Account of action between HMAS Sydney and SMS Emden by Niels Peter Henry Nielsen, 1925

"Sydney" v "Emden" 
  
It is now almost eleven years since the destruction  
of S.M.S. "Emden" by H.M.A.S "Sydney" 
During ther sensational career from 4^th August to 
9^th November 1914 the following British ships were  
sunk or captured by her:- Indus"(3393 tons), Lovat (6102)  
Killen (3044), Diplomat (7615), Trabboch (4015) Clan 
Matheson (4475), Tymeric (3314), King Lud (3650), Rivera 
(3500), Foyle (4147), Buresk (4340), Chilkana (5140), 
Troibus (7362), Ben Mohr (4806), Clan Grant (3945) 
Donrabbel (478), Exford (4542). 
The total estimated value of these ships was £2,211,000 
on the 28^th October 1914  she entered Penang harbour with a 
dummy funnel 
  
On 31^st October 1914 H.M.A.S. "Sydney" arrived at Albany (W.A.) 
and found met there H.MA.S. "Melbourne", HM.S. "Minatour" 
and 33 troopships. 
On the following day left Albany with convoy (38 ships)  
These formed up in three divisions steaming line  
ahead, with H.M.S. Minatour ahead, H.M.A.S. "Melbourne"  
on Starboard beam and H.M.A.S. "Sydney" on the Port beam.  
The following are the ships conveying the Australian  
troop and their position:  
  
 

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The New Zealand troopships were Maunganui, Orari,  
Star of India, Limerick, Tahiti, Athenic, Hawkesbury, 
Rapchee, Wainana and Arawa.  
On 3^rd November J.M.S. "Ibuki", H.M.A.S. Pioneer and  
two more transports joined the convoy off Freemantle 
The "Pioneer" however reported machinery defects and returned 
to Freemantle.  
On 6^th the Orient S.S. "Osterley" overtook and steamed  
through the Convoy and on 8^th H.M.S. "Minatour" left the  
Convoy.  H.M.A.S. "Melbourne took up position ahead, 
J.M.S. "Ibuki" on Starboard beam, H.MA.S. "Sydney" on Port 
beam and armed transports took up rear positions.  
At 6.30am on 9^th November a wireless message from  
Cocos Island was intercepted "Strange warship.. ...... 
off Island.  "Sydney" received orders from "Melbourne" 
 

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to proceed at full speed to investigate.  
At 7.15 am "Sydney" parted company with Convoy and  
worked up to 25 knots meanwhile preparing for action.  
9.15:  Sighted Direction Island ahead.  
9.20: Sighted smoke of enemy ship which afterwards 
proved to be S.M.S. "Emden" 
9.40: Challenged enemy ship who replied by opening 
fire at about 11,000 yards and shortly after we 
started on her.  The "Emden's" collier "Buresk" - a captured  
British Ship - stood by.  
By 11.0 a.m. The "Emden" was in a very bad state -  
Foremast, bridge and all funnels shot away, the hull  
badly holed, the whole of the after part on fire and 
the ship in a sinking condition but still fighting.  
North Keeling Island now being near "Emden" made for  
this and ran ashore where we left her 11.20 a.m. and went  
after the collier who had cleared out when he saw  
how the "Emden" was faring. 
Abot About 12.10 p.m. we came up with the "Buresk" and  
brought her up with a couple of rounds.  
Sending an armed crew aboard we found her in charge 
of a German prize crew who had opened all 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 and as soon as they were clear  
 

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we put 4 shots into her to help her on her way.  
The German prize crew were brought aboard and  
comprised 3 German Lieutenants, 1 Warrant Officer and  
12 men, also 18 Chinese firemen, 1 Norwegian steward and  
one English cook whom they had kept on board after her  
capture.  
Having made the "Buresk's" boats fast astern we started  
back for North Keeling at about 2pm 
Our casualties were as follow:  
Killed: T. Lynch Petty Officer, A. Hoy A.B., R. Bell ordinary  
Seaman, Dangerously wounded (afterwards died of wounds): 
R.A. Sharpe A.B., wounded: Lieut Hampden, R. Horne AB,  
P. Gascoigne A.B., J.A. Butcher A.B., W.E. Meldrum O.S.,  
B. Green A.B., T Williamson Boy, A.E. Crosby A.B., 
J. Kinniburgh A.B. 
 

