Historical information
A rare hand written diary in chronological order from 31/05/1917 to 21/05/1919 by Stoker Richard Arthur Stephen Collins, DOB 1/12/1899 at Beeac Victoria, later residing at Shepparton Victoria.
Service Number 6129
A descriptive diary written from pre embarkment on SS Zeelandia from Melbourne (31/05/1917) to Sydney and leaving on 9/06/1917 on the Destroyer flotilla including “Yarra-79”, “Parramatta - 55” and the “Warrego-70” for Malta Station in the Mediterrainean.
Significance
Details of the personal daily activities onboard Destroyer during The Great War, descriptions include ports of call, other destroyers and warships on way to and including in the Mediterrainean. The social activities with shore leave and detailed description of the vista at different ports including Singapore and via th Suez Canal to the Mediterrainean.
Physical description
Black bound foolscap book with frayed top and bottom edges of cover. Areas are white markings on front and back covers.
Hand written daily diary in ink, italiac script, pages are of ledger appearance with faint pink lines. Pages in book discoloured yellow around edges.
Inscriptions & markings
Donated to the Ex Naval Association to be kept at the Shepparton RSL Sub Branch
Subjects
References
- Adriatic Operations - 01 January 1917 to 31 December 1918 The destroyer Yarra joined the Adriatic blockade fotilla force in October 1917
- Black Sea Operations - 01 January 1914 to 31 December 1918 In November and December 1918, Australian warships including the Yarra were involved in supporting operations with the British and French.
- HMAS Yarra Brief conflicts described from 1914 to 1918. Further links in this article include photos of the destroyer Yarra
