Gallipoli Diary

[November-1914]

Monday Nov. 2nd

Light showers & choppy sea
still heading N. towards Fremantle.

Ships run 223 miles.

Wednesday Nov 4th

Choppy sea — fine weather
very heavy swell.

Now informed that we keep
on this course & go via
Colombo. All pleased as
route shorter & more interesting.

Ships run 219 miles

Sunday Nov 8th

Very warm again but
cooling showers fell for
a few minutes. Details
of naval action off Chile rather
depressing, but we can't hope
for success always. On
information received, probably
from Cocos Is. the “Minotaur” left us this morning in
a westerly direction. In
evening we received wireless
from
Cocos Island that foreign
ship was in the vicinity.

We passed East of Cocos
about 40 miles instead of
usual westerly course.

Ships run 237 miles.

Tuesday Nov 10th

Since news of “Emden” being
destroyed “Minotaur” has
again gone off to west.

She advises “Sydney” will
remove Emden's guns and
probably land wounded
Germans at
Direction Island.
Faulkner Falconer of the Taranaki
Coy who is a telegraphist
and we have put on wireless
duty was the man who
got the call from Cocos Island.
Some distinction for us for
even the warships did not
get the call except from
the “Arawa”.

Today is again fine and
very sultry. sea smooth.
Ships run 250 miles.

Wednesday Nov 11th

Another day of tropical sun.
very smooth sea.

General Godley on behalf
of N.Z Force congratulated

HMAS “Sydney” on success
of her first engagement on
Monday & the baptism under
fire of the
Australian Navy.

Ships run 244 miles

We have just received
the depressing news that
all mail will now be
censored and we can't say
much therefore about our doings
I will have to post all my
records at a later date.

Sunday Nov 15th

Sighted land at daybreak.
Moored in inner harbour at
9-30 am. on beautiful day.

Australian squadron arrived
about 2 pm & anchored in
the stream. Large amount
of shipping in port, many
steamers having been held
up until the “Emden”
was captured. “Empress of Russia”
arrived with the German wounded
and H.M.S ‘Sydney’ brought the
prisoners who were uninjured from
Cocos Island. Latest advices
133 killed about 30 wounded
& 155 prisoners. The latter
have been distributed on our
ships for transport to England.
“Arawa” has 1 officer 2 warrant
officers & 30 men (prisoners
from Emden) The captain was
among the rescued & is on the
Orvieto Lieut. Haas, who
speaks excellent English is on
this ship, so we have now a
detailed & accurate account
of the cruise of the “Emden”

Very nice man & being well
treated — living in our officers'
quarters as one of us.

The warrant officers & men
also in same conditions as ours
except they are always under
a guard. Haas states Sydney
got range to Emden in about
5 rounds and then swept
their decks completely. Awful
scene such as he never wishes
to see again. Russian cruiser
“Askold” in Colombo today
& British cruiser Yarmouth besides
our escort of 34 warships.

Went ashore from 12 to
5 o'clock. Most interesting
place, and exactly as described
in pictures I have seen. Several
very fine European hotels and
shops in modern style — but
essentially Eastern & entirely
native attendants. Did the
town per “rickshaw”. Lt. Webb
operated on in
Colombo Hospital but
little hope of his recovery —

Tuesday Nov 17 - 14

Left Colombo 12 noon with
“Hampshire” as escort. Some of
Australian ships remained to sail
later in day with “Ibuki”.

News of death of Lord Roberts
was received on Sunday 15th.

Saturday Nov 21st

Fine day & calm sea
Hove to at 9-30 am while
burial of Lewis of Ambulance
Corps took place from the
Maunganui. The Australian
ships Ascanius & Shropshire
collided during Friday night
each received slight damage
are are able to proceed.

Ships run 291 miles.

Sunday Nov 22nd 14

Glorious day but a little
more sea on owing to a
monsoon passing in the night.

Very heavy rain fell for
about an hour during the
disturbance.

Ships run 292 miles.

Tuesday Nov 24th 1914

A perfect day, remarkably
smooth sea, without a breath
of wind until afternoon.

Sighted land (Arabia) on
starboard quarter. Porpoises to
be seen in shoals disporting
themselves. Ships run 296 miles.

The most beautiful sunset
this evening, seen during
the voyage. Cloudless sky
clear & moonlight night.

Wednesday Nov 25th 14

Arrived at Aden at daybreak & anchored
in the stream. H M S
Sydney left port at 6-30 am
said to be in pursuit of Turkish
gunboat in
Red Sea. I reported
at Manganui at 9-30 am
with returns as ordered. No
shore leave allowed to anyone.
Shot from fort gun was fired
over bows of “Arawa” as we did
not drop anchor quite soon
enough this morning. The
projectile struck the water just
ahead and rather scared some
of the men. Thirteen English
Transports with Territorial
troops for India are also
in stream here. The fleet at
anchor is therefore 51 transports — 4 warships and
a number of merchantmen, a
very imposing spectacle.

The slower squadron of our
ships arrived during afternoon.

Aden from the sea is a
sandy rocky desert waste
especially on such a hot day,
but the harbour scene at
evening was magnificent.

Received copies of Reuters'
cabled war news of the
last ten days.

Thursday Nov 26 - 14

Left port (Aden) at 6 am
together with whole of
Aust. & NZ transports preceded
by HMS Hampshire.
Jap. “Ibuki” remained in port
and will escort the
English transports to Bombay.

Passed a number of merchant
ships on the way to
Perim Is. at entrance to Red
Sea. Farewell messages
exchanged between Maunganui
& Ibuki. Passed Perim Island
& entered
Red Sea 2-30 pm.

Ships run to noon 58 miles

Perim Island desolate place
no sign of vegetation, but it is
British coaling base & fortified
to command straits, which are
called “Hell's Gates”. Again a
magnificent sunset behind
the rugged coastline of Africa.

Sunday Nov 29th 14

Welcome North wind sprang
up last night & continued
through day. Atmosphere now
cool & pleasant. Choppy sea.
I was inoculated second
time. Ships run 250 miles.