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John Berchmans Kiley on HMAS MELBOURNE with another sailor
John Berchmans Kiley on HMAS MELBOURNE with another sailor

John Berchmans Kiley on HMAS MELBOURNE with another sailor

Date1928
Object numberANMS0846[001]
NamePhotograph
MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper.
DimensionsOverall: 108 x 64 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Margaret Kiley-Balas
DescriptionThis black and white photograph depicts John Berchmans Kiley on the right and a fellow sailor standing on the deck of HMAS MELBOURNE. The two sailors are in uniform, with their HMAS MELBOURNE cap tallies in clear view.HistoryJohn Berchmans Kiley was born on 29 January 1910 and joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1925. He began his naval service on HMAS TINGIRA, a ship for boy sailors moored at Rose Bay in Sydney, where he trained for 15 months. He went on to join HMAS SYDNEY in 1927. In 1928 he joined HMAS MELBOURNE and travelled to England, returning home on HMAS AUSTRALIA's (II) maiden voyage. Kiley undertook four years of training at HMAS CERBERUS studying a range of gunnery courses. Kiley reached the rank of Leading Seaman, and to his great disappointment was invalidated out of the navy around 1930 or 1932 due to respiratory illness.SignificanceThis photograph is visual record of John Berchmans Kiley's service on board Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS MELBOURNE in the late 1920s.