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Washing clothes on deck
Washing clothes on deck

Washing clothes on deck

Date1920-1929
Object numberANMS0831[006]
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 71 x 114 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Margaret Kiley-Balas
DescriptionThis black and white photograph depicts a group of sailors washing clothes on the deck of a naval vessel. Wooden buckets are also on the deck, and washing is hung out to dry. The photograph belonged to John Berchmans Kiley who served in the Royal Australian Navy.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 and travelled to England, returning home on HMAS AUSTRALIA. Kiley also served in HMAS MELBOURNE, and 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 due to respiratory illness.SignificanceThis photograph offers a pictorial record of life aboard Royal Australian Navy ships in the 1920s. It illustrates the mundane chore of washing clothes in the setting of a naval ship's deck.