Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/267/1 - 1914 - 1915 - Part 1
AWM38
Official History,
1914-18 War: Records C E W Bean,
Official Historian.
Diaries and Notebooks
Item number: 3DRL606/267/1
Title:. Folder, 1914 - 1915
Comprises extracts of telegrams ships, logs and
other naval records from the Committee of
Imperial Defence relating to the SYDNEY -
EMDEN engagement and the Dardanelles, 1915.
AWM38-3DRL606/267/1
EXTRACTS FROM NAVAL RECORDS.
No: 267
AWM38
3DRL 606
1st Set.
DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN
CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914 - 1918
THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms
of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the
following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every
reader and writer who may use them.
These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be
true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what
was then in the writer's mind. Often he wrote when very tired and half asleep'
also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so - but it does not
follow that he always discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when
discovered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them
These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what
their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch
for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he
did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had
seen or. otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand
evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed
upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, notwithstanding that
those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All
second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind.
16 Sept., 1946.
C. E. W. BEAN.
S.B.
Australian War Records Section. London
Extracts from Records of Committee for Imperial Defence.
Introductory cables, etc, prior to despatch of first batch
of transports from Australia.
TELEGRAM.
The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
(Sent. 7.30 p.m. 6th August, 1914).
"His Majesty's Government gratefully accept offer of your
Ministers to send to this Country force of 20,000 men and
would be glad if it would be despatched as soon as possible."
S e c r e t -
"If at the same time your Ministers desire and feel themselves
able to seize German Wireless Stations at New Guinea, Yap
in Marshall Islands of Pleasant Island, we should feel this was
a great and urgent Imperial service. You will realise, however,
that any territory now occupied must, at conclusion of war, be
at the disposal of Imperial Government for purposes of an ultimate
settlement. Other Dominions are acting on the same understanding
in similar way and in particular suggestion to New
Zealand is being made with regard to Samoa."
(Signed). Harcourt.
CABLEGRAM.
20/8/14.
sent 1.20 p.m.
Recd. 6.50 a.m.
From Commonwealth Naval Board of Administration, Melbourne,
To Admiralty.
2. "It is proposed that number of transports for the Australian
Imperial Expeditionary Force number one upwards, prefix Letter A.
Is this in order?"
From Admiralty to Navy Office, Melbourne. Date 20/8/14 sent. (?)
"Your telegram No. 2 no objection if local signal experts
concur."
TRANSPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA.
Geelong }
} P. & O. Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
Pera }
Ascanius - Ocean S. S. CO. (A. Holt & Co.)
Cevic }
} White Star.
Medic }
Euripides-Geo. Thompson & Co. Ltd. (Aberdeen Line)
Hymettus -British India Steam Navigation CO.
Argyllshire - Turnbull, Martin, & Co.
Shropshire - Federal Steam Navigation Co.
C.B.
-2-
Karroo }
} - - Ellerman & Bucknall S. S. Co. Ltd.
Saldania }
Katuna }
Orvieto }
} -- Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
Omrah }
Star of England - -Commonwealth and Dominion Line.
War Office to Minister of Defence, New Zealand. 1/9/14.
"785 Cipher. The Expeditionary Force should assemble
at Wellington by September 20th by which date an escort is expected
to be ready to convoy the transports to Port Adelaide
where the Australian Contingent will join them. From Port
Adelaide all ships will proceed via Fremantle, Colombo, and the
Red Sea. The red ensign should be flown by all the transports."
Corrected List of Transports conveying Aust. Exped. Force.
Speed Speed
A1 Hymettus 11 ½ A15 Star of England 13 ½
A 2 Geelong 12 A16 Star of Victoria 13 ½
A3 Orvieto 15 A17 Port Lincoln 12
A4 Pera 11 A18 Wiltshire 14
A5 Omrah 15 A19 Afric 13
A6 Macquordale 12 ½ A20 Hororata 14
A7 Medic 13 A21 Marere 12 ½
A8 Argyllshire 14 A22 Rangatira 14
A9 Shropshire 14 A23 Suffolk 12
A10 Karroo 12 A24 Benalla 14
A11 Ascanius 13 A25 Anglo Egyptian 12
A12 Saldanha 11 A26 Armadale 11
A13 Katuna 11 A27 Southern 10 ½
A14 Euripides 15 A28 Miltiades 13
Ports of embarkation - Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart,
Adelaide and Fremantle.
To Commander-in-Chief, China 8/9/14.
Singapore. 12.5 a.m.
"166. If the two German armoured cruisers are not
accounted for by the end of the month, you must escort with
MINOTAUR and HAMPSHIRE to Colombo the Australian Contingent
which leaves Fremantle on 3rd October for Colombo. You
should arrange to meet the 22 transports on their lines of
advance near Cocos. SYDNEY and MELBOURNE will convoy all
the way from Fremantle to Colombo."
