Hand-written diary by an unknown sailor, HMAS Sydney (I) - Part 2
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Postcard - see original document
THE FLAGSHIP OF THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY
Sutcliffe & Akers photo.
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and anchored.
Australia captured & brought into harbour small.
German Steamer
2. 30 pm Berrima returned to Herbertshohe and.
landed half Battallion of infantry
3. 0 pm Sydney landed Field Gun & crew. for
service with Military. Surgeon Captain Prockley
and A B. Williams killed in action
5. 0 pm. Burial of above. took place at
Herbertshohe cemetery
7. 0 pm. German prisoners of war brought on
board. & placed in Cells.
8. 15 pm. Sydney's landing party returned on
board. occasional firing head on shore.
Sydney lying off. Herbertshohe in support
of Naval brigade
Sep.12th Sep. 12th 9. 15 am. Australia closed & buried
naval ratings at Sea.
10 0 am. protector & Upola arrived (Submarine
parent Ship)
11. 0 am. Encounter. Submarine & Convoy arrived
& anchored at Simpson's Hafen.
1. 0 pm. Protector secured alongside "Sydney"
& received 14 Tons of Distilled water.
4. 0 pm. Protector cast off.
5. 0 pm. Proceeded to search entrance of
Blanche Bay no vessel sighted returned to
Guardships billet & anchored.
Sep 13th Entered harbour at 5.30 am and Collier
Whangape secured alongside
8. 0 am. Commenced Coaling
11. 0 am Protector Captured & brought
into harbour a German Steamer Conveying
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"THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME" BY SEPTIMUS E. SCOTT.
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Troops.
1. 0 pm. Hospital Ship "Grantala" arrived Finished
coaling (473. Tons)
3. 0 pm. New Britain annexed in the Kings
name fired Royal Salute.
Sep 14th 6. 20 am. Heard heavy gun firing in Blanche
Bay slipped cable & proceeded to Herbertshohe
and found Encounter shelling ridges supporting
Military returned to Guardship Billet
Divers searched for anchor.
3. 30 pm. Located & secured anchor. A. E 1
should have returned to harbour.
5. 30 pm. received nine German prisoners of
War for passage to Sydney.
8. 45 pm. proceeded to search. west Coast
of New Britian
Sep 15th Submarine A. E. 1 reported missing
8. 0 am. sighted small sailing boat containing
14 natives when a rifle was fired for them
to lay to. all immediately jumped over-
board. but returned to their boat shortly
afterwards
2. 0 pm searched 10 Miles to North 10 miles
to East. for Submarine A. E. 1 but no.
result.
3. 0 pm. French Flagship "Montcalm" arrived
at Raboul.
6. 0 pm. Set course for Sydney.
Sep 18th at 4. 0 pm. joined Flagship
9. 30 Flagship & Sydney received orders. by.
Wireless to return to Raboul.
Sep 19th Arrived back. at Raboul & commenced.
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"THE CHARGE OF THE SCOTS GREYS AND THE BLACK WATCH AT ST. QUENTIN." BY J. R. SKELTON.
P14
Coaling from S.S. Whangape & Oiling from S
Murex.
Sep 20th 2. 0 am. Finished coaling (6.20 Tons)
2. 10 pm. Fantome arrived & anchored.
Sep 21st 11. 0 am. Left Raboul for Anguar. (Phleu? Group)
Calling at a German Rendezvous (0-14.0 East)
4. 20 pm. passed wreck of small steamer
Sep 23rd 1. 0 pm. Searched Berlin Roads No. Result
Sept 24th arrived at Rendezvous. (0-141 East) nothing in
Sight proceeded.
Sep 26th 9. 30 am Arrived off Angaur Landed
Demolition party & destroyed Wireless Station
no opposition
11. 30 am. Demolition party returned set course
for Rabaul.
Sep. 28th Sighted appearance of Smoke on horizon at
4. 30 am. altered course to investigate
4.50 pm. Returned to original course.
Sep.29th Examined. N.W. Coast of New Hanover (nothing
sighted)
Sept 30th 7. 0 am arrived at Raboul & anchored. French
Flagship in harbour 19 Ratings joined
off. S.S. Coma. Coaled from Whangnape.
