The Caruse
of the
Kanowna
Frederick Macdonald’s 1914 Diary
Edited by Colin Macdonald
The Caruse of the Kanowna
Frederick Macdonald’s 1914 Diary
Contents
Frederick Malcolm Macdonald
1894–1966
Fred Macdonald, the diary’s author, was the youngest of six chil-
dren. He was born at Montalbion, Qld, and grew up at the nearby
tin ore mining and processing centre of Irvinebank, Qld. At the
time of the events in the diary he was nineteen. His father was a
prospector and miner, and his mother was a midwife.
Print 100x138 mm mounted on cream card 133x183 mm with
imprint stamped on front ‘J. Biehl, Photographer’. No date. Colin
Macdonald collection.
Index NextSection
The Caruse
of the
Kanowna
Frederick Macdonald’s 1914 Diary
Edited by Colin Macdonald
Contents
Front cover 1
Half title page 2
Frontispiece: Frederick Macdonald . . . . . 3
Title page 4
Imprint page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Contents 6
Preface 7
Diary: The Caruse of the Kanowna 10
Photographs 16
Kennedy Regiment Training Camp, 1900 . 16
Rifle Team, Irvinebank . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Irvinebank Rifle Club, 1911 . . . . . . . . . 18
Troops marching through Cairns before em-
barking in Kanowna . . . . . . . . . . 19
Kanowna leaving Cairns . . . . . . . . . . 20
Kanowna leaving Cairns . . . . . . . . . . 21
Kanowna men at Thursday Island . . . . . . 22
Native village, Port Moresby, W . . . . . . 23
Hanuabada village, Port Moresby, 1913 . . 24
Wireless station, Port Moresby, 1914 . . . . 25
Sydney, AE1 and AE2 at Cairns, 1914 . . . . 26
Kanowna and Physa at Port Moresby . . . . 27
Sisal hemp plantation at Fairfax Harbour . . 28
Shell Oil Company tanker Murex . . . . . . 29
Expedition ships, Fairfax Harbour . . . . . 30
No. 3 Section, D Company . . . . . . . . . 31
Mourilyan at Cairns wharf . . . . . . . . . 32
Troops returned by Mourilyan Sep 20 . . . 33
Troops returned by Marloo Sep 20 . . . . . 34
Some photographs not reproduced here 35
Appendix A: Official War History 37
Appendix B: Holmes’s letter to Legge 40
Appendix C: Admiral’s report to Naval Board 43
Rear-Admiral Patey’s report . . . . . . . . 43
Captain Glossop’s report . . . . . . . . . . 43
Colonel Holmes’s report . . . . . . . . . . 44
Lieut-Colonel Howse’s report . . . . . . . . 44
Captain Maguire’s report . . . . . . . . . . 44
Letter of proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Stores supplied to Kanowna . . . . . . . . 45
Comment by Naval Board member . . . . . 45
Appendix D: Irvinebank Rifle Club members
on Kanowna 46
Appendix E: Rifle club members in uniform 48
Appendix F: Literal transcription of diary 49
An opening of the diary . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Index 55
Maps 57
Port Moresby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Brisbane to Rabaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Contents 7
Preface
This diary records my father’s experiences during the
first seven weeks of World War I. Five days after
the declaration of war he was despatched to Thurs-
day Island on the hastily requisitioned coastal steamer
Kanowna as part of an Australian Military Forces unit
sent to reinforce the Island’s garrison. Four days after
arrival at Thursday Island he was one of five hundred
garrison members who volunteered to join the Aus-
tralian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force which
was then being urgently created, and was transported
on the Kanowna to Port Moresby. The aim of the op-
eration was not at first disclosed to the troops but it
proved, as was widely conjectured by them, to be a
strike against German interests in the western Pacific,
and the chief aim was in fact the capture of the Ger-
man wireless station at Rabaul. For reasons which I
leave to the reader to discover, the Kanowna contin-
gent was not permitted to participate in the ultimately
successful operation at Rabaul, but was sent back to
Australia and disbanded.
Extended quotations from two other Kanowna
diaries—those of Private JW Collinson (who re-
mained at Thursday Island) and Lieutenant HG Smith
(who went to Port Moresby)—are given in an article
on the Kanowna episode.
1
Notes from the diary of
Captain (Dr) Stuart Kay were published in the Daily
Mercury (Mackay) on 21 September 1914.
Before Federation in 1901 each Australian state was
responsible for its own defence. After Federation, de-
fence became a Commonwealth responsibility and the
states’ navies and armies were merged to form the
Royal Australian Navy and the Commonwealth Mil-
itary Forces respectively. The latter body soon be-
came known as the Australian Military Forces. It was
made up chiefly of part-time citizen soldiers with a
small proportion of regulars.
