The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Five officers who served with HMAS Australia from when she was commissioned on 21 June 1913, and were popularly known for that reason as 'the Old Contemptibles', take a stroll on the ship's deck. This nickname was first adopted by the men of the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of 1914; it arose because Kaiser Wilhelm II allegedly referred to the BEF as a 'contemptible little army'. Identified left to right: Fleet Paymaster Richard Francis Wardroper, RAN; Fleet Surgeon Alexander Ruan Caw, RAN; Lieutenant Commander Oliver Clive Warner, RN; Chaplain Rev. Patrick Joseph Gibbons, RAN; Engineer Lieutenant Trevor Wilson Ross, RAN.
Group portrait of five officers who served with HMAS Australia from when she was commissioned on 21 June 1913, and were popularly known as 'the Old Contemptibles'. This nickname was first adopted by
Captain Oliver Backhouse CB, RN, inspects the ship's company on board HMAS Australia. The third officer in the group following Captain Backhouse is Fleet Surgeon Alexander Ruan Caw, RAN.
Informal group portrait of officers relaxing in the smoking room on board HMAS Australia. An officer is lighting his pipe from a candle that is kept burning in the room to save matches. Identified l
Group portrait of the officers on board the battle cruiser HMAS Australia. Note the two seater Sopwith 1 1/2 strutter biplane on a platform above the port gun turret. On 4 April and 14 May 1918 this
Captain Oliver Backhouse CB, RN, inspects the ship's company on board the battle cruiser HMAS Australia. The third officer in the group following Captain Backhouse (far left, turned side on to the ca
Reference image only to provide position details for those named. This image is not for sale. Group portrait of the officers on board the battle cruiser HMAS Australia. Note the two seater Sopwith 1
