HMAT Borda, November 1915

This unframed, mounted photograph of HMAT Borda is surrounded by the signatures of the officers and nurses on board the troopship, during a voyage from Egypt to Sydney, November 1915.

HMAT Borda was one of five liners owned by the P&O Line, for single-class service from England to Australia. It was leased by the Australian Government for the transportation of troops during the First World War.

This souvenir is a window into the lives of those who were returning to Australia in November 1915.

Each signature has been researched and a small entry created to highlight those who were aboard in November 1915.

Click on the underlined name to view more information ...

Top - left to right

• Thomas JONES, Lieut.
• David Day DAWSON, Lt. Col.
• George Henry HOLLAND, Colonel
• Alfred Walter CAMPBELL, Major
• George Vernon STEPHEN, Lt. Col.
• William Charles MARKWELL,  Lt. Col.
• Colin Dunlop Wilson RANKIN, Lt. Col.
• Walter SCRIVEN,  Lt. Col.
• Thomas PYE, Lt. Col.
• Alfred Ernest CHAPMAN, Lt. Col.
• Stanley Seymour ARGYLE, Major
• James Vincent O’LOGHLIN, Lt. Col.
• William Stanley De COURCY-IRELAND, Lieut.

Right - top to bottom

• Stanley Roy CLEEVE, Lieut.
• Vernon Hermann ROBLEY, Lieut.
• Edith Florence AVENELL, Staff Nurse
• James Percy Alexander MURRAY, Lieut.
• Alice Grace DOUGLAS, Sister
• Lily Malcolm DAVIES, Staff Nurse

Bottom - left to right

• Francis Henry THRIFT, Major
• Thomas Joseph FARROW, Warrant Officer
• William Donald OLIVER, Lieut.
• Lucretia Flower SMART, Acting Matron
• Richard William DEWSON, Warrant Officer
• J.S. ? JACKSON, Lt. Col.
• James LEWIS, Warrant Officer
• J. ANDERSON (not identified)
• ? MORTLOCK, 2nd Officer, HMAT Borda
• Nellie Clarice Richardson ALLWORTH, Staff Nurse
• Florence Katherine BARNARD, Staff Nurse
• Henry RANDALL or KENDALL (not identified)
• Frederick KRICHELDORFF, Lieut.

Left - top to bottom & center

• George Alfred McLEOD, Major
• Edward Clyde PADMAN, Major
• John BOARDMAN, Captain
• Robert WILLIAMS, Captain
• George READ, Major
• Charles Henry SMITH-HOZIER, Captain
• G.A. WELLINGTON, Commander, HMAT Borda
• James ROWELL, Colonel

Their voyage from Egypt to Melbourne took over 4 weeks, and many friendships would have been made during that time. Several onboard publications were produced, the one shown above, The Borda News is held at theNational Library of Australia

Many thanks to QANZAC 100 Volunteer, Glen Phillips for his assistance.

Marg Powell
QANZAC 100 Content Technician
State Library of Queensland