Images(2)

Tablecloth from the SS ORONTES in WWII

Date1942-1946

Object number00055441

NameTablecloth

Mediumlinen

DimensionsOverall: 1070 × 1035 mm, 265 g

ClassificationsDecorative and folk art

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection gift from Elizabeth 'Betty' Hall

Terms

DescriptionAn embroidered tablecloth made by Dr Elizabeth 'Betty' Hall of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WREN) as she travelled from England to Sydney on the SS ORONTES on overseas deployment in 1944. The white cloth features embroidered flowers in symmetrical, repeating patterns. Half the tablecloth is embroidered with a single thread owing to the scarcity of materials available to civilians in England during World War II. Embroidery thread was reserved for those in rehabilitation. HistoryDr Elizabeth 'Betty' Hall began embroidering this tablecloth before her deployment and before wartime shortages hit. When she volunteered for an overseas posting she sought a new embroidery for the voyage and wrote to the supplier hoping they would sympathise with her entreaty for a new work to occupy her on the long sea voyage far from home. Alas all supplies were directed to therapy for recovering service personnel and Dr Hall was unable to attain a new embroidery. So she took her existing embroidery pattern, working on it as she spent time with Australian POW's, British servicemen and around 70 other WRENs also on board. On the voyage out the movements of the WRENS on board ship were restricted to certain areas. Fraternity and companionship with returning Australian servicemen and POWs was permitted and Dr Hall spent time with them on deck (talking and even embroidering), while fraternity with the thousands of active servicemen below decks was more restricted. Dr Hall, a former florist and emergency services worker in wartime London, lived in barracks in Moore Park, Sydney where she worked as a driver. When peace was declared Dr Hall accepted an offer to demob in Australia with the option to stay for up to two years with a return ticket home, in the context of Australia's aggressive immigration policy at that time. She embraced the opportunity and returned to her original craft of floristry and subsequently completed a PHD in English literature (at age 70). Dr Betty Hall's recollections in her oral history interview, copies of her precious photographs on the voyage and on arrival in Sydney, along with her discharge documentation are also held in the collections of the Australian National Maritime Museum. ORONTES was built for the Orient Steam Navigation Co by Vickers Armstrongs Ltd in Barrow-in-Furness, north west England, for the British-Australian route. It was launched 27 February 1929. After fit-out, sea trials in September and several short summer cruises around the southern English coast, Orontes left Tilbury on its maiden voyage to Australia on 26 October 1929. On 16 April 1940 ORONTES was requisitioned as a troop carrier in the UK its first voyage to Australia via South Africa drew enemy aircraft fire in the Downs off the coast of Kent. During its seven-year service ORONTES was involved in landings in North Africa, Sicily and Salerno, surviving intense aerial bombardment by German aircraft. In April 1947 ORONTES was released from Government service having clocked up the most 'miles' travelled by any liner during the war, 790,000km. The ship was returned to the Orient Line service, restored to its pre-war livery and served once again on the England to Australia route. After 33 years’ service the ageing liner could not compete with the sleek modern fleet and competition for immigrant berths from the airline industry. In all its years as a passenger liner, excluding its war service, ORONTES had carried more than 75,000 passengers to Australia. SignificanceThis tablecloth, embroidered during World War II, tells of the personal experience, defence alliances and wartime privations of WREN Dr Betty Hall. Dr Hall worked on the tablecloth at times during her voyage, especially when conversing with returning Australian POWs. Unable to secure new thread she divided her existing supplies. This can be seen in the flower work on the embroidery - some flowers are in rich thick thread; and some are quite threadbare - not filled in.The tablecloth is a strong artefact of the voyage, of women's experience at sea and of the war, and of immigration.