HMS HOOD in Neutral Bay
Photographer
Frederick Garner Wilkinson
(1901-1975)
Date13 April 1924
Object number00037664
NameGlass plate negative
MediumEmulsion on glass
DimensionsOverall: 82 x 103 mm, 2 mm, 0.04 kg
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionThis photograph shows HMS HOOD in Neutral Bay on 13 April 1924. It was taken by Frederick Wilkonson from the Cremorne ferry in Sydney. In 1924 HOOD was stationed in Sydney Harbour as flagship of the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron.HistoryDuring 1923-1924, the British ship HMS HOOD with the Special Service Squadron made up the Empire Cruise, a world tour that stopped at Commonwealth and allied countries who fought and had allegiance in World War I. The tour started on 27 November 1923 and lasted until 28 September 1924. The public relations exercise was an attempt to express Britain's world sea power, particularly relevant in the aftermath of World War I.
HOOD launched in 1920, was considered to be the most powerful and significant ship of the Royal Navy prior to the outbreak of World War II. The battle cruiser was sunk on 24 May 1941 after receiving German fire from the BISMARCK during the Battle of Denmark Strait. The ship went down with 1,415 crew on board in what became one of the greatest maritime tragedies of the Royal Navy.
One of the major highlights in HOOD's peacetime career was its involvement in the Royal Navy's world tour in 1923-1924 incorporating countries including Australia and the United States. HOOD was flagship of the world tour from 1923 and led HMS REPULSE and six light cruisers that made up the Special Services Squadron. In 2001 the wrecks of both the BISMARCK and HOOD were located by David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries.
SignificanceThis photograph is representative of the flagship HMS HOOD's presence in Sydney during the world tour of the Special Service Squadron.The print is part of the F G Wilkinson Photograph Collection, comprising more than 700 glass plate negatives of ships in Sydney Harbour between 1919 and 1936. The collection provides an extensive and well-documented coverage of the changing styles of shipping in the port of Sydney before the decline of the coastal trade. The backgrounds also reveal the changing face of the city and harbour foreshores.
