HMAS MELBOURNE taking coal at Colombo
Date1926
Object number00029057
NamePostcard
MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 138 x 88 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Philip Stafford Jay
Description'Being a coal burner MELBOURNE had to coal often, mostly doing it ourselves, but on this occasion the natives did it for us'.
Philip Jay ex Petty Officer, RANHistoryHMAS MELBOURNE left Australia on 23 November 1925 for England, reaching Portsmouth on 30 March 1926. For part of 1926 it was assigned to the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet on exchange, returning to Australia in August of that year to resume its duties as flagship. In 1928 it returned to England to be decommissioned and broken up, its crew assigned to the new HMAS AUSTRALIA.SignificanceGILLETT, R. `AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND WARSHIPS 1914-1945'. LANE COVE, NSW: DOUBLEDAY, AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. 1983.
