Photograph, 'NSW Naval Brigade Portraits'

Captain Francis Hixson is central in this composite portrait of the NSW Naval Brigade Officers (and the only identified naval officer). He was born on the 8 January 1833 at Swanage, Dorset England. At 15 he joined the Navy as master’s assistant in the Havannah and helped to survey parts of the Australian east coast, New Zealand and the South Seas and returned to England in December 1851. He then served in the HMS Impregnable and in February 1852 joined the Herald in the expedition to survey and take possession of New Caledonia. In 1855 Hixson became acting second master and in 1858 won the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society for the rescue of a drowning seaman. This medal can be seen on the left hand side of Hixson’s tunic in the composite portrait. He had an exceptional career with the Navy and is best known for his work with the New South Wales Naval Brigade whose numbers steadily increased after he took command. In the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 he took a contingent to Hong Kong where the Royal Navy took over. He was chairman of the Sailor’s Home in Sydney for 40 years; served on the Committee of the Royal Naval House which helped to found the Royal Shipwreck Relief and was also president of the Humane Society of NSW. On 2 March 1909 he died of heart failure aged 76 and was buried with full naval honours.

The Sydney Morning Herald covered the presentation of the composite photograph to Hixson by Commander Jones at a tribute luncheon in 1875. Hixson is described as popular and highly regarded for his command. The photograph is described in the article as a ‘work of art’ and it was reported that Hixson stated he would treasure it as a ‘family heirloom’. The work has ornate decorations on each corner consisting of vine leaves and there are two roundels at the top of the portrait on the left and right hand side which contain images of cliffs and the sea. The bottom roundels on the left and right hand side contain images of officers. Top central has the crest of the NSW Naval Brigade. A Mr Kopach of the torpedo corps is credited with the design and ornamental aspects of the composition.