Rosyth, Firth of Forth, Scotland. 7 December 1918. A group portrait of officers and ship's ...

Rosyth, Firth of Forth, Scotland. 7 December 1918. A group portrait of officers and ship's company on the forward deck, or forecastle, of the battle cruiser HMAS Australia. The men crowd together on and above the deck, even sitting astride the spars and on the forward 12 inch turret. Note the animal mascot, slightly obscured by the officer in front of the white lifebuoy. Note also the midshipmen and sub-lieutenants in the front row who are all undergoing training. HMAS Australia served with the Grand Fleet of the Royal Navy and at the time of the surrender of the German High Sea Fleet on 21 November 1918 at the Firth of Forth she led one of the British lines escorting the enemy ships to the surrender area. HMAS Australia was then given the custody of the German battle cruiser, Hindenburg, until the Hindenburg was removed to await her fate at Scapa Flow. HMAS Australia sailed home in April 1919. (Donor E. C. Wilson)