MS 9422 Papers of Geoffrey Ingleton (1908 - 1998)
Papers
1854-1988
14 cm. + 1 folio box (6 albums + 1 vol.)
Available for reference
The papers were acquired at an auction held by Lawsons Auctioneers and
Valuers in Sydney on 20 October 1993. The papers belonged to the collection of
the Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Chapman Ingleton, R.A.N.
The collection comprises six albums compiled by Ingleton documenting
various colonial vessels and survey ships of the R.A.N. The albums include
correspondence, historical notes, log entries, articles written by officers who
served on the ships, illustrations and photographs, and newspaper cuttings
describing the services of H.M.S. Victoria, H.M.S. Lady Nelson,
H.M.A.S. Moresby, H.M.S. Paluma, H.M.A.S. Paluma, and
H.M.A.S. Geranium.
There is also a copy of the publication First lady: the story of "HMS
Lady Nelson" by Lorraine Paul (1982).
Geoffrey Chapman Ingleton was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria, on 14 May
1908. In 1922, at the age of 13, he entered the Royal Australian Naval College
at Jervis Bay, N.S.W. He joined H.M.A.S. Adelaide and became a
midshipman in 1926. Ingletons naval training included two years in the
United Kingdom, where he first developed an interest in nautical research. In
1930, after his return to Australia, he was commissioned as a lieutenant. After
serving on various naval vessels, he was assigned to the hydrographic service
and served on H.M.A.S. Moresby surveying waters to the north of
Australia. In 1936, at the age of 27, he left the Navy. He was promoted to
lieutenant commander on the retired list in 1938. In civilian life Ingleton
worked as a draftsman and an artist. From December 1940 until his retirement in
1973, Ingleton was employed by the Hydrographic Office.
In private life Ingleton continued his work as an illustrator. His
marine etchings and portrayals of early Sydney life were based on extensive
knowledge and research. Ingletons interest in naval architecture, which
derived from ensuring the technical accuracy of his illustrations, led him into
the area of constructing ship models. The major resource supporting
Ingletons artistic endeavours was an extensive private collection of
books, manuscripts, maps and paintings on early Australia, compiled over a
lifetime. Although he collected widely, his collection was focussed on the sea,
maritime exploration and coastal development. In 1991, having already disposed
of his book collection, he began to sell the hydrographic and navigational part
of his library at a series of sales by the Sydney auctioneers Lawsons. His
scholarly approach was reflected in the catalogue descriptions for each
item.
The principal publications which Ingleton wrote, compiled or illustrated
are Charting a continent (1944), a history of the surveying and mapping
of Australias coasts, Heemskerck Shoals (1949), written by Robert
D. FitzGerald, True patriots all (1952), and his magnum opus, Matthew
Flinders: navigator and chartmaker (1986).
Ingleton was a member of the Society for Nautical Research, the Hakluyt
Society, the Australian Institute of Navigation and the Royal Institute of
Navigation. He maintained copies of all their publications, to which he was a
significant contributor.
Ingleton married Josephine Weekes in 1935 and Nan Furness in 1953. He
died in Sydney on 28 February, 1998.
| Item |
Title |
| 1 |
H.M.S. Victoria Synopsis of log entries,
1856-78 |
| 2 |
H.M.S. Victoria Historical notes,
1854-1955. |
| 3 |
H.M.S. Lady Nelson Notes, 1939-88 |
| 4 |
First Lady: the story of "HMS Lady Nelson" by Lorraine
Paul (1982) |
| 5 |
Notes on H.M.A.S. Moresby, 1909-64 |
| 6 |
Notes on H.M.S. Paluma and H.M.A.S. Paluma,
1957-73 |
| 7 |
Notes on H.M.A.S. Geranium, 1923-68 |
| Item 1 |
H.M.S. Victoria Synopsis of the log entries,
1856-78 |
|
Compiled by Ingleton, this volume contains a handwritten synopsis
of log entires for H.M. colonial steam sloop Victoria covering the
period 1856 to 1878. The entries record the hydrographic surveying activities
in which the Victoria was engaged up to 1878. Included at the end of the
volume are five rubbings, in red or blue, from the front covers of the
Victorias logs.
