DOCSLIB.ORG

September 2014

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
September 2014 Listening POSTSEPT 2014 Vol 37 - No 4 THE CENTENNIAL EDITIONS 2014-18 ANZAC lighthouse legend grows Story page 26 The Official Journal of The Returned & Services League of Australia WA Branch Incorporated 2 The Listening Post SEPT 2014 State Executive contents 2011-2015 3 Life on the ANZAC convoy State President 4 Diary of Fred White Mr Graham Edwards AM 5 From the President’s Pen State Vice President Mr Denis Connelly 6 Your letters State Treasurer contact: 7 Bits & Pieces Mr Phillip Draber RFD JP Editorial and Advertising 8 Anyone for a brew? State Executive Information Mr Bob Allen OAM, Mr Scott Rogers Acting Editor: Amy Hunt 9287 3700 10 Poppies link to a mother’s love Mrs Judy Bland Mr Peter Aspinall Email: [email protected] 17 Women’s Forum Mr Gavin Briggs Mr Ross Davies Media & Marketing Manager: Mr Bill Collidge RFD Mr Tony Fletcher John Arthur 0411 554 480 19 Vietnam Veterans’ Day Mr David Elson BM Mrs Donna Prytulak Email: [email protected] 21 Albany ANZAC Centenary Mr John McCourt Graphic Design: Type Express Pages Trustees Printer: Rural Press 27 Albany’s sailing disaster Mr Don Blair OAM RFD ED Mr Kevin Trent OAM RFD JP Contact Details 29 WA’s ANZACs depart Mr Wayne Tarr RFD ED The Returned & Services League of Australia - WA Branch Incorporated 30 Goldfi elds honours 187 ANZAC House, 28 St Georges Tce 34 Sub Branch News Deadline for next PERTH WA 6000 PO Box 3023, EAST PERTH WA 6892 37 Anne Leach - Red Cross icon edition: Nov 17, 2014 Email: [email protected] 38 Sculptors’ iconic designs If possible, submissions should be typed Website: www.rslwahq.org.au and double-spaced. Preferred method Facebook: www.facebook.com/rslwahq 40 Honouring the fallen of receiving submissions is via email. Telephone: 9287 3799 41 Cheops Pyramid project Photographs should be colour. This is your journal and contributions are welcome. Fax: 9287 3732 42 HMAS Toowoomba departs WA Country Callers: 1800 259 799 Address to: The Editor, 43 Sudoku and Crossword The Listening Post RSL, PO Box 3023 East Perth, WA 6892 Contact Directory 45 Notices & Reunions CEO / State Secretary: Email: [email protected] 47 Last Post Philip Orchard AFNI RAN (Rtd) Opinions expressed by contributors in Assistant State Secretary: Nola Keen articles and reproduced articles are ANZAC House & Club Manager: the individuals opinions or the authors Matthew Holyday: 9287 3714 Welcome to your of such reproduced articles and are Membership: Andrea Hunt not necessarily those of the RSL. (Mon-Thurs): 9287 3705 new Listening Post! Reproduction of articles (or extracts) Financial Services: contained in The Listening Post are Peter McGlade: 9287 3718 This is our 2nd edition of The welcomed, provided the source is Helen Beech (Mon-Thurs): 9287 3703 acknowledged. The Editor reserves the Listening Post in its new magazine right to accept, reject, sub-edit and re- Events Manager: Caitlin Harnwell format. We focus, of course, on the arrange material submitted for publication. Acting Editor & Social Media 100th anniversary next month of Infringement of Copyright Laws: We Manager: Amy Hunt Australian and New Zealand troops Receptionist: Wendy Quinn cannot accept Newspaper clippings for departing from Albany for Egypt publication without express approval from Records and Information Manager: and ultimately Gallipoli. We hope the Newspaper Editor as we may infringe Helen Starkie (Tue and Wed): 9287 3713 on Copyright Laws. Centenary Program Manager: the stories and guides to events in Sharon Harford 9287 3706 Albany and in Perth are helpful and Support Services: Welfare: Rosalind Howat: informative. Publishing 9287 3707 / 0417 905 742 Don’t forget to enter our competition Publishing of The Listening Post: