Relating to the career of Lt. Cdr. E. J. Spooner, Volume 1

This is a maroon cloth card covered album, containing 262 photographs glued in.

Contents: Photographs relating to the career of Vice Admiral Ernest John Spooner while serving as a Lt Cdr on HMS New Zealand (1911) taking Admiral Lord Jellicoe on a world cruise to report on naval defences of the British Empire. Included are images of the officers and crew, crossing the line, dances and regattas. Other vessels include HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913), and HMs Suva (1906). Places include Suez, Port Said, Bombay, Colombo, Albany, Perth, Port Lincoln, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Jervis Bay, Hobart, Wellington, Lyttleton, Picton, New Zealand.

Ernest John Spooner was born 22 August 1887 and entered the Royal Navy in 1903. He was promoted Midshipman 1904, Sub Lieutenant 1907, Lieutenant 1909, Lt Commander 1917, Commander 1922, Captain 1930, Rear Admiral 1940 and Vice Admiral 1943. He was awarded the DSO while serving as Navigating Officer in HMS Calliope at the battle of Jutland. In 1942 he was senior naval officer, Singapore when the Japanese invaded. He escaped on board ML310 with Vice Air Marshall Pulford and 40 others but their boat was attacked by the Japanese. He and Vice Air Marshall died of starvation and malaria after being stranded on Chibia, an uninhabited island.

Page 1
Photograph 1: Group photograph of officers of HMS New Zealand (1911) taken in Portsmouth prior to leaving England, 20 February 1919.

Page 2
Photograph 2: Admiral Lord Jellicoe and staff officers, HMS New Zealand (1911), February 1919.

Page 3
Photograph 3: Admiral Lord Jellicoe and officers on the quarter deck, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 4
Photograph 4: HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913) arriving at Portsmouth, 1919.



Page 5
Photographs 5 & 6: Two views of the stern of HMS Zealand (1911) sailing through the Channel in bad weather, 1919.
Page 6
Photograph 7: View of the deck of HMS New Zealand (1911), Bay of Biscay, 1919.
Photograph 8: The ship’s company at Divisions and prayers, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 7
Photographs 9 & 10: View of ship’s crew exercising after Divisions and Prayers, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 8
Photograph 11: View of damage sustained by HMS New Zealand (1911) during WWI, no date.
Photograph 12: Staff officers and gun room officers playing deck hockey, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 9
Photographs 13 & 14: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) approaching Gibraltar with officers and ship’s band playing on deck, 1919.

Page 10
Photographs 15 & 16: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) at quayside, Gibraltar? 1919.

Page 11
Photograph 17: Statue of De Lesseps, Suez, 1919.
Photograph 18: View of Port Said from the sea, 1919.

Page 12
Photograph 19: Commander Leggett on the bridge of HMS New Zealand (1911) with the Canal pilot during coaling at Port Said, 1919.

Page 13
Photographs 20 & 21: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) coaling at Port Said, 1919.

Page 14
Photographs 22 & 23: Two views of a pilot station on the Suez Canal, 1919.

Page 15
Photograph 24: View of Suez taken by departing HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.
Photograph 25: Sailors playing the bagpipes watched by local people, Port Said, 1919.

Page 16
Photographs 26 & 27: Two views of the military camp at El Kantara [El Qantara], 1919.

Page 17
Photograph 28: Distant view of military camp, El Kantara, 1919.
Photograph 29: A double ended bridging pontoon used by the Turks in an attempt to cross the Suez Canal, 1915,
Photograph 30: Pilot station, Ismailia, ca.1919.

Page 18
Photographs 31 & 32: Two views of Gibraltar, 1919.
Photograph 33: Rugby team from HMS New Zealand (1911) posing for the camera with the Gibraltar Garrison rugby team, Gibraltar, 1919.
Photograph 34: Pay day, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 19
Photographs 35 – 37: Three views of Bombay, 1919.
Photograph 38: Three ships at anchor, Bombay, 1919.

Page 20
Photograph 39: Coaling at Port Said, 1919.
Photograph 40: Conjuror and juggler at Port Said, 1919.
Photograph 41: A small sailing craft off Aden, 1919.
Photograph 42: Aerial view of quayside with camels, 1919.
Photograph 43: View from the sea at Aden, 1919.

Page 21
Photographs 44 & 45: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) at anchor, Bombay 1919.

Page 22
Photographs 46: A Bandar boat, Bombay, 1919.
Photograph 47: Group of Indians, Bombay, 1919.
Photograph 48: Group of ship’s officers, 1919.
Photographs 49 & 50: Two views of the Taj Mahal, 1919.
Photograph 51: Old observatory at Jaipur, 1919.

Page 23
Photographs 52 & 53: Two views of elephants at work, Bombay, 1919.
Photograph 54: Group of officers mounted on an elephant, Bombay, 1919.
Photograph 55: A railway station, India, 1919.
Photograph 56: Distant view of Colombo, 1919.

