Papers of Cyril John Percy Hill - Part 1
56/19
File No.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
WAR MUSEUM LIBRARY.
RECORD FILE OF PAPERS.
NOT TO BE TAKEN AWAY.
Subject RECORDS OF LIEUT. COMMANDER C.J.P. HILL. R.N.
PERSONAL RECORDS.
LIEUT. COMMANDER C.J.P. HILL. R.N.
H.M.S. PARRAMATTA.
Written copy fo diary.
2 Aug., 1914 - 18 Feb., 1915.
Photostat copy of diary.
9 June, 1917 - 14 Dec., 1918.
Misc. typed & photostat copies of
Operation OrderS &c.
Chart, Sevastopol Harbour showing
Anchorage Berths.
A.W.M.
LIBRARY
Class No 182.1.
13
H.M.S. Paramatta 1914.
Diary of War in Australian waters.
Sunday Aug 2nd.
Terrible spasm. Completed refit. Ran trials
Oiled ship. Took aboard torpedoes & war heads
Ship in confusion.
Monday 3rd
&
Tuesday 4th
Left Sydney at 6 A.M. Careful watch kept for
enemies cruisers & merchantmen. Employed preparing
for war & drilling guns & tubes crews like mad.
Wednesday 5th
Arrived Townsville. Went alongside oil steamer &
filled up with oil fuel. Still preparing for war &
drilling like blazes.
Thursday 6
Landed all wood & canvass gear, ensign & jack
staffs etc: Ship looks like nothing on earth.
Cleared for action & various evolutions, amidst cheers of
inhabitants.
Friday 7th
Received orders to join Flag at rendezvous. Proceeded
War routine. Anchored off small island inside
Barrier Reef.
Saturday 8th
3.30 AM. Sighted vessel without lights. Took her to be
enemies cruiser. Huge excitement. All hands & stations
guns & tubes manned & trained. Turned out to be
our oil vessel proceeding northward. Disappointment.
Sunday 9th
Joined up with Flag Sydney & Destroyers. Received order
to paint ships black. Proceeded towards German
New Guinea. Ships Company painting ships & themselves
black. Chiefly themselves.
Monday 10th
Proceeding with squadron towards Rossel Isl: S 6 New Guinea
Tuesday 11th
Flag received information that enemies fleet consisting
of five ships. "Scharnhorst", "Gneisenau" "Numberg"
"Planet" & "Comet" were at anchor in Simpson Haven
Destroyers Warrego, Paramatta & Yarra ordered
to enter harbour during the night & attempt to
17
H.M.S. 2.
torpedo them. Nothing being known of defences or
fortifications. 5.30 PM Destroyers with "Sydney"
left flag & proceeded full speed towards Simpson
Haven. 6.30 Cleared for action & went to quarters.
9.0 Left Sydney off Pried Point & proceeded slow
speed towards entrance under cover of land.
9.30 Entered Harbour unseen & searched all round
Nothing afloat in Harbour. Only thing sighted was
a hundred or so natives dancing tango round
fire on beach (Huge disappointment).
Wednesday 12th
Enemy given us the slip.
Wednesday 12th
Just left Simpson Haven & reported to Sydney. No
can find enemy. Ordered to enter harbour at
daylight & shell wireless station. Entered harbour
at daylight, No wireless station. More disappointment.
10.30 AM Paramatta ordered to Herbertshoe, chief
settlement in New Guinea about 10 miles from Simpson
Haven. Self in command of armed party landed.
Inhabitants fled at our approach. Took two
prisoners one German missionary & one half cast
who spoke English. Could get no information out
of them even with revolver down their necks. Very
loyal. Followed telegraph wires along & sighted
Post Office. Rushed same in grand style, no
one there. Contented ourselves with cutting telegraph
& telephone wires & breaking up post office
instruments. Released prisoners & returned on board
laden with cigars, postcards & coconuts (loot).