Snr Advocate: Jim Boland: 9287 3708 on page 12 to win a magnificent Silver Published 4 times a year and has a Coin from the Perth Mint ANZAC readership of over 25,000. Spirit 100th Anniversary Coin Series. To all sub branch Presidents’ and Secretaries: Send photographs and a WIN This is your magazine and we short article on special activities at your AN ANZAC welcome your ideas and comments. sub branch to The Listening Post. SILVER COIN! YOUR GUIDE BEGINS ON See page 12 Albany Centenary PAGE 21 The Listening Post SEPT 2014 3 Next month, tens of thousands of people will gather in Albany and Perth to commemorate the departure 100 years ago of ANZAC troops for Egypt and Gallipoli. In access of 26,000 troops left King George Sound on 1 November 1914 and 1,590 left Fremantle on 31 October 1914. This is the story of one of those men who kept a meticulous diary of the first convoy’s journey. Life on board ANZAC convoy 100 years ago A 100 year-old diary, written by a and Western Australia, along with the enlisting, he broke the record for the cycling champion, has emerged to tell Japanese cruiser, HIJMS Ibuki and Fremantle to Adelaide section.” the personal side of the first ANZAC HMAS Pioneer. A second convoy Fred, who died in 1972 aged 92, is convoy’s historic journey from Albany departed in late December 1914. remembered as a man of imagination to Egypt. Albany is the last Australian port these and big ideas who developed orchards, Fred White was a relatively old 34, troops saw before commencing their training in Egypt and, for the majority, dug deep wells and a seasoned WA builder, when he and around joined the convoy of more than 40 ultimately taking part in landings at Gallipoli from 25 April 1915. 1960 took it ships to depart King George Sound on upon himself 1 November 2014. Fred White’s family recently handed to repaint In his handwritten diary, Fred over his diary to The Returned & all of the carefully details the Battle of Cocos – Services League for safe-keeping. plaques to in which Germany’s destructive raider His grand-daughter, May Hayes- fallen soldiers in SMS Emden was attacked and forced Thompson (78) was raised by Fred at Kings Park. aground by one of the convoy’s escorts Hovea (Parkerville) from the age of six Continued – of seven men going overboard during after her own father was imprisoned at page 43 the journey and of the often ‘plurry Changi in 1942. hot’ and hellish conditions. “Before the war grandfather rode everywhere by bike,” recalls the In Wiluna he’d former Kellerberrin District High cycle 60 miles School principal. “In Wiluna he’d for a dance. cycle 60 miles for a dance. “In those days, cyclists crossing the He details ships colliding at sea, the Nullarbor were six a penny. Twenty boredom and routine, and the choking years earlier his brother, Alex, was dust of Egypt. the first to ride completely around the coast of Australia. Another, Frank, set Fred was born in Wellington, educated the world long-distance ride of Perth in Melbourne, and worked in WA as to Rockhampton and return. a ‘chippie’ and amidst that, joined the Army in 1903 to be stationed “In 1911, grandfather rode from at Albany’s famous Princess Royal Fremantle to Fred White Fortress. Sydney in was a cross- record time, Australia He was one of more than 26,000 beating the cycling Australian and New Zealand troops record by champion. who left Albany on 1 November 1914 a couple of in 38 transport ships escorted by three hours. He His diary cruisers - His Majesty’s Australian went alone begins Ships (HMAS) Melbourne, Sydney and carried over page and Minotaur. (For more details about everything he the centenary of the departure see needed on pages 21 to 26) his bike. In The convoy was joined at sea two 1914, just days later by two ships carrying before 1,590 troops from South Australia 4 The Listening Post SEPT 2014 The diary of Fred White – ANZAC convoy 1914 Fred White kept a meticulous Friday 6 November diary throughout his journey from It is reported that a man was buried at Melbourne to Mena, the training camp sea from the Rangatira last night. A outside of Cairo where the Australians staff sergeant went overboard in King trained before heading to Gallipoli. He George Sound and was picked up on boarded the SS Shropshire on Tuesday Middleton Beach and buried at Albany. 