Dunkirk Evacuation

The Withdrawal from Dunkirk, by Charles Ernest Cundall
The Withdrawal from Dunkirk, by Charles Ernest Cundall

The evacuation from Dunkirk on the French coast was hailed in Britain as an extraordinary achievement and the ‘little ships of Dunkirk’ swiftly entered the mythology of wartime brave deeds.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

British soldiers wade out to a waiting destroyer off Dunkirk during the evacuation.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, 31 May 1940.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk enjoying tea and other refreshments at Addison Road station in London, 31 May 1940.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

Some of the 'little ships' used during the evacuation of Dunkirk being towed back along the River Thames past Tower Bridge, 9 June 1940.
Dunkirk Evacuation
Dunkirk Evacuation

German forces moved into Dunkirk hours after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. Here German officers inspect a memorial on the sea front at Dunkirk.

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Iban ceremonial parang

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<a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30003921?cat=weapons%2520and%2520ammunition" target="_blank"><img alt="Iban ceremonial parang" class="" src="http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/251/media-251602/standard.jpg?action=e&cat=weapons%2520and%2520ammunition" /></a> <span>Iban ceremonial parang<a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (WEA 2063)</a></span>

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© IWM (WEA 2063)

Catalogue number

WEA 2063

Materials

scabbard: brass
scabbard: hair
leather
steel
leather
wood

Alternative Names

FULL NAME: Iban ceremonial parang
SIMPLE NAME: parang, Iban

Object Type

ethnographic material

Category

weapons and ammunition

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History note

The parang was the traditional tool-cum-weapon of parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. This ceremonial example was made by the Iban people of Northern Borneo for James O'Donnell, who served in the area during the Indonesian Confrontation of the mid-1960s. O'Donnell flew in Royal Navy Wessex helicopters of 845 Squadron, from a forward air base at Nanga Gaat. The grip of the parang is made from the case of a starter-cartridge for a Wessex helicopter engine.

Physical description

parang & scabbard grip formed from Wessex helicopter starter cartridge, leather secondary scabbard affixed to outside of wooden scabbard.

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