Born in Geelong, Victoria, Alfred (Bert) William Reed joined the navy in Melbourne when not quite 18. He served from 1 January 1914 as a Signaller aboard the first HMAS Australia. After being de-mobbed post-WW1, Bert, re-joined the navy, becoming Chief Petty Officer, Instructor, and eventually in Melbourne, Chief Yeoman of Signals. In the Instructor role he moved several times between Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart.;;Bert, his wife Vera, and daughter Lily travelled aboard the 'Nairana' and 'Taroona' between the Derwent and Port Melbourne. In Hobart between 1926 and 1936 they lived sequentially at Upper Mellifont Street, Warwick Street, Hamilton Street and finally Lansdowne Crescent in West Hobart.;;Bert and Vera were keen Kodak users, taking photographs of family and friends in the Hobart area. They also collected photographic postcards depicting areas of Hobart and surrounds.;;