HMS Hood & The World Cruise of the British Special Service Squadron 1923 - 1924 Photographic Record. Published by the Empire Photographic Publishing Co., Oxford Street, London. The album contains approximately 351 photos (a selection have been shown on this website listing). A copy is held by Royal Museums Greenwich. The album cover in soft blue leather with gilt lettering.
From 1923 to 1924 the battlecruisers HMS Hood and Repulse, under Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Field, with the Special Service Squadron, under Rear Admiral Sir Hubert Brand, sailed around the world on The Empire Cruise, making many ports of call in the countries which had fought together during the First World War. The squadron departed Devonport on 27 November 1923. The remaining ships were the light cruisers HMS Danae, Dauntless, Delhi, Dragon and Dunedin. HMAS Adelaide joined in Australia.
This album includes:
A portrait photo of George V and a map of the world showing the ship names and ports of call.
The next few photos show portrait photographs of the commanding officers of the main ships and the Admirals.
Views of places visited, including Sierra Leone, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzberg, Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa, Ceylon, Penang, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vancouver and Rockies, west coast of USA, the Panama Canal (images of Hood), Callao, Lima, Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Cape Horn, Buenos Aires, Monte Video, and Rio de Janeiro.
Ship board life, including crossing the line, visitors to the ships (e.g. Sultan of Zanzibar), farewell streamers from ship, deck hockey and Grog with lime juice issue.
Land-based activites such as African Chiefs, East African Fishing woman, rickshaws, Aboriginal and Samoan, Fijian displays, views of monuments and buildings from places visited, and sailors by a train to view the Rockies.
Approximate dimensions are 33 cm length, 25 cm width and 3.5 cm depth.
Approximate weight is 1.18 kilos.
In good condition with some wear to the soft blue leather covering.