Secondary-level guide
© ATOM 2013 A STUDY GUIDE BY ROBERT LEWIS
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-272-7 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au WHAT DOES THE AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINE AE2 TELL US ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE OF WORLD WAR ONE?
CONTENTS: TEACHER GUIDE TO USING THE RESOURCE IN THE CLASSROOM
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Activity 1 – page 5 (individual activity)
Imagine that you are in this An introduction to the concept of the submarine as a weapon of war in submarine … World War One. Activity 2 – page 6 (shared group activity)
‘Meeting’ AE2 Students understand the principles behind submarines, and their key characteristics in 1915. Activity 3 – page 11 (individual activity)
What was it like to be a crew member Students discover some of the features of life aboard a submarine. of AE2? Activity 4 – page 13 (individual activity)
Why was AE2 at Gallipoli? A study of the failed naval assault on the Dardanelles that led to the formation of the amphibious invasion plan of 25 April. Activity 5 – page 17 (shared group activity)
What was the mission of AE2? A detailed re-creation of the AE2’s historic and final mission through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmara. Activity 6 – page 27 (individual activity)
What was the result of AE2’s mission? Students weigh the successes and failures of the mission.
Activity 7 – page 28 (shared group activity)
AE2 crew’s prisoner of war experience A study of what it was like to be a prisoner of war of the Ottomans.
Activity 8 – page 35 (individual activity) SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 What do we do with AE2? A discussion of what should happen with the wreck of the AE2.
Activity 9 – page 36 (individual activity)
Conclusions Students discuss eight big questions and issues that the AE2 helps us understand.
Cover image: Phil Belbin’s painting Running Amok in the Narrows
This resource has been developed Analysis and use of sources as an inquiry-based resource for the Australian Curriculum: History at • Identify and locate relevant sourc- Year 9. es, using ICT and other methods • Identify the origin, purpose and The Australian Curriculum: context of primary and secondary History sources • Process and synthesise information It provides evidence and activities for from a range of sources for use as these aspects of World War One: evidence in an historical argument • Evaluate the reliability and useful- • Students investigate key aspects of ness of primary and secondary World War One and the Australian sources experience of the war, including the nature and significance of the war Perspectives and interpretations and Australian history. • Identify and analyse the perspec- It allows students to investigate tives of people from the past these aspects of the Australian • Identify and analyse different experience through the focus of the historical interpretations (including last voyage of the submarine AE2. their own)
It particularly covers these aspects of Explanation and communication knowledge of the war: • Develop texts, particularly descrip- • The places where Australians tions and discussions that use fought and the nature of warfare evidence from a range of sources during World War One, including that are referenced the Gallipoli campaign • Select and use a range of com- And munication forms (oral, graphic, • The commemoration of World written) and digital technologies War One, including debates about the nature and significance of the A practical classroom Anzac legend. resource
The activities encourage the develop- The activities are designed for class- ment of these specified historical skills: room use, but may also be used as research or additional study. Chronology, terms and concepts All activities are self-contained, and • Use chronological sequencing only require the printing of pages for to demonstrate the relationship students to work on. between events and developments in different periods and places Teachers can use the resource in its • Use historical terms and concepts entirety, or select and adapt com-
ponents to suit their own needs and SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 Historical questions and research circumstances.
• Identify and select different kinds of questions about the past to inform
3 USING THE ACTIVITIES IN THE CLASSROOM
ACTIVITY 1 A short introduction to the concept of the submarine as a weapon of war in World War One. Imagine that This is best done individually or in small groups by students, so that all have a summary that they can add to you are in this several times later in the resource. submarine … It focuses on having students start to think about the qualities that are needed by the crew of a submarine. Eventually this will help students consider if the AE2 crew is part of the Anzac tradition.
ACTIVITY 2 Students understand the principles behind submarines, and their key characteristics in 1915. ‘Meeting’ AE2 This Activity contains a lot of content. If teachers want to shorten this activity they can allocate one or two of the characteristics to a small group, and have them report back to the whole class. In this way the class summarises all the information, but without having to read it all themselves. All students complete their own table and annotation of the features of AE2.
ACTIVITY 3 Students discover some of the features of life aboard a submarine. What was it like This is appropriate as an activity for each individual to complete. Students work through the variety of information to be a crew and develop both their knowledge and understanding of submarine life, and also their empathy with the crew – member of AE2? started in Activity 1. They should add to their table of the qualities needed by submariners, in Activity 1.
ACTIVITY 4 A study of the failed naval assault on the Dardanelles that led to the formation of the Allied amphibious invasion Why was AE2 at plan of 25 April. Gallipoli? Students do not focus here on the landing at Gallipoli, but on the overall strategy, and AE2’s role in it. A detailed classroom exploration of the landing is available in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs educational resource kit Gallipoli and the Anzacs, 2010, and available online at
ACTIVITY 5 A detailed re-creation of AE2’s historic and final mission through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmara. What was the This is the key activity for understanding what AE2 did, and what happened to it. It also brings out the key mission of AE2? experiences of the crew, and therefore is central to understanding this aspect of the Australian experience of World War One. There is a great deal of detail in this Activity. Teachers should divide the twenty-one stages among the class. Students will have one or several of these to read and summarise. They then report to the rest of the class, explaining what happened at the stages they are investigating. All students can complete their own personal summary and map for the twenty-one stages. It would be good to create a rough classroom map, so that all students could see the approximate progress of AE2 at each stage. At several stages there can be additional discussion of what AE2 is telling us about the nature of the submarine as a weapon, and about the sailors’ experiences of war.
ACTIVITY 6 Students weigh the successes and failures of the mission. What was the They need to look at what it achieved, and what it was unable to achieve. Note that achievement may not be only, result of AE2’s or even mainly, a ‘head count’ of ships destroyed. mission? Students should consider what ‘success’ means in the 1915 context.
ACTIVITY 7 A study of what it was like to be a prisoner of war of the Ottomans. AE2 crew’s This is another quite large collection of material that teachers may find more manageable if they divide it among prisoner-of-war students. experience Some important and difficult ideas emerge from this section: • that the crew were ordinary Australians, with both strengths and weaknesses • that the Anzac legend mainly celebrates combat – so where do prisoners fit? • that the effect of the war on families is an important aspect of the POW, and the combat, experience.
ACTIVITY 8 A discussion of what should happen with the wreck of AE2. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 What do we do This is the Activity that may require most individual research to find more details of the state of the wreck, and with AE2? the plans for it.
ACTIVITY 9 Students discuss a number of big questions and issues that AE2 helps us understand. Conclusions They are summarising the knowledge, understanding and empathetic awareness that they have developed through the individual activities, and bringing them together in a series of big conclusions and reflections.
4 Figure 1: S Cribb; Smyth-Haggard Collection in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between pages 112-113
ACTIVITY 1 1.3 The crew is led by officers – QUALITIES NEEDED BY OFFICERS what qualities would you want your IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE leaders to have? List them in the table IN THIS SUBMARINE … ‘Qualities needed by officers’ (right).
Imagine that there is a war. 1.4 What qualities would you want yourself and the rest of the crew to You are part of the crew of this have? List them in the table ‘Qualities submarine. needed by sailors’ (right).
SEE FIGURE 1. On 25 April 1915, and for several days after, this was the position that the You are beneath the water in enemy crew of the Australian submarine AE2, territory. pictured above, were in.
