Sailors’ Farewell. Goodbye Sydney, 5 August 1925 press photograph, together with newspaper clipping, Daily Telegraph (7 August 1925), featuring reproduction of same photograph.

SPG/197

fonds

1925

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Clippings

1009661

1 photographic print - gelatin silver - 12.6 x 17.9 cm
1 clipping - 16 x 23.3 cm

The US Pacific Fleet visited Australia from 26 July to 6 August 1925 with its eight largest battleships. This was part of a goodwill cruise to New Zealand and Australia following manoeuvres in Hawaii, and was the first visit of the US Fleet since 1908. Romances and marriages between the sailors and Australian women were not uncommon.
Reference: Library correspondence file

Press photograph with photographer’s monogram in plate with ink manuscript annotation to recto. Together with newspaper clipping from the Daily Telegraph (7 August 1925), featuring a reproduction of same photograph. This photograph shows a group of six embracing couples – all Australian women and US sailors. The sailors are members of the US Pacific Fleet, which visited Australia from 26 July to 6 August 1925. The accompanying newspaper clipping states ‘The end of a glorious fortnight and the bitter-sweet business of saying good-bye. A “Daily Telegraph” flashlight study at Circular Quay just before midnight on Wednesday, when all leave for the US sailors expired. Some of the couples had been married only a few hours previously and the girls were still carrying their marriage lines.’ The newsclipping has been annotated with ‘Don’t you wish you were amongst these.’

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales