RANC rubgy team
Date1928
Object number00045723
NamePhotograph
MediumPhotograph
DimensionsOverall: 119 x 208 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Patrick Dine and family
DescriptionThe men of the Royal Australian Navy College's Rugby team are shown seated in this photograph from 1928. Leonard Dine can be seen in the back row, second from the left. Dine went on to become a Captain in the Royal Australian Navy serving in World War II and the Korean War. During his time in the defence force Dine collected a number of photographs and keepsakes representing his long career.HistoryCaptain Leonard Norman Dine, RAN was born on 11 September 1910 in Randwick NSW, the son of W Dine of Sydney. He was educated at Randwick Royal Australian Naval College (RANC), Royal Naval Engineering College (RNEC) Keyham England and returned to RANC from 1926-1928 where he won the prizes for Physics and Chemistry. Dine also won the prize for Seamanship. He became a Midshipman in 1929, a Sub-Lieutenant in 1932, Lieutenant in 1933, Lieutenant-Commander in 1941 where he served aboard PERTH, NEPAL, SHROPSHIRE and BATAAN. In 1947, he became a Commander and during 1950 was Department Director Naval Construction and Naval Liaison Staff, London, England. Dine was an Engineer Officer aboard HMS VENGEANCE from 1950-53 and Acting Captain Fleet Engineer Officer to the Australian Fleet during 1954-56 when he then became Captain. Dine was appointed General Manager of HMA Naval Dockyard in Williamstown in Victoria 1957 until 1961 when he retired. Leonard Norman Dine died 6 November 1992 aged 81.
The Royal Naval Engineering College was opened without ceremony on 1 July 1880 as 'The Training School for Engineer Students'. It was occupied by 120 engineering students who were given board and lodgings for five years before they went on to the college at Greenwich for a further two years. They were then drafted on to sea-going ships as Assistant Engineers.
The College closed in 1910 as a result of the introduction of the Selborne/Fisher scheme of training that brought common training for both executive and engineering officers. It reopened in July 1913 and then was used for receiving special-entry cadets during the War. On 1 December 1946, the college became known as HMS THUNDERER. The final mess dinner was held at the Keyham College on 15 May 1958 which was followed by the opening of the new Manadon complex a week later. On 19 November 1959, the old buildings at Keyham reopened as the Dockyard Technical College. The Royal Naval Engineering College closed its doors in 1994 when training was transferred to the University of Southampton.
The Royal Australian Naval College Rugby team competes against a number of external teams, rugby being one of the many sporting clubs including cricket and boxing.
SignificanceThis photograph is representative of Captain Leonard Dine's career in the Royal Australian Navy and the role of sporting recreational clubs in the life of navy cadets.
