HMS HOOD in Sydney Harbour
Photographer
Frederick Garner Wilkinson
(1901-1975)
Date1924
Object number00037687
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 depicts a closeup of the foremast of HMS HOOD on 13 April 1924. Frederick Wilkinson took this image from a ferry while travelling on Sydney Harbour. HOOD was flagship of the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron from 1923 to 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 ports in Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and South America who fought and held British 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.
HMS HOOD was launched in 1920 and prior to the outbreak of World War II was considered to be the most powerful and significant ship of the Royal Navy. A highlight in HOOD's career was its role as flagship in the Royal Navy's world tour in 1923-1924. HOOD, HMS REPULSE and six light cruisers made up the Special Service Squadron.
HOOD was sunk on 24 May 1941 after taking German gunfire 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. In 2001 the wrecks of both the BISMARCK and HOOD were located by David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries.
SignificanceThis photograph is representative of HMS HOOD in Sydney Harbour during the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron Empire Cruise. 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.
