Summary

Part of a collection of magic lantern slides relating to British naval history originating from the St John's Home for Boys. These slides were produced in Melbourne after the First World War with images from books and other sources. They are believed to have been used to illustrate lectures to the children in St John's Homes. Several of the slides are marked with the name 'Boreham'. This may indicate a link to Reverend Frank William Boreham (1871-1959), a noted Baptist writer and preacher who used lantern slides to illustrate talks in Melbourne and Tasmania however St John's was an Anglican institution.

Established as St John's Home for Boys in 1923, the home was located in Balwyn Road, Canterbury at 'Shrublands', a mansion formerly the property of investor & businessman John Hindson (1839-1919). His widow Alice Hindson (nee Henty) donated 'Shrublands' to the Anglican Church as a memorial to her husband and William, her late son, to be used as a home for "needy and destitute' boys on the condition it was named 'St John's'. It was officially opened on 22 November 1924 after extensive renovations to accomodate 30-40 boys, also paid for by Alice Hindson. There was a physical link with British naval history as Dame Nellie Melba donated a chapel lantern to St John's Home supposed to be one of those used by Admiral Lord Nelson in the cabin of his flagship HMS Victory. She also donated a cabin bell and wooden spars from HMS Victory. The latter were turned into candle holders.

Named after the 18th-century Admiral Samuel Hood, HMS Hood was the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy. Originally one of four Admiral-class battlecruisers ordered in mid-1916, she was the only one completed being commissioned in 1920 after extensive modifications bought about by a review of the Battle of Jutland, which showed up serious limitations in the original design. On launching she was the largest and most powereful warship in the British Navy and remained the pride of the fleet for a generation. HMS Hood was hit by enermy fire and sunk on 24 May 1941, with the loss of all but three of her crew, during the Battle of the Denmark Strait in which the British Navy attempted to block the escape of the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen from the North Sea into the Atlantic Ocean.

HMS Hood visited Melbourne from Monday 17th March to Tuesday 25th March 1924, as flagship of the Special Service Battlecruiser Squadron, during an "Empire Cruise" around the world.

Description of Content

Group portrait of Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick L. Field (1871-1945) with the officers of his staff in front of one of the twin 15-inch gun turrets of the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Hood. Following distinquished service during World War I, Field was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1919 and appointed Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy the following year. In 1923, he was knighted and appointed to the command of the Special Service Battlecruiser Squadron, with HMS Hood as flagship. Between November 1923 and September 1924, he led the squadron on an "Empire Cruise" visiting all major Australian ports, including Port Melbourne, from 17th - 25th March 1924. Following his return from the tour he was promoted to Vice Admiral on 26 September 1924. He was promoted to full Admiral on 5 April 1928, and later served as First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy from1930-1933, before retirement.

Physical Description

Standard format black and white Lantern Slide with black binding tape.

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