You can hear mines bumping against They were part of the attack on the submarine – any one of them Gallipoli, on what has become known might explode, blasting a hole in the as Anzac Day. Knowing this raises submarine, and letting tonnes of water many questions: pour in to crush and drown you. QUALITIES NEEDED BY SAILORS • What was it like to be in a You know enemy warships are above submarine? you. If they see your submarine they • Why was the submarine there? will fire at it, and possibly sink it, with • What was its task? all the crew trapped inside. There are • What did it achieve? forts along the shore, and if they see • What was the result of its mission? you they will also fire artillery at you. • What happened to the crew? You have been ordered to create a • What happened to the submarine? diversion, and must therefore deliber- • Why do we know so little about it? ately expose the submarine to these • Is it part of the ‘Anzac tradition’? risks. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 This resource provides information 1.1 What feelings might you have in and evidence to help you answer all this situation? List them. these questions, and in particular what the last voyage of AE2 tells us about 1.2 Why would you and the rest of an aspect of the Australian experience the crew have put yourselves in this of World War One. situation? 5 Figure 2: Illustration of AE2 by Tiffanie Brown, in David Stevens (ed), The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence, Vol III, OUP 2001
ACTIVITY 2 them identify key features of the sub- But that does not help us understand marine as a weapon of war. why objects float. If you go to the ‘MEETING’ AE2 beach, you float. But if you dropped As you work through each piece of a metal ball which is the same weight Most of you will have some idea about information use it to complete the as you it would sink. You are both what a submarine does and what it is summary table on the next page the same weight, both displacing the like. about the strengths and weaknesses same weight of water, so there must of a submarine as a weapon of war in be something else at work. But most of you probably have an im- 1915. An example has been done to age that is basically modern. help you. And there are two other important vari- ables – density and volume. The submarine we are talking about, Characteristic 1: HMAS AE2, was very different to a Density is a measure of how much modern submarine – just like a 1915 Submarines floated mass of something is packed into a car would be very different to a mod- certain volume. For example, iron is ern car. Sit in a bath of water. What do you denser than wood because a set vol- notice? That the water rises. What you ume of iron (say a cube one centimetre So we need to know what the main are observing is a key principle that on each side) weighs more than the characteristics or features of a subma- explains why heavy objects such as same cube if it were made of wood; rine were in 1915. ships and submarines can float. It was there’s more “stuff” inside the cube of first discovered by a Greek mathema- iron than in the cube of wood because Above is a cross-section drawing of tician and engineer, Archimedes, over its atoms are mostly heavier, but take AE2. You will be asked to identify vari- 2000 years ago, by doing just this – up about the same amount of space. ous aspects of it. sitting in a bath! If something is denser than water, in SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 general, it will sink. If it is less dense SEE FIGURE 2. The principle is that the weight of an than water, it will float. Cooking oils object displaces the same weight of are less dense than water, which is why Look at this information on nine key water. If you place an object in water, they sit on the top of pots of water. features of a 1915 submarine. Some of and measure the weight of the water them explain the scientific principles it displaces, you will find they are the Try this yourself. Place a marble in a involved in submarines; and some of same. container of water. Its weight is greater 6 CHARACTERISTIC POSSIBLE STRENGTHS OR ADVANTAGES AS A POSSIBLE WEAKNESSES OR DISADVANTAGES OF A WEAPON AS A WEAPON SUBMARINE IN 1915
Can be used at sea If damaged will sink
SUBMARINES FLOAT
THEY DIVE AND SURFACE
THEY MANOEUVRE UNDER WATER
THEY USE DIESEL AND ELECTRIC POWER
THEY HAVE PERISCOPES
THEY COULD NOT BE SEEN OR HEARD UNDER WATER
THEY NEEDED PERIODICAL FRESH AIR
THEY FIRED TORPEDOES SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
THEY HAD RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
7 than the weight of the water it has water, and some of which are more 2.2 Identify these ballast and trim displaced, so it sinks. But place that dense. Ships can also be made of tanks on the cross-section drawing same marble in a small plastic bowl metals like steel (denser than water) of AE2. Mark them as 2, to match the and place it in the same container of or tough plastics (usually denser than numbering of the characteristics. water, and, even though it is now a bit water). You would imagine that a boat heavier, it will float. This is because made of dense stuff would sink, but When the submarine is on the surface, the marble and the bowl now have a the boat floats primarily because of its the ballast tanks are filled with air and greater volume, much of this volume shape. Boats stay afloat with heavy the submarine’s overall density is less is now air, which is lighter than water, loads because they’re hollow; they than that of the surrounding water. To this reduces the density of the objects, aren’t solid hunks of wood or metal. make the submarine dive, the ballast so now something heavier than the This means that the boat experiences tanks are flooded with water and the marble (the marble plus the bowl) do a really strong buoyant force, upward, air in the ballast tanks is vented from not sink, but float. against the pull of gravity which is the submarine until its overall density downward. is greater than the surrounding water So a certain weight displaces a par- and the submarine begins to sink ticular volume of water; and the same 2.1 What advantages and disadvan- (negative buoyancy). weight, spread within a greater volume tages does this characteristic create of an object, displaces less because it for a submarine in 1915 as a weapon SEE FIGURE 4. is now less dense than water, it floats. of war? Summarise your ideas in the Characteristics of a submarine in 1915 While underwater, the rise and fall can You can see the basic principle in this table on the previous page. be controlled by the hydroplanes (see diagram: next characteristic). Characteristic 2: Ships are often made of wood, some For the submarine to surface, com- kinds of which are less dense than Submarines could dive pressed air is blown into the ballast and resurface, and stay tanks, and the water is pushed out ‘suspended’ under water through exit holes at the bottom of the tanks. Air is lighter than water, so the You know that the ability of an object submarine starts to weigh less than to float is called buoyancy. When an the water it is displacing, and regains object floats it haspositive buoyancy. positive buoyancy – and comes up To make a submarine ‘sink’ you there- again towards the surface. fore have to change its buoyancy to 1 TONNE OF WATER = This volume. negative – but in a controlled way, or 2.3 Identify the compressor on the you will never come up again! cross-section drawing of AE2. Mark it as 2, to match the numbering of the To control its buoyancy, a submarine characteristics. has ballast tanks and auxiliary, or trim tanks, that can be alternately 2.4 What advantages and disadvan- 1 TONNE OF IRON = A smaller volume because it is more dense than water. filled with water or air. Ballast tanks tages does this characteristic create It sinks. can either be filled completely with for a submarine in 1915 as a weapon water or completely with air, but never of war? Summarise your ideas in the hold both water and air at once. Characteristics of a submarine in 1915 table.
Figure 4 POSITIVE BUOYANCY NEGATIVE BUOYANCY
1 TONNE OF IRON SPREAD OUT SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 MORE AND INCLUDING A LOT OF AIR, WHICH IS LIGHTER THAN WATER = A larger volume, because it is now less dense than water. Therefore it floats.
Figure 3
8 Characteristic 3:
Submarines could move in and under water and change direction
A submarine moves when its pro- pellers create a forward thrust. The submarine is steered by a rudder.
2.5 Identify the rudder on the cross- section drawing of AE2. Mark it as 3, to match the numbering of the characteristics.
It also has movable sets of short
‘wings’ called hydroplanes at the front Figure 5 (bow) and back (stern). These help control the angle of the dive and re- Characteristic 4: Characteristic 5: ascent. The angle of the hydroplanes can be changed so that the pressure Submarines used diesel Submarines were ‘blind’ on the ‘wings’ is changed. You can engines and electric under water, but could still see a more detailed explanation of batteries for power ‘see’ if they were just below how these work on the ‘AE2 The Silent the surface Anzac’ website at
2.11 What advantages and disadvan- surface to replace the stale air. A 1915 AE2 did not have a deck gun, so could tages does this characteristic create submarine, when submerged, only had not fire on ships when surfaced. Other, for a submarine in 1915 as a weapon the air that was already in the subma- later versions of E-Class submarines of war? Summarise your ideas in the rine. There was no way of replacing it, did have a deck gun. Characteristics of a submarine in 1915 and when the carbon dioxide that was table. exhaled built up it became poisonous. 2.15 What advantages and disadvan- So submarines had to surface periodi- tages does this characteristic create Characteristic 6: cally to pump fresh air in and carbon for a submarine in 1915 as a weapon dioxide out. of war? Summarise your ideas in the A submarine could hear Characteristics of a submarine in 1915 underwater, but could not be 2.13 What advantages and disadvan- table. heard tages does this characteristic create for a submarine in 1915 as a weapon Characteristic 9: The greatest strength of a subma- of war? Summarise your ideas in the rine was that nobody knew where it Characteristics of a submarine in 1915 Submarines had a radio was. There was no radar or sonar. A table. communication system submarine could hear the sound of en- gines and propellors above it, so knew Characteristic 8: AE2 had a system to send and receive when there were vessels above. radio signals, but it had to surface so A submarine was armed with the aerial system could be rigged for But it could be detected by touch – torpedoes the system to operate. such as by dragging a cable along and hitting the submarine, and it could be AE2 carried eight torpedoes. These 2.16 Identify the elements of the ra- snared in a stationary net or one being could be fired from the front (bow), dio system on the cross-section draw- dragged along between two ships. rear (stern) or either side (beam). ing of AE2. Mark them as 9, to match the numbering of the characteristics. 2.12 What advantages and disadvan- 2.14 Identify the four torpedo tubes tages does this characteristic create on the cross-section drawing of AE2. 2.17 What advantages and disadvan- for a submarine in 1915 as a weapon Mark them as 8, to match the number- tages does this characteristic create of war? Summarise your ideas in the ing of the characteristics. for a submarine in 1915 as a weapon Characteristics of a submarine in 1915 of war? Summarise your ideas in the table. The torpedoes were very heavy, and Characteristics of a submarine in 1915 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 it took about thirty minutes to reload table. Characteristic 7: after firing. When fired the torpedo was thrust forward by propellers, but 2.18 Was the 1915 submarine an A submarine needed fresh air the system was very unreliable, and effective weapon of war? Justify your many torpedoes just did not work. If a views. As well as surfacing to run the diesel torpedo worked it left a clearly visible engines and recharge the batteries, wake, which could be traced back to a submarine needed to be on the the position of the submarine. 10 noiseless, and the water is a good sound medium, so that it is not unu- sual to hear the propeller of a ship passing over or near us.
We steer entirely by chart and com- pass. As the air heats, it gets poor and, mixed with odours of oil from machinery, the atmosphere becomes fearful. An overpowering sleepiness often attacks new men, who require the utmost will-power to remain awake. I have had men who did not eat for the first three days out because they did not want to lose that amount of time from sleep.
Figure 7: The control room of an E class submarine. Royal Naval Submarine Museum, The stories that there is no seasickness Gosport, UK, in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, on submarines are untrue. When there 2001, between pages 112-113 is bad weather or we are in proximity to the enemy, we remain down long, ACTIVITY 3 Source 3 so that the air is unusually bad. Every man except those actually on duty is WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO The engine room of a 1915 ordered to go down and remain abso- BE A CREW MEMBER IN submarine lutely quiet, making no unnecessary AE2? movements, as movements cause the SEE FIGURE 7. lungs to use more oxygen, and the oxy- You now understand some main gen must be saved just as a famishing strengths and weaknesses of AE2 as a Source 4 man in a desert tries to make the last weapon of war. drop of water go as far as possible. Living and working space in But what was being a submariner like a 1915 submarine As there can be no fire because heat for the crew? burns oxygen, and the electric power SEE FIGURE 8. from the accumulators is too precious SEE FIGURE 6. to be wasted in cooking, we have Source 5 to dine on cold food when cruis- 3.1 Use the following information to ing. As you have seen, a kitchen and summarise some of the key aspects in Extract from an interview dining-room are non-existent on our the table on the next page. One exam- with a German submariner in boats. Day after day in such cramped ple has been done to help you. 1915 quarters, where there is hardly room to stretch the legs, where one must Source 1 It is fearfully trying on the nerves. be constantly alert, with the tremen- Every man does not stand It. When dous strain on the nerves, I have sat The AE2 in the vicinity of the enemy or when or stood for eight hours, with my eyes weather conditions make it neces- glued to the periscope, peering into AE2 was built in Britain for the Royal sary we submerge … Running un- the brilliant glass until my eyes and Australian Navy in 1914. As Australia dersea there is a death-like silence head have ached. had few trained submariners about in the boat, the electric machinery is half the crew were Royal Navy, and the rest Royal Australian Navy. There were three officers and twenty-nine crew on its last mission.
Source 2 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 The cross-section of AE2.
Look back at the illustration on page 6 and identify aspects that show human elements of life on the submarine.
Figure 8: The engine room of an E class submarine. Royal Naval Submarine Museum, Gosport, UK, in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between pages 112-113 11 WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING A SUBMARINER ON AE2?