20 October 1914 at Port Melbourne. On Sunday 25 October 2014, the Saturday 7 November Shropshire arrived in King George Soldiers were paid today - $1 each. Sound, and anchored alongside about • May Hayes-Thompson, grand-daughter Sunday 8 November 19 other transports. The next day it of Fred White, was raised by him after the was ‘raining like hell’. Another man was buried at sea this Second World War. morning. These are excerpts from his off her crew, then sank her. She then handwritten diary, given to the Monday 9 November returned again to the ‘Emden’, (which) RSLWA by his family: We just got the good news that one of surrendered. our escorts, the ‘Sydney’ engaged the Sunday 1 November 1914 The ‘Sydney’ is not with us now; she German cruiser ‘Emden’ and wrecked On guard all last night, no sleep. The will sail for Colombo as soon as she her completely. Our loss was two men had got the German wounded and (King George) Sound looked lovely in killed and 15 wounded. There was the moonlight, all the transports got prisoners on board. God save the King. another burial at sea about 1.30pm (Again, good information about the steam up and we left very silently at from the Euripides. 7am. It was a grand sight to see the Battle of Cocos. fleet file out of the Sound in lines, no Tuesday 10 November SMS Emden had wreaked havoc in whistles were blown, a crowd of about We have just received full particulars the region, capturing nearly two dozen 100 people witnessed the departure of the fight between the German ships, attacking Penang and sinking from the Marine Drive.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Xref Ml Catalogue for Auction 2
    Online Auction 2 Page:1 Lot Type Grading Description Est $A COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA - Other Pre-Decimals Lot 326 326 PB 1958 War Memorial 5½d+5½d setenant die proof in the issued colour ACSC 341-2DP(1) removed from the presentation mount, large margins except at L/R where cut close, light adhesive-stains at left & right, Cat $4000. 500 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA - British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (B.C.O.F.) Lot 342 342 CB 1945 airmail cover with naval crest in green at U/L to GB with KGVI 3d purple-brown x3 tied by the woodcut 'TOKYO BAY/JAPAN' cancel with 'HMAS SHROPSHIRE/Official Signing of/Japanese Surrender' cachet in red and British 'POST/OFFICE - MARITIME/MAIL' machine in red, opened-out & minor blemishes. Unusual usage. 60 Ex Lot 343 343 VA 1946-48 Overprints ½d to 5/- Robes Thin Paper (unusually well centred) tied to plain cover by 'AUST ARMY PO/12OC48/214.' cds, Cat £275. (7) 200T Page:2 www.abacusauctions.com.au 10 - 12 October 2020 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA - British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (B.C.O.F.) (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $A Lot 344 344 CO B 1949 airmail cover (230x168mm) to London with rare franking of unoverprinted 3d 1/- Lyrebird & Robes Thin Paper 5/- strips of 3 (Cat $750 for a single on cover) tied by 'AUST ARMY PO/11JE49/214' cds in use at Empire House in Tokyo, vertical fold & minor blemishes. A very scarce franking in any circumstances, all the more desirable for being a BCOF in Japan usage.
