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Commemoration of the Centenary of the Visit of the British Special Service Squadron to Melbourne 1924.

Name: Commemoration of the Centenary of the Visit of the British Special Service Squadron to Melbourne 1924.
Start: 2024-03-19T14:00:00+11:00
End: 2024-03-19T15:00:00+11:00
Location: The Shrine of Remembrance

March 19 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

In March 1924 a fleet of Royal Navy ships visited Australia as part of a world-wide goodwill cruise.

*British Fleet met by Couta boats from the Queenscliff Fishing Fleet as it enters Port Phillip Heads at dawn during the visit to Australia.* [National Library of Australia]

The largest and fastest battleship in the world (HMS Hood) was accompanied by HMS Repulse and four light cruisers.

Melbourne, then the nation’s capital, hosted the fleet from 17th – 24th March.

The visit was a sensation with over 500,000 visitors to the ships, an RAAF flyover, ceremonial marches, dinners, dances and fireworks.

Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network together with the Royal United Services Institute of Victoria will commemorate this centenary by a free talk and exhibition at the Shrine of Remembrance at 2 pm on Tuesday 19th March 2024.

The speaker will be Major General (Retd) Michael O’Brien.

All are welcome.

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