(9.30 Tons) Oiled from S.S. Esturia.
6. 0 pm. Parramatta & Yarra proceeded.
to Sea.
Oct 1st 4. 30 pm. Squadron proceeded out off.
harbour. in the following order.
Sydney. Australia Montcalm & Encounter
Oct 2nd 1. 0 am Squadron receives orders. to retu
to Raboul. took in Oil & coal from
Esturia & Kauri respectively
10.45 pm proceeded to Sea in fol
P15
Postcards - see original document
Fijians Spearing Fish
A Tiny Islet - Fiji
Central Railway Station, Sydney
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order. Australia Montcalm & Sydney.
Oct 12th 2. 30 pm. Arrived at Suva. & anchored. found
Hospital Ship Grantala in harbour also two
Colliers awaiting orders.
Oct 15th 5. 50 am Warrego. arrived.
- 0 pm Encounter & convoy arrived.
6. 0 pm Commenced coaling from. Millina
Oct 16th 1. 0 am. Finished Coaling (406 Tons)
10. 30 am. Esturia secured alongside received
(82 Tons) of Oil.
4. 50 pm. Weighed proceeded to sea on.
passage to Sydney.
Oct 21st Arrived at Sydney. Noon. secured alongside
Jetty Garden. Island.
3. 0 pm. proceeded. in tow of Tugs. to Cockatoo
Island. and entered Dry Dock.
23rd 9. 0 am. left Dry dock. and secured alongside
oil Jetty & received (190 Tons) of Oil.
3.0 pm. Secured alongside Jetty Garden Island.
Hulk. City of Hankow. brought alongside
4. 0 pm Commenced coaling
Oct 24th Coaling throughout the day. Midnight
finished coaling
Oct 25th 10. 0 am proceeded to Sea.
Oct 30th 9. 0 pm. General Quaters Two Ships Sig
9. 20 pm. S.S. Kolbana. SS. Kawrans. aus
6. 0 am. Arrived at King Georges Soun
Albany. & Anchored. found Melbourne &
Minotaur & Convoy (33 Troopships) in
harbour.
9. 0 am Commenced Coaling from S.S. Ker
3. 0 pm Finished Coaling (700 Tons).
5. 30 am. Weighed & proceeded out of
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Postcard - see original document
AUSTRALIAN METROPOLITAN THOROUGHFARES, NO. 1.-CIRCULAR QUAY, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.
Look. Station 2½. miles off. Port Beam. off.
2nd Division of. Transports. Convoy formed i
Three Divisions line ahead. Minotaur ahead.
Melbourne. Starb Beam. Sydney post Beam
Nov 3rd 3. 0 pm. I. M I. I. Buki. & H M A S. pioneer &
two Transports Joined Convoy.
8. 0 pm. Pioneer reports machinery defectiv
and returned to Freemantle.
Nov 6th Orient S.S. Osterley overtook convoy. & pass
between the lines
Nov 8th 6. 30 am. Minotaur receives orders. to proce
on. another service hauled out of Stat
& parted company. with Convoy. Melbourn
took up. position ahead. I. M. S. I. Buki.
in starb Beam. Armed. Transports took
up Rear position
Nov 9th 6. 30 am. Intercepted a Wireless Message.
from Cocos Island. (”Strange Warship off
Island.”) Received orders from Melbourn
to raise Steam for Full Speed. & prepar
to investigate
7. 15 am. parted company with convoy.
worked up full Speed. to 25 knots.
meanwhile preparing for action
9. 15 am. Sighted land ahead ”Direction Islan
9. 20 am Sighted Smoke off Enemy ship
which afterwards proved to be S. M. S.
Emden.
9. 40 Challenged. Enemys Ship (Emden)
when she immediately opened. fire at
about 11 000 yds. the shots falling Short.
Sydney replied at once. at about 10.000
yds & the Action Started Emdens. bow line
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Postcards - see original document
S.M.S. "Emden"
S.M.S. "Emden"
After the Action.
Australia's First Naval Victory.