Page 24
Photographs 57 & 58: Two views of a dance given by the ship’s company, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 25
Photograph 59: The Guard being inspected, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.
Photograph 60: Preparing for the dance, HMS New Zealand (1911), Bombay, 1919.
Photograph 61: A young woman identified as Joan Hepper, Bombay, 1919. Probablyy daughter of Sir Lawless Hepper, Director of Development, Bombay,

Page 26
Photographs 62 – 65: Four views of Indian acrobats ‘performing after breakfast in the jungle’, Rajpipla, 1919.
Photograph 66: Four naval officers bathing at Bombay, 1919.

Page 27
Photographs 67 – 71: Five views of a shooting party of naval officers, India, 1919.


Page 28
Photographs 72 & 73: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) off Karachi surrounded by small launches and waiting for the arrival of VIPs, 1919.

Page 29
Photograph 74: GOC [General Officer Commanding] Karachi arriving on board HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.
Photograph 75: Chief Commissioner for Scinde coming aboard HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Pages 30,31 &32
Photographs 76 – 89: Fourteen views of Colombo, 1919.

Page 33
Photograph 90: Lieutenant-Commander de Salis and Major Tennyson posing for the camera in front of a motor car, unidentified location, 1919.
Photograph 91: Passing a Japanese training ship in the South Indian Ocean, 1919.
Photograph 92: A boxing match presumably on board HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 34
Photograph 93: Distant view of Keeling Island, 1919.
Photograph 94: Eastern ExtensionTelegraph Company. men in sailing boat coming off from Cocos Islands, 1919.

Page 35
Photographs 95 – 99: Five views of naval officers sleeping: Lieutenants Cunliffe, Cornwallis, Pinney, Lieutenant Commanders Boyle and Devas, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 36
Photograph 100: View of ship’s company dressed up for the Crossing the Line ceremony, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1911.
Photograph 101: The ship’s band, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 37
Photographs 102 – 104: Three views of officers dressed for the Crossing the Line ceremony, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.

Page 38
Photograph 105: Lieutenant Chevalier and Lieutenant Commander Pretor-Pinney, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.
Photograph 106: Captain Brooke-Short, RM and Lieutenant Commander Pott, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.
Photograph 107: Clerk to the Secretary Edward Guinness, HMS New Zealand (1911), 1919.
Photograph 108: Young man in civilian clothes identified as ‘the man from Cooks’, no date.

Page 39
Photographs 109 & 110: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) entering Princess Royal harbour, West Australia, 1919.



Page 40
Photographs 111 & 112: Two views of a steam pinnace carrying Admiral Jellicoe ashore, Albany, West Australia, 1919.
Photographs 113 & 114: Two views of Admiral Jellicoe greeted by crowds, Albany, West Australia, 1919.

Page 41
Photographs 115 & 116: Two views of the Mayor of Albany delivering a speech of welcome to Admiral Jellicoe, 1919.

Page 42
Photographs 117 & 118: Two views of Admiral Jellicoe posing for the camera with local dignitaries, Albany, West Australia, 1919.

Pages 43 - 45
Photographs 119 – 124: Six views of Admiral Jellicoe driving into Albany under a decorated arch, 1919.

Page 46
Photograph 125: View of the bow of HMS New Zealand (1911) entering Princess Royal harbour, Australia, 1919.
Photograph 126: A merchant ship moored at the quayside, Princess Royal harbour, 1919,
Photograph 127: Sacks of wheat waiting transport, Princess Royal harbour, 1919.

Page 47
Photographs 128 & 129: Two views of the steam train that took Admiral Jellicoe to Perth, 1919.
Photographs 130 & 131: Two views of Perth, 1919.

Page 48
Photographs 132 – 134: Three views of Perth, 1919.

Page 49
Photographs 135 – 138: Four views of Australian tress, 1919.

Page 50
Photographs 139 & 140: Two views of Port Lincoln, Australia, 1919.

Page 51
Photographs 141 & 142: Two views of Port Lincoln, 1919.
Photograph 143: Seven naval officers dressed for shooting with shot guns, Port Lincoln, 1919.

Page 52
Photographs 144 & 145: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) at the quayside, Adelaide, Australia, 1919.

Pages 53 & 54
Photographs 146 & 147: Two views of a detachment from HMS New Zealand (1911) marching through Adelaide, 1919.
Page 55
Photograph 148: Gun crew from HMS New Zealand (1911) pulling field gun through the crowds at Adelaide, 1919.

Page 56
Photograph 149: The ship’s company assembled on board HMS Zealand (1911) possibly for a farewell photograph as the ship leaves Adelaide, 1919.

Page 57
Photographs 150 & 151: Two views of HMAS Australia (1911) leaving Melbourne, 1919.

Page 58
Photographs 152 & 153: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) alongside New Pier, Melbourne, 1919.

Page 59
Photographs 154 – 157: Four views of the botanical gardens at Melbourne and a church spire, 1919.

