Kuala Lumpur v. Special Service Squadron. [16 February, 1924].

[Title from caption on mount]. Large format gelatin silver print photograph, 230 x 280 mm; on original board mount, 355 x 460 mm, captioned in ink across the upper margin ‘KUALA LUMPUR v. SPECIAL SERVICE SQUADRON’; a strong print with excellent clarity, in very good condition; the mount is clean and stable (verso blank).

In 1923-24, the battlecruisers HMS Hood, HMS Repulse and the Special Service Squadron (the light cruisers HMS Delhi, Danae, Dragon and Dauntless, and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Adelaide) sailed the world on The Empire Cruise, visiting many ports in the countries which had fought together during the First World War. The ships visited Singapore from 10 to 18 February 1924.

During the week of the visit a busy programme of sport was organised, which included competitive matches in soccer, rugby and hockey that were played between sailors from the Special Service Squadron, the Hood and the Repulse, and local sporting clubs or unofficial selections.

We believe the photograph offered here shows the teams from the soccer match played between The Special Service Squadron and a Malaya Football Association XI (although identified on the mount as “Kuala Lumpur”) at the Drill Hall Ground on Saturday, 16 February 1924.