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(Buresk) a captured British ship standing
by 11. 0 am. Emden was in a very bad state
foremost bridge & all funnels shot away.
the hull badly holed. the whole of the
after part on fire and ship in a.
sinking condition but still fighting gamely
North Keeling Island now being near. Emden.
made for this and ran ashore. Still burning
fiercely Sydney was now about 5000 yds.
off and as we had received very little
damage. A dozen. shells at the most had.
hit us. we made after the Enemys collier
this was about 11.20 am. at 12. 10 pm we.
came up with Buresk. & brought her up.
with a couple of rounds. sending an armed
crew on board. we found she was in charge
of a German prize crew. who had opened.
the sea cocks and damaged the spindles
so that it was impossible to close them
she was beginning to settle down so the
crew took to the boats, as soon as they
were clear we fired four shots into her.
hull below the funnel. which helped her
to fill more rapidley. The Buresks boats
now came alongside with the crew. which
consisted of 3 German Leuitnants 1 Warrant
officer & 12 Sailors also 18 Chinamen (firemen)
1 Norwegian Steward & 1 English book. which
they had. kept on board after her capture
after we had taken them on board &
making the boats fast astern about 2.0 pm
we started back to North Keeling Island
to render assistance to the survivour of
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Photograph - see original document
A.B. Sharpe
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The Emden our. Casualties were as follows.
"Killed in Action"
Robert Bell. Ord. Sea.
Albert Hoy. A.B.
Thomas Lynch petty Officer
"Dangerousley Wounded."
Leiut: Hamfiden. & A. B. Sharpe
K. Horne A.B.
P. Gascoigne A B.
J. H Butcher A.B.
W. E. Meldrum O.S.
"Wounded."
B. Green A B.
T. Williamson Boy.
A E Croseby. A B.
J Kenneburg. A B.
Whilst on our way back to Emden about.
3. 45 pm. German Sailors were seen in the
water so we cast off the two boats from.
the Collier which we had in tow to pick
them up. Continuing our course we
arrived off. North Keeling Island. about
4.0 pm. & found Emdens Colours still
flying we then made them a signal
asking if. (in the cause of Humanity) they
would haul down their Colours. and thus
prevent any further loss of life or we.
should be compelled. to fire on them again
After waiting half an hour and no reply.
being given & colours still flying we opened.
fire again at 4. 30 pm. as we were at
close range & firing in salvoes. the shots.
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Photographs - see original document
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Must have caused. Tremendous havoc the Emden
at times being envoleped. in Smoke 4 40 pm.
they hoisted the white flag & hauled. down.
their colours. so we at once "ceased fire" we.
now picked up the two boats which we had.
cast off. as they had rescued 2 German.
Sailors who said they had been knocked.
overboard. during the early part of the
action consequently they must have been in
the water for at least six hours.
The Tropical night was now approaching
fast so we got ss rear to the Emden as
possible and at 6. 0 pm sent the Buresk.
boats with a crew composed of the prize
crew we had taken off. the Collier with
some water to the Emden to inform the
survivors that assistance would be rendered.
in the morning.
Having learned. that an armed party had.
landen on Direction Island. consisting of
about 30 Men. and 3 maxim Guns. we started
to make our way back there about 6. 30 pm
lowered our whaler & picked up another
wounded German Sailor & steamed at Slow.
speed. towards Direction Island. arriving
off there at 8. 0 am. the following Morning
Nov 10th 10th Leiut Comdr Finlayson & Leiut Cavaye.
& 28 Armed Men landed on Direction Island
to deal with the Germans. landing party
but found that during the action they
had destroyed the Wireless Station and
after commandeering two months supply.
of provisions they had made their escape.