2
Its North Queensland
unit was based at Townsville and was known as the
Kennedy Regiment, a name which had been applied to
a Queensland State force in the north before Federa-
tion.
3
The Kennedy Regiment had orders to reinforce
the garrison at Thursday Island in the event of war.
4
All Citizen Force training in Australia was maintained
on a purely voluntary basis until 1911 when, under the
provisions of the Defence Acts of 1909–10, compul-
sory peace-time training was introduced for the first
time in an English-speaking community. The system
was known as ‘Universal Training’. Liability for adult
service in the Citizen Forces began on 1 July in the
year in which the trainee reached eighteen years and
continued for seven years.
5
A Commonwealth Government pamphlet
6
on Univer-
sal Training published in 1911 states that men born in
1893 and earlier were to be exempt from training ex-
cept in time of war, while men born in 1894 (as my
father was) were to train for one year in Senior Cadets
and then in Citizen Forces until 1920. Men born in
subsequent years were to train in Senior Cadets for
longer before passing into the Citizen Force. The an-
nual training of Senior Cadets was to comprise four
1
Australia, Army, Battalion, 31st, Crossed boomerangs: historical journal of the Thirty-First, Smoke Signals, C Coy. 31 RQR, Ingham, Qld, 1971, vol. 3, pp. 68–79.
2
From the Australian War Memorial’s website (www.awm.gov.au ⇒ Australians at War ⇒ Military Organisation and Structure ⇒ Australian Army).
3
See page 16.
4
See page 38.
5
Australia, Navy Office, An outline of Australian naval history / Department of Defence (Navy), Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1976, pp. 63–64.
6
Universal training in the naval or military forces: notes of lectures by the Quartermaster General, J. Kemp, Government Printer, Melbourne, 1911.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Preface Contents 8
whole-day drills of not less than six hours (preferably
on public holidays), twelve half-day drills of not less
than three hours, and twenty-four night drills of not
less than 1½ hours. In addition,
every year at the end of training there will be
boards of officers in every battalion who will
classify the Cadets as “Efficient” or “Non-
efficient” . . .
the year’s work of the lad who is non-efficient
goes for nought; he will have to do an extra
year’s training for each failure . . .
The Senior Cadet training will be one of char-
acter only, and will include the foundation
work necessary for service in any arm, viz.:—
Marching, discipline, the handling of arms,
musketry, physical drill, first aid, guards and
sentries, tactical training as a company in el-
ementary field work, and some battalion drill
(sufficient only of the latter to move large bod-
ies in an orderly manner) . . .
[The uniform of Senior Cadets] will consist of
hat, woollen shirt, woollen breeches, and put-
tees (issuable every second year). This will
meet the requirements of growing lads, more
especially as the design of the garments al-
lows a certain margin in fitting . . .
Colonel Holmes’s report on the Kanowna contingent
at Port Moresby states that one third of the troops were
trainees under the Commonwealth’s universal training
scheme, some under eighteen years of age, and that
the balance were rifle club members.
7
The regula-
tions for training that are set out in the pamphlet
6
im-
ply that the trainees in the Kanowna contingent would
have been aged twenty or less, and that the men who
were not trainees would have been aged twenty-one
or more.
Many members of the Kennedy Regiment belonged to
rifle clubs before Federation. For example:
Throughout the North Rifle Clubs also played
their part in the defence system. These were
semi military in nature and in many of the
smaller country areas they represented the
only form of military training available. Their
members turned out to be expert marksmen.
The troops of the [Kennedy] Regiment took
a keen interest in the Rifle Clubs in order to
improve their skill in musketry and at times
up to 30% of unit strength were also mem-
bers of Rifle Clubs. By 1900 the following
Rifle Clubs were listed in the Northern Mili-
tary District . . .
[a table listing 26 clubs follows, including
clubs at Cairns, Herberton and Atherton, but
not at Irvinebank]
8
The high proportion of uniformed men in photographs
of members of Queensland rifle clubs taken between
1901 and 1914 suggests that the Kennedy Regiment
maintained its pre-Federation relationship with rifle
clubs, and may even have strengthened it.
9
Interest-
ingly, the proportion of uniformed men seems to have
been high for New South Wales clubs also, but not for
South Australian clubs.
10
Rifle club regulations under the Defence Act provided
for the call-out of members for active service at any
time,
11
and this power was exercised when troops
were being mobilised for the Kanowna mission. For
example:
Captain Toll yesterday received instructions
to instruct 34 suitable members of the [Char-
ters] Towers Rifle Club to hold themselves in
readiness to mobilise with the Second Infantry
at the Regimental Depot, Townsville. No-
tices were promptly sent out to 38 members
of the Club to attend a compulsory parade at
the Drill Shed at 7 o’clock tonight . . .
