diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py
index 24dab953f0..f9b3a3a23a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py
@@ -245,6 +245,11 @@ class STASH(collections.namedtuple('STASH', 'model section item')):
         >>> print(iris.fileformats.pp.STASH(1, 16, 203))
         m01s16i203
 
+    A stash object can be compared directly
+    to its string representation:
+    >>> iris.fileformats.pp.STASH(1, 0, 4) == 'm01s0i004'
+    True
+
     """
 
     __slots__ = ()