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Asleep on deck
Asleep on deck

Asleep on deck

Date1920-1929
Object numberANMS0831[011]
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 114 x 71 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Margaret Kiley-Balas
DescriptionThis black and white photograph depicts a sailor asleep on the deck of a naval vessel, with a gun visible in the background. It belonged to John Berchmans Kiley who served in the Royal Australian Navy.HistoryJohn Berchmans Kiley was born on 29 January 1910 and joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1925. He began his naval service on HMAS TINGIRA, a ship for boy sailors moored at Rose Bay in Sydney, where he trained for 15 months. He went on to join HMAS SYDNEY and travelled to England, returning home on HMAS AUSTRALIA's (II) maiden voyage to Australia in 1928. Kiley also served in HMAS MELBOURNE, and undertook four years of training at HMAS CERBERUS studying a range of gunnery courses. Kiley reached the rank of Leading Seaman, and to his great disappointment was invalidated out of the navy around 1930 due to respiratory illness.SignificanceThis photograph is a record of a typical experience of sailors serving in the Royal Australian Navy in the 1920s.