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RAAF 'Frognall' Sergeants Mess drinks coaster, circa 1940s

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Historical information

Drinks coaster from the Sergeants’ Mess of the Royal Australian Air Force at “Frognall,” Canterbury, Victoria. The card features a red illustration of the Frognall mansion, which was requisitioned during the Second World War and used by the RAAF as a sergeants’ mess.

Statement of significanceAs the School Council cast around for an urgent solution to find space for boarders, an anonymous donor gave £2,000 in 1925 towards the appeal being run by William Cartwright. The donor, later revealed as wealthy Baptist man Burdett Laycock, Alfred Mellor’s maternal grandfather, owner of Melbourne’s famous woollen mills and creator of Laconia blankets, wanted the money to be used to build a new boarding house and for it to be named to honour his father, Frederick Laycock. This was done in November 1925 when Laycock House was opened by Annie Mellor, Burdett Laycock’s daughter and the mother of Alfred Burdett Mellor CBE (OCG 1933).Date of creationBetween 1st January 1940 and 31st December 1949Year1940sCreatorRoyal Australian Air ForceTypeDrinks coasterAcquisition informationDonated anonymously in March 2026.Object measurements9 x 9 cm.MaterialsCardboardInscriptions and markingsRAAF 'FROGNALL' Sergeants MessGeolocation^[1]

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RAAF 'Frognall' Sergeants Mess drinks coaster, circa 1940s

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RAAF 'Frognall' Sergeants Mess drinks coaster, circa 1940s