Memoir of Arthur Ross Bramwell Bollard, 1914 - Part 3

En Route for

Suva", "Fiji"
Aug 24^th.
Daylight smoke sighted on horizon.
Challenge unknow ship, she gives
no reply but merely tries run away, so
we send the "Melbourne", (which had again
joined us) after her, find after making
investigations that she is a "neutral" and
allow her to proceed. Set Course for "Suva"
Fiji Islands, only able to do nine knots
on account of "Transports"
Aug 25^th
Fleet alters positions several
times during the Day, keeps changing
speed.
Aug 26^th
Thick mist obscures the horizon,
can hardly descern the ships in our rear:
7.a.m. sight two "Coral Reefs" right shore
have to steam in between them before the
harbour of "Suva" can be gained; very risky
job in the mist. 7.30.a.m. enter harbour.
Mido's drizzling rain and thick mist.
The remainder of Fleet manage to make
harbour successfully. "Suva"; British
Port; Capital of the Fijian Islands,
an extensive Group comprising of 
250 small Islands. The population of
the Group is upwards of 130,000; 71,000
of which are on the main Island of "Suva".
"Suva" itself has a fairly large white population;
who seem to be mostly Commercial 
people; tea planters, Rubber Traders
and etc. Vegetation is remarkabley luxuriant;
the Chief productions being
"The Bread Fruit Tree"; banana; pea-nuts

Vili Levu.
Vanus Levu
Suva. Fiji.
Aug 26^th
yams; cocoa-nut, sugar cane; Tea, cotton
maize; tobacco; and arrow root, these
are only some of the many products
from this particularly luxuriant group
of Islands. Many choice fruits were
brought out to the ships by the "Fijians"
in their Trading boats on "Katurmurangs"
(as they call them. They found the "Australia"
a particularly good market for their fruit.
the lads bought it wholesale, some reaching
out of the "Portholes" in their endeavour
to dodge the "Officer of the Watch"
who was on Deck forbidding them to
buy it in case of it being poisoned, or
bringing "Tropical Fever" aboard. Nobody
felt any ill effects although a great
quantity was bought.
10.a.m. most of the smaller ships took
in a supply of coal; the larger ships
landed their Officers on short leave.
"Montcalm" gave leave to the lower Deck.
This naturally caused much discontent
on the lower Deck of our ship, because
they were not allowed ashore, but kept
"aboard like a bally lot of Monkeys" as I 
heard one Chap explicitly describe.
"Admiral Patey" paid an Official visit to
the "Governor" ashore in the afternoon, he
was met on the pier by a smart "Guard
of Honour" consisting of fifty massive
"Fijians" of the regular Forces, they
looked extremely funny smart in their white
Kilts and blue Tunics.

Fiji Islands.
Suva.
Aug 27^th
Weather still wet & miserable,
"Lieut Jackson" from H.M. S Survey ship
"Sealark" joins us as a mine sweeping
Expert. The Sea-lark having "Paid Off"
most of her crew were sent to the Transports
whilst enough were left aboard to take
her back to "Sydney".
The Fijian Troops were all under canvas
ashore, everything being ready for an attack
by the German Fleet in our absence.
At 8.p.m. sailed from "Suva" in Night
Cruising Order, set course for "Samoa"
which is in a North Easterly direction.
Aug 28^th 
8.a.m. Sky very cloudy, bad weather
ahead, steaming N.N.E at 12 knots.
During the Day the "Flagship" had
to slacken speed considerably to allow
the smaller ships to keep up, the Wind
and Sea having risen, and so delaying
them.
Aug 29^th
Great Buzzes about meeting
the German Fleet to-morrow, much excitement.
The Transports have dropped to the
rear, and we are steaming at 11 knots
in line abreast or "apex Order."
Special watches kept at night.
Aug 30^th
5.30.a.m. land in sight on our
port Bow. H.M.S Psyche sent ahead to
make investigations. She went ahead
into harbour, found nothing there; landed