KEY ASPECT COMMENT
Very little space, very crowded
Space SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
12 Figure 9
When the crew is worn out we seek discover the weak ones. Day after day any new information to your table of a good sleep and rest under water, come these tests and he who shows the qualities required by the officers the boat often rocking gently, with a the least sign of fear never sets foot and crew of a submarine. movement like that of a cradle. Before on a submarine again. This is very ascending I always order silence for necessary as each man has certain ACTIVITY 4 several minutes, to determine whether work to do, and if he fails to perform one can hear any propellers in the this duty, it may be fatal to all. WHY WAS AE2 AT vicinity through the shell-like sides of GALLIPOLI? the submarine, which act like a sound- In a voyage under the sea the first ing board. thing that you note is the smell. It is HMAS AE2 was part of the invasion of not any different from being in the the Gallipoli peninsula by Allied forces Asked what was the greatest danger engine room of the battleship except on 25 April 1915 – what we now know to submarines, he answered, “Just that you have not room to turn round as Anzac Day. one – water is always in danger of in. You are jammed in a hot, stuffy, leaking. Water is our worst enemy.” uncomfortable hole. You do not see By early 1915 the main fighting in anything. You watch a pointer moving the war was taking place along the The Advertiser (Adelaide), 28 May on a dial. You are a machine, and you Western Front – along the French- 1915 are running a machine. When you sink Belgian border area. on a level you do not feel any motion. Source 6 When you dive you feel a gentle incline The fighting was bloody but inconclu- of the floor. If you look out the port- sive, with British and French troops Extract from a newspaper hole a sea green globe confronts you. facing the German forces. Both were report on the training of If you are about to attack a hostile entrenched, and each was trying to submariners in Britain ship you would see your mark only by gain ground against the other, but means of a periscope on the conning without lasting success. See these officers at their work in the tower. Merging and diving have to be docks, and it is easy to picture them done slowly and gently for fear of spill- At the same time Russian forces at their post when, with all lights out ing the chemicals in the batteries. were fighting German troops near SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 and ballast tanks full, and every man their border in eastern Europe. The at his station, the submarine drops like The Capricornian (Rockhampton), Russians had huge numbers of troops, a rock below the surface. How far they 7 August 1915 but they were poorly equipped. In go only the man at the dial knows, November 1914 the Ottoman Empire this is what takes a strong heart and 3.2 Complete the summary table on (Turkey) joined the war on the side of perfect self-control. It is the officers’ page 12. the Germans. They attacked Russia in only means of proving the nerve of January 1915, and the Russians ap- the men, and the one unfailing test to 3.3 Go back to question 1.4 and add pealed to Britain and France for help 13 in relieving the pressure this put on Look at the map in Figure 11 on the which retreated. Two more warships their men and supplies. next page. hit mines, and a third was hit by artil- lery. In all, six ships were put out of ac- In 1915 this could only be done by sea 4.4 Imagine that you have been tion. The naval force withdrew, having or land. asked to defend the Strait against suffered a terrible and tragic defeat. an invading fleet. Suggest ways you 4.1 Look at the map on the previous could do this. With the failure of the naval attack to page. Why would the overland option clear the Dardanelles, the plan was not be realistic? You can see what was actually done in now was to land troops who would the map in Figure 12 on page 16. quickly move to attack the Turkish forts 4.2 Draw in the route that would be and mobile artillery defences along the taken from Britain to the Baltic Sea, 4.5 List the difficulties a fleet would Strait from the rear, destroying the artil- and to the Black Sea. face in forcing its way through the lery, and allowing the warships to sail Strait, and how they might be over- unopposed to Istanbul. 4.3 Look at the additional information come, summarising them in this table. on this map. What problems existed One example has been done to help This plan now involved Australian with the two sea options, the Baltic you. troops, and the Australian submarine and the Black Sea? AE2. What actually happened? The Allies chose the Black Sea option. The German threat in the Pacific and On 18 March, 1915, a fleet of British Indian Oceans had been eliminated, so The Allied leaders proposed to send and French battleships, cruisers, Australian ships were available for use a naval fleet in to capture the Turkish destroyers and minesweepers sailed in other areas. HMAS AE2 was sent to capital, Istanbul. They believed that into the Dardanelles Strait to attack the the Mediterranean, and was about to this would lead to Turkey’s quick sur- defences and open the way to the Sea become part of an ambitious plan to render. This would then open the route of Marmara, and then to the Black Sea. help defeat Germany and its allies. from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea for supply ships to Russia. They The battleships pounded the forts, and So, on 25 April 1915, while Australian also argued that it might encourage the return fire from them slackened. It and Allied forces were landing on the Italy, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria to seemed the Turkish defenders were in beaches along the Gallipoli Peninsula, enter the war on the Allied side, and trouble. The second line of ships was an Australian submarine was stealthily thereby threaten Austria-Hungary. ordered to move forward to engage trying to navigate its way through the the forts at closer range. The mine- Dardanelles Strait. The Allied plan was for a naval force to sweeper edged forward to clear the sail from the Aegean Sea through the mines. Suddenly a French warship Why? And what happened to it? Dardanelles Strait and into the Sea of hit a mine and quickly sank, with the Marmara. loss of 600 crew. Hidden artillery now That’s the subject of the next Activity. started to pound the minesweepers,
DIFFICULTIES HOW THEY MIGHT BE OVERCOME
Mobile howitzers (artillery) Have the ships shell them SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
14 Figure 10: http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Warbook/images/wb06.jpg SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
Figure 11: http://mapco.net/gallipmail/dailymail01.htm
15 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
Figure 12: In Hugh Dolan, 36 Days, Macmillan, 2010, page xiv.
16 ACTIVITY 5 a submarine to be considered. The current is strong and tricky. At the Narrows the current flows from WHAT WAS THE MISSION Summarise your ideas in the table the Sea of Marmara into the Aegean OF AE2? below. at the surface, and a counter-current reverses flow deeper down! Look back at Figure 12, the map The task that the submarine AE2 was showing various the defences and set was to prove that submarines If AE2 reached the Marmara, its task features of the Dardanelles. could get through the Dardanelles, to was to ‘run amok’ – meaning, to cause the Sea of Marmara. as much uncertainty, panic and dam- You listed the problems these defenc- age as possible. This was to create a es would cause a fleet of warships, The Dardanelles Strait is about 60 diversion on the day of the landings but would they also be a problem for a kilometres in length and 800 me- on the ANZAC beach. It was also to submarine? tres wide at the Narrows of Chanak, attack any mine-laying ships, to help or Canakkale. It connects the protect the great fleet that would de- 5.1 Suggest what a submarine would Mediterranean to the Sea of Marmara liver the soldiers to land at Gallipoli. have to do to avoid or overcome them. and on the farther shore of the Sea of There are also some additional prob- Marmara was Constantinople, now What did AE2 do? lems caused by the characteristics of Istanbul.
PROBLEM HOW OVERCOME?
Searchlights
Mines
Artillery
Enemy ships
Navigation SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
Concealment during surface time
17 DATE – POINT LOCATION EVENTS APRIL
1 25 Entering Dardanelles
2 2.5km from north shore
3 3km from The Narrows
4 The Narrows
5 Near Canakkale
6 Asiatic shore, Fort Anatoli Medjideh
7 Gallipoli shore, Fort Derina
8 Nagara point
9 The Straits
10 Off Asiatic shore
11 Off Asiatic shore
12 Off Asiatic shore
13 26 Into Sea of Marmara
14 Sea of Marmara
15 Sea of Marmara
16 27 Sea of Marmara
17 28/29 Sea of Marmara
18 Sea of Marmara
19 Sea of Marmara SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
20 30 Kara Burnu Point
21 Kara Burnu Point
18 Figure 13
HMAS AE2 began its journey through the information for themselves. By Extracts from Stoker’s the Dardanelles at 2.30 am on 25 April. reporting in sequence you will be account of the last voyage telling the final story of AE2. of AE2 5.2 Your task is to summarise what happened in the table on page 18, and 5.3 When you have finished record- 1 mark each stage of events on the map ing, reporting on and discussing AE2’s of the Straits and Sea of Marmara last voyage look back at your list of It was absolutely dark, still, and dead (Figure 13). qualities of the officers and crew of a calm as AE2 entered the Dardanelles submarine (page 5), and add any new Strait and crept slowly along on the The stages should be divided among ideas. surface. With broken clouds shutting the class. Each small group with one out such light as a moonless sky even or more of the tasks needs to: Stoker’s tactics, in compliance with yet contrives to give, the searchlight his orders to create a diversion, meant seemed more powerful than before. • Mark on the map where this stage that AE2 was exposed to far higher As we neared the white cliffs one felt of AE2’s activities occurred – levels of risk than subsequent pa- forced to edge away from the light marking the number of the event trols. These tactics were successful. and nearer and nearer to the European in the approximate place where it THe damaging bombardment by the shore … occurred. Turkish battleship of the ANZAC beach • Summarise the events described was abruptly terminated when the Each time, as [a searchlight] touched – the dangers, the strategies, alarm about the presence of AE2 was AE2 with brighter and yet brighter
the decisions, the dramatic raised, and as a result there were far finger, one held for the instant one’s SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 consequences. fewer casualties on the ANZAC beach breath, lest the steady sweep, ar- • Report to the whole class and than would otherwise have occurred rested for a moment, would show a explain what happened, and without AE2’s intervention. suspicion of our shadowy presence. what it was like. In this way every But as the minutes passed by and member of class will create a full custom eased the eerie feeling caused summary of AE2’s historic last voy- by the passing light, a necessitous age, but will not have to read all boldness forced us farther and farther 19 along, now at a dead slow speed on one engine.
2
BANG! Tsh, tsh, tsh, tsh, tsh …
Mighty close was the bang of that gun, and mighty close to my head the broken swish of the shell as it hurtled past … Within a minute we were submerged, with above us the darkness preventing sight through the periscope … At dead slow speed, and at twenty feet, we dived along on our course, until the gathering light showed faint contours of the hills on the northern shore, and then lowering the periscope, we plunged to seventy feet for the passage through the main minefield.
