HMS REPULSE anchored in Athol Bight

Photographer Frederick Garner Wilkinson (1901-1975)

Date18 April 1924

Object number00037660

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

DimensionsOverall: 82 x 103 mm, 2 mm, 0.04 kg

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionHMS REPULSE is anchored in Athol Bight on Good Friday, 18 April 1934. This photograph was taken by Frederick Wilkinson during a ferry trip from Circular Quay to Taronga Park. REPULSE was visiting Sydney as part of the British Special Service Squadron's world tour in 1923-1924.HistoryDuring 1923-1924 the British battlecruiser HMS REPULSE took part in the world cruise of the Special Service Squadron, a tour that stopped at many countries which had fought in World War I and held allegiance with Britain. Starting on 27 November 1923 and finishing on 28 September 1924 the tour was largely a public relations exercise to express Britain's sea power, particularly pertinent in the aftermath of World War I. HMS REPULSE was a Renown class battle cruiser built by John Brown & Co at Clydebank, Scotland. Launched in 1916 it joined the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron as flagship and fought at the 2nd Battle of Heligoland Bight in November 1917. The following month REPULSE was damaged in a collision with HMAS AUSTRALIA. In the interwar period REPULSE took part in the Special Service Squadron's world tour in 1923-1924 and underwent a number of major refits (1918-20, 1924-25, 1933-36). World War II saw REPULSE undertaking ship convoys, escort duties, covering minelayer operations, evacuating British troops and searching out German ships. In August 1941 REPULSE was transferred to Cape Town, then India and finally Singapore. With the bombing of Peral Harbor, the Pacific war began and REPULSE joined other ships of the Eastern Fleet in an effort to act as a deterrent to Japanese invasion convoys. On 10 December 1941 the British fleet was attacked by 86 Japanese high level bombers and torpedoe planes. REPULSE suffered 4-5 direct torpedo strikes and quickly sank.SignificanceThis photograph represents HMS REPULSE and the Special Service Squadron's visit to Sydney in 1924.

The print is part of the F G Wilkinson Photograph Collection, comprising more than 700 glass plate negatives of ships in Sydney Harbour between 1919 and 1936. The collection provides an extensive and well-documented coverage of the changing styles of shipping in the port of Sydney before the decline of the coastal trade. The backgrounds also reveal the changing face of the city and harbour foreshores.