Images(2)

SS AUSTRALASIAN

Date1900

Object number00056521

NameWatercolour

MediumWatercolour, paper

DimensionsOverall: 172 x 237 x 2 mm,

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Gift from Terry Metherell

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DescriptionThis watercolour painting depicts the Aberdeen White Star Line’s SS AUSTRALASIAN operating as a troop transport to the South African War in 1900. An inscription on the work notes the ‘gallant sons of New South Wales’, so it likely depicts a voyage originating in Sydney on 12 February 1900, carrying the fourth contingent of the New South Wales Lancers to the so-called ‘Boer War’. This vessel is important as it also carried the New South Wales contingent to serve in the British Soudan (Sudan) campaign of 1885. The artist, Archibald Andrews, is not well known but appeared to be active in the period 1895–1908, primarily painting somewhat naïve ship images for wharf-side purchase. The work is not highly accomplished but presents an unusual souvenir of the South African War, especially as civilian mementoes of troop transports are relatively uncommon.HistoryOver 1899–1902, the Australian colonies (and subsequently the Commonwealth of Australia) despatched approximately 16,000 volunteers to fight in South Africa. An unknown number also departed on their own initiative, hoping to serve with the British Empire contingents who were campaigning against the Boer republics. Overall, the imperial campaign against the Boers represented Britain’s largest military logistical challenge since the Crimean War of 1853–56. It also reinforced the martial value of the empire’s commercial shipping fleet, in addition to the requirement for a powerful Royal Navy to protect trade routes worldwide. Apart from the single contingent of troops sent by New South Wales to the Soudan (Sudan) in 1885, the South African War represented the first time that Australia systematically despatched soldiers overseas. These personnel largely travelled in commercial vessels commissioned by Her Majesty’s (from 1901 His Majesty’s) Transport Service as Hired Military Transports. These vessels typically sailed from Australian ports to Durban and/or Cape Town, either returning to Australia or travelling on to Britain. Large numbers of Australian horses and foodstuffs were furthermore despatched to South Africa via these ships. Australian soldiers also embarked as paying passengers aboard normal commercial services for overseas engagements. Among the transports that conveyed Australian troops to South Africa in 1900 was SS AUSTRALASIAN. This 3662-ton iron-hulled steamer was built in 1884 by Robert Napier & Sons of Glasgow and owned by Aberdeen-based George Thomson & Co. (often known as the Aberdeen White Star Line). AUSTRALASIAN was 361 feet 6 inches in length and boasted two carrying decks, as well as refrigerating plant and electric lighting. Of particular note to Australia, this same vessel had conveyed the New South Wales contingent to Soudan in 1885. Those soldiers returned to Sydney on the Union Steamship Co.’s SS ARAB, which was taken out of service in 1900. AUSTRALASIAN was therefore unique as the only steamer to serve as a trooper for both of these imperial campaigns in Africa. This rather workmanlike watercolour depicts SS AUSTRALASIAN departing from Melbourne in 1900 for the Transvaal. Assuming that it was painted at or near the date of sailing, the work would be associated with the four-week voyage from Port Melbourne to Durban, departing on 21 February, 18 July or 8 December that year. On the majority of its return voyages Australia the vessel carried invalids and returnees back from the conflict in South Africa. Nevertheless, the quotation from Romeo and Juliet on this image suggests that it depicts a departure rather than an arrival. Given that the inscription also notes the ‘gallant sons of New South Wales’, the voyage was most likely one that originated in Sydney on 12 February 1900, carrying the fourth contingent of the New South Wales Lancers. The vessel’s departures from Sydney on 13 July and early December did not appear to boast a substantial military presence. The artist, Archibald Andrews, is not well known but appeared to be active in the period 1895–1908. There are no other works attributed to him in the National Maritime Collection, but this watercolour is typical of other Andrews paintings held in the Maritime Museum of Tasmania (P_2022-123 S.S. Peregrine 1895; P_2015-0527 Transport Medic – Souvenir 1899–1900 Transvaal; P_1991-482 S.S. Monowai 1903), State Library of Victoria (H29855 Melbourne 1896; H28752 Brisbane 1900; H30561 U.S.S. Co’s S.S. Rotomahana 1908; H30562 S.S. Warrimoo 1908) and New Zealand’s Okawa Museum (CT82.1465d, SS Warrimoo, n.d.). Of note, the two images of SS WARRIMOO are not identical but do illustrate that his works travelled internationally. It is possible that this was the same Archibald Andrews who sought copyright in two colour charts, the first in 1919 (National Archives of Australia A1336 7325) and then in 1925 (NAA A1336 14523). He is not listed in the Design and Art Australia Online database, and his works do not appear in a basic search on Invaluable, although several were auctioned in 2008.SignificanceThe South African War was the first armed conflict in which Australian personnel served in large numbers. The highly logistical nature of the war included a substantial drain on the British merchant fleet, with vessels such as SS AUSTRALASIAN impressed as Hired Military Transports. This painting depicts the vessel conveying New South Wales troops to South Africa at a time when the military campaign was largely depicted as honourable and adventurous, as indicated by the sentimental inscriptions. The artist, Archibald Andrews, is not well known but appeared to be active in the period 1895–1908, primarily painting somewhat naïve ship images for wharf-side purchase. The work is not highly accomplished but presents an unusual souvenir of the South African War, especially as civilian mementoes of troop transports are relatively uncommon.