Ship's company, HMAS AUSTRALIA, 1934, including William Frank Cook

Date1934

Object numberANMS1445[068]

NamePhotograph

MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 150 × 212 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Rhod Cook

Terms

DescriptionWilliam Frank Cook began his career in the Royal Australian Navy on HMAS AUSTRALIA (II) in 1934. He is shown here with the ship's company. He notes on the back of the photograph that it was taken in 1934, but before the 1st of September 'when we put up our Snotties white patches'. The term 'Snotties' was a pejorative term for Midshipmen in the Royal Australian Navy, the 'white patches’ being the badges of rank for Midshipmen, which he started wearing.HistoryWilliam Cook had a distinguished naval career, and served aboard notable Australian warships during the Second World War, including HMAS Perth (I), HMAS Voyager (I) and HMAS Nizam. He was mentioned in despatches for his service aboard Voyager during the Greek campaign in 1941. Awarded command of Nizam at the age of 28, Cook became the youngest Australian to command a destroyer during the conflict. He was later present at Tokyo Bay (while in command of Nizam) during the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on 2 September 1945. He later served as First Lieutenant of HMAS Wyatt Earp, the first Australian vessel to conduct Antarctic research in the immediate post-war period.SignificanceThis photograph of HMAS Australia (II) dates to the immediate pre-Second World War period and compliments William Cook's chronicle (as related in his Midshipman's Journal) of the warship's voyage to England and the Mediterranean between January 1934 and July 1936. Dateable photographs of Australian warships (and their crews) during the interwar years are relatively rare. No photographs of HMAS Australia's ship's company exist in the ANMM's collections.