"Sydney" v "Emden"
By Niels Peter Henry Nielsen, 1925

It is almost eleven years since the destruction of the S.M.S. "Emden" by
H.M.A.S. "Sydney".
During her sensational career from 4^th August to 9^th November 1914 the
following British ships were sunk or captured by her: Indus (3,393 tons), Lovat 
(6,102), Killin (3,044), Diplomat (7,615), Trabboch (4,015), Clan Matheson
(4,475), Tymeric (3,314, King Lud (3,650), Riberra (3,500), Foyle (4,147),
Buresk (4,340), Chilkana (5,140), Troilus (4,362), Ben Mohr (4,806), Clan 
Grant (3,940), Donrabbel (478), Exford (4,542).

The total estimated value of these ships was £2,211,000.

On the 28^th October 1914 she entered Penang Harbour with a dummy funnel.

On the 31st October 1914 H.M.A.S. "Sydney" arrived at Albany (W.A.) and
met there H.M.A.S. "Melbourne", H.M.S. "Minotaur", and 33 troopships.

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Sydney V Emden Chook Letter 1925 v1
 

On the following day left Albany with convoy (38 ships).  These formed up in
three divisions, steaming line ahead, H.M.S. "Minotaur" ahead, H.M.A.S.
"Melbourne" on Starboard beam and H.M.A.S. "Sydney" on the Port beam.

The following are the ships convoying the Australian troops and their position:

The New Zealand troopships were Maunganui, Orari,, Star of India, Limerick,
Tahiti, Athenic, Hawkes Bay, Ruapehu, Waimana and Arawa.

On 1^st November J.M.S. "Ibuki", H.M.A.S. "Pioneer" and two more transports
joined the convoy off Fremantle.  The "Pioneer" however reported machinery
defects (???) and returned to Fremantle.

On 6^th the Orient S.S. "Osterley" overtook and steamed through the Convoy
and on 8^th H.M.S. "Minotaur" left the convoy.  H.M.A.S. "Sydney" on Port
beam and armed transports took up rear positions (???).

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Sydney V Emden Chook Letter 1925 v1

At 6.30am on 9^th November a wireless message from Cocos Islands was
intercepted "Strange warship ....... off island".  "Sydney" received orders
from "Melbourne" to proceed at full speed to investigate.
At 7.15am "Sydney" parted company with Convoy and worked up to 25 knots
meanwhile preparing for action.
9.15: Sighted Direction Island ahead.
9.20: Sighted smoke of enemy ship which afterwards proved to be S.M.S.
"Emden".
9.40: Challenged enemy ship who replied by opening fire at about 11,000
yards and shortly after we started on her.  The "Emden" collier "Buresk" - a
captured British ship stood by.
By 11.00 am, the "Emden" was in a very bad state - foremast, bridge and all
funnels shot away.  The hull badly holed, the whole of the after part on fire
and the ship in a sinking condition but still fighting.  North Keeling Island now
being near, "Emden" mad for this and ran ashore where we left her 11.20 am
and went after the collier who had cleared out when he saw how the "Emden"
was faring.

About 12.10 pm, we came up the "Buresk" and brought her up with a
couple of rounds.
Sending an armed crew aboard we found her in charge of a German prize
crew who had opened all seacocks 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 and as soon as they were clear we put 4 shots into her to help
her on her way.
The German prize crew were brought aboard and comprised 3 German
Lieutenants, 1 Warrant Officer and 12 men, also 18 Chines firemen, 1
Norwegian steward and one English cook whom they had kept on board after
her capture.
Having made the "Buresk's" boats fast astern we started back for North
Keeling at about 2 pm.

Our casualties were as follows:
Killed: J. Lynch Petty Officer, A. Hoy A.B. [able seaman], R. Bell ordinary 
seaman.
Dangerously wounded (afterwards died of wounds): R.A. Sharpe A.B.
Wounded: Lieut. Hampden, R. Hume A.B., P. Gascoigne A.B., J.A. Butcher
A.B., W.E. Meldrum O.S., B. Green A.B., T. Williamson Boy, A.E. Crosby A.B.,
J. Kinniburgh A.B.


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Sydney V Emden Chook Letter 1925 v1