3
For nearly an hour … the rappings and scrapings on the hull of the boat by the mooring wires of the mines, held taut by the buoyancy of the mines themselves overhead, seemed most damnably continuous. Choose a wrong moment to rise for observation through the periscope and you choose a moment to hit a mine – so choose as few of these moments for observa- tion as possible. Feel as safe as you care to when well submerged, and do Figure 14: Submarine B11 being attacked in the Dardanelles Strait in 1914, The War Illustrated, 10 April, 1915 not think of the result should one of the wires, catching on a projection of the boat’s side, drag its mine, with a immediately sighted, and a heavy port side, so at the moment of firing bang, down on the top of you. On two fire opened from the forts on either I ordered seventy feet. A last glance occasions something hard – much side. The shock of projectiles striking as the periscope dipped showed the harder than the wires – hit the bows the water overhead caused subdued destroyer apparently right on top and rattled away astern; were they thuds in the submarine, whilst sounds of us, and then, amidst the noise of mines which failed to explode? And as of hailstones were presumably her propeller whizzing overhead, we once some object seemed to catch caused by shrapnel bullets falling heard the big explosion as the tor- up forward and remained knocking through the water on the boat’s deck. pedo struck. The latter recalled one’s insistently for several minutes, before mind from considering the danger of it broke away and followed the rest of 5 not being deep enough to avoid the our enemies astern. Twice we rose in destroyer, to the danger of becom- the minefield for hasty observation, Higher up the Narrows, approach- ing entangled in the sinking ship quick correction of course, and then ing at great speed, were a number of ahead – as a ship of that size must away to the safer depths. destroyers and small craft. Hoisting be expected to sink very rapidly. To the periscope again, the hail of fire avoid this we altered course a point to
4 immediately reopened, and I found, starboard, with the object of passing SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 hurrying out … a small cruiser … at astern of her. In order to comply with the revised a range of three hundred yards I fired order to attack mine-droppers it was the bow tube at her. 6 necessary to keep the periscope up for a considerable time to take stock SEE FIGURE 14. The danger of remaining off one’s true of the situation; the surface of the course for any length of time in such water was an absolute flat and oily One of the destroyers was now very narrow and fast-running waters was calm, therefore the periscope was close, attempting to ram us on the obvious, and after three minutes we 20 altered back to what I considered the picking up the survivors of the sunk again we were heading into the wider correct course for regaining the centre cruiser, and then, best of all, a clear reaches, and below the point still of the Strait, at the same time order- view of the Strait showing that if we hurried and scurried the enemy ships. ing a rise to twenty feet for another could only get off we were heading on But even as I looked the periscope observation. We had risen to perhaps the correct course. Full speed ahead was sighted, the guns spoke, and the forty feet when the submarine struck on both motors! Ominous noises chase was resumed. The damnable bottom hard, and slid quickly up from aft made one fear the propellers calmness of water did not permit of to a depth of ten feet. Through the would get smashed. But on we must even the shortest spell of observation periscope I observed that the position go; and, after a shake, then a move, without the periscope being seen. was on the eastern shore very close then another shake, AE2 gave two in, right under the guns of a fort. As I great bumps and slithered down to 9 looked, one of the guns fired, appar- thirty feet – having been four minutes ently right into my eye, and seemingly at the eight-foot depth. Again the To seventy feet we dived, and made so close that I involuntarily jumped escape must be considered little short away up the Strait. This time, with back from the eyepiece of the peri- of miraculous; and particularly on a clear run, we could safely remain scope. Quickly lowering the latter, we this occasion the enemy lost an easy below for a longer period; it was three- proceeded with attempts to refloat the chance of destroying us by ramming quarters of an hour before we rose, boat. while aground. But presumably they hoping to find the pursuit well shaken imagined they had us safe. off. But no such luck – the chasseurs Now, when the depth gauges indicat- were still in close attendance, so ed ten feet there was a very consider- Away, then, at seventy feet, with a close indeed that the fear arose that able amount of the conning tower and host of small vessels in close pursuit. we might have caught an observa- bridge of AE2 above water; indeed, The two severe bumps were likely to tion net and be now towing a tell-tale the tops of the periscope pedestals, have caused leaks, and we feared the buoy above our heads all the time we being the highest objects, were quite submarine might not be under suf- thought to be hidden by the friendly ten feet clear of the surface. With the ficient control diving; but all seemed waters. boat apparently fast aground and a well, and, after a spell, we rose to continued din of falling shell, the situ- twenty feet to observe. Through the periscope I could see ation looked as unpleasant as it well no such buoy, but another disturbing could be. 8 sight met the eye. Just ahead, not one hundred yards from us, were two tugs, An eternity of time seemed to pass. Right ahead was Nagara Point – one on either bow, and stretching … In reality it was only five minutes Nagara, the last of our great navi- between them, right across our track, before the boat began to move; but gational obstacles, from which the a wire rope. We immediately dived to it is inconceivable how, even in this Strait widens and becomes compara- eighty feet, and turned off to starboard time, the conning tower or, at any rate, tively easy. Surrounding us were the to consider the situation. the periscope pedestals were not hit. pursuing vessels – a gunboat, some I afterwards learned that the guns of destroyers, and a number of tugs and The more one considered, the less the fort could not be depressed suf- small craft. An accurate fix of position pleasant it seemed. Whatever the ficiently to bear on us, but surely the occupied all the time granted before trap these tugs were laying, when we other forts and ships must have made the destroyers, in attempts to ram, escaped it would only be to encounter very bad shooting to miss this stand- became dangerous; and then away to more such traps during the twenty- ing target. seventy feet. odd miles still to be passed before we would reach waters wide enough in The efforts which eventually proved Consideration of the problem of which to shake off our pursuers. The successful in sliding the submarine rounding Nagara resulted in two longer we remained in their unpleas- down the bank left her pointing down thoughts. Firstly, that if we grounded ant company the more chance was the Strait. while near the surface for observation, there of some ordinary diving accident we could not well hope again to es- forcing us to the surface and to instant 7 cape; secondly, that near the surface destruction … we would be in more danger of being Bump! From a depth of seventy feet, caught by swirls and eddies of cur- With these thoughts, we turned at if you please, we slid gracefully to a rent. These, with the obvious danger right angles to our course and ran SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 miserable eight feet. Where on earth and difficulty of rising for observation direct for the Asiatic shore. Here we were we now? … The cursed current amidst so many pursuing craft, de- knew was a bank which shoaled slow- … had swept us across to this Point cided us to attempt the turn at ninety ly, and so, approaching it at dead slow … A quick glance round showed a feet without making any observation speed, we grounded and rested on the gun-boat and some destroyers, little at all. bottom at a depth of seventy feet. more than a hundred yards off, blazing hard with all their broadsides, a cluster To ninety feet then we went, and, of small boats which we guessed were fortune favouring us, when we rose 21 Figure 15: Artist’s impression of the AE2 being hunted by Turkish ships, Royal Naval Submarine Museum, Gosport, UK in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between pages 112–113
the fact that we were well out of the limit marking of AE2’s depth gauges. 10 track of ships following their ordinary We had, perforce, to go astern and course up and down the Strait proved pull her back up on the mud. And so Then ensued the most anxious pe- that [ships] were searching for us. at a depth of eighty feet we settled riod of the day. If we had caught an ourselves to remain, helpless, until observation net the end must come 11 darkness could permit us to rise to the soon. Again, if the enemy, failing to surface and – enemy also permitting – see us in the higher reaches of the After a few hours I decided that readjust the ballast tanks. Strait, carried out intelligent sweeping we must move to another place in operations of the few places a sub- the hope that the passage of ships 12 marine could hide on the bottom, they overhead would not recur. With the would have only too good a chance of memory that this ‘day of peace’ was a At 9.45 AE2 rose to the surface, hav- finding us. Sunday, prayers were read, and then ing been submerged over sixteen the crew went to their diving stations. hours. SEE FIGURE 15. Moving down to eighty feet we at- A bright moonlight night, indeed, too After about an hour a ship passed tempted to dive off at this depth, only bright for our comfort; but no enemy overhead, and was immediately fol- to find that the diving control of the ships in sight. The crew swarmed on SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 lowed by a knock at the boat’s side boat had been lost. The bumps from deck, eager for the clean night air, af- as something hit and jumped over. the last grounding had evidently so ter having passed the only twenty-four If this was a sweep we were exces- strained her that several of the ballast hours of their life without a sight of the sively lucky it did not catch up. After a tanks were leaking … Two attempts light of God’s day … The engines were short time other ships passed, and at we made, both unsuccessful, as each started and charging commenced. regular intervals this went on recurring. time we tried to dive off the boat One of these vessels’ … repeated pas- simply slid down the mud beyond the Now, too, we could signal to the Fleet. sages were trying for the nerves, and hundred-foot depth which was the A dramatic moment this, while one 22 watched the damp aerial wire throwing and, when judgment estimated us to Our first duty was to prevent the pas- purply blue sparks as the longs and be within torpedo range, hoisted the sage of enemy troops and supplies to shorts of the call sign were flashed. periscope. Right abeam was a ship, the Gallipoli Peninsula. AE2 carried no But … the answering call never came. looking mighty big at a range of five gun – at that date no British submarine Obviously there was something the hundred yards, and I jumped to the was fitted with a gun. We had only matter with our receiving instruments, conclusion that she was the second, a very limited number of torpedoes; and possibly with the sending too. It or rearmost ship. The bearing for firing such as we had were not of the most was of the utmost importance that we the port torpedo was on, and we fired. modern type. The failure of the wire- should establish communication with The ship dodged, the torpedo passed less receiving instruments left us in the Admiral to tell him that all was well ahead of her; and then, looking round, doubt as to whether any other sub- and the most difficult part of the task I found to my disgust I had fired at marine would be sent to join us. How, accomplished. On the success or fail- the smaller of the two ships, a cruiser. then, could we best fulfil our duty? It ure of our attempt depended whether The other, a battleship – either the seemed that we must endeavour to any other submarines would be Barbarossa or Turgood Reis – was fol- utilise moral effect to its utmost. Great risked, so he must know as quickly as lowing, but it was now too late to bring care must be exercised in the expend- possible that we had now practically any of the other tubes to bear with iture of torpedoes, and all ships not succeeded. This wireless failure was a good chance of the torpedo hitting. fired at must be frightened as much as very great disappointment. All that we We had lost a glorious chance, and possible. could do was to flash out our signal in through my fault alone. Of little use to the hope that some ship would pick it think that two sleepless nights and the We distinguished four ships, all fairly up. And this we did. experiences of the previous day hardly small, approaching independently and tended to produce the even, balanced steering zig-zag courses. We steered (Years afterwards I learnt from Admiral mind necessary to successful subma- for the largest one. She was small – Keyes that our signal was received, rine attacks in these unsuitable condi- not more than 1000 to 1500 tons; she and delivered to him at a critical mo- tions of bad light and smooth sea. We was flying no colours, nor were any of ment during a Council of War on board had had a glorious chance, and it was the other ships, and no marks distin- the Queen Elizabeth. The council was gone. guishing a transport could be seen. I discussing the question whether the decided that only if troops could be troops could hold on shore or must Sick at heart, we dived on along our discerned on board would we be justi- be evacuated – this less than twenty- course, forming the resolve to find a fied in firing a torpedo. four hours after the Landing – and had quiet spot for rest before carrying out almost decided for evacuation, when another attack. Closer and yet closer we came, with receipt of the news that a submarine torpedoes all ready for firing, until had got through altered the whole tide It must have been towards seven a bare 200 yards separated us. A of the discussion, and it was decided o’clock when we approached Gallipoli perfect target, well nigh unmissable, to hold on.) town, at the head of the Strait. she made, and the temptation to fire Stretching across