4.0 PM Fleet left & proceeded towards Rossel Isl.
Thursday 13.
Proceeding with fleet to Rossel Isl.: War routine.
Friday 14th
Flag & Encounter proceeded to Port Moresby leaving
destroyers & Sydney & Melbourne at Rossel Isl
to coal from captured collier.
21
H.M.S. 3.
Sat 15th
Sydney coaling, Destroyers oiling from Melbourne. If
enemy turns up now they will catch us on the hop.
Plenty fun!!
Sun 16th
Gunner called 1st Lieut at midnight for middle
watch.1st Lieut turned over & went to sleep again
Gunner also turned in. Captn came on deck during
middle watch & found no officer. Terrible bobbery.
Result copious orders in writing & threats to log.
1st Lieut & gunner shed tears of penitence (I don't
think) Officers keep anchor watch on bridge after
giving quarter master strict orders to watch Captain.
Ships still at ⚓︎ inside reef at Rossel Island.
Slack day.
Monday 17.
Patrolling outside Rossel Lagoon. Oil steamer
arrived thank goodness. Sighted schooner & chased
her. Turned out to be Missionary schooner with
English missionary on board. Didn't know war
had been declared. Very surprised. Gave us any
amount of bananas, cocoanuts, yams, pumpkins
& his blessing. Fine blowout. Ships company
employed growing whiskers.
Tuesday 18th
Alongside S.S. Paysa taking in oil. Our friend the
missionary came aboard & had lunch. Nothing to eat.
except tinned beef & biscuits. Caught two sharks
which Chinese crew of Paysa went mad over & cut them
up into chops, steaks & fillets. Found straw hat
inside one shark. 3.30 PM Left Rossel Lagoon &
proceeded towards Port Moresby. Strong trade wind &
nasty sea. Ships Company employed growing whiskers
& being sea sick.
Wednesday 19
On passage to Port Moresby at 20 knots. 6.30 PM
Arrived Port Moresby. Found Encounter cleared for
action having sighted collier & took her to be enemies
25
H.M.S. 4
cruiser. Troop ship with 500 troops on board lying
alongside wharf. Short of provisions & water. Troops
cleaned town out of all eatables. More salt beef
& biscuits. No news of war or rest of fleet. Don't
know what we are here for. Stinking hot.
Thursday 20th
At anchor at Port Moresby doing nothing. No news
& no mail. Still beastly hot. Yarra patrolling
entrance of Harbour. All night in thank goodness.
Aug 21st
till
Sep 4th
Destroyers employed on defence of Port Moresby.
One destroyer patrolling outside harbour every night
One or two false alarms of enemies cruisers about
to attack the Port. Destroyers at once weighed
& went to look for them. No sign of any shipping
at all. During day destroyers employed variously
in assisting troop ship, colliers & oil vessel to
coal, water, etc. Troop ship arrived in Port
Moresby with 500 troops on board with very little
water & short of provisions. No water to be
had in Port Moresby & hardly any provisions.
Troops behaving very well although short of provisions
& no water to wash in. Destroyers able to distill
about 15 tons in 24 hours for her when not
employed otherwise. Paramatta organised coaling
of "Kanowna" ^Troop ship. Police cleared out native village
of all male inhabitants and put them aboard
"Kanowna". Paramatta placed sentries over
them & forced them to coal. About 250 natives
on board. Took in 1200 tons of coal in 4 days
not bad for natives who had never coaled a
ship before. Warrego experimenting firing
SE torpedo from catamaran. Results very
satisfactory. No mails & very little news of
any disruption. Where abouts of rest of squadron
unknown.
29
Sep 6th
"Sydney" & "Encounter" arrived with "Berrimer" troop ship
"Aarangi store ship. "Paramatta" left Port Moresby
conveying Oil vessel "Muresi" & one collier to
rendezvous off Rossel Island. Strong SE trade
wind & heavy sea. Everyone sick & wet.
