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Collection of 8 documents relating to Captain Spring-Brown

Date1887 - 1940

Object numberANMS1386

NameArchive series

MediumPaper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from David Spring-Brown

Terms

DescriptionThis series of eight documents relates to the career of Captain John Frederick Spring-Brown as a Master Mariner. These consist of one Trans-Australia Airlines Bulletin; one certificate awarded to Captain Spring-Brown for the Royal Silver Jubilee (1935); two journals written by Captain Spring-Brown onboard the SS WILLOCHRA (1919) and Troopship MOIKA (1916); two passenger lists for the RMS TAHITI under the command of Captain Spring-Brown (1922); one photograph of Captain Spring-Brown; and one souvenir edition of the SS AORANGI news (1931).HistoryThis collection gives a detailed picture of the life and career of a foreign-going master mariner at the turn of the century and into the 1930s. It has particular interest in the accounts of World War I activities, carrying troops in 1916 and carrying German prisoners and internees from Australia and New Zealand to Germany, then transporting Russian refugees around the coasts of northern Europe in 1919. The collection, and in particular the two journals recounting these voyages, also provides an insight into the importance of family relationships to seafarers like Spring-Brown, who missed his wife and family, and waited eagerly for correspondence on the long voyages away, and who described the impact of visiting his mother and siblings in England after 21 years absence. The collection contains documents relating to Spring Brown's father, also a master mariner, showing the strands of seafaring families which made their way to Australia through foreign voyaging.