Samoa.
"Apia."
Aug. 30^th
A party of Bluejackets to arrest the
"Governor", but find that he has gone away on
a shooting Party (Some shooting Party-)
"Deputy Governor said he could not surrender
the town,but would offer no resistance
to the landing of Troops.
After thoroughly sweeping the harbour for
any lurking mines, the Transports move
forward and landed Troops and Guns
with "Colonel Logan" in Charge; They hoisted
 the Good old "Union Jack" about noon.
A short while after the hoisting of the
British Colours, the German Wireless
Station; which was a large steel structure
to the right of the Town; started calling
G. & S; which was meant no doubt
for the "Scharnorst" & "Gneisenau", action
was immediately taken to prevent them
sending further information, and a staff
of our own Wireless experts went and
took charge of the Station.
During the afternoon sufficient stores
were landed for the Troops, and then
after they had comfortably installed themselves,
and prepared suitable Defences
should they be attacked, the "Australia"
followed by the "Melbourne & "Montcalm"
put to Sea again in order to search
the neighbouring Islands, extra watches
were kept during the night; the enemy
being thought to be lying in wait
among the Islands. 

Coast of "Apia"
Samoa.
Aug. 31^st
Altered course just after midnight
and by 7.30. a.m had returned to harbour
again. Sunday's routine was carried out
on account of us losing a day in crossing
the "Meridian"; instead of it being called
Monday it was call "Sunday."
Whilst we were away "Colonel Logan" had

cause to arrest a suspicious Character, who
afterwards turn out to be a "German Naval
Officer in disguise, and who had been signalling
out to Sea at night with the intentions
of giving information tot he German
Ships.
12. noon. "Australia", "Melbourne", and "Montcalm"
leave "Samoa" for Suva, leaving the
P. Class in Charge of Transports.
Aug Sept. 1^st
Heading for "Suva", speed
14 knots, air close and oppressive.
"Buzzes" in galore as to the nature of
our next mission after leaving Suva.

Sept 2^nd
8.30.a.m. land is sight on
horizon, noon arrive at "Suva" again, rain
pouring down by bucketfuls as usual
1.p.m. Collier "Katora" comes alongside and
we take in 1,800 tons of coal.
4.30 Montcalm left for "Noumea".
Sept. 3^rd 

 Received news during Day that
the "Melbourne' had to proceed to "Nauru"

Fiji Islands.
Suva.
Sept. 3^rd
For the purpose of Destroying a German
Wireless Station, and taking "Officials"
prisoners.
Sept 4^th
Weather still wet and miserable.
8.a.m. we weigh anchor and proceed,
noon part company with the "Melbourne",
and steam in direction of the "Hebrides."
Sept 5^th 
13 knots against a heavy Sea,
Press news received by "wireless" at 5.p.m.
Russians seem to be taking a few
Prisoners.
Sept. 6^th
Steaming North, Sea very choppy
we ship several very heavy Seas in the
morning. 6.a.m. land right ahead, 9.a.m.

we pass through "Selwyn" Passage, (New
Hebrides) and by 4.p.m have cleared
"Bourganville Passage". "Capt Radcliffe"
returns to Ship's Company on the "War"
he is abley assisted by "Capt Jackson"
late of the Sea-lark.
Sept. 7^th
Course North: speed 13 knots, heavy
sea, weather hot & stuffy, every appearance
of a coming "Thunderstorm".
Sept 8^th
6.45.a.m. Hands called; and fall 
in for "Physical Drill", which means a
brisk double around the Deck, to the time
of a lively tune played by the "Band,"
followed shortly afterwards by a shower