Sep 7th
Rest of squadron left Port Moresby with remaining
colliers. Stokers of Kanowna troop ship mutinied
& were arrested. Kanowna left behind at Port
Moresby. Paramatta proceeding to rendezvous
at 6 Knots with "Muresi" & "Koolanga"
Sep 8th
Squadron proceeding to rendezvous. Weather moderating.
Sep 9th
6.30 PM Arrived at rendezvous off Rossel Island
& Joined up with Flagship & submarines.
Squadron proceeded towards Simpson Haven. Seat
of Government in German New Guinea. Destroyers
stationed 5 miles ahead of Squadron.
Sep 10th
AM. "Sydney" & destroyers left Squadron & proceeded
ahead at high speed towards Simpson Haven in
order to make night attack. Enemies cruisers
thought to be in Harbour.
Sep 11th
3.30 AM. Arrived of Praech Pc. (see plan) left "Sydney"
and proceeded into Simpson Haven. Enemy not
inside only a few trading schooners. Destroyers after
searching harbour returned to "Sydney". Paramatta
ran to northward & searched Talini Bay. Sydney
Warrego & Yarra proceeded to Herbertshohe.
Found nothing in Talini Bay, waited for daylight
& then Paramatta again entered Simpson Haven.
Self in command of landing party took possession of
pier cargo sheds. Searched sheds well, smashed
open all doors & cases of cargo. Found nothing
contraband. Meanwhile ships boats sweeping for
mines all around pier. No mines found.
33
Sep 11th PM.
Took armed boats crew & captured ten trading
schooners. Removed all arms & ammunition
from them. Hauled down German flags & ancl
all ten schooners together between Paramatta &
pier. Sarg Sighted three steam ships anchored
close in near entrance of harbour. Weighed &
proceeded to investigate. Found them to be
Gunboat "Protector", submarine depôt ship &
Prize. Returned to Rabaul to watch town.
Sydney, Warrego & Yarra arrived off Herbertshohe
at daylight. Sydney landed party with stores
also 25 scouts belonging to RAN reserve former
Troop ship which she had brought up from
Troop ship Berrimer to scout round the wireless
station. Scouts at once opened out & made
for the bush. Found road to wireless station
mined & enemy entrenched at intervals all up
the road. Enemy evidently expected troops to
land & march up the road to wireless station.
Scouts got in touch with enemy almost at once
on landing & made signals for reinforcements
finding they were up against companies of native
police with German officers & N.C.O & most of
the German residents of Herbertshohe. Destroyers
which were lying close inshore at once landed
almost their entire ships companies & took
to the jungle, worked round the trenches
along the road & managed to clear the enemy
out. Meanwhile Australia & Berrimer arrived
& landed a company of troops. Wireless station
taken about sunset. Destroyers party by keeping
in the jungle lost no one. RAN Reserve lost
two officers & four men killed & one officer & three
37
men wounded. Doctor shot dead while attending
a wounded German officer. Lieut Ellwell RN shot
dead through exposing himself in the road.
Not certain how many soldiers lost. Enemies
losses considerable. Prisoners eight German
officers & NCOs & 40 native police. Governor
cannot be found. Results at sunset on
Sept 11th Herbertshohe & wireless station taken.
Rabaul held up by "Paramatta" & "Protector"
with pier & cargo sheds in our possession.
Sep 12th
Saturday. Squadron entered Simpson Haven with
colliers oil vessel & prizes. Berrimer went
alongside pier & landed scouts. No opposition.
Paramatta patrolling between Preach Pc. & Raluana
Pc.
Sep 13th
Sunday. Troops landed & took possession of town.
Governor scooted. Paramatta returned from
patrol being relieved by "Yarra". Made fast to
oil vessel & commenced taking in oil. Union
Jack hoisted at 3.30 PM on parade ground.
Flagship saluted 4 PM Signal from Herbertshohe
"Enemy advancing on Herbertshoe" Paramatta
sent there to assist. When we arrived enemy had
been driven back. Paramatta not required.
