Touring exhibition War at Sea – the Navy in WWI opens at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton this weekend.

It tells the story of Australia’s first submarine AE1 which disappeared while patrolling the seas near present day New Guinea on 14 September 1914. No trace of the vessel or its 35 hands has been found to this day.

WA Museum – Geraldton Manager Catherine Belcher said it is important to share the experiences of Australian sailors in the First World War.

“This exhibition from the Australian National Maritime Museum draws on the personal accounts of Navy servicemen – through their diaries, mementoes, ship’s logs and letters home – to tell their stories of bravery and sacrifice amidst the drudgery of life at sea, patrolling, blockading and escorting troopships,” Ms Belcher said.

War at Sea – the Navy in WWI explores the mystery of what happened to AE1; as well as the story of Australia’s second submarine AE2 which became the first Allied vessel to breach the Dardanelles in Turkey, disrupting the Turkish forces moving to defend the Gallipoli peninsular in April 1915; and the story of the Royal Australian Navy Bridging Trains at the Gallipoli campaign.

“The exhibition features rare objects from the National Maritime Collection, the Australian War Memorial, and the National Film & Sound Archive including medals posthumously awarded to Lieutenant Leopold Florence Scarlett,” Ms Belcher said.

“It highlights the tragedy of the war and the loss of life, and features letters of condolences following the disappearance of AE1, including a letter from Winston Churchill to a grieving widow.”

Visitors will see rare archival footage of the Navy during the First World War which gives a window into life on battleships as well as the troop transport ships which ferried soldiers around the globe.

The activities and subsequent loss of AE2 off Gallipoli is highlighted by footage from inside the shipwreck filmed during the first dive to the site by Australian and Turkish maritime archaeologists earlier this year.

Australian National Maritime Museum director Kevin Sumption said Australia’s involvement in the First World War was a defining moment in our nation’s history.

“The contribution of the Royal Australian Navy to the First World War, by a naval fleet formed less than a year before the outbreak of war, was significant, serving in all theatres of the war from the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the Mediterranean and North Seas,” Mr Sumption said.

“It is our hope that this exhibition will give due recognition to the brave naval servicemen who sacrificed so much.”

War at Sea – the Navy in WWI begins on 5 December and ends 14 February 2016. The exhibition will then go on display at the WA Maritime Museum and WA Museum – Albany.

The tour is made possible with the assistance of the Australia Council and Visions Australia: Regional Exhibition and Touring Fund and is proudly supported by presenting partner, the Returned and Services League of Australia.

Ends

Media contact
Sharna Craig
Media and Publicity Officer
Western Australian Museum
sharna.craig@museum.wa.gov.au