Great White Fleet in Albany, Western Australia in 1908

Sailors from the ships on Stirling Terrace from Alluring Albany

The Great White Fleet (also known as the American Fleet) in Albany, Western Australia was the visit of the American naval fleet in late 1908 on its tour around the world.

Itinerary

It was the third and final port of call in Australia (after Sydney and Melbourne) for the 16 battleships participating in the third leg of the voyage, from San Francisco to Manila.[1][2][3]

Coaling

The logistics of this stage of the itinerary required coaling ships. Most intervals between ports were adequate for re-coaling, however the stop in Albany was for travelling to Manila and required full bunkering of coal:

The coaling ships in the contingent were:

Teviotdale: arrived 28 August with 2538 tons[4]

Tottenham: arrived 8 September with 2943 tons[5]

Kildale: arrived 12 September with 2463 tons[6]

Epsom: arrived 16 September with 2970 tons[7]

Taurus: arrived 16 September with 2765 tons[8]

There was a British ship, HMS Gibraltar, in port at the same time as the visit.[9]

Fleet Week

The programme of events was advertised widely as the American Fleet / The visit to Albany, Western Australia.[10] The presence of the ships anchored in Albany's Princess Royal Harbour between 11 and 18 September was known in Albany as Fleet Week.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

As well as planned social events,[18] Albany erected decorations in the town. This included a welcoming arch for the visiting Americans[19] as well as decorating the main street, York Street.[20] Events were hampered by rainy weather.[21]

Centenary

On the weekend of 13 to 14 September 2008, Albany held an event to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the 1908 visit, with two Royal Australian Navy ships HMAS Sirius and HMAS Darwin and the American ship USS Shoup visiting the port to celebrate.[22]

Notes

1. The details of the White Fleet Ships
2. "ALBANY—Seaport of the South". Western Mail. Vol. 54, no. 2, 802. Western Australia. 16 November 1939. p. 26. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "AMERICAN FLEET AT ALBANY". Albany Advertiser. Vol. 14, no. 1478. Western Australia. 3 April 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE". Albany Advertiser. Vol. XXI, no. 2666. Western Australia. 29 August 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE". Albany Advertiser. Vol. XXI, no. 2666. Western Australia. 29 August 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "BREVITIES". Evening News. No. 12, 879. New South Wales, Australia. 18 September 1908. p. 1. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "THE AMERICAN FLEET". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXV, no. 15, 813. Queensland, Australia. 16 September 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "THE MISSING COLLIERS". The West Australian. Vol. XXIV, no. 7, 015. Western Australia. 16 September 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Alluring Albany's Attractions". The Southern Argus And Wagin-arthur Express. Vol. VII, no. 457. Western Australia. 28 February 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "Advertising". The West Australian. Vol. XXIV, no. 7, 006. Western Australia. 5 September 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
11. Fleet week – Albany, 11–18 September 1908, 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
12. Stone, Eugene P (1908), [Copy of part of the journal kept by U. S. N. Surgeon E.P. Stone of the battleship 'Rhode Island' during the visit of the Great White Fleet to Albany, September 11–17, 1908], retrieved 5 February 2017
13. Albany Historical Society Inc (2008), American Great White Fleet 1908 [DVD], Albany Historical Society, retrieved 5 February 2017
14. Cull, Lewin Harcourt (1908), The Great White Fleet visit to Albany, 11–18 September 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
15. The Great White Fleet visits Albany, 11–18 September 1908, 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
16. Albany Post Office decorated with welcome signs for the visit of the Great White Fleet, 1908, 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
17. United States Navy Fleet marching through Albany, 15 September 1908, 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
18. Banquet in Albany for Fleet Week, 11–18 September 1908, 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
19. Building the welcome arch for the visit of the US White Fleet, Albany, 1908, 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
20. York Street, Albany decorated for the arrival of the US White Fleet, 1908, retrieved 5 February 2017
21. "THE FLEET". Coolgardie Miner. Vol. XV, no. 4270. Western Australia. 16 September 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 5 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
22. Historical Albany – The White Fleet visit to Albany