20, G10 or G5. Coastal forces had B15 decks. Nothing to do with poor old PoW, she was long gone by then.