Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Guide & Souvenir of British Squadron Visit, 9 April 1924
Guide & Souvenir of British Squadron Visit, 9 April 1924

Guide & Souvenir of British Squadron Visit, 9 April 1924

Date1924
Object numberANMS1399[021]
NameBooklet
MediumPaper, ink
DimensionsOverall: 185 x 123 x 2 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the Menlove family
DescriptionBorn in 1906 Desmond Menlove entered the Royal Australian Navy College in 1920 hence his interest in the visit of the Royal Navy's Special Service Squadron which arrived in Sydney on 9 April 1924.
HistoryBritish Government sent a squadron of Royal Navy ships on a world cruise as public relations exercise. It left the United Kingdom on 27 November 1923 and returned on 28 September 1924. The fleet was divided into two sections, the battle cruiser squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Field and the light cruiser squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Hubert Brand whose portrait appears on the cover of this booklet. The light cruiser squadron arrived in Sydney on 9 April, this booklet was published as guide and souvenir of this visit. The squadron remained in Sydney until the 12th of April.
SignificanceThis material forms part of a large collection of photgraphs and other records of Desmond Menlove's career in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve as well as his career in merchant shipping. Desmond Menlove was famous for his role in sinking the first Japanese submarine in World War II, as Lieutenant Commander of HMAS DELORAINE. He also commanded HMAS KAPUNDA and HMAS LATROBE during World War II.