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Hand drawn Map - see original
S.M.S. EMDEN'S EXPLOITS.
|
British Ships. and Tonnage. |
Owners | Voyage |
Approximate Value of Ships |
| Indus 3392 | J. Nurse | Calcutta to United Kingdom | £135,000 |
| Lovat 6,102 | Warrack | Calcutta to Bombay Ballast. | 60,000 |
| Killin 3544 | Donnal Bros. | Calcutta to Bombay (Coal) | 43,000 |
| Diplomat 7,615 | Harrison | Calcutta to United Kingdom | 300,000 |
| Trebboch 4,015 | Kyle Transport. | Negapatun to Calcutta (Ballast) | 26,000 |
| Clan Matheson 4,475 | Clan Line | - | 38,000 |
| Tymeric 3,314 | H. Weir. | Samarang to Falmouth | 181,000 |
| Kerig Lud 3,650 | Philippe, Philipps. | Alexandria to Calcutta (Ballast) | 40,000 |
| Rilma 3,500 | Bolton | Alexandria to Batavia (Ballast) | 36,000 |
| Foyle 4,147 | Mercantile S.S. | Sfax to United Kingdom (Ballast) | 80,000 |
| Barack 4,350 | Burdick s Bank | From Port Said (Coal) | 32,000 |
| Chilkana 5,140 | B. S. Coy. | United Kingdom to Calcutta | 212,000 |
| Troilus 7,362 | A. Mott. | Far East to United Kingdom | 680,000 |
| Ben Mohr 4,206 | W. Thompson | United Kingdom to Far East | 163,000 |
| Clan Grant 3,946 | Clan Line | United Kingdom to Calcutta | 125,000 |
| Donrabbel 470 | Launceston Marine Board | United Kingdom to Launceston | 29,000 |
| Exford 4,002 | W. J. Tatler. | from Cardiff | 55,000 |
| Total Estimated Cost £2,211,000 | |||
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in a schooner Mr Ross. & Dr. H.S. Ollerhead &.
Mr Cardwell. came on board from Direction
Island. to assist with the wounded. 9. 30 am.
returning to the Emden. we arrived back at
11. 30 am. and sent our boats to bring off.
the survivours some were in a very bad.
state indeed 3. 0 pm. A. B. Sharpe who had
been seriously wounded. during the action
died by 5. 0 pm. all the survivours had
been brought on board. with the exception
of those who had reached the shore. so.
we then proceeded. to the lee side of the
Island to pick them up. at 7. 0 pm.
Leiut Garcia & crew landed. to assist in
rounding up the remainder on shore.
Darkness had now set in so leaving our.
party on the beach finding & looking
after the wounded. we cruised slowley.
around. the Island. at 8. 30 pm we stopped
& buried A. B. Sharp. During the Middle
Nov 11th Watch two German Sailors died from wounds.
Our two Doctors & Dr. Ollerhead. and one
of the German Doctors who was saved.
were kept going as fast as possible
during the night about 40. amputations
alone being necessery. 5. 30 am we sent in
another cutter to the Island to assist
in bringing off the wounded. In the
meantime we returned to Direction Island
& landed Dr. Ollerhead & Messes Cardwell.
& Ross. 8. 0 am. Returning to North Keeling
Island. 8. 30 am stopped to bury the
two German Sailors who had died during
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Postcard - see original document
THE AUSTRALIAN CRUISER
"SYDNEY."
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The night Church of England service in the
presence of Emdens ships Company. 10. 0 am
arrived off North Keeling Island. & picked up.
Leiut Garcia and remaining survivours of the
Emden. 12. 0 proceeded en route for Colombo
as fast. as possible everything possible was.
done for. the wounded who were laid out in
the Ward room Waist deck. & passages. The.
prisoners being on the Starbd side of the
boat deck. aft The Chinamen taken off.
the Buresk. living in the Waist the
Chinamen were rather frightened and.
wanted to leave the (Devil Ship) as they
called us as soon as possible we were
now able to reckon approximately their
losses the survivours consisted off.
Captain Von. Muller.
6 Leuitenants. Including (Prince Franz Joseph)
(of Holenzollern)
4 Engineers Officers 8 Warrant Officers
179 Men of these the wounded. were
as follows.
Dangerousely Wounded.
1 Engineer Officer who afterwards died
Siriousely Wounded.
38 Men.
Wounded.
4 Warrant Officers
Slightly Wounded.
2 Officers & 38 Men.
and as near as we could make out their
must have about 200 in all killed
1. 0 pm German Engineer Officer died.
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