HMS REPULSE anchored at Athol Bight

Photographer Frederick Garner Wilkinson (1901-1975)

Date1924

Object number00037681

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

Terms

DescriptionHMS REPULSE is shown anchored at Athol Bight on 10 April 1924. This photograph was taken by Frederick Wilkinson from a special ferry cruise on board the KANANGRA. REPULSE was visiting Sydney with the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron in 1924.HistoryDuring 1923-1924, the British ship HMS HOOD with the Special Service Squadron made up the Empire Cruise, a world tour that stopped at many countries who fought for and had allegiance with Britain 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 and dominance, particularly relevant in the aftermath of World War I. HMS REPULSE was a Renown class battle cruiser built at Clydebank, Scotland. Launched in 1916 it joined the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron during World War I and saw action at the Second Battle of Heliogoland Bight. In the interwar period REPULSE took part in the Special Service Squadron's world tour in 1923-1924 and underwent a number of refits. World War II saw REPULSE protecting ship convoys and searching out German commerce raiders. Other duties included acting as an escort for troop carriers between Canada and Britain, covering mine laying operations, protecting Norwegian convoys and hunting the German battle cruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU. In August 1941 it was transferred to Cape Town and then India. In attempting to intercept Japanese invasion convoys on 10 December 1941 the British fleet was attacked by more than 80 Japanese aircraft. REPULSE was hit and sank quickly. There were 1,285 survivors thanks to allied ships in the area. 317 men from REPULSE lost their lives.SignificanceThis photograph demonstrates the 1924 visit of the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron to Sydney.

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.