Page 60
Photographs 158 & 159: Two views of North and South Head, Sydney, Australia, 1919.
Photograph 160: Liner leaving Sydney. Captioned RMS Otway (1908) but she was sunk 1917. If photograph dates from 1919 is either Orsova (1908) or Osterley (1909).

Pages 61&62
Photographs 161 – 164: Four views of HMS New Zealand (1911) going into dry dock, Cocktatoo Island, Sydney, 1919.

Page 63
Photographs 165 & 166: Two views of the Royal Naval College, Jervis Bay, 1919.
Photographs 167: Five naval officers (four in civilian dress) from HMS New Zealand (1911) posing for the camera, 1919.

Page 64
Photographs 168 & 169: Two views of the Royal Naval College, Jervis Bay, 1919.
Photograph 170: Royal naval hockey team, 1919.

Page 65
Photograph 171: HMAS Suva (1906) in which Admiral Jellicoe visited the Solomon Islands, 1919.
Photograph 172: View of gun test firing, HMS Suva (1906), 1919.

Page 65a
Photographs 173 &174: Two views of a contingent from HMS New Zealand (1911) marching down Macquarie street, Sydney on Peace Day, 19 July 1920.

Pages 65b & 66
Photographs 175 – 179: Five views of HMS New Zealand (1911) dressed overall and the ship’s company celebrating Peace Day, 19 July 1920.



Pages 67 - 69
Photographs 180 – 185: Six views of Sir Ronald and Lady Munro-Ferguson, officers and ship’s company celebrating Peace Day on board HMS New Zealand (1911), 19 July 1920.

Pages 70 – 72
Photographs 186 – 194: Nine views of a Peace Day regatta, Sydney, 19 July 1920.

Page 73
Photograph 195: Group photograph: seven of the Ward Room officer’s football team, HMS New Zealand (1911), 19 July 1920. All identified.
Photograph 196: Group photograph: six of the Gun Room officer’s cricket team, HMS New Zealand (1911), 19 July 1920.

Page 74
Photograph 197: The Gun Room’s cutter crew in the ship’s cutter, Sydney, 19 July 1920.
Photograph 198: Four officers described as winners of the Veteran’s race, harbour regatta, Sydney, 19 July 1920. All have been identified.

Page 75
Photograph 199: Group of ship’s officers dressed as Maori dancers at the peace celebrations, HMS New Zealand (1911), Sydney, 19 July 1920.

Page 76
Photographs 100 – 104: Five views of Hobart, Tasmania from the sea, ca.1920.

Page 77
Photograph 105 & 106: Two views of HMS New Zealand (1911) arriving at Wellington, New Zealand, 1919.

Page 78
Photographs 107 & 108: Two views of crowds waiting to greet HMS New Zealand (1911), Wellington, New Zealand, 1919.

Page 79
Photographs 109 & 110: Two views of visitors to HMS New Zealand (1911) assembled on the quayside, Wellington, 1919.

Page 80
Photograph 111: Government House party with Admiral Jellicoe, Wellington, 1919.
Photograph 112: Queue of people waiting to come on board HMS New Zealand (1911), Wellington, 1919.
Photographs 113 & 114: Two views of Maori dancers, Wellington, 1919.

Page 81
Photographs 115 – 118: Four views of New Zealand, 1919.

Page 82
Photograph 119: Visitors to HMS New Zealand (1911), Port Lyttelton, 1919.
Photograph 120: Napier’s Bluff from the sea, 1919.

Page 83
Photograph 121: View of Queen Charlotte Sound, 1919.
Photograph 122: View of the bow of HMS New Zealand (1911) as she approaches Picton, 1919.

Page 84
Photograph 123: A seaplane flying towards HMS New Zealand (1911) ‘with a message of welcome’, Auckland, 1919.
Photographs 124 & 125: Two view of Admiral Jellicoe being received at the pier, Auckland, 1919.

Page 85
Photographs 126 – 128: Three views of Maoris greeting Admiral Jellicoe at Rotorua, 1919.

Page 86
Photographs 129 – 131: Three views of Admiral Jellicoe giving speech of welcome, Whaka, 1919.

Page 87
Photographs 132 – 135: Four views of Maori girls performing poi dance, New Zealand, 1919.

Page 88
Photographs 136 – 139: Four views of naval officers posing for the camera with Maoris, New Zealand, 1919

Page 89 – 90
Photographs 140 – 146: Seven views of New Zealand countryside, 1919.

Pages 91 - 93
Photographs 147 – 158: Twelve views of Wairakei, 1919.

Loose photograph 159: An unidentified naval officer presumably Lieutenant Commander Spooner, no date.
Ephemera 1: A watercolour and pencil ‘cartoon’ sketch entitled ‘Elephant hunting in the Peninsular’ showing a naval officer pursued by an elephant.

Object Details

ID: ALB1227
Type: Photograph album
Display location: Not on display
Date made: 1920-1921
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 305 mm x 241 mm