MYSTERY OBJECTS

[plaques]

Australian Longhorn drinks bottle holder to keep them cool. Top missing. don't need them here.

[Stanley]

I'll go with Ken.

[Marilyn]

It doesn’t come with a lid...

[Marilyn]

I propose it is an old “Darwin Stubby Holder”. The original ones, like the one we have, holds the equivalent of six regular stubbies of beer. Hubby has had his 40+ years, still with its original bottle, which still has its original contents.
Darwin Stubbies were famous for their size and everyone that sees it cracks a smile.
Here is ours, with a regular sized stubby next to it...

[chinatyke]

I have a couple of regular sized ones, given to me by an Aussie friend.

[Big Kev]

Maz got it straight away it is just a 'regular' 330ml bottle size. I was given it as a gift from an Aussie colleague when he visited our UK office.

20201216_190529.jpg

[Marilyn]

Oh my gosh...a regular sized one ! That does surprise me, though there was nothing to compare it with size wise on the photo.
Do you not use stubby holders?
I have a cane dish filled with regular sized stubby holders on our bar. They are always offered as an option with a beer...some people refuse. They stop the drips, and make it easier to handle the wet bottle.
( they are a regular everyday thing here!)

[Marilyn]

Most of ours are made from similar material to wet suits...

[PanBiker]

We had some customised ones given as favours at my nephew Matt's wedding to Ruth who is an Aussie, I think they were her idea. Matt was in the Army but they have now settled in Australia.

[Stanley]

What were they, where were they and what were they called.

[Wendyf]

Tom Puddings, barge trains carrying coal on the canals. I dont know where this one is but I posted a photo a couple of years back of one on the Aire/Calder Navigation.

[Big Kev]

Looks good to me Wendy. I agree with all of that.

[Stanley]

She's gone straight to it Kev. Well done Wendy and yes it's Aire and Calder.
Curses! Now I shall have to think of another object.

[Tizer]

While you're thinking here's a photo. What does it show?

[Gloria]

The wings of the planes can be folded back to fit on or below the decks of aircraft carriers. Or, to fit on cargo ships for transportation to other parts.

[Stanley]

Are we looking at a squadron of Fairey Sword Fish preparing to be taken below deck after a sorty?

[Tizer]

A correct description Gloria, and Stanley has identified the aircraft. Not returning but about to be scrambled. Any idea where they are going?

[Big Kev]

Any idea where they are going?

Shoot at the Bismark?

[Gloria]

Burma?

[plaques]

Kev, Shoot at the Bismark? Could be, My pals father was on the Ark Royal before it was sunk. Previous to that they got laid up for repairs where he said he met Carmen Miranda. The battle stories were believable but his on shore activities,... well say no more.

[Stanley]

Being delivered for the defence of Malta?

[Tizer]

Kev got the target right - the German battleship Bismarck, but it was a low level torpedo attack rather than shooting. The Swordfish aircraft are shown on the aft deck of the carrier HMS Victorious before deployment. Bismarck had sunk HMS Hood and the RN were desperate to sink the German ship. It was one of the most modern battleships at the time and fast moving, so they needed to get to it before it could escape into the Atlantic and threaten convoys. The torpedo attack wasn't able to cripple Bismarck let alone sink it. Eventually the carrier Ark Royal got close enough for its Swordfish to reach the battleship and stop its escape. It was later sunk by shelling from the British battleships King George V and Rodney. The Swordfish crews were brave men, flying old, slow biplanes, with open cockpits and easy targets for the German gunners. LINK Detailed story

[Big Kev]

Kev got the target right - the German battleship Bismarck, but it was a low level torpedo attack rather than shooting.

That was a guess

[Tizer]

But it was a good one!

[Wendyf]

My dad was on a troop ship heading out for the Middle East when all the gunships protecting the convoy disappeared. It was years later that he realised they had gone to look for the Bismarck.