Officers awaiting embarkation on the troopship HORORATA, Melbourne
Photographer
Josiah Earl Barnes
(Australian, 1858 - 1921)
Datec 1916
Object number00027612
NamePhotograph
MediumPhotographic print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 109 x 154 mm, 1 mm, 0.04 kg
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionPhotograph by Melbourne photographer Josiah E Barnes of officer waiting to board the troopship HORORATA. This image depicts the steamship HORORATA docked at a wharf ready to take on troops. Three senior officers pose in the foreground and troops can be seen behind them. A warehouse appears at upper left. The reverse has a handwritten inscription in pencil reading: `HORORATA no15'.HistoryMelbourne based photographer Josiah Barnes had two sons, Norm and Victor, who left for war in 1916 (both returned to Australia after their service). Barnes appears to have taken an interest around this time in photographing the troopships as they departed for war from Melbourne.
The steamer HORORATA was built in 1914 for the New Zealand Shipping Company and went into service as a troopship when WW1 broke out that year. After the war the vessel commenced service with the New Zealand Shipping Company before being sold to British India Steam Navigation Company in 1939 and renamed WAROONGA. WAROONGA was carrying cargo from Sydney and New York to London when the vessel was torpedoed on 5 April 1943 by a German U-boat. WAROONGA sank the following day with 19 lives lost.
