| Accession Number | P08286.060 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Maker |
Wansey, Denver Wood |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Port Melbourne |
| Date made | c 1914-1919 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Troops embarking on HMAT Euripides (A14) at Port Melbourne. Euripides was a transport ship ...
Description
Troops embarking on HMAT Euripides (A14) at Port Melbourne. Euripides was a transport ship requisitioned by the Australian government in 1914. Fitted out to carry 136 officers, 2204 other ranks and 20 horses, she carried soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force and reinforcements to battalions serving in Gallipoli, Egypt, and on the Western Front. She continued carrying troops to and from Australia until 1919. During the Second World War, Euripides was again requisitioned though by this time she had been renamed 'Akaroa' by new owners. The ship was eventually retired, and broken up in 1954. The photograph was taken by Denver Wood Wansey, who served as a merchant seaman on Euripides from 13 October 1914 to 31 May 1923. During the war years, Wansey held the positions of 7th, 4th, and 3rd Engineer. He was an amateur photographer and created seven albums of photographs recording life at sea aboard the Euripides as well as the ship's many arrivals and departures. Wansey was able to develop negatives at sea using a propeller shaft as a makeshift darkroom.