our course, from was immense. But not a man could 13 shore to shore, was a vast quantity of be seen except what would be the fishing boats, so many that one was ordinary crew, and no sign of any- We readjusted our lost diving trim, led to think that it was by design in thing different from the general run and then resumed our passage up the connection with us they were there. of merchant ships. We had altered Strait, proceeding slowly on the sur- Plunging to seventy feet we passed course and were passing away astern, face. When the grey of dawn showed peaceably beneath them, and so dived when, running up the Turkish flag, she clear enough for an observer to sight out into the Sea of Marmara. opened fire on the periscope from a us from the shore we dived. small gun aft which had previously Our great wish was realized. The been hidden from my sight. Objects were just beginning to take submarine passage of the Dardanelles a definite form through the periscope Strait was made … The impertinence of the thing was when I sighted ahead two ships ap- damnably irritating – had she fired one proaching, obviously men-of-war, one 14 minute sooner we would have had the in front of the other; the leader, as far greatest pleasure in blowing her sky as I could judge in the bad light, was In AE2 all our thoughts and endeav- high! Now it was too late. We steered the smaller, both had two funnels. ours had been centred on the seem- for the next target. Again no sign of SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 They were not far off, and the peri- ingly difficult task of making the troops, and a considerably smaller scope, which was making a big white Dardanelles passage. The task was ship, but with the sense of irritation wash, must be lowered, for the water accomplished, and new responsibili- still on us we must fire. We did. I was was still absolutely calm, unmarked by ties arose, the facing of which present- unable, through the periscope to watch a ripple. ed a completely new set of problems. the torpedo running. A miss. Whether Our orders laid down no definite plan the ship successfully dodged, or the Steering a parallel and opposite for action in the Marmara. torpedo failed to run, I do not know, but course to the enemy, we approached, the result was the same – a miss. With 23 Figure 16: Painting. Charles Bryant, AE2 in the Sea of Marmora, AWM ART09016 disappointment at the failure, we dived confined waters six vessels can cover One destroyer was ahead of her, the out towards the Marmara, and half an a lot of ground, but had they been six other on her starboard beam. Our ob- hour later rose to the surface hundred they could not have worried us ject was to get across the bows of the more than they did that first night. We second destroyer, in between her and 15 longed for a gun to enable us to remain the ship. This was successfully ac- on the surface and give them fight. complished. When the periscope was There were several fishing-boats in hoisted for the last time the ship was sight, and, hoisting the White Ensign, 17 just on our port bow about 300 yards we steamed up close to them. The distant, the destroyer close on our port excitement caused was amusingly A small ship which turns easily, is quarter, and our presence obviously intense. With frantic gesticulations smartly handled, and keeps a good not previously suspected. The short and calls on Allah the fishermen look out has, in a dead calm sea, interval of time necessary to bring the endeavoured to impress us with their nothing to fear from a submarine. The right bearing on for firing the bow tube harmlessness, some even holding submarine approaching has to keep saw the range shortened to 200 yards, both hands palm upwards above the periscope down from the time she the ship behind being beam on and their heads with piteous ‘Don’t shoot’ is within 3000 yards or even more. To presenting a perfect target. No dodg- looks on their faces. But it was well to estimate the exact moment when the ing would save her now! frighten them, and let them return to distance is, say 300 yards without an their villages with tales of the immedi- intervening observation is very dif- ‘Bow tube, stand by! Fire!’ ate coming of the British Fleet; the ficult; but when the moment is judged moral effect would all help. And so, in as come and the periscope is hoisted, Through the periscope I saw the rush this pleasantly interesting manner, we the torpedo must be fired immediately of escaping air as the torpedo left the passed the afternoon. whether the range be long or short. tube, and then – words cannot describe The ship should see the moment the my feelings at the sight – the torpedo SEE FIGURE 16. torpedo is fired, and she will then be peaceably rose to the surface and lay able to dodge it. The foregoing is only motionless, while the compressed air 16 meant to refer to the deadest of dead which gives the motive power puffed calms – rare in the open sea – but it futilely out of its stern. The torpedo’s From this moment through the night was such a calm with which we had to engines had failed to start. we never had a moment’s rest. Dived contend. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 we this way or dived we that, we had Never has ship had more fortunate barely returned to the surface for five The ship in sight proved to be but small escape. Nothing on earth could have minutes before we were forced to – about 1500 tons – but doubts as to saved her had the torpedo run. dive again. The waters seemed stiff her being worthy of attack were quickly with pursuing craft. I afterwards found settled by seeing that two destroyers Even as I looked – in utmost exaspera- that from the time of our passing the were guarding her. If worth guarding tion – the destroyer was upon us, and Narrows six vessels had been detailed she was worth sinking, be the weather sinking to 70 feet we escaped being with the sole duty of worrying us. In conditions for attack suitable or not. rammed by inches. There followed the 24 Figure 17: The Turkish torpedo boat Sultanhisar in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between pages 112-113 usual pursuing tactics of the destroy- practically his sole duty is to watch the could then be seen of E14, who had, ers, but before long they returned to diving-gauge to see that the subma- we imagined, dived to investigate some resume their guard, and we rose to the rine does not unexpectedly rise to the smoke farther along to the westward. surface half an hour later. surface, or slip along the bottom to a deeper depth. What sort of fancies, do This smoke, which was approaching, Throughout the remainder of the day, you think, he indulges in as he gazes at soon singled out to indicate only one not a ship was sighted, not even a the big round gauge in front of him, with ship, and such dense volumes of it fishing-smack, and it seemed as if al- its needle pointing firmly to the fact that were arising that one assumed she ready our presence was having a most 60 or 70 feet of water lie between him must be fairly big. When, however, marked effect. and the world of men above? Curious her mast and funnels hove in sight thoughts they ought surely to be. one could see she was only a torpedo 18 craft moving at high speed, and as 19 her course lay direct for us it would be For two nights now the men had had, necessary to dive out of the way until to all intents and purposes, absolutely Not two hundred yards off there she went past. no rest whatever, and so we decided rose, slowly and gracefully, first the not to run the risk of a repetition of periscope, then the conning tower, After an adjustment of the ballast the previous night’s wearing enter- and then the grey, dripping hull of a tanks, we dived to 50 feet, and shaped tainment, but instead to spend some submarine. a southerly course to investigate hours on the bottom. After dark we another ship we had sighted in that made for a suitable place close to Yes! No! Yes! E14, by all the gods! direction. The submarine was diving the northern shore, and after further easily and comfortably; not a suspi- unsuccessful attempts to get through The pleasure of a stranger in a strange cion of impending disaster lay in our on the wireless, sank to the bottom in land when he sights one of his own minds. SEE FIGURE 17. 60 feet. All hands turned in except the kith and kin is proverbial. The pleasure one watch-keeper, who keeps an eye experienced by us, strange subma- Suddenly, and for no accountable on the depth gauge, and for six hours rine in an enemy’s sea, finding quite reason, the boat took a large we enjoyed complete peace and quiet. unexpectedly a friend rising from the inclination up by the bows and depths right under our very nose, can started rising rapidly in the water. All The ordinary sailor at sea indulges often well be imagined. efforts at regaining control proved in quaint fancies to while away the night futile. The diving rudders had not SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 watches when pacing his bridge or 20 the slightest effect towards bringing perched in his look-out position. I often her back to the horizontal position or wonder what are the thoughts of a sub- Next morning, as we were making for stopping her rising in the water. We marine sailor keeping his solitary watch the rendezvous, we sighted what we increased to full speed in order to give in a submarine lying on the bottom of believed to be E14, some five miles the rudders their maximum power, the sea, while the remainder of the crew ahead of us. Half an hour later we were and shifted water ballast forward sleeps. The only man awake in the boat, at the position ourselves, but nothing as quickly as possible, but still she 25 continued to rise, and at last broke seemed to be trying to stand on her surface. Through the periscope I saw nose. Eggs, bread, food of all sorts, a torpedo-boat a bare hundred yards knives, forks, plates, came tumbling off, firing hard. At all costs we must forward from the petty officers’ mess. get under again at once. I ordered one Everything that could fall over fell; of the forward tanks to be flooded, men, slipping and struggling, grasped and a few minutes later the submarine hold of valves, gauges, rods, anything took an inclination down by the bows to hold them up in position to their and slipped under water. Closing off posts. the forward tank, and stopping the movement of water ballast from aft Full speed astern again … A thousand to forward, we endeavoured to catch years passed – well, this time we were her at 50 feet, but now again the gone for ever. diving rudders seemed powerless to right her, and with an ever-increasing In Heaven’s name, what depth were inclination down by the bows she we at? … Why did not the sides of the went to 60 and then 70 feet, and was boat cave in under the pressure and Figure 18: Sketch by crew member ANC obviously quite out of control. Water finish it? … Thomson (Mrs Ruby Edwards) in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, ballast was expelled as quickly as HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between possible, yet down and down she And then, once that fateful needle pages 168-9 went – 80, 90 and 100 feet. Here was jumped back from its limit mark, and the limit of our gauges; when that AE2 rushed stern first to the surface. depth was passed she was still sinking An anxious shout from above: ‘Hurry, rapidly. We could not tell to what BANG! … A cloud of smoke in the sir, she’s going down!’ depths she was reaching. I ordered engine-room. We were hit and holed! full speed astern on the motors … In And again in quick succession two In the wardroom my eye was caught a few moments – moments in which more holes. by my private dispatch-case, which death seemed close to every man – contained, I remembered, some there came a cry from the coxswain: 21 money. That was bound to be useful – ‘She’s coming up, sir!’ and the needle I ran and picked it up, and darted up seemed to jerk itself reluctantly away Finished! We were caught! We could the conning tower. from the 100-feet mark, and then rise no longer dive and our defence was rapidly. gone. It but remained to avoid useless As I reached the bridge the water was sacrifice of life. All hands were ordered about two feet from the top of the con- The amount of water expelled from the on deck and overboard. ning tower; besides this only a small ballast tanks had now made the boat portion of the stern was out of water. light; so with increasing speed she The holes in the hull were all above On it were clustered the last half- jumped to the surface, and remained water, and therefore not in themselves dozen of the crew, the remainder were there an appreciable time. While I at- sufficient to sink the boat, though overboard. SEE FIGURE 18. tended to the reflooding of the tanks, preventing all possibility of diving. While another officer looked through the the crew scrambled up on deck, an Perhaps a minute passed, and then, periscope. He reported the torpedo- officer remained with me below to take slowly and gracefully, like the lady she boat circling round us, and a gunboat the necessary steps for sinking. The was, without sound or sigh, without approaching fast from the southward. third officer, on the bridge, watched the causing an eddy or a ripple on the It afterwards transpired that the rising water to give warning in time for water, AE2 just slid away on her last torpedo-boat then fired two torpedoes our escape. A shout from him and we and longest dive. at us; yet they missed this practically clambered up; but through the conning- standing target at such short range. tower windows I saw there was still a Amongst Englishmen sentiment is minute to spare. I jumped down again a feeling to which it is never correct Under we must get again – and away and had a last look round – for, you see, to admit. Amongst my countrymen we went with the same terrible inclina- I was fond at AE2. this is not so much the case. And tion down by the bows, this time ex- still I would leave it to my readers to pelling water ballast immediately she What a sight! Pandemonium – I cannot picture for themselves the feelings of SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 began to dive in desperate attempts attempt to describe it – food, clothing, that moment, when the waters quietly to regain control. But down and down flotsam and jetsam of the weirdest closed over AE2 for the last time, and and down she went, faster even than sorts floating up on the fast-entering for ever. before, 60, 80, and 100 feet. The water in the place which we had been inclination down by the bows became so proud to keep neat and clean … more and more pronounced – she
26 ACTIVITY 6
WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF AE2’S MISSION?
