Informal portrait of two unidentified sailors from HMAS Sydney with Joe, a German Spitz in the ...

Informal portrait of two unidentified sailors from HMAS Sydney with Joe, a German Spitz in the garden of the Dowse family home in Colombo. When HMAS Sydney docked in Ceylon, the residents collected the sailors and entertained them by showing them the local sights. Dr and Mrs Dowse collected these two sailors who brought Joe with them. They explained that they had rescued Joe from a sinking German ship, but for quarantine reasons could not take him back to Australia. The sailors asked the Dowse family if they could give Joe a home. Joe lived with them until the Japanese bombed Colombo on Easter Sunday 1942 and all European women and children were advised to leave. Mr Dowse found another home for Joe with the Rector of Christchurch, Reverend Douglas Harpur and his wife. At this time Mrs Harpur started a canteen for the servicemen of the South East Asian Command, and Joe became a great favourite among the men, being seen daily in the canteen. Joe later died of old age. HMAS Sydney was sunk in the Indian Ocean on 19 November 1941 by the German Raider Kormoran, both these sailors were probably killed. (Donor E. Sharp-Paul)