    [Show full text]
  • Perang Parit). Atau the Great War (Perang Besar
    WW I - Part 1 Kita refresh laa pasai WWI ni. Perang ni juga dikenali dgn nama Trench War (Perang Parit). atau The Great War (Perang Besar). Dalam perang nilah...Jentera2 digunakan secara besar2an. Sebelum ni alat2 pengangkutan dijana oleh kuda (tupasal lah skarang ni pun kalau nak tgk kuasa enjin..depa mesti ckp kuasa kuda). Lori2, kereta kebal, pesawat dan kapal2 keluli yg diberi nama Dreadnought (pioneered oleh British pada 1906), kapalselam2 digunakan dgn meluas oleh kedua2 pihak yg bermusuhan. Kira macam..perang moden yg pertama laa. Teknoloji tentera mmg berkembang dlm perang ni. Perang ni menjadi amat sengit adalah kerana kekuatan kedua2 pihak yg bermusuhan adalah seimbang. Masing2 mempunyai teknoloji.... Bukan macam Italy lawan Ethiopia (Abyssinia) masa WWII yg kita cite lepas....sorang pakai tank dan sorang pakai lembing. Tak fair langsung...aaa perang yg ni adalah sebaliknya. Pernah satu ketika antara parit 1 (askar A) dan parit 2 (askar , Jarak cuma 500-700 mter je. hari ni askar A tawan parit 2, dua tiga hari besok, askar B pulak tawan parit 1..berlanjutan tawan menawan antara parit A dan B berbulan2 lamanya dan angka kematian berpuluh2 ribu. Memang seksa...askar biasalaa yg seksa..Jeneral2 kalau kita tgk...hanya memberi arahan saja dlm HQ yg serba mewah. Zaman ni masih dikira zaman ala2 Imperial. Manakan tidak, Negara2 yg terlibat mempunyai empayar dan masih berpaksikan King atau Queen. Apasal perang ni dipanggil Perang Dunia (World War I) ? Perang kat Eropah aje? WWI - Part 2 Sebelum kita pegi lebih jauh, cuba kita tgk keadaan Eropah sebelum meledaknya conflict gila khinzir ni.
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Submarines from 1914 Africa's Indian Ocean Navies: Naval
    ISSUE 152 JUNE 2014 Australian Submarines from 1914 Africa’s Indian Ocean Navies: Naval evolution in a complex and volatile region The Aussie military history your kids aren’t learning Cooperation or Trust: What comes first in the South China Sea? Israel Navy Dolphin-II class submarine Netherlands-Belgian Naval Squadron World Naval Developments The War of 1812: What it Means to the United States Flying the ASEAN Flag Centenary of ANZAC (Navy) The Far Flank of the Indo-Pacific: India and China in the South-West Pacific Confrontation at Sea: The Midshipman Who Almost Shot ‘The General’ JOURNAL OF THE Sponsorship_Ad_Outlines.indd 1 30/11/2013 10:43:20 PM Issue 152 3 Letter to the Editor Contents Dear Readers, As before, we require you to Australian Submarines from 1914 4 Headmark is going through conform to the Style Notes and other some changes. It will henceforth be guidelines printed at the back of the published constantly online, and paper edition, and also to be found on Africa’s Indian Ocean Navies: Naval in print twice a year, for June and the website. evolution in a complex and volatile December. The changes will bring more region 11 Publishing online will mean a steady immediacy, and less costs to the stream of articles reaching the website, ANI. Publishing world-wide is going The Aussie military history your kids which you can access at: through changes, and we are also aren’t learning 17 www.navalinstitute.com.au altering ourselves to best fit the new ANI members will have access to world.
    [Show full text]
  • Copyright © 2016 by Bonnie Rose Hudson
    Copyright © 2016 by Bonnie Rose Hudson Select graphics used by permission of Teachers Resource Force. All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced or transmitted by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the express written consent of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews and those uses expressly described in the following Terms of Use. You are welcome to link back to the author’s website, http://writebonnierose.com, but may not link directly to the PDF file. You may not alter this work, sell or distribute it in any way, host this file on your own website, or upload it to a shared website. Terms of Use: For use by a family, this unit can be printed and copied as many times as needed. Classroom teachers may reproduce one copy for each student in his or her class. Members of co-ops or workshops may reproduce one copy for up to fifteen children. This material cannot be resold or used in any way for commercial purposes. Please contact the publisher with any questions. ©Bonnie Rose Hudson WriteBonnieRose.com 2 World War I Notebooking Unit The World War I Notebooking Unit is a way to help your children explore World War I in a way that is easy to personalize for your family and interests. In the front portion of this unit you will find: How to use this unit List of 168 World War I battles and engagements in no specific order Maps for areas where one or more major engagements occurred Notebooking page templates for your children to use In the second portion of the unit, you will find a list of the battles by year to help you customize the unit to fit your family’s needs.