6.1 Look back at the information in Activity 5 about what AE2’s role was. Drawing on the information you sum- marised in this activity, what would you saw were its:
• main successes? • main failures?
6.2 Read the following assessment by Stoker, and the additional infor- mation, and decide how you would summarise its role and achievements at Gallipoli.
Source 1
On 27 April E14 entered and remained in the Sea of Marmara for three weeks, sinking several ships. On 19 May E11 entered and sank more ships.
Source 2
AE2 did very little damage. Its pres- ence worried the Turks and slowed the supply of men and equipment to the defenders on the Gallipoli peninsula.
Source 3
News reached Gallipoli on 25 April that AE2 had entered the Sea of Marmara. Figure 19: Selcuk Kolay OAM, wreck explorer and maritime historian who found the wreck Stoker wrote: of AE2, examines the Memorial window in the Naval Chapel on Garden Island, Sydney. Photograph: Dr Mark Spencer, in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, Years afterwards I learnt from Admiral HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between pages 48–9 Keyes that our signal was received, and delivered to him at a critical mo- Source 5 describing perchance a two-thousand ment during a Council of War on board mile run, ‘No incident occurred’; here the Queen Elizabeth. The council was Stoker’s assessment of the you read ‘Orders were received and discussing the question whether the achievements: next day we sailed –’ for Europe from troops could hold on shore or must Australia! The statements are true, but be evacuated – this less than twenty- Of the men who served her; no in the periods of time covered by such four hours after the Landing – and had captain has ever been more proud of simple words the crew were worked almost decided for evacuation, when the men under his command than I like slaves. Hard work, privation, dis- receipt of the news that a submarine was whilst commanding, in my good comfort, dangers, were their compan- had got through altered the whole tide fortune, that Australian submarine. In ions during practically the whole of of the discussion, and it was decided the writing of this record of their work AE2’s short life. And, if that were not to hold on. I have risked the charge of ingratitude enough, they entered, at her death, on SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 through, in many places, belittling a new life which was not a life, but a Source 4 the difficulties they had to overcome; sorry existence. Good comrades, loyal in places I have deliberately omitted servants, and brave men; the straws in AE2 was first submarine to pass the problems of a technical nature which the wind led them to captivity. Dardanelles, proving this aforethought involved hard work and dangers in impossibility possible. their solution. Here I have written, in
27 Source 6 AE2’s efforts avoided the loss of many What would that be like? more Anzac lives from the shelling From submissions by the ‘AE2: The and facilitated easier and more rapid 7.1 What do you expect would be Silent Anzac Committee’ to award communications with the beach for the conditions and experiences of Lieutenant Commander Henry Hugh reinforcements of men and material, a POW? Consider such aspects as Gordon Stoker RN a posthumous and the evacuation of wounded. these, and summarise your ideas or Victoria Cross: expectations in the ‘What I expect’ In the finely balanced situation im- column in the table below. Three other Commanding Officers mediately following the landings this of submarines in the Dardanelles, would have been a major contribution 7.2 Then read the following informa- Holbrook, Boyle and Nasmith, were to the success of the landings. It was a tion to test those expectations. Record awarded the Victoria Cross. B11 pre- direct result of Stoker’s determination what actually happened in the ‘What I ceded AE2 but did not penetrate the to press home his attack, in the face have discovered’ column below. Narrows E 14 and E11 penetrated the of strong opposition and despite the Narrows after AE2 had done so. hazardous navigational circumstances, Source 1: ANZAC POW and should be considered in the as- stories finally revealed Stoker’s mission to penetrate the sessment of awarding a medal for his Dardanelles was no accident of history bravery in the face of the enemy. ELEANOR HALL: A PhD student is - despite the earlier losses of SAPHIR revealing more about a little known and E15 he actively sought out the op- Boyle’s citation for his Victoria Cross aspect of Australia’s war history – portunity and tackled it with unflinch- read: that the Turks held more than 200 ing courage, initiative and enthusiasm. Australian prisoners of war during ‘For most conspicuous bravery, in World War One. The research by His calculated, cool courage, brav- command of Submarine E.14, when University of Queensland’s Kate ery and leadership under fire over a he dived his vessel under the enemy Walton is challenging many ANZAC protracted period was the principal minefields and enteredthe Sea of assumptions. Ms Walton told Nance factor in saving the submarine and its Marmara on the 27th April, 1915. In Haxton that she studied Red Cross crew during the minefield penetration, spite of great navigational difficulties files, national archives and handwritten his daring attack in the narrows in the from strong currents, of the continual memoirs. face of a determined counter attack by neighborhood of hostile patrols, and the escort, both groundings, the depth of the hourly danger of attack from KATE WALTON: Officers tended to excursions on the 25 and 30 April and the enemy, he continued to operate in have a relatively comfortable time in the many interactions with searching the narrow waters of the Straits and captivity. They were put up in houses, forces, ensuring success where others succeeded in sinking two Turkish gun- they didn’t have to work – that was a had failed. boats and one large military transport.’ stipulation of the Hague Convention which was in place to govern the He successfully discharged and ex- Stoker is truly worthy of the recognition treatment of the POWs – whereas the ceeded his challenging orders, achiev- of an Australian bravery award; it is men of the other ranks where made to ing a major impact on the Ottoman time to rectify a long standing injustice work, basically. So a lot of them had to defences, thereby reducing Allied and to recognise Stoker as an equal work on various construction pro- casualties, gaining a critical breathing with Holbrook, Boyle and Nasmith. jects, including a big railway project space for the hard pressed Anzacs and that was pushing through the Taurus making an inestimable contribution to Note that there is a connection be- Mountains. the Anzac legend that was forged in tween Commander Holbrook VC and the harsh crucible of Gallipoli. He led the NSW town of Holbrook. See the NANCE HAXTON: Why is it that we the way for a submarine campaign that ‘AE2: The Silent Anzac’ website at haven’t really heard much about this was to deny the Ottoman forces free
28 these guys surrendered or were taken KATE WALTON: It wasn’t so much and the captor. captured, so there’s a bit of a tension a sustained attempt to mistreat the there too. POWs, it was more just a case of NANCE HAXTON: And for a lot of these prisoners were being treated on those POWs, they really didn’t talk NANCE HAXTON: Did some receive the same level of a Turkish soldier. It about what happened to them, did pretty poor treatment? is the first time that there was such a they. There was some shame attached cultural difference between the captive to the experience?
ASPECT OF WHAT I EXPECT WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED IMPRISONMENT
Physical conditions
Occupations
Enemy attitudes and treatment
Support available from outside
‘Society’ in a POW camp
Health
Psychology
People at home
Try to escape?
Cooperate with the SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 enemy?
