Diary of Raymond Poole aboard the ARCHIBALD RUSSELL

Author Raymond Oswald Poole (1910 - 1996)

Date1933

Object number00039421

NameDiary

MediumPaper, ink.

DimensionsOverall: 260 x 210 mm, 0.84 kg

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bob Poole

Terms

DescriptionRaymond Poole's illustrated diary traces his experiences as a seaman during a voyage from Australia to England on the ARCHIBALD RUSSELL. The ship was one of the famous wheat-carrying 'windjammers' that raced each other around Cape Horn. Written in seaman's slang, the diary provides a record of shipboard life, detailing horrendous storms, gnawing hunger, illness, injury, and the work of the crew.HistoryThe diary documents Raymond Poole's experience as a seaman on a voyage from Australia to England with a cargo of wheat in the early to mid-20th century, when wheat was one of Australia's main export crops. Poole wrote in the vernacular common to seamen of this period, describing shipboard life and the multicultural nature of the ship's crew. There were atrocious storms rounding Cape Horn, periods of extreme hunger and putrid food, and rampant illnesses and injuries endured by the crew. The crew's work, including the watch, taking the wheel, cleaning, repairing the sails and rigging, are also described in detail. Further to this, the dairy illustrates the technology used on commercial vessels at this time. Raymond Poole was born in Fiji where his parents were Methodist missionaries. He left school at a young age and possibly went to work in the gold mines there with his brother before going to sea. Poole served on a number of coastal vessels in Australia in the late 1920's and early 1930's. In 1933 he joined the ARCHIBALD RUSSELL for the voyage from Wallaroo to England and he then spent time on other vessels overseas. In the late 1930s and early 1940's Poole was on the QUEEN MARY and AORANGI when they served as troop carriers before joining the Royal Australian Navy in April 1942. During his naval service he crewed on Fairmile high speed boats in the waters of New Guinea until the end of the war. Poole reached the rating of Leading Seaman (Watch keeper) and although he had aspirations to achieve officer rank, these were literally dashed when he was struck on the head by a spar and was subsequently found to be colour blind. Poole did not go back to sea after the war and worked in Sydney at the Quarantine Service as a Launch Coxswain. The four masted barque ARCHIBALD RUSSELL made annual voyages to Australia from 1924 to 1939, and was particularly active in the grain trade from South Australia. Built in 1905 by Scott Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Greenock, at the cost of £20,750, it was one of many ships carrying wheat for John Hardie & Sons, Glasgow.SignificanceThis diary by Raymond Poole is a unique personal account of life on board a grain ship. It broadens our understanding of the experience of seamen, and is an important document recording a particular history of the wheat trade between Australia and England, at a time when wheat was one of Australia’s main exports.