Telescope lens cap: HMCS Victoria Accession Number: REL34389.002

Description

Removable brass lens cap from 19th Century single draw telescope (REL34389.001) acquired from HMCS Victoria - a steam sloop operated by the Victorian Government from 1856 - 1896. The cap was originally finished in polished metal with a protective varnish coat. The cap has been cracked and then repaired with plain solder. There is evidence of a scratched inscription inside the cap.

Contextual Description

This telescope was used principally for navigational purposes by officers on board HMCS Victoria but it may also have been used as a training device for midshipmen training to become officers. Telescopes were one of the most modern pieces of optical equipment available for use on ships during the mid nineteenth century and were therefore very expensive. Consequently there were only a limited number of telescopes located on a ship at any one time and they were always treated with extreme care. HMCS Victoria was ordered in London by the Victorian Government on 19 July 1854 to be a specialised warship. The vessel was launched on 30 June 1855 and set sail from Plymouth on 8 March 1856, arriving at Port Phillip Bay on 31 May. It saw initial service under the control of the Port Phillip Police Department as an Armed Police Vessel from 1856 - 1859 before passing to the direct control of the chief secretary of the colony. In 1860 the Victorian Government placed HMCS Victoria at the disposal of the governor of New Zealand for twelve months following the outbreak of the second Anglo-Maori war. On April 24 1860 the Victoria sailed from Hobart with 124 troops and arrived in New Zealand on 1 May signifying the start of the first overseas military operation by an Australian unit. HMCS Victoria's duties included troop transportation, evacuation of civilians and a bombardment of suspected blockade running schooners at the Makau River. On 19 December men from the Victoria formed part of a naval brigade which saw action at Kairau before taking part in the action at Matarikoriko on 29 December. On 29 January 1861 troops re-embarked in HMCS Victoria. The vessel set sail for Australia in March of that year. HMCS Victoria was retired from service in 1864, but returned to survey duties from 1865-1869 and 1873-1877. It was briefly refitted as a warship in 1878 but was decommissioned after six months eventually passing out of government service in 1882. HMCS Victoria was chartered for service as an excursion steamer before being sold in 1888 and broken up at Williamstown in 1895.