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Departure of AUTOLYCUS for England
Departure of AUTOLYCUS for England

Departure of AUTOLYCUS for England

Photographer (Australian, 1899 - 1953)
Date13 May 1939
Object number00021054
NameNitrate negative
MediumEmulsion on nitrate film.
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis image depicts SS AUTOLYCUS departing from wharf no. 2, eastern side Circular Quay, Sydney. The passengers throw streamers to family and friends on the wharf below At 11am on 13 May 1939, 234 RAN ratings and officers commissioned for HMAS PERTH departed Sydney on board the Blue Funnel steamer, SS AUTOLYCUS. The vessel called at Hobart and Melbourne to pick up more men before arriving in Portsmouth, United Kingdom on 29 June. It had carried 500 men. One officer described the conditions on board the over-packed vessel, saying that despite the 'grim quarters' many of the sailors 'accepted the situation' and maintained a high morale in light of the fact that for some, it was their first voyage out to sea.HistoryShip's company of HMAS PERTH were despatched from Sydney on 15 May 1939 in SS AUTOLYCUS. Bon voyage or farewell to the men from HMAS ADELAIDE, CANBERRA, HOBART, SYDNEY, VENDETTA and VOYAGER who made up the ship's company of PERTH.SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.