R.A. Com. Aust. Squad. Britannia, Thurs. Island
9/9/14
8.58 p.m.
"9/9. MELBOURNE due Nauru 9/9. SYDNEY joined me 9/9 off
Rossel Island. May proceed to occupy Simpsonhafen. Operation to
be expected to be completed 12/9. Will detach Sydney then to
Sydney. Melbourne from Nauru must come Simpsonhafen to coal and
will then be sent to Sydney also and should arrive in time to escort
troops".
C.B.
-3-
Extract from Message from Admiral Sir R. B. Jackson
to 1st Lord of Admiralty.
"The first expedition consists of 10 transports from
New Zealand conveying mounted Brigade, Infantry Brigade,
Battery and details, 8,276 men and 3,838 horses, joining
(at Port Adelaide) the Australian Contingent of 22 transports
conveying 1 Infantry Division, 1 Light Horse Brigade, and Army
Troops (about 20,000 men and 6,000 horses) and Army Reservists
from both colonies.
"If ready there are also 10 transports bringing Army
details for Base and Line of Communications, viz. Transport
Units. (Motor and Horse) Ammunition Parks, Hospital and Pay
Units. If not ready these will be left over for later convoy.
"Escort to Aden is Australia, Sydney, Melbourne,
covered in addition by China Squadron from Colombo, the details
of this covering movement are now under consideration."
Copy of cable from Navy Office, Melbourne. 14/9/14
To Admiralty.
sent 2 p.m.
Recd. 7.21 A.M.
"39. Arrangements have been made for Australian
Expeditionary Force in 27 Transports convoy to assemble at
King George's Sound by 5th October."
Copy of message from Intelligence officer, Colombo. 14.9.14
Sent - - 1.30 a.m.
Recd. - - 10.26 P.M.
"23. German EMDEN with 4 prizes sighted by Italian
steamer position 18.0 N 86.16 E time not reported, estimated
8 a.m. 13th September. I am causing enquiry to be made. I have
delayed shipping at present in Bay of Bengal including Colombo
Singapore trade routes.
"I am endeavouring to inform DUPLEIX and HAMPSHIRE. On
this message is a note by the Director of Operations Division
Admiralty. RearAdmiral A. C. Leveson. 'This shows that Emden anyhow
did not go to Straits of Magellan.' "
CABLEGRAM.
The Governor of New Zealand to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Received 3.35 p.m., 13th September 1914).
"After consulting the Senior Naval Officer my Prime
Minister desires that you will inform Admiralty that expedition
will leave New Zealand Sept. 25th proceeding direct to Fremantle
arrive there Oct. 7th. Senior Naval Officer with "PSYCHE" and
"PHILOMEL" will escort expedition to longitude 145 E having sent
"PYRAMUS" on to coal at Melbourne and 'PYRAMUS' will escort expedition
from Longitude mentioned to Fremantle. Please telegraph
whether Admiralty concur as soon as possible."
(Signed) Liverpool.
C.B.
-4-
CABLEGRAM.
The Governor of New Zealand to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Received. 10.35 a.m.
15th September. 1914.
Private and Confidential.
"The Cabinet has expressed considerable uneasiness with
regard to the fact that the escort for the expedition between
New Zealand and the point of junction with Australian Squadron
will consist of P Class ships. The information at my disposal
states that near Albany the Australian Squadron joins the expedition
and that there is practically no danger."
"The Cabinet have been referred to your telegram of
Sept. 11th but their doubts as to the safety of the expedition
have not been entirely allayed."
(Signed) Liverpool.
To the above the follow reply was sent:-
Under Secretary of State
Colonial Office.
Secret and immediate.
"Sir,
In reply to your letter of 1the 15th instant no. 35197,
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request
that you will inform the Secretary of State for Colonial
Affairs that if the naval situation in New Zealand waters at any
time is such as render the escort arranged for an expedition inadequate,
steps would be taken to strengthen it - even at the
cost of considerable delay in the date of its departure.
At the date of the telegram referred to by the Governor
of New Zealand - 11th Sept. 1914 - there was no reason to consider
the escort in any way inadequate, but their Lordships take this
opportunity of asking that the New Zealand Cabinet may be informed
that the safety of these military convoys is a matter which receives
most careful consideration and is constant borne in mind.
(Sgd.). W. F. Nicholson
for Secretary. 16. 9. 1914.
Following cablegram from Governor of New Zealand at 1 a.m.
on the 16th of September.
"I have received the following from the Officer administrating
the Government of Samoa. Please inform the
Admiralty (begins). The Scharnhorst and Gneisonau appeared at
daybreak on September 14th off Apia, and left about noon steaming
north-west. No shots were fired (ends)."
