George V arriving by boat to view HMAS AUSTRALIA on 17 July 1928

Date1920s

Object numberANMS0823[210]

NamePostcard

MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper.

DimensionsOverall: 88 × 139 mm

ClassificationsPosters and postcards

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Margaret Kiley-Balas

Terms

DescriptionHMAS AUSTRALIA (II) was commissioned on 24 April 1928 under the command of Captain Francis Goolden. King George V inspected the upper and main decks of the ship on 17 July 1928 prior to its departure to Australia from Portsmouth on 3 August 1928. The King arrives in a steam pinnance flying the Royal Standard.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's (II) maiden voyage to Australia in 1928. 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.