On This Day
1900-1913 > Federation, RAN and pre-WW1
On This Day - 1900-1913
- October 21, 1913
RADM Sir George E Patey, RN, assumed command of the Australia Station from ADML Sir George King Hall, RN, as the Station’s last RN commander-in-chief.
- October 4, 1913
The first RAN fleet, under the command of RADM Sir George Patey, RN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), entered Sydney Harbour. With AUSTRALIA were her consorts HMA Ships MELBOURNE and SYDNEY, (cruisers), HMS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser, on loan from the RN), and HMA Ships PARRAMATTA, YARRA, and WARREGO, (destroyers).
- July 1, 1913
The administration of the following Sydney Naval Establishments was transferred to the Naval Board of the Commonwealth of Australia; Garden Island Dockyard; Royal Edward Victualling Yard; Naval Ordnance Depot; Spectacle Island; Medical Depot; The depot ship HMS PENGUIN, which became HMAS PENGUIN.
The Wild Swan class sloop, (later converted to a stationary depot ship), HMAS PENGUIN, was commissioned. PENGUIN was laid down in Napier’s Yard, Clydebank, Scotland, launched in 1876, and commissioned into the RN in August 1877. PENGUIN was based in Sydney from 1890, and carried out surveys in Australian coastal waters until 31 March 1907. She served as a depot ship for the RN, before becoming part of the transfer of RN Establishments to the RAN in 1913.
- June 23, 1913
RADM G. Patey, MVO, hoisted his flag in HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), at Portsmouth. He was knighted the same day on his own quarterdeck by HRH King George V.
The Town class light cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. C. T. Glossop, RN), was commissioned. SYDNEY was laid down in London & Glasgow Shipbuilding, Govan, Scotland, on 11 February 1911, and launched on 29 August 1912. Lady Henderson, (Wife of ADML Sir Reginald Henderson, RN), performed the launching ceremony.
- June 21, 1913
The battle-cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, (CAPT S. H. Radcliffe, RN), was commissioned at Portsmouth, England. AUSTRALIA was laid down in John Brown Yard, Clydebank, Scotland, on 23 June 1910, and launched on 25 October 1911. Lady Reid, (Wife of the Australian High Commissioner), performed the ceremony. AUSTRALIA sailed in company with HMAS SYDNEY for Australia in July 1913, flying the flag of RADM G. Patey, RN.