    [Show full text]
  • Queensland at War
    ANZAC LEGACY GALLERY Large Print Book Queensland at War PROPERTY OF QUEENSLAND MUSEUM Contents 5 ...... Gallery Map 6 ...... Gallery introduction 7 ...... Queensland at War introduction 9 ...... Queensland at War - hats 10 .... Together 23 .... Loss 33 .... Wounded 44 ... Machine 63 .... World 78 .... Honour 92 .... Memories 4 Gallery Map 5 Entry Introductory panels Lift Interactives Gallery introduction 6 Queensland at War introduction 7 QUEENSLAND AT WAR People ... Queenslanders ... nearly 58,000 of them, left our shores for the war to end all wars. There are so many stories of the First World War – of people, experiences, and places far away – that changed our State forever. A small thing – like a medal crafted from bronze and silk – can tell an epic story of bravery, fear, and adventure; of politics, religion, and war. It represents the hardship and sacrifice of the men and women who went away, and the more than 10,000 Queenslanders who gave their lives for their country. Queensland at War introduction 8 First group of soldiers from Stanthorpe going to the war, seen off at Stanthorpe Station, 1914 Queensland Museum collection Queensland at War - hats 9 Military cap belonging to Percy Adsett, who served at Gallipoli in 1915 and was wounded at Pozieres in September 1916 Prussian infantryman’s pickelhaube acquired as a trophy on the Western Front in 1917 Nurses cap used by Miss Evelyn Drury when she was in the Voluntary Aid Detachment working at Kangaroo Point Military Hospital during World War 1 British Mark 1 Brodie Helmet, developed in the First World War as protection against the perils of artillery Together 10 Together CHARITY AND FUNDRAISING Charities like the Red Cross and ‘Patriotic’ and ‘Comfort Funds’ aided soldiers at the front and maintained morale at home.
    [Show full text]
  • Centenary of the Battle of Cocos Island and the Dedication of the Sydney-Emden Friendship Mast 9 November 2014 (4M30s)
    Address by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia for the Centenary of the Battle of Cocos Island and the Dedication of the Sydney-Emden Friendship Mast 9 November 2014 (4m30s) Mr Luke Simkins MP, Federal Member for Cowan and representing the Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Tony Abbott MP; His Excellency Dr Christoph Müller, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany; The Honourable Barry Haase, Administrator of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories; The Honourable Warren Snowden MP, Federal Member for Lingiari Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO CSC RAN, Chief of Navy; Ladies and Gentlemen—and in particular, family and friends of the crews of HMAS Sydney and SMS Emden. 1 A hundred years ago today, in this remote part of the Indian Ocean, HMAS Sydney and SMS Emden fought one of the first and most decisive naval battles of the Great War. It was a fierce and ferocious battle. When the seas had settled, 140 sailors were dead—136 from the sunken Emden and 4 from the Sydney. It is this loss of life, on both sides, that we come here to remember and commemorate. In particular, it is the coming together of the families and friends—from both sides of the battle—that is so important, as we remember, rebuild and move forward as one. When all is said and done, these men fought together—they died together—and it is right that we remember them together. In hindsight, we can see just how significant the battle between the Sydney and the Emden was.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kerr Sydney-Emden Medals
    OCCASIONAL PAPER 82 Call the Hands Issue No. 42 June 2020 THE KERR ‘Sydney-Emden’ Medal This paper, was first published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia in the March 2013 edition of the Naval Historical Review. On 9 November 1914 the RAN cruiser HMAS Sydney engaged and destroyed the German light cruiser and commerce raider SMS Emden. This one-and-a-half-hour gun battle off the Cocos – Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean was the Royal Australian Navy’s first naval engagement. The SYDNEY - EMDEN battle, painted by Phil Belbin 1 The ‘Battle of Cocos’ resulted in Emden being run aground and battered by gunfire from Sydney to become a wrecked hulk. Sydney herself sustained some direct hits from Emden’s guns, but this did not affect her seaworthiness or her firepower. Sydney served with distinction throughout the subsequent four years of the war. Casualties were incurred by both vessels: Sydney suffered 4 ratings killed (one of whom died of his wounds) and 12 ratings wounded and Emden suffered 131 fatal casualties and 65 wounded of all ranks. Following Emden’s stranding, salvage operations were commenced. Numerous items of her equipage and structure were salved and taken to Australia and Great Britain as War Trophies. During these salvage operations, 6,429 Mexican silver coins were recovered from two safes aboard Emden. There were, in addition, a number of US $20 gold coins recovered. The vast majority of these silver coins was Mexican 8 Reale pieces (sometimes referred to as Dollars), but Mexican Peso pieces have also been noted.