Listed by Lawsons as Lot no. 1179 in their auction of 20 October
1993. |
| Item 2 |
H.M.S. Victoria Historical notes, 1854-1955
|
|
An album containing historical notes on H.M. colonial steam sloop
Victoria and her commander Captain William H. Norman. Compiled by
Ingleton, the album includes correspondence with Commander Creal and Mrs
Marsden, a descendant of Norman (1934). It also includes typed transcripts of
official correspondence with Norman (1861), that Marsden allowed Ingleton to
copy. There are documents and correspondence pertaining to the death of Norman.
The volume includes an article by A.W. Greig entitled The
first Australian warship from The Victorian historical magazine,
vol. 9, no. 4 (Sept. 1923). There are also press cuttings and another article.
There is an original etching by Ingleton of H.M.C.S.S. Victoria racing
H.M.S. Niger in New Zealand.
The album also contains a collection of 15 Parliamentary Papers
relating to the Victoria and to Norman. All the Papers are original
issues. The Papers include the specifications of building the Victoria
in England, her arrival in the Colony and the various services rendered to the
Colony. The Papers also document her services in the Maori War in New
Zealand.
Listed by Lawsons as Lot no. 1180. |
| Item 3 |
H.M.S. Lady Nelson Notes, 1939-88 |
|
An album, compiled by Ingleton, containing photographs, pictures,
newspaper cuttings and articles. There is also a letter (1934) from Ingleton to
the Curator of the Technological Museum in Melbourne containing the
specifications for a model of the Lady Nelson. The album includes a copy
of an article by Clifford W. Hawkins entitled His Majestys Armed
Tender Lady Nelson 1799-1825 published in The Mariners
Mirror, vol. 55, no. 4 (Nov. 1964). There are also extracts from the
logbooks of the Lady Nelson, prepared by Ida Lee. |
| Item 4 |
First lady: the story of "HMS Lady Nelson" (1982)
|
|
An illustrated account of the story of the Lady Nelson, the
most historic vessel in the history of Victoria, by Lorraine Paul (109 pp.).
First published in 1982 by Neptune Press in Newtown, Victoria (ISBN 0 909131 91
0). Signed by the author.
Listed by Lawsons as Lot no. 1117, together with the above
item. |
| Item 5 |
Notes on H.M.A.S. Moresby, 1909-64 |
|
An album compiled by Ingleton containing letters, photographs,
notes, articles and newspaper cuttings pertaining to the surveying ship H.M.A.S
Moresby employed in Australian waters between 1925 and 1946, including a
Record of surveys, 1927-46. Ingleton joined the Moresby on 10 April
1935. There is also information on the destroyer H.M.S. Moresby together
with memorabilia of Admiral Fairfax Moresby (1786-1877) and notes on his
descendants.
Listed by Lawsons as Lot no. 1128. |
| Item 6 |
Notes on H.M.S. Paluma and H.M.A.S. Paluma,
1957-73 |
|
Compiled by Ingleton, this album contains notes, photographs,
letters, newspaper cuttings on H.M.S. Paluma. Launched in 1884 as a
gunboat for the Colony of the Government of Queensland, the Paluma was
recommissioned in Sydney in 1889 and did service as a surveying ship on the
Great Barrier Reef until April 1895, when she was paid off and returned to the
Queensland Government. There are notes by Lieutenant H.T.A. Bosanquet, who
served on the Paluma, describing her surveying activities. The album
also includes information and correspondence on the survey vessel MSL
252 which was renamed H.M.A.S. Paluma in 1958.
Listed by Lawsons as Lot. no. 1136. |
| Item 7 |
Notes on H.M.A.S. Geranium, 1923-68 |
|
An album containing notes, photographs, correspondence,
memorabilia, a map and newspaper cuttings pertaining to the survey ship
Geranium. Compiled by Ingleton over a long period of time, it includes
articles by Commander Harry T. Bennett who served on the Geranium. There
is a photograph of the Geranium inlaid on the front cover of the
album.
Listed by Lawsons as Lot no. 1055a. |
May 2000
|