‘Australia Prepared’- the Royal Australian Navy
“Since Captain Cook’s arrival, no more memorable event has happened than the advent of the Australian Fleet”, claimed Australian Defence Minister Edward Millen. The Australian Fleet Unit - eight cruisers and destroyers headed by HMAS Australia - assembled in Sydney Harbour for the first time on 4 October 1913. This extract from a 1916 documentary shows that event, plus later scenes of the light cruiser Sydney, probably taken in Albany WA in 1914. Captain Glossop is seen taking command of the Sydney, and RAN sailors board small boats, probably at Man-o-War steps, to go on board her.
‘Australia Prepared’- the Royal Australian Navy
“Since Captain Cook’s arrival, no more memorable event has happened than the advent of the Australian Fleet”, claimed Australian Defence Minister Edward Millen. The Australian Fleet Unit - eight cruisers and destroyers headed by HMAS Australia - assembled in Sydney Harbour for the first time on 4 October 1913. This extract from a 1916 documentary shows that event, plus later scenes of the light cruiser Sydney, probably taken in Albany WA in 1914. Captain Glossop is seen taking command of the Sydney, and RAN sailors board small boats, probably at Man-o-War steps, to go on board her.
Year: This segment c. 1914
Length: 03:20
Production Company: Australasian Films
Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Catalogue Reference: NFSA title: 45981
Location: Sydney, Albany; Australia
Tags: Australia, RAN, Royal Australian Navy, training, awards
Subject: RAN training, awards
On the morning of 4 October 1913 HMAS Australia led the Australian Fleet Unit (HMA ships Melbourne, Sydney, Encounter, Warrego, Parramatta, and Yarra) into Sydney Harbour for the first time. HMAS Australia was the Australian Navy's first flagship, the centrepiece of the Fleet Unit. Her entry at the head of the fleet evoked a nationalistic euphoria never before experienced. “The sight of the Fleet meant more to the Australian people than the visit of any foreign fleet. It was our expression of patriotism, ships of defence bought in love of country and empire”, wrote the Sydney Mail. This clip was extracted from Australia Prepared, a one-hour documentary produced by Australasian Films and released in 1916 to illustrate how the country had “made and equipped the expeditionary forces” to contribute to the Allied cause during the Great War.
‘Australia Prepared’- the Royal Australian Navy
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Jervis Bay, Australia
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0:00
Ships at seas
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0:48
Intertitle: AUSTRALIA PREPARED. The “AUSTRALIA’ Our First Battle-Cruiser
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0:48
Pans and close up footage of warship
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1:32
Intertitle: AUSTRALIA PREPARED. The “SYDNEY”. She was one of the escorting Warships. This picture was taken shortly before the brilliant dash that ended the career of the “Emden”
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1:32
Footage of warship
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1:52
Intertitle: The “Melbourne” Flag Ship
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1:52
Footage of warship
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2:22
Intertitle: AUSTRALIA PREPARED. CAPTAIN GLOSSOP OF THE “SYDNEY”
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2:22
Officer arrives onto the dock
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2:35
Sailors enter long boats and are taken to the waiting warships