Several prisoners taken also plan of enemies position.
Paramatta patrolling all night.
Sep 14th
Monday.
At Daylight "Encounter" arrived Herbertshohe &
having exact plan & position of enemies camps
commenced shelling with lyddite. Shelling very
accurate Camp & stores completely destroyed,
Armed natives suffered heavily. Paramatta
& submarine AE I patrolling St Georges Channel.
Submarine seen at 2.30 just off Duke of York
Island. Paramatta then steered due East across
41
Channel & returned on same course. Submarine
not in sight. Thought she had returned to
harbour. Paramatta anchored off Herbertshohe
11 PM Signal from Flag telling us to go & search
for Submarine. Destroyers weighed & commenced
search.
Sep 15th
Tuesday.
Destroyers still searching for Submarine. No sign
of her. Very much afraid she has been sunk.
Enemy supposed to have light guns hidden on
small islands. "Yarra" touched uncharted reef
while searching for Submarine & damaged
propeller. Flagship Melbourne & Sydney left for
Sydney to escort expeditionary force to Aelena
French flagship "Montcalm" arrived. Ships
left in Simpson Haven, Montcalm, "Encounter"
"Protector", "Warrego", "Yarra" & Paramatta.
Submarine AE 2 Submarine depot ship. 2 colliers
1 oil vessel, 1 store ship. Berrimer trooper &
Grantala hospital ship. If enemies cruisers
turn up & attack us we shall have a
lively time. Hope China fleet are somewhere
near. 6.30 Paramatta left harbour on patrol.
Sep 16th
Wednesday
Paramatta & Submarine AE II anchored off
Herbertshohe. All peaceful here, no sign of
enemies troops. Also no sign of AE I. Very much
afraid she is a "gonner". Must have either been
sunk by enemy or struck uncharted rock.
Yarra not damaged seriously. Report can fix
her up to do 20 Knots. Thank goodness.
Patrolling all night as usual.
Sep 17th
Thursday.
Returned to harbour at 6 AM. Oiled ship. Scouts
discovered big naval store also 1000 tons of coal among
palm trees near Matupi Harbour. Loot in galore, out
of which Paramatta only got one case of Laager
Beer through not being on the spot.
45
Sep 17th
Continued.
8.0 PM. Encounter & Warrego & Paramatta proceeded
to search west coast of New Britain. Enemies gun-boat
Comet supposed to be round somewhere.
Sep 18th
Friday.
Arrived at Powel harbour. Destroyers searched
harbour only finding large alligator which we fired
at & missed. Collared native who said he knew
where Comet was & offered to pilot us there. Just
then wireless message came through telling us to
return full speed to Simpson Haven as enemies
cruisers Scharnhorst & Neisnau were somewhere close
& Australia & Sydney were returning full speed.
Obliged to leave nigger & Comet till another day.
Much sooner tackle Comet than big cruisers.
On way to harbour noticed small steamer stuck
on reef & evidently burnt. Warrego sent boat to
investigate & found her still burning & having
a one pounder gun mounting in the bows & some
empty cartridge cases. Must have been her who
sunk submarine AE I & in her hurry to get away
ran on reef & enemy unable to get her off set
her on fire & dismounted gun.
6 PM Entered harbour & again filled up with oil fuel.
Sep 19th
Saturday.
Patrolling all day. 3 PM Australia & Sydney
arrived. No sign of enemy. Paramatta
patrolling all night.
Sep 20th
Sunday.
7.30 AM Anchored in Simpson Haven. Slack
day. Protector patrolling. No sign of enemy.
Must have got wind of Flagships return.
"Fantone" & another oil ship arrived bringing mail
Warrego told off to patrol all night. Whiskers
getting on splendidly. German prisoner dived off
Flagship & tried to escape & was riddled with
bullets from guard before he got 20 yds. Very
foolish game.
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