Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/265/1 - 1916 - 1938 - Part 3

102 Powlett St
East Melbourne
24^th May 1928
Dear Sir
Re. S.S. Hebburn
In receipt of yours of the 16^th inst
The above ship was building when war commenced
but was then stopped for Government work
later was allowed to be completed, providing
they got the use of the vessel, when completed
ran for the Commissioned Belgian relief with
foodstuffs. one trip we made to Abrolus Rocks
off Rio, where we acted as a decoy the
time the German raider Moewe, later we
carried stores and fresh water from
Simonstown on the Africian coast also
carrying native troops (Askarris) and white officers,
one thing about the native troops they demanded
their wives to go with them we landed them at
[Quilemane?], when the town was threatened from
invasion they asked for volunteers (whites)
all our officers & Engineers volunteered and
were in the trenches guarding the town
(₤100 was divided amongst them after the war
for services rendered) all securities and monies
from the various banks were deposited on board

also a number of the people from shore stayed
on board, a letter of thanks was received
from Commander Raikes R.N. H.M.S Minerva
for assisting them, during operations on the
coast, later we loaded foodstuffs for
England, we proceeded to America, where
we were unfortunate out of a crew of 42,
first one got the flue within three days 32 were
in hospital, Chief Officer, Second Enqineer and
3^rd Gunner died, and we left 4 behind.
Armistice day we were in St Johns
Newfoundland later proceeded to
Constantiople with stores. the vessel was
afterwards sold to Messrs. Arbs of Rome.
Yours Faithfully
D. C. Rutherford.

MEMORANDUM FOR CAPTAIN BEAN, OFFICIAL HISTORIAN, REGARDING
DUTCH STEAMER "TASMAN".
This steamer which was in the command of Captain J. Reid,
was requisitioned by the Commonwealth Government, and after loading
in Sydney left that port on the 3rd April 1918 for Bombay, via Melbourne.
The steamer continued on to London arriving there on the
3rd September 1918. She left London on the 12th September for Indian
Ports via Plymouth, where she arrived on the 13th September,
1918, that being her last port of call before she was torpedoed at
3.45 p.m. on the 16th September 1918.
Those lost when the steamer was torpedoed were :-
J. Reid - Captain
J. Preston - Chief Officer
P. D. Crowther - Second Officer
P. Hagan - A. B. Seaman
J. Farrell - do
A. Lennox - do
H. M. Jackson - Steward
G. Baker - do
With Compliments
BIRT & CO., LTD
[G N Stuart?]

SECRETARY
16/5/28

BW7373
BW6348 

Australbrook (ex Strathesk)
3/7/16 About [dice?] Manchester; will be taken over there. Running under
Admiralty requisition
4/8/16  Anticipate release Mediterranean abt end Aug.
20/8/16 Not fitted with wireless.
10/10/16 Expected to leave Mediterranean shortly. Will
Load New York for Australasia
20/10/16 Expected leave N York Oct 31 for Auckland Wellington
Sydney & Melb.
14/11/16 Left N York Nov 1
27/11/16 Left Panama Nov 13.
8/3/17 Arrived Cape Town Feb 26, Loads iron & bark for
Dunedin - from Durban
30/3/17 Sailed from Durban March 28. Iron & bark for
Dunedin & Melb.
1/5/17 Arrived Dunedin Apl 28. thence ^bark for Sydney & Melb.
26/5/17 Sailed from Dunedin May 22.
1/6/17 Now due at Sydney from Dunedin, discharges ^ (500 tons) bark, then to Newcastle for 4/5000 tons coal for
Melb. (for Victorian Rlys)
7/6/17 Arrived Sydney May 31 Left June 5 for Newcastle
for coal for Vic Rlys (Also has 550 tons of bark
from original Durban cargo for Melb)
14/6/17 Sailed from Newcastle June 9 with cargo of 3639
tons coal for Vic Rlys. & the 550 tons bark. Berthed
in Yarra June 13 to discharge bark. Will then
shift to Coal Depot to discharge coal
21/6/17 Due to sail to Newcastle for another coal cargo.
4/7/17  Left Melb for Newcastle June 27, arrived 30th.
13/7/17  Left Newcastle for Melb July 7. Arrived Yarra 11th.
26/7/17 Left Melb Jul 19 arrd Newcastle 22nd. Loads
largo coal for Melb.
6/8/17 Left Newcastle Jul 28 for Melb with 5590 tons coal.
Arrived Jul 31. Wireless being fitted.

