Letters from George Edwin Patey to his family, 1914 - Part 2 of 2

raining hard all the time we were 
there. We get rather conflicting news 
of the war in France but we  
seem to be getting slowly driven back 
by superior numbers at present. 
and there seems to be little or no 
fighting in the North Sea.
August 31st 
At Sea off Samoa 
We arrived off the town of Apia 
Samoa yesterday morning, I sent 
in a flag of truce and summoned the 
foreman to surrender to a superior force 
and he did so. I found that there 
were no mines or guns so landed 
the men and took possession of the 
place hauled down the German flag 
and hoisted our own. Everything 
was finished by noon to-day, and I 
 

sailed for Suva with the [["Montcals?]]
and "Melbourne". The Colonel of the 
New Zealand troops is left in 
charge of the Island as Administrator 
We shall probably arrive at Suva 
on the 2nd of September, coal, and 
then start off for another expedition 
The German cruisers have disappeared 
entirely for the present. 
Suva. Fiji.
September. 2^nd  
We arrived here this morning 
and I find a mail is now leaving  
for Sydney. So I will close this. 
Our Army seems to be fighting splendidly 
in France but terribly out numbered 
We are now coaling. Will write again 
when there is an opportunity but I am 
afraid not for three weeks Will Bid 
love to you all Your affectionate brother
George E Patey.  
[*Have not heard from any of you for a month*] 
  
 

H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA. 
At Sea. Saturday 
September 5^th 
  
My dear Helen 
We left Suva (Fiji) yesterday 
morning and we are now on our 
way to meet an Australian expeditionary 
force which I am going to take with 
me to capture some German 
possessions to the North East of New 
Guinea. Rabaul is one place and 
Herbertshire another they are not  
far from one another in a big 
bay in the island of New Britain 
it is the place I went to first of 
all and routed them out there 
but I had no troops to land to 
hold the place then, but now I 
shall have plenty, the place was  
undefended the last time we were 
there, and there were no German ships 
 

  
but we may find something 
this time although I dont 
expect to. I believe they are 
either hiding away amongst some 
of the more distant Pacific islands 
or they may be on their way 
across to America, anyhow they 
have done no harm to our trade 
as yet, but I wish we could run  
them to earth and have done with  
them but it is almost impossible 
in a big place like the Pacific, 
and with so few ships to do it 
and now some of my ships will 
be wanted to convoy the European 
Australian Expedition. 
 

September. 10^th 
We met the convoy with the 
Australian expedition for New Britain, 
yesterday an I expect to arrive 
and occupy the place tomorrow. 
I am to sending in the Destroyers  
to have a look round the place  
to night and to attack. the 
wireless station which we could not 
find last time. When we met 
the convoy yesterday, we at last 
got some of our missing mail 
and I was very glad to get your  
letter of July 9^th written from 
[[Darolish?]], but I fancy there must  
be two of your letters missing 
and we have one whole English 
mail missing. I hope they will
turn up sometime. I am afraid 
this war must be upsetting you all 
very much at home.  
 

Rabaul. Simsons Haven. 
Sunday. September. 13^th 
We have now taken, Rabaul 
and Herbertshore without opposition 
but a party of Naval Reserves I landed 
to attack the wireless station had 
some severe fighting in the Bush 
with a large number of Native Police  
under German Officers. We lost two 
Officers and four men killed, and  
one Officer and three men wounded 
they were fighting all day and I had 
to re-inforce them but they did splendidly 
and eventually captured the place at  
midnight. We have taken a lot of 
Prisoners including twelve German 
Officers & [[Nm?]] Command Officers, one of  
them is the Commandant. The  
Brigadier General is now in charge in  
Shore, and as soon as I have seen things 
properly settled., I am leaving with  
 

(2) 
'Australia' 'Melbourne', & 'Sydney' 
for Sydney to escort the Australian 
expeditionary force across the Indian 
Ocean as far as Aden, and 
then return to Australia. I am 
very busy so must end. 
With best love to you all 
I remain 
Your very affectionate brother 
George E. Patey 
Many thanks for your  
letter of the 9^th of July which 
has just turned up. 
________