Departure of the last Australian hospital ship from Southampton, England

Departure of the last Australian hospital ship from Southampton, England. Hospital ships were designated as floating medical treatment facilities or hospitals. This painting depicts one of the two Australian hospital ships used during the First World War. HMAHS 'Karoola' was 7,391 tons and requisitioned on 9 May 1915. It embarked troops and general cargo and departed for Egypt 25 June 1915. After disembarking troops, the ship proceeded to England where it was converted into a hospital ship with accommodation for 463 patients. For the next three years the ship transported sick and wounded between England and Australia, making a total of 13 voyages to Australia. Commonwealth control of HMAHS 'Karoola' ended on 9 June 1919. The second Australian hospital ship was HMAHS 'Kanowna', 6,042 tons. It was requisitioned as a transport from Townsville, Queensland on 8 August 1914. It embarked troops for New Guinea. Commonwealth control of the ship ended on 21 August 1914 and it was requisitioned again on 1 June 1915. The ship proceeded to England where it was converted into a hospital ship with accommodation for 452 patients. For the next three years the ship transported sick and wounded between England and Australia, undertaking 10 voyages to Australia. Commonwealth control of HMAHS 'Kanowna' ended 29 July 1919. Given that HMAHS 'Karoola' departed on 6 May 1919 from Southampton, London to Melbourne this painting is most probably of HMAHS Karoola, leaving on its final journey to Australia.

Dora Meeson (1869-1955) studied at the NGV School in Melbourne and in Paris and London. She married the painter George Coates in England in 1903 and they lived in England and Paris until 1921. She subsequently returned to London and held regular exhibitions there and obtained painting commissions. Meeson was the first Australian woman member elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in 1919.