Black & White Photograph of Victorian’s HMAS Psyche Xmas 1916 Crew

HMS Psyche, a light cruiser, was commissioned in 1899. In August 1914, following the outbreak of the First World she carried out escort duties before returning to Australian waters late 1914. The ship was commissioned to the RAN, in July 1915 and was sent to patrol waters along the Burma Coast and Malay Archipelago. Late in 1916, following poor conditions on board with almost half the crew falling ill, HMAS Psyche was recalled to Australia to patrol the eastern coast, until finally being sold in 1922 and finishing her days as a timber lighter.