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Troopship journal titled The Khyberian from HMAT KHYBER

DateApril - May 1919
Object number00028894
NameJournal
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 245 x 185 mm, 0.1 kg
ClassificationsBooks and journals
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis journal from HMAT KHYBER offers a selection of poems, limericks, photographs, stories, jokes, onboard sporting results and comments from 'Khyberian' issues. It was the first journal published onboard the 27th Australian Battalion's voyage, on its return from World War I service.HistoryThe troopship HMAT KHYBER left Sutton Veny, England on 3 March 1919 with members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) 27th Battalion, comprising 214 Western Australians, 139 South Australians, 449 Victorians, 73 Tasmanians, 543 New South Welshmen and 261 Queenslanders. Under the command of Captain L Pinckney the ship sailed via the Suez Canal and Colombo arriving at Fremantle on 9 May, Port Adelaide 10 May, Port Phillip 12 May and Sydney on 14 May 1919. With a creaking and straining of fibre, And rolling like any imbiber, On the long ocean track She has carried us back "Here's luck and success to the Khyber." Built in 1914 the KHYBER was a merchant ship refitted as a troopship to take servicemen between Australia and England during and immediately after World War I. SignificanceThis journal offers an insight into life on board HMAT KHYBER and the broader experiences of servicemen at sea in World War I.