Historical information
This booklet tells the story of the bell from the "S. S. Santhia" and how it came to Bogong State School, Victoria.
"Santhia" belonged to the British India Line. On 6th November 1943 she was in service as a troopship when she caught fire and capsized at No. 3 Garden Reach Jetty, Calcutta. Due to the additional weight of water pumped into her to extinguish the fire, "Santhia" heeled over and remained in the mud of the River Hooghly until a successful salvage was completed in January 1946. The salvage operation was carried out by Captain J. P. Williams of Melbourne and his team of Australian divers nine and a half months after the commencement of operations. "Santhia" was the sixty seventh ship salvaged by Captain Williams.
"Santhia's" Bell was presented by Captain Williams to Mr G.G. Jobbins, Chairman of Commissioners for installation at Bogong State School. The ceremony of presenting the bell took place on 21st February 1947. The bell bears the following inscription:-
"Presented to G.G.Jobbins, Esq., Chairman, State Electricity Commission, by Captain J.P. Williams for Bogong School, on December 6th, 1946. This bell was recovered from the wreck of the "S.S.Santhia" sunk in the Hooghly River, Calcutta, and raised by an Australian salvage party."
Significance
This booklet is significant because it documents an unusual event linking Bogong State School to a World War II salvage operation.
Physical description
A booklet consisting of images and text which tells the story of S.S. Santhia, of her sinking while in service as a troopship, of her subsequent salvage and how her bell came to Bogong State School in Victoria's High Country.
The booklet consists of 12 pages including the cover. It consists of text and images. Primarily printed in black and white, the booklet uses blue boxes to highlight text including titles and explanation of images. The cover is blue with white text and features an image of the bell of the S. S. Santhia.
Inscriptions & markings
Inside front cover:
THIS BOOKLET
is presented by
THE STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION
OF VICTORIA
to the
children of
BOGONG STATE SCHOOL
