Examination paper I for Royal Australian Navy candidates

DateApril 1929

Object numberANMS0831[029]

NameExamination paper

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 254 x 193 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Margaret Kiley-Balas

Terms

DescriptionThis general knowledge examination paper was issued by the Navy Office of the Department of Defence to John Berchmans Kiley as part of his higher education training. The exam required a variety of responses, including a short essay on hobbies, an account of industrial unrest in the year 1929, the Federal Financial Agreement, the Australian cricket season, recent polar expeditions and the position of the Pope in history.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 general knowledge examimation paper is a facinating record of the higher education that sailors undertook in the Royal Australian Navy. The questions on the test also illustrate some aspects of the the cultural and political climate of the early 20th century.