(Sgd). Liverpool.
C.B.
-5-
CABLEGRAM.
From Admiralty
sent 16.9.14
12.40 p.m.
to C. in C. China, R.A.C. "Australia", Navy Board, Melbourne.
"Situation changed by appearance of "SCHARNHORST" and
"GNEISNAU" at Samoa on 14th Sept. and "EMDEN" in Bay of Bengal.
"AUSTRALIA" and "MONTCALM" to cover "ENCOUNTER" and
Expeditionary Force from attack and then search for the 2
cruisers. "MELBOURNE" to be used at R.A's discretion. "SYDNEY"
to return for convoy of Australian troops to Aden. "HAMPSHIRE"
and "YARMOUTH" to sink "EMDEN". "MINOTAUR" to arrive at Fremantle
by Oct. 4th for Australian convoy. One Japanese cruiser to accompany
"MINOTAUR" acknowledge."
CABLEGRAM.
From R.A.C., Australian Squadron, via Thursday Island. 16.9.14
to Admiralty.
sent 2.29 a.m.
Recd. 5.28 p.m.
"77 "MELBOURNE" examined Kawieng Harbour, New Ireland
this morning "GEIER" (German) left there seven days ago".
0030
"One Japanese warship "INUKI" was loaned to assist in
convoying Australian Imperial Force.
"At 6.52 p.m. on 17/9/14, a message from the C. in C,.
China reported that "Minotaur" was sailing same evening from
Singapore and "Ibuki" on following morning (18/9/14) with the
object of meeting the "Emden" should she visit vicinity of
Sumatra or Cocos Island.
"Ibuki" referred to above was described by British
Admiralty as a "powerful Japanese Battleship, though in the
quarterly return she showed as a cruiser carrying 4-12, " 8-8",
14-4.7", sea-going speed 18.4."
A message handed in at 12.20 p.m. and received at
7.15 a.m. (19/9/14) by the Admiralty from C. in C., China, reported
that the "Emden" was sighted off Rangoon at 6.30 p.m.
18th September.
A message sent 10.5 p.m., received 4.56 p.m. (24/9/14)
at Admiralty from Navy Office, Melbourne, advised that C. in C.,
China, telegraphed "Minotaur" and "Ibuki" were due at Fremantle
about 1st October having Admiralty Orders to join convoy at
Wellington.
Part of New Zealand convoy left Auckland 24/9/14, remainder
due to leave Wellington on morning 25th September.
Three Australian transports left Brisbane 24/9/14 for
King George's Sound.
Sydney transports' embarkation commenced.
On 27/9/14 a message was received by the Admiralty from
Navy Office, Melbourne, timed 12.8 p.m. received 5.36 a.m. advising
"Melbourne" left Sydney 9 p.m. 26th September to cover
transports now proceeding to Port Phillip Bay from Brisbane."
Owing to grave anxiety expressed by the New Zealand
Government sailing of New Zealand troopships were postponed until
escort could arrive to convoy them across to Australian waters.
C.B
-6-
At 10 p.m. on 30/9/14 the Governor of Papeete reported
that "Gneisenau" and "Scharnhorst" arrived at Papeete 22 Sept.
with two colliers. They sank gunboat "Zelce and destroyed half
the town by shell fire and left the same morning.
On 5/10/14 a message sent 1.10 p.m. received 8.46 a.m.
from Navy Office, Melbourne to Admiralty, advised that Roebourne
and Broome on the night of 4th Oct. heard a Telefunken
Station send a message to "Emden" using her confidential call
sign. Repeated six times message in transposed A.B.C. code and
undecipherable.
A message sent 5.11 p.m. 5/10/14 from Navy Office,
Melbourne, said that Suva had intercepted a message in secret
German mercantile transposed code at 8.15 p.m. 14th Oct. which
translated read - that Scharnhorst was on the way between Marquesas
Island and Easter Island. Present position (somewhat
mutilated). Long, 130 W. Wellington confirms above and received
call sign as Scharnhorst to Dresden.
On morning of 10th Oct. Roebourne, Broome, and Geraldton,
again heard Telefunken Station sending message to Emden but
no reply from Emden was received.
Consequent to Japanese warship "Nisshin" loaned with
"Ibuki" for convoying, having sustained slight damage by grounding
off Sandakan and requiring 10 days to be made seaworthy and
35 to completely repair, the Japanese Admiralty when approached
offered either "Yahagi" or "Hirato" but as time was too short
to enable them to join the convoy at Albany the offer was accepted
and ship selected was asked to be sent to neet convoy near
Cocos Islands.