En route.
Pacific.
Sept. 8^th
Bath under a huge salt water hose. This
Cool shower of a hot sultry morning is
greatly appreciated by some, it causes
much amusement among the "Bathers", and
very often annoyance to the onlookers, who as
a rule get just as big a wetting as those
in the water. 10.a.m. "Actions Stations"
sounds off, all hands go to their respective
Stations, excepting a few who needed to
lower a small triangular target by means 
of the "main Derrick", this opperation being
successfully carried out after a considerable
amount of cursing by Petty Officers in Charge,
one or two small efforts on the part of the
more energetic ones, and no end of moans
by the lazy individuals. The ship then steamed
to a distance of 7,000 yards from the 
target and opened fire on it, the firing lasted
fifty minutes when the "Cease Fire" sounded,
the target was then picked up, and
we got back on our original Course again
En Route for "Rossel Island", we expect
to pick up several Transports under
escort on our arrival.
Sep. 9^th
10.a.m. Reach our rendezvous at
"Rossel Island", and meet there the following
ships; "Sydney" "Encounter" "Warrego" "Yarra"
Subs A.E. I. II. Transport "Berrima", "Aorangi"
(supply ships) "Murex" (oiler) "Yoolongo" & "Waihora"
(colliers.) 4.p.m. The whole Fleet procceed.
Sept. 10^th
"Sydney" and the "Destroyers" were sent
ahead at 6.a.m. to "Simpsonhafen".

Simpsonhafen
Sept 10^th
During the morning we pick up two more
Steamers, they being the "Upolu" (Sub. Parent
ship) "Whangape" Collier, also the Destroyer
"Parramatta". The "Australia" and "Berrima"
steamed ahead at 13 knots, the transports
escorted by the "Encounter" "Parramatta" and
submarines bringing up the rear.
"Australian Mail" which was brought
aboard the night previous was secured
and great joy amongst the lads.
Receive news of the capture of "Nauru" by
the "Melbourne", all officials surrendering
without offering any resistance.
Sept. 11^th
Land sighted 6.a.m. arrived off
"Herbertshole" at 8.a.m. finding the "Sydney"
and three destroyers awaiting. The destroyers
had landed an armed party under "Lieut
Hill" R.N.R to attack the wireless station,
but on finding a large body of "Blacks" with
German Officers in charge then entrenched
about the place; Lieut Hill decided to wait
for reinforcements. Meantime the "Australia"
and "Berrima" had lowered sweeping boats,
which after an hour's work cleared a passage
so that the "Transports" could go right up
alongside the Pier; which jutted out from
the Beach right opposite the "Town".
In a very short time reinforcements of seamen
and "Swaddies" had landed with
"Lt Commander Elwell" in Charge; on arriving
on the scene of "Action", he immediately took
over command from "Lieut Hill"; his period of 

New Britain.
Herbertshole.
Sept. 11^th
of Command however was short for whilst
giving orders for a Bayonet Charge in the early
stages of the Fight; he fell Dead shot through
the heart, two seamen were killed and several
wounded in the first Charge, a second
was made however and in this they managed
to carry the first Trench without other lives on
our side being lost, although there were a few
wounded. Whilst that paid of the fighting
was going on the "Australia" was laying
across the entrance of the Bay with her big
Guns trained outboard ready at a second's
notice to open fire on any hostile ships should
they appear. After waiting thus for some
time smoke was spied appearing above the
hills along the Coast. We immediately gave
chase, and not been steaming long before
we began to gain on the ship, and through
my Glasses I could see that she was a small
steam Packert with the name "Sumatra"
painted accross her stern, as she did not
"Heave To" when ordered, we dropped a "four
inch shell accross her bows, this brought
her to a standstill and a Prize Crew was
sent in a Cutter to board her and make
investigations, "Lieut Hodgkinson" steamed
her back to harbour. On arriving back
in harbour we found the fighting still going
on, al another attack had been made,
this time thirty Prisoners were taken, and
after being place under a strong escort they
were marched down to the Pier; not reaching
it though without an effort being made on 
the part of another body of Natives, who were

Sept 12.
Able Seaman "Moffat" died of wounds
and was buried at Sea with naval honours.