Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/265/1 - 1916 - 1938 - Part 5

Australpeak (ex Strathspey)
3/7/16  Expect to take over at New York in few days. 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 in UK  Oct/Nov.
14/4/16  Due Fremantle end of April.
8/3/17  Sailed from Port Arthur ^Texas Feb 17. Completes discharge
case oil Mauritius end April
Now fitted with wireless
30/5/17  Sa. 1/5/17 Arrived Capetown Apl 13, engines
damaged, repairs being effected. Due Fremantle
end of May
11/5/17 Sailed from Cape Town May 8 ^for East London & Durban. Due Fremantle 

in June.
21/6/17  Due Geraldton July 10 to load wheat.
4/7/1  Left Mauritius June 28 for Geraldton in ballast.
due July 14. Loads part wheat for France, thence
Fremantle for alterations to crews quarters & complete
loading.
13/7/17  Now due Fremantle in ballast for alterations etc
Loads wheat for France
26/7/17  Arrived Fremantle July 15 due leave Aug 1.
6/8/17 Left Fremantle Aug 3, with wheat for France.
Due Durban Aug 27
31/8/17  Arrived Durban Aug 29.

12/7/18 Arrived Callao from NZ. 10 July.
[*K Peak 

Spey 

L Plain 

Ardanmohr

M Pool 

Airly

N Pork

Gorm

O Range 

Del

P Shear 

d/tall*] 

Australplain (ex M Ardanmhor)

3/7/16 Enroute Boston-Savona. Expect to take over in UK end July
Running under Admiralty requisition
4/8/16 Expected leave P. said for Aust next week in ballast
replenishing bunkers Colombo. Available for wheat abt
end Sept
16/8/16 Due arrive in Ballast abt 24 Sept (Melb)
26/8/16  No wireless
17/9/16 Passed Breaksea Pt Albany 1 p.m.
2/10/16  Loading at Geelong
10/10/16 loading wheat at Geelong for UK. will sail today.
20/10/16 Sailed from Geelong Oct 12. Wheat for UK Due Durban 9Nov
27/11/16 Left Capetown Nov 15
8/3/17  Sailed from UK for N York Jan 17. Loads from for Aust
via Panama.  Leaves N.Y. March 15.
Now fitted with wereless
30/3/17  Left N York March 24 for Aust.
1/5/17 Left Panama Apl 4. Calls Pitcairn Is with mails.
Due NZ May 5, Melb May 31.
^st 11/5/17 Arrived Auckland May 4. Due Melb May 31.
26/5/17  Sailed from Wellington May 12. Arrived Sydney 18th.
Bunkers 1000 tons. Expected sail for Melb. May 26
with balance of through cargo.
1/6/17 Left Sydney for Melb. May 29.  Loads wheat.
7/6/17 Arrived Melb June 1. Loads wheat at Geelong
After Alterations at State Dock
14/6/17  Sailed for Geelong June 10, to load wheat for France.
Due sail June 16
21/6/17 Completed loading wheat June 19. Delayed by
crew troubles. sailed from Geelong next day.
4/7/17 Left Albany June 27 for S Africa. Due Durban 19 July
26/7/17  Arrived Durban July 22. Sailed July 25 for France.
6/8/17  Sailed from Durban Jul 26. Arrived Cape Town Aug 1.
Sailed for France 2nd.

21/12/17 Now impracticable to fix ship for phosphates from
Christmas Is. She has been definitely fixed for
case oil from Singapore to Aust.
1/11/18  Due Fremantle shortly

Australpool (ex Strathairly)
3/7/16 Taken over at Penarth 13 June; now loading Montreal for UK & Continent.
Running under Admiralty requisition
4/8/16 Fixed for New York - Australasia
Available for wheat loading ^abt first half Now
26/8/16 Vessel is fitted with wireless
10/10/16  Expected to leave N York about Oct 9 for Brisbane Newcastle
Sydney & Melb.  Will load wheat Sydney, Hs
20/10/16  Left N York Oct 17
3/11/16  Left Panama Oct 30 for Brisbane direct.
14/11/16  Calling at Papeete for coal.
27/11/16 Reported Nov 24 by wireless from Apia,
8/3/17  Sailed from Geelong Jan 17 with wheat. At Cape Town
Feb 18.
1/5/17 Arrived Me Havre March 29. Fixed for coal to Port
Said. Due Fremantle in ballast June 23.
26/5/17  1/6/17 Left Port Said May 26. Loads general cargo Calcutta
to Fremantle Adelaide Melb & Sydney. Leaves July 10.
13/7/17 Left Calcutta Jul 10 art for Aust.
26/7/17  Left Calculta Jul 12 due Fremantle Aug 11.
6/8/17  Arrived Fremantle Aug 3. Left for Adelaide Aug 4.
17/8/17  Arrived Adelaide Aug 10. Sailed for Melb. 14th
arrived 16th.
29/8/17  Will be ready in Sydney in abt 10 days to load
part cargo flour for Seattle or S Francisco & it is
also desired she load ^13000 bales wool for same port.