Two further telegrams were intercepted by Geraldton
and Roebourne between midnight and 1 a.m. 14th Oct. Both were
in A.B.C. but could not be decoded.
Minotaur, Psyche, Philomel, and Ibuki and following
10 transports left Wellington for Hobart 16/10/14:-
Athenic, Hawkesbay, Limerick, Maunganui, Orari,
Quenwa, Ruapehu, Star of India, Tahiti, Waimana.
grand total 381 Officers, 8,193 O.Rs, 3818 horses. Each Unit's
camp equipment shipped with it.
Departure witnessed by Governor, Lord Liverpool,
Lady Liverpool, Cabinet Ministers and large and enthusiastic
crowd.
Above Force and that at Samoa contained 1/48 of white male
population New Zealand and 1/18 white male population between ages
20-40.
The New Zealand Force arrived at Hobart 21st Oct. and
left for Albany 22nd instant.
Both Governor of New Zealand and Governor General of
Australia were advised that dates of departure, routes and convoy
of Forces should not be published until they received advice
from Colonial Office.
"Minotaur", "Philomel", "Pyramus", and "Ibuki", and
New Zealand Expeditionary Force arrived King George's Sound
28/10/14.
Naval Board of Administration advised on 1/11/14 that
"Minotaur", "Melbourne", "Sydney", with 36 transports sailed
same day for Colombo.
C.B.
-7-
Sailings of transports from Australian Ports were as
follows (For organisation of convoy see page 24 14):-
From Sydney -
October, 17th, 1914 . Miltiades
" 18th, 1914 . Argyllshire }
. Afric }
. Suffolk }
October, 20th, 1914 . Clan MacCorquordale }
. Star of Victoria }
. Euripides }
From Melbourne -
October, 17th, 1914 . Hymettus
" 18th, 1914 . Pera }
. Southern }
October, 19th, 1914 . Anglo Egyptian }
. Benalla }
. Marere- }
. Hororata }
. Wiltshire }
. Omrah }
October, 20th, 1914 . Armadale }
. Rangatira }
. Star of England }
. Karroo }
. Shropshire }
October, 21st, 1914 . Orvieto }
. Miltiades }
From Adelaide -
October, 20th, 1914 . Ascanius }
. Medic }
October, 21st, 1914 . Saldanha
October, 22nd, 1914 . Port Lincoln}
. Hymettus }
From Hobart -
October, 20th, 1914 . Katuna }
. Geelong }
From Fremantle -
November 2nd, 1914 . Ascanius }
. Medic }
C.B.
-8-
From Melbourne -
1st November
6.25.a.m. "Minotaur" and Sydney sailed
6.45 a.m. 1st Australian Division sailed
7.15 a.m. 2nd Australian Division sailed
7.55 a.m. 3rd Australian Division sailed
8.20 a.m. New Zealand Division sailed
8.53 a.m. All transports clear of Sound
8.55 a.m. Weighed anchor and proceeded
Note:- Divisions as above are the three sections into
which convoy was divided.
3rd November.
6. p.m. Pioneer parted company and proceeded to
Fremantle on account of heavy weather.
8/11/14 "Minotaur" having been so instructed , handed
convoy over to "Melbourne" and proceeded to Mauritius.
On 9/11/14 Naval Board of Administration, Melbourne,
advised that a cable had just been received from Cocos stating
that a Warship with three funnels was at Cocos landing
men in boats - time - 7 a.m.
This resulted in the C. in C., China Squadron knowing
that the Australian convoy would be passing within 100 miles
of Cocos or Keeling Island on 9/11/14, ordering "Hampshire"
and "Empress of Russia" to proceed at high speed to cover
them into Colombo in case the "Emden" detected the presence
of the convoy and attacked.
The following is a report from Cocos Island by cable :-
"Emden landed 43 men Cocos Island 9th November.
Cocos Island sending wireless call for help. "Sydney"
appeared on horizon. "Emden" to sea. "Emden" started firing
shots at first excellently but afterwards fell off losing
two funnels taking fire at stern and ran ashore North
Cocos Island. "Sydney" scarcely touched. Three killed, 15
wounded. Party landed from "Emden" escaped in schooner.
"Sydney" has been to North Cocos Island to help wounded
there. Cocos Island Instruments and Wireless Installation
smashed."
Extracts from Log of H.M.A.S. "Melbourne".
November 9th - Monday. From Albany to Colombo.
6.30 a.m. Cocos Island report hostile cruiser, off
Refuge Harbour, by W/T.
7 a.m. "Sydney" proceeded to Cocos. "Melbourne" and
"Ibuki" proceeded as requisite to protect S.W. side of convoy.
9.30 a.m. "Sydney" reported by W/T that hostile
cruiser in sight.
10.15 a.m. Secured. Prepared ship for battle.
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