    [Show full text]
  • Grandfather Was a Cableman
    OCCASIONAL PAPER 95 Call the Hands Issue No. 47 November 2020 GRANDFATHER WAS A CABLEMAN By Fairlie Clifton Fairlie Clifton is a long-term member of the Naval Historical Society and foundation member of the Australian National Maritime Museum where she volunteers as a guide. Her passion for naval history is fuelled in part by her strong nautical background. She has personal experience at sea in square riggers, yachts and cargo vessels. Similarly, the service of several family members in the Royal Navy and loss of another in HMAS Sydney II makes naval history very personal for her. You may think the object in the photo below is a paperknife. It is not. There’s a tale here, perhaps several tales. 1 In 1890 my paternal grandfather, Frank Bellis Vincent Graves, joined Eastern Telegraph Company (ETC) as a cadet at the company’s head office in London. His whole working life was spent with the company, most of the time being posted to ETC’s cable stations in far distant places around the world, some of which I had never heard of (and my geography is good). He was born in India, taken by his mother to England as an eight year old to be educated – usual British Empire thing. In the 1890s ETC was probably the most powerful corporation in the world. It was formed in 1872 when four much smaller submarine cable laying companies merged after they had each been laying sections of cable between the UK and the Far East. In 1872 Australia was linked to the system by a cable from Bombay via Singapore.
    [Show full text]
  • July 2014 26 FIELD REGIMENT RCA/XII MANITOBA DRAGOONS MUSEUM• BRANDON MB
    26 XII Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 3 Newsletter of Brandon’s Military Museum July 2014 26 FIELD REGIMENT RCA/XII MANITOBA DRAGOONS MUSEUM• BRANDON MB I N T H I S I SSUE : Gnr A.A. Beattie 20 Bty CFA; M-109 Update; FOMI; Vimy Night 2014; World War One Part Two Lords House Manchester England Photo dailymail.co.uk Over by Christmas, Liège to A happy family are we, Dogger Bank; With nothing to do but drink our tea. If we like reading there’s books galore, Or if we like noise, Play the piano some more, Badges of the Canadian Army; Or if our brain gets active And needs something to do Then there are puzzles and games for ten, one or two. It’s now 8 o’clock Identify the Artefact; And no more I can tell As the nurse at the dose Is ringing the bell. Volunteers Visit 2520; Gunner A. A. Beattie Canadian Field Artillery, 20th Battery Museum kit shop; Name that Ribbon; and Museum donors. General Service Badge of the Canadian Field Artillery CEF Photo ebay.ca www.26fdregmuseum.com or www.12mbdragoons.com Page 1 Poem in stone Photo F Howard-Smith Nursing Sisters and patients at a WWI British Military Hospital Photo scarletfinders.co.uk Gunner A. A. Beattie a soldier with Canadian Field Artillery (CFA), 20th Battery wrote the above poem while convalescing at a British Military Hospital in Lords House outside Manchester. 20th Battery was part of 5th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery which also included; 17th Battery CFA, 18th Battery CFA and 23rd (Howitzer) Battery CFA.
