Scenes onboard the flagship HMS ORLANDO

Photographer Charles H Kerry (& Co.)

Publisher Town and Country Journal

Date19 December 1896

Object number00042665

NameNewspaper supplement

MediumInk on paper

Dimensions439 x 596 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis centre spread was published in 'The Town and Country Journal' on 19 December 1896 and contains photographs by Kerry and Company on board and alongside the Australia Station vessel HMS ORLANDO. ORLANDO was a well-known flagship of the Australia Station in 1892-1895 and featured in newspaper articles and popular music during the time.HistoryBritain's Royal Navy was responsible for the protection of Australian waters until the formation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911. Warships were sent to undertake patrol, escort, hydrographic and general duties on an area designated the Australia Station. Home ported in Sydney, the ships visited all major Australian ports as well as those of New Zealand and many significant South Pacific islands. HMS ORLANDO was the lead ship of the Orlando class of first-class cruisers built in the yards of Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Company, at Jarrow, England and launched on 3 August 1886. It was the flagship of Charles Ramsay Arbuthnot on the Australia Station from 1892 to 1895. ORLANDO gained popularity as the flagship, visiting all the major ports in Australia and New Zealand during its nine-year career. During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, sailors from HMS ORLANDO formed part of the force led by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour attempting to relieve the British Legation in Beijing. Returning to England in 1901, it was sold for scrapping on 11 July 1905 to Ward of Morecambe.SignificanceThis newspaper spread depicts the Australia Station and the flagship HMS ORLANDO. It gives an insight into life on board and highlights the public interest in the ship and its men.