The Deperdussin Monoplane No. 1378 about to be hoisted from an unidentified coal hulk for deployment on the light cruiser HMS Aurora (1913). Alongside the hulk, obscured by the plane, is the hired paddle minesweeper Yarmouth Belle (1898) with her number 929 on the life rings. The photographer was standing on the coal hulk looking across the vessel.

According to her ship's log Aurora carried out aeroplane experiments in the morning of 4 November 1915. The only coal hulk she went alongside was one on 3 November at 10am where she took on 6 tons. Her log does not record transferring the plane on board, nor does it mention being taken on board on 4 November.

The original caption stated that the coal hulk was the Himalaya (1853) [renamed C60 when hulked]. However, Himalaya served as a coal hulk at Devonport and then Portland, but not at Harwich.