    [Show full text]
  • Centenary of the Battle of Cocos Island
    Address by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia for the Launch of the Cocos Keeling Islands Shire Sydney-Emden Gazebo and the Direction Island Interpretive Trails 8 November 2014 (4mins) Mr Luke Simkins MP, Federal Member for Cowan and representing the Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Tony Abbot MP; His Excellency Dr Christoph Müller, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany; The Honourable Barry Haase, Administrator of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories; The Honourable Warren Snowden MP, Federal Member for Lingiari Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO CSC RAN, Chief of Navy; Mr Aindil Minkom, President of the Cocos Keeling Islands Shire; 1 Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a great privilege for Lynne and me to be here to share the ‘Weekend of Commemorations’ of the Centenary of the Sydney-Emden battle. Last night, we were honoured to meet some of the family and friends of the crews of HMAS Sydney and SMS Emden. We heard the stories of your loved ones that have been carefully and proudly passed from one generation to the next—stories of mateship, camaraderie, daring nautical skill, and above all, a tenacious commitment to the task at hand. In the weeks leading-up to the battle, the Emden, under the command of Captain von Muller, had captured or sunk almost 100,000 tons of merchant shipping. Alone and creating havoc in the Indian Ocean, the Emden was posing a serious threat to allied shipping routes, at a time when the first ANZAC convoy had just departed Albany for the Middle East.
    [Show full text]
  • The German East Asia Squadron and the RAN in the Pacific, August to December 1914
    OCCASIONAL PAPER 91 Call the Hands Issue No. 46 October 2020 Invidious Choices – The German East Asia Squadron and the RAN in the Pacific, August to December 1914 By Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods RAN This paper was first published by the Australian Naval Institute online and in an abbreviated form the by the UK Naval Review and by US Naval Institute Proceedings. The Society is grateful to Lieutenant Commander Woods for making it available to the Naval Historical Society of Australia. Lieutenant Commander Woods joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1974, subsequently serving in the Royal Navy, the British Army and the RAN as an Education Officer, teaching naval and military history to junior officers. From 2003-2010 he ran the Strategic Studies Course and Naval History induction at the RAN College before joining the staff of the Australian Command and Staff College. He was the Military Support Officer to the Defence Community Organisation in Canberra, worked on the RAN's International Fleet Review in 2013, was the Staff Officer Centenary of Anzac (Navy) and Chief of Navy's Research Officer. He is the Navy's Bereavement Liaison Officer. LCDR Woods is a Councillor of the ANI and is a regular contributor of naval articles and book reviews to Australian and international naval historical journals. On the morning of 4th November 1914 news reached the Admiralty in Whitehall of the disaster that had overtaken Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock and his cruisers Good Hope and Monmouth at the Battle of Coronel off central Chile on the evening of 1 November.
    [Show full text]
  • P8013d-8013D Mr Joe Francis [1] WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
    Extract from Hansard [ASSEMBLY — Wednesday, 12 November 2014] p8013d-8013d Mr Joe Francis WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MARITIME MUSEUM — THE LAST GENTLEMEN OF WAR EXHIBITION Statement by Minister for Veterans MR J.M. FRANCIS (Jandakot — Minister for Veterans) [12.02 pm]: Last Thursday, 6 November, I had the opportunity to open The Last Gentlemen of War exhibition on behalf of the Minister for Culture and the Arts at the Western Australian Maritime Museum. Timed to coincide with the weekend’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Cocos, it was the first naval engagement Australia took part in, at the beginning of the Great War. The battle was fought between HMAS Sydney (I) and the German cruiser SMS Emden on 9 November 1914, while Sydney was escorting the Anzac convoys. Sydney scored a decisive victory, beaching Emden onto North Keeling Island, creating an upsurge of national pride for the newly created Royal Australian Navy. But there were also significant accolades for Emden—commanded by Captain Karl von Müller—and her crew for their gallantry and bravery. Remarkably, some of the Emden crew who had been part of the shore party on Direction Island escaped, and after an audacious voyage eventually made their way back to Germany. Following the Battle of the Cocos Islands, in London The Times remarked, “We rejoice that the cruiser Emden has been destroyed at last, but we salute Captain von Müller as a brave and chivalrous foe.” Perhaps because the battle had occurred between the first convoy departing Albany and the Anzac landing on Gallipoli, until now the Sydney–Emden has been largely overlooked in the Great War narrative by the wider community, although not by the Royal Australian Navy.
    [Show full text]