navalchristmasparty

I certainly thank you for sharing so many wonderful images. An excellent collection which we enjoy very much! If you look at the scrip (Bottom of photo) seems to be flipped...

Carlos Ariel Salamantes (Off) Thank you Carlos Ariel Salamantes. We are happy to share it! The handwriting at the bottom of the photo is indeed reversed because it is a glass plate negative. Please watch this space for more uploads, you're feedback is always welcome.

This is a great shot - always good to see images from the ANMM collection.

It would be good to identify this flag, which seems to have three bars and an elephant in the middle. A social oprganisation's flag I'm guessing. Our group will post here if we find out. We learn elsewhere that crane rides like this were conducted during Navy Week at Garden Island up to the 1950s, sometimes using the famous 250 ton hammerhead crane [the demolition of which is now being discussed] but we don't think the crane rides could happen today. There's a lady holding a baby up high above the safety rail in one of the companion photos!

THE FLAG. This information comes from Kim Dunstan of Melbourne, RAN 1958-1967, who does a lot of investigation of our photos, and sometimes extensively so. Kim tells us the flag seen here above the slide chute is the naval ensign of Siam, now Thailand, and probably from the WWI era. We agree. Look closely at your enlarged image and you can see the similarity here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flying_Naval_Ensign_of_Thailan... Kim also notes that there is an officer in a foreign naval uniform - black epaulettes, collar and dark tie, where an RAN officer's tunic is buttoned to the throat and collar - standing below the crane talking to a lady. The point is, a man in the same uniform can be seen standing fourth from the left in your image of a naval launch, several photos along at Object 00010453. Effectively this ties these two images to the same occasion, and dates the naval launch image for you as Dec. 12, 1931, same as here. We think the men in the launch are those who did entertainment for the children, with a diver looking for 'lost children,' as described in the linked newspaper articles under the companion 'crane basket' image. Well, that's it.

It seems there were several children's parties on HMAS Canberra in December 1931. - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16818779 I bet this is the Officers' children one on Saturday 12 December (SMH 14/12/1931 p.3 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16814285). " ... ... A large crane, in which the little guests were given rides .... ... "

beachcomber australia Thanks for those articles! It was definitely the children's Christmas party and judging by these articles, you're probably right, it looks like it was the one on Saturday afternoon for the Officers' children. Great work beachcomberaustralia! Woudn't it be wonderful if we could identify some of those children? It was 81 years ago, perhaps some of them may still be around and remember this event... We also have an image of the kids on the slide which we will be uploading today so watch this space.

Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons Hmm - this is going to sound REALLY geeky and picky - I need to get a life! ... 1931 date may be wrong ... The Harbour Bridge behind is not very completed for "December 1931" - they would be flat out completing it in three months for a March 1932 opening. I think from the state of the decking and pylons, that this might be December 1930. Also compare with this October 1930 photo - I had a look at Trove for children's parties in December 1930, but no luck so far.

beachcomber australia Not at all, we also enjoy being geeky and investigating these images and we always appreciate feedback from our followers! So, we know for sure that the Dutch navy visited in October 1930 and that it was their first visit. The DE RUYTER image above, shows the first part of the deck being lowered. In the image of the children in the crate, there are quite a few more deck pieces. Another bit of information, this image bit.ly/MfsM5h is from the same day (as you can see the lady in the white outfit and hat in both images). The inscription in the lower part of the negative says 'Xmas party 1931'. Perhaps more research into the Sydney Harbour Bridge will confirm, because I do see what you mean, they would have had to rush the last few pieces for the March 1932 opening!

Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons Thanks for the extra photo - it is really difficult to argue with the photographer's own signature date! The wikipedia article has a useful history and dates of construction. The two "creeper cranes" seen here are particularly good indicators of progress. Also on the page is a photo (from the AWM) of the HMAS 'Canberra' going under the bridge in 1930 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge#Construction Whether 1930 or 1931, this is still a wonderful photo!