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Photographs and postcards collected by Petty Officer Harry Owen Hamment
Photographs and postcards collected by Petty Officer Harry Owen Hamment

Photographs and postcards collected by Petty Officer Harry Owen Hamment

Date1953-1954
Object numberANMS1337
NameArchive series
MediumPhotographs
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from William Hamment
DescriptionThis collection consists of photographs and postcards compiled by Petty Officer Harry Owen Hamment during his service in the Royal Australian Navy. Compiled in an album, the collection consists of photographs depicting a range of scenes and events, including a 'Crossing the Line' ceremony, a naval hockey team and the crew of HMAS SYDNEY (III) in Papua New Guinea. The postcards were collected in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea between November 1953 and June 1954, many with brief handwritten inscriptions.HistoryHarry Owen Hamment was born on 21 June 1927 in the town of Hamilton, New South Wales. He joined the Royal Australian Navy on 26 May 1952 and trained at HMAS CERBERUS until he was transferred to HMAS PENGUIN in April 1953. He joined the RAN's flagship HMAS AUSTRALIA in May 1953. Hamment joined the crew of the aircraft carrier HMAS SYDNEY in 1953 and worked as an Engine Room Artificer. Hamment passed the relevant exams and was granted his Engine Room Watch Certificate in June 1954. HMAS SYDNEY was serving in Korean waters as part of the United Nations operation from late 1953 until June 1954. During this period SYDNEY visited Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Japan while enroute to and from Korea. Petty Officer Hamment was assigned to HMA Ships BARCOO, FREMANTLE and ALBATROSS during the second half of his naval career. He was discharged from the RAN in May 1958, having served for a six year period.SignificanceThese postcards document the tourist attractions visited by the crew of HMAS SYDNEY during port visits in Asia in the 1950s. Local temples, streetscapes and scenes of traditional customs and life in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan are represented on the postcards.