[*for Boston*]
31/8/17  his Arrived Melb 16th. Anchored in Bay pending
strike developments. Berthed in Yarra Aug 23,
Discharged with Non-union labour. Shipped non-union
crew & sailed for Sydney to finish disharging. Aug 31.
26/9/17  Will prob sail from Newcastle on 4 Oct for Seattle
12/10/17 Was off Suva all well
4/1/18 xxxx Expect arrive Sydney Monday (radio from master)
6/4/18  Arrived Colon & April.

20/5/18.  Is taking coal from Wales to P. Said, salt thence
to Calcutta & is expected to be available to load
in Calcutta for Aust about 1st half of Aug.
24/7/18  Ready to load in Calcutta abt 20 Aug
20/8/18  Approx date of Sailing 4 Sept. for Adelaide Melb & Sydney
16/9/18   Sailed from Calcutta 11 Sept 1200 bales of
cornsacks 600 of woolpacks 200 of hessian
350 of branbags 900 ton linseed & other goods

Australport (ex Ardangorm)
3/7/16  Expect take over London before mid-July; negotiating for charter
similar Vermont.
7/7/16  Estimate Available for wheat loading abt end Oct.
Fixed abt Sept loading N York / Australasia
26/8/16 No Auld Vessel fitted with wireless
10/10/16  Sailed from N York on Oct 1 for Lyttleton, Dunedin, Sydney
Melb.  Will load wheat at Melb.
20/10/16.  Left Panama Oct 10
14/11/16.  Arrived Lyttleton Nov 12

27/4/16  Left Dunedin Nov 22 for Sydney
8/3/17 Sailed from Durban Jan 19 for UK.
30/3/17  Arrived Havre March 9. Cardiff March 21, in
collision, damaged. Repairs will take 4 weeks.
1/6/17  Sailed from Wales May 27 for Port Said with coal. Fixed
for salt to Calcutta.
xxxx  13/7/17 Left P. Said with salt for Calcutta July 10. due
Aug. 3.
6/8/17 Loads at Calcutta general cargo for Melb & Sydney
Due end Sept.
31/8/17  Left Calcutta Aug 22. Due Fremantle Sep. 10. Melb 20th.
General cargo for Melb & Sydney.
10/9/17  Vessel to be made available to lift wool at Brisbane for
Boston - some itinerary as A/brook & A/pool.
22/12/17 Radio from vessel via Samoa & Awanii 6N. 171W all well
26/1/18  Probably arrived ^P Phillip Heads Saturday night

5/5/18  Arrived at Callao (? at Colon) from Wellington

3 May.

Australrange (ex-Strathdee)
3/7/16 Taken over at Barry 10 June 1916; now disharging cargo of coal
Alexandria. Running under Admiralty requisition
4/8/16 Expect leave P Said for Aust next week in ballast
replenishing bunkers at Colombo. Available for wheat
mid Sept
15/8/16 (from Melb) Loads in Melb.
14/8/16 Left Suez 10 Aug, due Colombo 22nd
20/8/18 No wireless
27/9/16 Expected to berth Williamstown 3 p.m.
2/10/16 Now loading at Geelong In Alfred Graving Dock W'mstown
9/10/16 Left for Geelong on Saturday morning
10/10/16 At Geelong loading wheat for UK
20/10/16 Sailed from Geelong Oct 15 with wheat for UK. Due Durban 11 Nov.
8/3/17 Sailed from UK for Port Said. Feb 1. Then cargo salt for Calcutta
Loads rice Rangoon to Aust.
Now fitted with wireless
30/3/17 Arrived Port Said Feb 20 Due Calcutta Apl 5 with salt.
then rice Rangoon - Aust.
1/5/17 Arrived Calcutta Apl 6 with salt. Loads general
cargo Calcutta & 3750 tons rice Rangoon to Melb. in & 
Sydney. ^gs
7/8/17 Left Rangoon on 4 May
1/6/17 Arrived Melb May 30. discharged Melb. rice.
To leave for Sydney on June 2 with general cargo from
Calcutta & balance rice from Rangoon
7/6/15 Sailed for Sydney June 3.
14/6/17 Arrived Sydney June 6. Drydocking & minor alterations
thence Newcastle to load coal for for Port Pirie
21/6/17 Left Sydney June 16. Arrived Newcastle same day.
Commenced loading 18^th. Due to sail 21st.
4/7/17 Left Newcastle June 22, with coal cargo for P. Pirie mines,
Arrived Pirie June 28, now unloading
14/7/17 Nows loading wheat at Barrier wharf