29/8/17 Now loading part cargo flour in Melb for Seattle
or San Francisco, & it is desired that she also load
(say) 13000 bales of wool for same port This shipment
of wool (together with that proposed for Australpool)
"should tend to supply wants of British Authorities
as regards the shipment of 45000 bales to America."
[*for Boston?*]

31/8/17 Berthed 31 July. Commenced discharging coal - by 14th had
unloaded all but 450 tons & completed ^ loading 100 tons flour
when work suspended owing to strike. 16th - went
into dock for cleaning & painting, work completed by
non-union labour. 24th - discharging coal into
Australpool's bunbers. 29th. commenced loading
flour, non union labour. Non-union crew
shipped.
18/9/17 Are now loading full cargoes of wheat & flour. (apparently no wool)
8/1/18 "Australbroch with a gun mounted coming in." (? Heads)
(Mess^age from PWSS)
6/3/18 Arrived Durban

Australbush (ex Strathgarry)

3/7/16 taken over at New York 17 June. On time charter running

between USA, & Continent until Nov; charter taken over with purchase.
26/8/16 Not fitted with wireless
10/10/16 Still on time charter; expect release UK end of Nov.
8/3/17 Left Port Said March 4 for Rangoon with cargo salt

Loads rice for Aust.

Now fitted with wireless
30/3/17 Left Colombo March 22 for Rangoon with salt. Loads
rice there for Aust.
1/5/17 Left Rangoon on Apl 18 with rice for Melb & 
Sydney
26/5/17 Arrived Melb May 16, sailed for Sydney May 18, arrvd

May 21. Thence to Newcastle for coal cargo (5500 tons) for S Aust,

then loads wheat.
30/5/17 ^To take 5500 tons coal from Newcastle to Port Pirie on

behalf of for BH Assoc Smelters Pty Ltd
31/5/17 ^1/6/17 Will probably lift 5670 tons coal. Then loads wheat

after delivery of coal.
14/6/17 Left Newcastle June 13 with ^5548 coal for Port Pirie.
15/6/17 Ordered to proceed to Melb to discharge cargo, under direct ^instructions from Minister

(was Duncan master at this time)
21/6/17 When off Wilsons Promontory was ordered by

wireless to come to Melb. Arrived June 17 & cargo

of 5548 tons of coal was discharged.
4/7/17 Completed unloading Melbourne Sailed for Newcastle
June 30. Loads cargo coal by H Parker for SA Rlys, Port

Adelaide; then wheat for France
13/7/17 At Newcastle. Delayed by labour troubles.

Loaded cargo coal.
20/7/17 Left Newcastle Jul 13 for Adelaide with 5667 tons

coal for SA Rlys. Arrived July 18, discharging.
6/8/17 Discharged coal Jul 27. Loading wheat for France.

29/8/17 Now loading part cargo flour in Melb for Seattle
or San Francisco, & it is desired that she also load
(say) 13000 bales of wool for same port. This shipment
of wool (together with that proposed for Australpool),
"should tend to supply wants of British Authorities
as regards the shipment of 45000 bales to America."
[*for Boston?*]
31/8/17   Berthed 31 July. Commenced discharging coal - by 14th had
unloaded all but 450 tons & completed ^loading 100 tons flour
when work suspended owing to strike.   16th - went
into dock for cleaning & painting, work completed by
Non-union labour. 24th - discharging coal into
Australpool's bunkers. 29th. commenced loading
flour, non union labour. Non-union crew
shipped.
18/9/17 Are now loading full cargoes of wheat & flour. (apparently no wool)
8/1/18 "Australbroch with a gun mounted coming in" (? Heads)
(Mess^age from PWSS)
6/3/18 Arrived Durban

17/8/17 Left Adelaide Aug 10 for France with wheat
Arrived Albany 18th  Due Durban Sept 5.

Australcrag (ex Strathleven)
3/7/16 Now at Havre; take over there this week. On time charter
running between USA & Continent until Nov; charter taken over
with purchase.
2618/16 Not fitted with wireless.
10/10/16 Still on time-charter. Expect release in UK beg. Nov.
3/11/16 Admiralty release on 15 Nov. Fixed to load at Liverpool
for Natal, Delagoa, & Beira, thence Fremantle.
8/3/17 Sailed from Delagoa Bay Feb 27 for Mauritius
Now fitted with wireless
15/5/ 17 Arrived Fremantle Apl 16. Sails on 4 May with
wheat for UK.
11/5/17 Sailed May 5 with wheat te to France.
1/6/17 Arrived Durban May 30
7/6/17 Sailed from Durban June 3. Fixed for coal
Wales/Azores. Proceeds N York in ballast, thence
loads general cargo for Australasia
26/7/17 Arrived Havre Juy 21.
17/8/17 Now due to leave Wales with coal to Azores.
31/8/17 Left Wales Aug 24. with coal for Azores. Delayed owing
to Admirally requisitioning coal cargo. & strike
30/14/18 Now at Adelaide in quarantine.