HMS REPULSE anchored in Athol Bight
Photographer
Frederick Garner Wilkinson
(1901-1975)
Date1924
Object number00037697
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 stern view of HMS REPULSE was taken by Frederick Wilkinson from the ferry KIANDRA. REPULSE was anchored in Athol Bight on 13 April 1924 during its visit to Sydney as part of the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron.HistoryDuring 1923-1924 HMS HOOD was flagship of the Special Service Squadron and led the Empire Cruise, a world tour that stopped at many countries who fought for and held allegiance with Britain in World War I. The tour started on 27 November 1923 and lasted until 28 September 1924. It was largely a public relations exercise to express Britain's world sea power, particularly relevant in the aftermath of World War I.
During 1923-1924 the British battlecruiser HMS REPULSE took part in the world cruise of the Special Service Squadron, a tour that stopped at many countries which had fought in World War I and held allegiance with Britain. Starting on 27 November 1923 and finishing on 28 September 1924 the tour was largely a public relations exercise to express Britain's sea power, particularly pertinent in the aftermath of World War I.
HMS REPULSE was a Renown class battle cruiser built by John Brown & Co at Clydebank, Scotland. Launched in 1916 it joined the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron as flagship and fought at the 2nd Battle of Heligoland Bight in November 1917. The following month REPULSE was damaged in a collision with HMAS AUSTRALIA.
In the interwar period REPULSE took part in the Special Service Squadron's world tour in 1923-1924 and underwent a number of major refits (1918-20, 1924-25, 1933-36). World War II saw REPULSE undertaking ship convoys, escort duties, covering minelayer operations, evacuating British troops and searching out German ships.
In August 1941 REPULSE was transferred to Cape Town, then India and finally Singapore. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Pacific war began and REPULSE joined other ships of the Eastern Fleet in an effort to act as a deterrent to Japanese invasion convoys.
On 10 December 1941 the British fleet was attacked by 86 Japanese high level bombers. REPULSE suffered up to 5 direct torpedo strikes and quickly sank.SignificanceThis photograph is representative of HMS REPULSE in Sydney Harbour in 1924 as part of the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron world tour.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.
c 1924