Other
29 Figure 20: MAP OF POW CAMPS. in Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between pages 48-9
KATE WALTON: I think for a lot of the past two years study- them they came home and they ing what happened to 203 picked up their lives and they kind Australians taken by the Turks in of just got on with it. But there was World War I. definitely, I’ve come across a few that couldn’t come to terms with this sense Ms Walton’s study also looks at of shame or embarrassment that they the experiences of the families felt – especially the guys that worked at home in Australia, await- on the railway. I’ve got a few quotes ing the return of their loved from them that said they basically ones who had disappeared felt embarrassed that they’d actually into the middle of Turkey, and worked for the enemy. People really the anxiety they felt due to Figure 21: Food – the prisoners’ obsession. don’t know about it, and that includes the communications breakdowns that Sketch by CERA Reg Ballantyle in Fred and their families. occurred. Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, between pages 168–9 http://www.abc.net.au/am/ She said the Red Cross played an content/2012/s3488434.htm important role in providing food and comfort parcels, medicines, clothes, Ms Walton said the Imperial War Source 2: UQ study and books, and facilitating contacts Graves Commission had re-buried the highlights captive Anzacs between the prisoners and their remains of those deceased captives
families. in Turkey, and they now rested in a SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 A University of Queensland project is memorial cemetery in Baghdad. Some piecing together a little-known aspect Of the 151 captives who returned could not be recovered due to tradi- of Australia’s war history that may to Australia, many suffered chronic tional Muslim burial traditions. bring comfort and understanding to digestive problems, hernias, gastric families. ulcers and neuroses, which they ‘This was the first time Australians believed were the results of their time were held captive in wartime by an en- PhD student Kate Walton has spent in captivity. emy with a radically different cultural 30 background,’ she said. http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index. html?article=24629
Source 3: Extracts from Stoker’s Submarine
The Turkish attitude to the crew was complicated. Very few Turks had any knowledge of Australia, and they must have been extremely angered by AE2’s exposure of their Gallipoli supply lines to submarine attack. Individual Turkish responses to the submariners tended to be good at first, but deteriorated later.
After the shock and alienation of their capture, the AE2 crew began the slow process of acceptance and adapta- tion to their predicament. They were supported by being part of a strong- knit and flexible group, a simple fact, but one that would enable them to survive the next three and a half years in captivity.
According to Red Cross agreements, Figure 22: Graves of AE2 crewmen in Turkey. AWM P01645.004 prisoners were supposed to be treated similarly to ordinary Turkish soldiers in terms of food and punishment. After war at that time, required all enlisted social complexity. For entertain- their capture, however, the AE2 men men, but not officers, to work, and ment, there was a library as well as soon discovered a wide gap between paid them a small wage. This money the theatre group. One British officer, theory and reality. The Turks allowed was supplemented by various inter- John Bott, noted that, despite the no independent inspections of POW national payments that sometimes absence of women, the camp resem- camps. reached the men, and money cobbled bled a suburb in a [British] city. Bott’s together by Stoker and his officers. description of camp life is entertain- Initially the submariners, a disciplined But the AE2 crewmen were angered at ing: ‘Innumerable cliques formed, and fastidious group selected for their the exorbitant prices they were often from each of which gossip spread mental and physical abilities, were ap- charged for necessities. outward … how X had received a pair palled by the filthy conditions at Anon of pyjamas from the Red Cross … and Kara Hissar. Army corporal George The unsung hero for all the AE2 supposedly sold them; how Y had Kerr, who was held in the Belemedik prisoners (including the three officers) climbed over the rooftops and met camp with many of the AE2 crew, kept was Captain Francis Haworth Booth, that Armenian girl with the big eyes … a secret Pitman’s shorthand diary, the Australian Navy’s London repre- how three men had experimented with later transcribed and published by sentative. Haworth Booth discovered opium smoking … how Yeats Brown his grandson as Lost Anzacs: A Tale a conduit through a London City … for weeks went about dressed as of Two Brothers. In this, Kerr noted: friend whose bank had a branch in a girl.’ ‘Most of the crew of the AE2 were ini- Constantinople. Although its Turkish tially intolerant of the harsh conditions, assets were frozen during the war, the But no prisoner could really escape they seemed a cut above the rest, and bank could release funds locally. These the psychological depression of con- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 as members of a “Royal” navy might lifesaving funds were paid via the Red finement. An Australian Flying Corps have felt it beneath them to work Cross, and American and Dutch em- officer, J. Halpin, described this syn- building roads and supplementing bassy sources to AE2 coxswain Chief drome: ‘We lie around, solitary, silent, labour shortages on farms.’ Petty Officer Harry Abbott, and then motionless, absorbed like dead men distributed to the officers and men. from whom has passed every urge to The Turks, applying to some degree live, every voice of hope … death is the international rules for prisoners of Camp life at Afion developed its own always with us as a constant menace; 31 Figure 23: Australians, including AE2 crewmen, in POW camp in Turkey. AWM A02255 it is our whispered topic in the length- humid and airless in warm weather, The worst scourge at Belemedik was ened shades of evening, the drab and and always filled with mosquitos. disease. Although all the AE2 men lonely solitude of night, the restless had been inoculated against typhoid, quiverings of early dawn’. The aim of the construction work was the overcrowded camp was riddled to drive twelve tunnels through solid with malaria and meningitis, amongst At the end of 1915 nearly all the granite mountains. The work was ex- other diseases. Four of the crew, AE2 men, who had been working tremely dangerous, and the men were three Englishmen and one Australian – on roadmaking, were shipped out of required to work twelve hours a day, Gilbert, Varcoe, Knaggs and Williams Afion. Some went for a short stint at round the clock in shifts. Men who – died as prisoners. Nearly all the sub- Cankiri, an agricultural prison near could not work or who became ill were mariners left Turkey as little more than Ankara, but eventually most ended up simply unwanted, useless to the con- walking skeletons, and many suffered at Belemedik, a forced labour camp in struction company, and at grave risk for the rest of their lives from malaria, the remote Taurus Mountains of south- of their lives. Life suddenly became internal problems, and the effects of eastern Turkey. Crewman C A Bray a matter of desperate survival, every injuries. claimed Belemedik meant ‘nowhere’, man vulnerable. For Australian POWs, from bele, no, and medik, place. It Belemedik was to have ghastly echoes Corporal Kerr’s diaries give some seemed appropriate to him. in the Japanese slave labour camps of account of the most poignant and the Burma railway in World War Two. personal details of life in the camps. At Belemedik was the main construc- Belemedik, as at Afion, the AE2 men tion camp for the Berlin to Baghdad Some Belemedik prisoners died in struggled to maintain morale by organ- Railway Company, a German group badly supervised rock explosions. ising entertainments like concerts, and building the crucial single gauge rail Conditions were dreadful, and the in the case of Kerr’s mess, drinking line to transport both Turkish military food poor. Many of the AE2 men parties, boxing and football matches. supplies and vital Middle Eastern had valuable technical and engineer- There were other preoccupations too, oil. The main camp was set on the ing skills, and were allocated good like personal relationships. Kerr writes SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 banks of a river, in a deep valley under jobs. Others tried to escape, despite frankly that Belemedik at the begin- towering mountains. The terrain was overwhelming odds, which included ning of 1916 was rife with rumours so inhospitable that the Turks had no a large bounty offered to Turks to turn and innuendo about sodomy, and that need to put fences around the camp. them in. some (female) prostitutes enterpris- It was a bad place for malaria: hot, ingly turned up.
32 The final prison camp experienced by six of the AE2 crew – Nichols, Churcher, Harding, Wilson, Wishart and Mitchell – was San Stefano. It is now called Yesilkoy. The prison camp, located near the current Ataturk International Airport south-west of Istanbul, had an airstrip nearby, used by Turkish and German airforce units. Some of the mostly Catholic Australian airmen sent there planned to escape by getting hold of these planes, but were unsuccessful. San Stefano, supervised by Germans and where the prisoners were used mostly as labour- ers or orderlies, was considered to be the least harsh prison camp in Turkey.
