Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/285/1 - 1914 - Part 2

and found her to be SS Buresk a captured
British collier, w
18 Chinese
1 English steward
and one Norwegian cook.
With a German prize crew of 3 officers
1 warrant officer and 12 men.
The ship unfortunately was sinking the
Kingstons having been knocked
out and damaged to prevent repair.
I took to be about fired 4 shells
into her and returned to the Emden.
Passing some men swimming in the
water for whom I left the 2
boats which I was towing from
the Buresk.

On arriving off the Emden she
still had her colours up
but on receiving 2 more broadsides hoisted
a white flag and hauled down
her ensign.
I fired at her at 4.30pm.
I then put back to sea and
recovered the 2 Buresk's
boats rescuing 2 sailors
at 5 pm who had been in the
water all day
One shot blew them clean over but
I sent one boat into the Emd.
manned by her own
prize crew and an officer and
stated that I would return to their
assistance next morning.  Beach
weather such heavy swell
desert island [shorthand] for 10 hours cdnt land

I thus headed back to Direction island to
discover what had happened to the cables and wireless
but on the way there another
German sailor was discovered swimming in the
water bodies all over the place who had to be
rescued at 6.30.
By time ship was approaching Direction
island it was too late to land that night.
I lay on and off all night and
engaged at 8am next morning
10 November to find that the E's party
consisting of 3 officers and 40
men in the launch
& 2 [shorthand] had seized and
prevented a 70 ton signal
called the Ayesha, sailing

having 4 maxims with 2 bullets.
They had left the previous night at 6 p.m.
just got away in time.
The wireless station was destroyed 1 cable good
1 damaged
[*not too deep*]
I buried a doctor and 2 assistants and then returned
as fast as possible to the E.  The work to
rescue was most day the ship being
on the weather side and a heavy
swell alongside.  She was a bigger
rig  They were in a troubled state
[shorthand] a few basics
Heavy weather around it was expected
in getting the boat alongside to allow
transhipments.  The conditions were indescribable.
The last man was rescued from the Emden
by 5 p.m. but there were still a party

of 20 who had managed to get on to the roof
probably some drowned - they were badly wounded.
Dark came on before they could be rescued
so the idea to spend another night laying on [shorthand]
off resuming operations at 5am next morning
with a [shorthand] crew with stretchers
to bring the wounded to the embarking
point  1 German officer, a doctor, had died
however the previous day.  [Shorthand}
The ship in the meantime returned to Direction
island to xx return their Dr.
and was back again by 10.am.
(3rd day) embarking the remainder of the wounded
and proceeded to Colombo by 10.35
a.m. casualties in Sydney
3 killed severely wounded dead 1.
severley wounded 4 wounded 4

Men may be fit to go abrd. in
a month.  Officers not for 2 months
Lot of awkward questns to be got
over.  Might threaten to put us
on communications if we're not
up to mark.
Artillery - training they need.
L.H. horses will have to be landed & exercised
for a month or 2.
Slightly wounded 4:  Emden I can
only approximately state the killed 7 officers
108 men.  From Capts information
I took about 11 officers 9 warrant officers
191 men of whom 3 officers
and 53 men were wounded
Of this number 1 officer and 3 men since
died of wounds.  The damage to S's
[*Prac
&
[[?]]*]

Almost at first
her submarine torpedo however
was put out of action by a shell of ours
[shorthand] this is Yarmouth.
[shorthand] looking then shot
one fell off side.
Too busy to cheer. 
About half way there when it was
all over   Nothing could be seen
of [shorthand] firing and [shorthand]
places.  She's gone she's gone
men and lifeboat.  Came
[shorthand] the smoke and started firing again.

Whole of [shorthand] surprisingly small. with such a crowd
of prisoners and wounded on board the ship
so anything [shorthand] a hospital not a
[shorthand].
The Empress of Asia passed it
The Empress of Asia came to my
assistance on Friday 13^th.  relieving me
of half the wounded and prisoners
Both ships then made a most excellent
passage to Col. arriving at
10am 15^th.
All number casualties occurred on the disengaged
side or in the aft control.
Sydney travelled 68 miles from 9am
to noon.  The action lasted 1 hr 40 minutes
during which the engines varied from
kn to 27  Em's shell

Diagram - see original document

Officer watched whole fight sitting on [[?]] [shorthand]

X Shell wh lifted after deck
Shot holes.
Diagram - see original document

Nothing in focsle

No stern left - few ribs.

Signals didn't recognise and have surrendered
but possibly could not get the flag down.

a few splinters in Eng room
 

fail to burst and his steering gear
was put out of action almost immediately
after which he was completely at my mercy.
Which unfortunately for him could not be
known.
Sy. fired one torpedo which doesn't appear
to have taken effect.  Effect
of Lyddite shell fired and was
perfect.
12 Officer

119 men lost.

Distress signal

& white
flags
What Hohenzollern
said
& Captain.
1 Splint. in Syd's engine room.

Nov. 17. 4 miles.
Nov. 18. 7. 47N. 75.39E 250
--19. 9.7N. 71.53E 237

Diagram - see original document

We have come where the west began to converge.
Aden 15 ships besides our own.

By morning 57.
All British ships.
What officers say at
Aden.
Ships in & out
Turks at Aden.
Diagram - see original document 

Staff college.
Mohamed Hashem.
Interpreter 1^st field Coy.
Dr Bucy good family [shorthand], threats to England,
don't mention services to the British cause in Egypt.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
It ws in Brit. E. Africa. I had
bn governing. (a lieut mind
you, governing a province).
The chap who took over from me
Change in manoeuvres.
Diagram - see original document
3 best men in the army Haigh Son - [[Damien?]].
Curly Hutton. a man of immediate decision
wh unfortunately bumped a superior officer. One day to go
& Curly went.
Gordon Smith self absorbed
 [*Brit
Officer*]

How men will thieve.
Ordnance: Officer taking over barracks
- 8 rooms. They had boots all the kit except n
enough for 2 rooms. They did up 2 rooms perfectly.
Asked him to another one.  Well everything
here quartermaster sergeant.  Yes Sir. 24 beds, 24 pillows
etc..
No No - take them all off - &
put them in the middle of the room. Now then
count them over.
Yes sir.
1 poker.
Now then next room.
Went into next room and shut door.
Meanwhile things were being
removed with all haste from
1^st room to 3rd room.
Had 2 of everything but
There ws only 1 poker.  Griff. put that  
up his back every time (It ws broken
in half.) He went to  Whilst
new majors back ws turned he
slipped it into fireplace.
At last.
Seems to be very complete sir. Anything
missing?
No Sir.  ^ got everything except 1
poker, Sir.  Yes dear me your