| Accession Number | P07953.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Sydney |
| Date made | c 1940 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Neville David McWilliam, Royal Australian Naval Reserve ...
Description
Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Neville David McWilliam, Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR), of Sydney, NSW. With a career starting in 1929 as a 14 year old cadet Midshipman, Lt McWilliam served and trained aboard HMAS Canberra and HMAS Hobart. He also served at the shore bases HMAS Cerberus and Penguin. He was selected to attend Observers School in England, where he qualified as an observer in 1940. In October 1940 after returning to Australia, he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal for saving the life of a woman drowning in Sydney Harbour. On 17 November 1941, he was posted to the light cruiser HMAS Perth where he served until he was killed in action on 1 March 1942, when Perth was sunk by Japanese forces in the battle of Sunda Strait. Lt McWilliam was aged 26 years.