It is impossible to glamorise the Turkish prison experiences of the AE2 crew. A bitter poem, written at Afion by an RAF Figure 24: Winter in a POW camp in Turkey. AWM H19397 flight lieutenant, Leonard Woolley, who had been shot down in Mesopotamia and force-marched to Turkey, summed one hour’s exercise per 24 hours ‘No communication having been up the feelings of many. under guard,’ said Wheat. Eventually received from submarine AE2 since news of the unjust punishment got 26th April, her loss must be presumed. Famished and spent across the waste, out, and the Afion commandant was From a report received through dip- beastlike you drove us on, removed. lomatic channels at Athens, it would And clubbed to death the stragglers appear that three officers and seven- by the way. Fred and Elizabeth Brenchley, Stoker’s teen men were taken prisoner out of Our sick men in the lazar huts you left Submarine, HarperCollins Publishers, a total of three officers and twenty- to die alone, 2001, between pages 155-164. eight men. Every effort is being made And you robbed the very dying as they to ascertain further particulars of the lay. Source 4: Extracts survivors. Board of Admiralty desire to Naked and starved we built you roads from TR Frame and GJ record their deep regret at the loss of And tunnelled through your hills, Swinden, First In, Last this vessel with so many of her gallant And you flogged us when we fainted Out: The Navy at Gallipoli crew, after a memorable feat of arms, at our work. and congratulate the Commonwealth Fevered beneath the sun we toiled, The news of AE2’s loss was slow on the high qualities of their officers wrecked by winter chills, in filtering through. The Dutch were and seamen.’ Till death released us, kindlier than the the first to learn of information that Turk. AE2 had indeed been lost and this Senator Pearce told the Senate that And the tunnels we drove for you, the was reported to the Australian Naval ‘there is no doubt that the operation roads that we have made, Representative in London who in- in which she was lost was of a very Shall be highways for the armies of formed Navy Office in Melbourne of daring character, and we will await your foe. the news on 15 May 1915. The reports further particulars as regards that’. The We shall mock you in our graves, that of AE2’s loss appeared in newspapers news did not take all that long in com- in what we did as slaves on 18 May but the Navy continued to ing. On 25 May 1915 the American inform relatives that the sinking was Ambassador in Constantinople report- There were cases where POWs were yet to be confirmed. ed that three officers and twenty-nine treated harshly just for thinking about men had been captured and made SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 escape. AE2 crewman Wheat recounts On 22 May 1915, the Minister of prisoners of war. the misfortune of Lieutenant Haggard Defence, Senator George Pearce, of the AE2 at Afion. Suspected of addressed the Senate on the loss of For the families of the men in AE2 planning an escape, Haggard and two AE2. He quoted a cablegram from the the news was not good. The fate of other officers were ‘sentenced’ to nine Admiralty dated 18 May 1915 which those from the boat was unclear. The months close confinement. ‘During had been received in Australia the fol- families had to be told something and this harsh treatment they were allowed lowing day. It read: given something on which to live. For 33 pay purposes they were all deemed U.S. Embassy setting out their needs. Stoker’s heart sank. On the first day POWs from 15 May while the Naval They included ‘cricket apparatus, to- he followed shock with disbelief at the Board decided that all of the AE2 men bacco and pipes, fishing hooks, curry treatment he was receiving. His first would receive their full wages and powder, baking powder, corned beef, meal consisted of three small pota- submarine pay until they returned to cheese, braces, razors and house- toes soaked in greasy oil, and a small England. wives’. The Admiralty also moved portion of dark bread. The night that to provide clothing to AE2 survivors followed was even worse: The mother of Stoker Michael and this was duly charged against Williams wrote to the Secretary of the Australian Naval Board’s account. ‘Arranging my soldier’s overcoat the Department of the Navy on 1 A system was introduced where the as a pillow’, Stoker remembered, ‘I June: ‘Just a line to see if you can tell recipient acknowledged that an item lay down keeping my clothes on, of me any findings of my son Michael had arrived in attempt to ascertain the course, and tucking the ends of my Williams that was on the AE2 that was level of corruption. An RAN Leading trousers inside my socks. My head lost – if he be taken prisoner or lost – Stoker, Archibald Wilson, who was had not been two minutes on the pil- would you kindly let me know as it has taken prisoner from the E7, wrote low before I felt a bug walking on my been a long time since the boat was to the Secretary of the Australian face. I jumped up, and held the lamp lost. Please let me know and oblige.’ Commonwealth Naval Board on 18 over to search. The bed was swarm- The letter was signed ‘His Anxious December 1917 regarding items he ing with the filthy brutes. I killed as Mother’. Mrs Williams was not alone in had received as a POW: many as possible, but they were quick her fears. movers, and the majority escaped ‘Dear Secretary, Very pleased to ac- into their homes before I could catch [At Constantinople] A small crowd knowledge that I have received three them. I saw little hope of sleep under gathered to look at the men whose parcels marked 13, 14, 16, all in good the circumstances, and commenced capture was broadcast as a major condition. I have received three lots of walking the floor (I could manage four Turkish achievement, but interest money since last time of writing. AB paces from corner to corner), resolved waned as they marched through the Nicholls, Stoker Harding, LS Cliff have to keep off the bed as long as possi- streets. Yet Stoker and his men were received the same amount of money. ble. But I was tired; and after an hour I starting to worry. Children had made AB Nicholls received two parcels made one more search and slaughter, them uneasy by drawing their fingers marked 11, 14, Stoker Harding 2 par- and, covering the overcoat with two across their throats as they passed cels numbers not known. LS Cliff has handkerchiefs to enable me to see them in the streets, suggesting they received 2 parcels numbers not known them approaching my face, I lay down were all to have their throats cut. … we all desire to thank you very again. Within an instant there were half much. I am your obedient servant, a dozen on the pillow, and I jumped up When they arrived at the military bar- Leading Stoker Archibald Wilson.’ to renew the slaughter and then walk racks, Stoker and the other two offic- the floor. Throughout the night the ers were separated from the sailors. Wilson despatched the letter from San same routine was continued!’ Stefano in Constantinople where he Stoker was surprised by the hospitality had been sent to work with a party The ‘special’ imprisonment lasted 32 shown by the Turks. They were given of men, including Alexander Nichols, days of which 25 were spent in solitary decent food and allowed to bathe reg- Able Seaman Churcher and Stoker confinement in a dark, wet dungeon. ularly. But when the Turks were unable Thomas Wishart, all from the AE2. to gain from Stoker or his men details While conditions at San Stefano were It seems the only reason they were of AE2’s passage and the disposition hardly luxurious, they were better not to die in this captivity was the of the Allied submarine forces in the than working on the railway. As all the intervention of the new American Eastern Mediterranean theatre, the men were Catholics, the Apostolic Ambassador, Mr Henry Morganthau. treatment they had enjoyed immedi- Delegate in Constantinople must The two men were released and spent ately stopped and they were shifted to have been successful in advocating the next five days in one of the best small unsanitary rooms. To the credit certain concessions for Catholics in hotels in Constantinople before they of the Turks, physical violence was not the camp. Certainly, we know that were returned to the POW camp at used. on other occasions he intervened on Afion Kara Hissar. behalf of prisoners and evidently had On 8 May both the officers and men not inconsiderable influence. Stoker wrote to the Admiralty on were moved from Constantinople 12 November 1915 with a positive SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 across the Bosphorus to Scutari, and On 2 October, Stoker was sent with an outlook: later by train to Alion Kara Hissar. This officer from the E15 to Constantinople was the general holding post and for special imprisonment as a reprisal ‘I am also glad to be able to say things could have been far worse. for alleged mistreatment of Turkish that the men are all keeping in quite The senior AE2 POW, Chief Petty POWs in Egypt. After thinking he and satisfactory health. They are visited by Officer Harry Abbott, wrote to the ‘Fitz’ from the E15 were going home, the Russian Medical Officer. The two
34 Figure 25: Location of the sinking of AE2 in the Sea of Marmara, 1915 great excitements of our life during the the Indian Medical Service. Stoker and Four of AE2’s men did not survive last month were taking of photographs two other officers (remembering the their imprisonment. In 1916 all were and the visit of the American Embassy officers were held separately), es- worked very hard on the railway and bringing welcome gifts of money, food caped from Afion Kara Hissar on 23 were attached to the POW camp at and clothing, otherwise the daily mo- March 1916. Covering most of the Belemedik. Malnutrition, exhaustion notony has reigned uninterrupted.’ rugged 130 miles to the Mediterranean and exposure led to sickness and coast on foot, starving and exhausted, disease. And once the men were ill The only alternative was escape. The they sought shelter from a shepherd. they could only fall back on self-help sailors from AE2 organised several es- He reported their approach and this medical treatment. Charlie Varcoe, the capes during their imprisonment. The led to their recapture. Chief Stoker in AE2, died of meningitis two Able Seaman Ibrpedomen John at Belemedik on 18 September 1916. Wheat and Alexander Nichols man- After being imprisoned again for He was a central figure in the subma- aged to escape for nineteen days from several months, they were court- rine’s operations and a father figure Belemedik, but were forced by starva- martialled and genuinely feared for to the younger members of the ship’s tion and sickness to give themselves their lives. Stoker was found guilty company. He was Royal Navy and his up. Wheat managed another escape, and sentenced to twenty-five days wife was given the news making her this time with Stoker James Cullen imprisonment. The other two officers a widow in the family home in Devon, and Private S. Samson of the AIF. But were given twenty days each. After England. evidently the first attempt had taught being POWs for so long the sentences Wheat little and again starvation, seemed, and were, absurd. Stoker During one of the plagues of typhus sickness and continuous rain drove burst out laughing and was joined by which swept the camp, two more from SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 them to return. Wheat was sentenced the officers of the court who also knew AE2 were lost, Petty Officer Stephen to solitary confinement and only just full well the effect of their ruling. But Gilbert had joined the Australian Navy averted death after the ordeal of es- the punishment was no joke. Solitary in 1913 for five years service after cape and the hardship of ‘solitary’ by confinement was becoming harder for completing seventeen years in the the intervention of a Captain Clifford of Stoker to take. Royal Navy. He died on 9 October
35 1916. His wife returned to England 7.3 What qualities were needed to it would disintegrate if left lying in from Australia after the war. Able survive as a prisoner of war? Look the soft mud on the floor of the Seaman Albert Knaggs died on 22 back at your table in 1.4 and add any Marmara. October 1916. He was also RAN, new ideas to it. • Dr Ian MacLeod, an Australian having joined from the Royal Fleet metal restoration expert, has Reserve, and his wife was then living 7.4 Having now studied the experi- advised that once the steel hull is in Bristol, England. ence of the crew of AE2 in combat lifted from the salt water the corro- and as prisoners of war, do you think sion is probably unstoppable. Stoker Michael Williams was working they are part of the Anzac tradition? • Conserving and displaying the at Belemedik when he was moved to submarine at its present location the hard labour site five miles away at Justify your answer. would still cost well over $50 mil- Bezardjite. In September 1916 he was lion dollars. sent to Pozanti to work and ended If you are not sure what the Anzac • Local ships often cause damage in hospital with malaria. With him tradition is you can look at STUDIES to AE2 with their fishing nets and was Private H. Ridgeway of the 1/5 magazine 1/2010: What Is the Spirit of anchors. Lancashire Fusiliers, who had been Anzac? Is it relevant to young people • The hull is slowly rusting. captured at Achi Baba on 7 August today? A copy of the unit is available • Divers have not been able to enter 1915. Ridgeway recovered from his at
TR Frame and GJ Swinden, First AE2, Selcuk Kolay OAM, believed SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 In, Last Out. The Navy at Gallipoli, that it would remain able to be 8 What is the significance of Gallipoli Kangaroo Press, 1990, between pages raised only for about another as part of your heritage? 90-99 fifteen years. In about fifty years,
36 it takes 5 parts to make this giant.
Why not learn more about submarines and how they provide the 500,000 parts required to assemble are built? Construction of Australia’s current fleet these giants of the sea over a five year period. The of submarines – the Collins Class – was the most Collins Class submarines are widely regarded as the challenging defence program ever undertaken in best conventional submarines in the world and they Australia. Weighing in at 3,000 tonnes and measuring were built right here in Australia. To find out more, 78 metres long, it took a total of 1,600 suppliers to visit asc.com.au www.asc.com.au
Additional Resources Campaign, Hale & Iremonger, Online 2000. Key Resources Thomas R Frame and Greg J Swinden, Ian Hodges, The Australian First In, Last Out: The Navy at Submarine, AE2, 30 April 1915, AE2 The Silent Anzac Gallipoli, Kangaroo Press, 1990.
Phil Belbin’s painting Running Amok in the Narrows www.submarineinstitute.com/sia-projects/submarine-ae2.html
This study guide was produced by ATOM. (© ATOM 2013) ISBN: 978-1-74295-272-7 [email protected] For information on SCREEN EDUCATION magazine, or to download other study guides for assessment, visit
Media Studies, visit
39