26/7/1 Delayed by labour troubles
6/8/17 Sailed from Port Pirie July 29 for Albany -  Loads wheat
for France
17/8/17 Arrived Albany. Aug 4. Completed loading for

S Africa completed sailed Aug 4.
31/8/17 Arrived Durban Aug 29.
14/2/18 Now at Rangoon for rice for Aust. Colonial office
suggests that vessel should load for UK as rice
urgently reguired there, & that Dutch Steamer
Krakaut Krakatau shd lift rice for Aust.
Larkin against this but P.Minister says that
"Policy of C'wealth Govt is to subordinate all other
interests to that of supplying Britain with foodstuffs."
1/6/18. Arrived Callao from Wellington 30 May.

Australstream (ex Daltonhall)
3/7/16 Expect take over at [Hany?] 4 July 1916. Running under
Admiralty requisition.
4/8/16 Chartered with full cargo Sept loading from Glasgow,
Liverpool & London to Fremantle only via the Cape. Should
complete discharge Fremantle second half Nov. Can you provide
wheat loading there
15/8/16 (from Aust) Loads at Fremantle
26/8/16 No wireless
10/10/16 Expected to leave London 28 Sept full cargo for Fremantle
20/10/16 Left London Oct 12. Due Fremantle 3 Dec
27/11/16 Left Cape Town Nov 13
8/3/17 Sailed from Bunbury Jan 5 via Durban
30/3/17 Fixed N York / Aust
1/5/17 Arrived Havre Apl 3. fixed N York / Aust, then
Ocean Is for phosphates.
11/5/17  Sailed for N York May 7
Now fitted with wireless

7/8/1  Arrived N York June 2.
4/7/1 Left N. York June 24 for Aust. due Melb Aug.
then Ocean Is for phosphates.
13/7/1  Left Panama July 6. Due Napier Aug 11, then
Melb.
17/8/15 Arrived Napier Aug 12.
31/8/15 Arrived Wellington Aug 23. left. 28th, thence Sydney
& Melb.

[*1926

or 1927*]

WAR SERVICE OF THE s.s. WARILDA.
Interview with Captain J. Sim, O.B.E.
In 1915 the Warilda was requisitioned by the Commonwealth
Government and fitted out as a transport, making two voyages with
Australian troops to Egypt. After disembarking the second lot,
the vessel carried part of the 29th British Division from Suez
to Marseilles - about February or March 1916. On account of
enemy submarine activity in the Eastern Mediterranean Captain
Sim was ordered at Marseilles to return to Egypt by another
route, which would take him north of Crete; as he did not
possess a chart of this rente, he was informed that one could be
obtained at Malta. Arriving off Malta at night he signalled
for the chart, and for some time received no answer. Eventually
he was told to put into a certain bay where the chart would be
sent him in the morning. But, as he had no large-scale chart
of this bay (though a small map indicated its position), and
since he had not previously been in these waters, he decided not
to risk the Warilda in attempting to find the passage but to make
for Egypt without a chart of the new ronte. The voyage was
completed without accident. When the ship reached Port Said he
was informed that, officially, he had been sunk a few days
previously, the Maita authorities having concluded, since they
heard nothing further from him, that such must have been his
fate!
The Warilda then returned to Australia, and before long was
filled up again with troops and despatched, this time, via South
Africa to England. At the conclusion of the voyage she was
taken over by the Admiralty and sent to Liverpool to be converted
into a hospital ship. Shortly afterwards her Australian crew
was discharged and replaced by British seamen.
The Warilda's service as a hospital ship commenced in 1916
in the Mediterranean, where she was engaged running between
Alexandria, Mudros, Salonica, and Malta. Up to this stage of
the war hospital ships had hardly been interfered with by the
enemy, if at all; in consequence, they proceeded alone or in