11
and
JW Collinson, a member of the Kennedy Reg-
iment, recalled that the news that war was
imminent was received on 3rd August 1914,
when word reached Tolga that captains of
Rifle Clubs were to mobilise for active ser-
vice. Capt GE Martin of the Atherton Rifle
Club was required to furnish 23 men.
12
There are indications that the diary as transcribed here
was not my father’s primary record, but was based by
him on notes that he made in some other form soon
after the events occurred. If this is so, the primary
record has not been kept. Examples of the indications
include the following:
• At the head of the eleventh page of the main
text is written ‘Page 7’, and this is the only page
that has been numbered. If double-page spreads
were being counted (rather than single pages)
the appropriate number would have been six.
7
See page 41.
8
Australia, Army, Battalion, 31st, Crossed boomerangs: historical journal of the Thirty-First, Smoke Signals, C Coy. 31 RQR, Ingham, Qld, 1971, vol. 1, pp. 24–25.
9
See for example pages 17, 18 and 48.
10
See page 48.
11
Michael Brumby, Muskets and mantlets: a brief history of the life and times of the Charters Towers Rifle Range 1885–1994, M. Brumby, Charters Towers, Qld., 1996.
12
L.L. Sim, The Kennedy Regiment: Bulletin 266, The Historical Society, Cairns, 1982.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Preface Contents 9
Perhaps ‘Page 7’ refers to a now-lost primary
source.
• The entry for 30 August precedes the entry for
29 August. With this exception the entries are
ordered chronologically.
• The author’s name and affiliation are displayed
inside the front and back covers and show him
as being in No 3 Section, D Company, to which
he was assigned no earlier than on 16 Au-
gust. His previous affiliation with No 4 Section,
G Company was shown in the main text only,
though the diary has entries from the period 10–
16 August during which he was in G Company.
I wish to thank Mrs Pat Broughton, Archivist of the
Cairns Historical Society, for alerting me to the list in
The Northern Herald of the names of rifle club mem-
bers who embarked on Kanowna, and for sending me
copies of selected photos and other information from
the Society’s collection. Thanks too to Neil Bennetto
the North Queensland Military Museum, Townsville
for information about the Kennedy Regiment and
about the Kanowna episode; to Robert Spiers for
alerting me to the Kay diary; to National Archives
of Australia for permission to reproduce photos and
other items from its collection; to the Australian War
Memorial for permission to reproduce excerpts from
the Official Histories, and photos from its collection;
and to Cairns Historical Society, James Cook Univer-
sity, National Library of Australia, State Library of
New South Wales and the Photographic Services De-
partment of Shell International Ltd for copies of pho-
tos from their collections and permission to publish
them.
Special thanks go to my wife Pam for encourage-
ment, for reading drafts of this book and suggesting
improvements, and for entering the handwritten diary
into the computer.
Colin Macdonald
Abbreviations
AN&MEF Australian Naval and Military
Expeditionary Force
AWM Australian War Memorial
CO Commanding officer
IBanker Resident of Irvinebank
IBK Irvinebank
NAA National Archives of Australia
OC Officer commanding
SLQ State Library of Queensland
TSS Twin screw steamer
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 10
The Caruse of the Kanowna
Fred M Macdonald
No. 3 Section
D Company
Second Infantry
Kennedy Regiment
Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force
Regimental Number 1929
Number of Rifle 7899
Friday, 7 August 1914
Left IBK
13
with second IBK contingent consisting of
thirty Rifle Club members. We picked up nineteen
members of the Stannary Club at Stannary Hills
14
where we were addressed by Colonel Beach. Arrived
in Cairns at 6 p.m. and reported at the drill shed where
we were allotted to our various hotels. Paraded at
8 o’clock and marched to the wharf to farewell the
Cairns Naval Reserve men who however did not de-
part. until Aug 8th
Saturday, 8 August
Paraded at 9 a.m. for medical examination and was
passed as fit. Four men were excluded as being unfit
and three more for being over forty-five years of age.
Paraded again at 2.30 for drill and instruction. Dis-
missed at 6.30. Baggage parade at 8 o’clock. Were
dismissed at 10 p.m. and paraded again at 12 o’clock
midnight and marched to wharf.
Sunday, 9 August
Kanowna arrived at Cairns at 1.30 a.m. with large con-
tingent of Kennedy Regiment.
15
We were expecting
to embark but were dismissed at 3 a.m., embarka-
tion being postponed until daylight. Paraded again at
7 o’clock and marched from drill shed to Kanowna
and embarked. Departure made at 10.10 a.m. Large
crowd of citizens farewelling us. One thousand two
hundred troops aboard besides crew of a hundred,
horses, ambulance wagons, ammunition, equipment,
provisions etc. A strict censorship on all correspon-
dence was now brought about.
Monday, 10 August
Diarrhoea broke out and nearly all on board suffered
more or less. Some people blamed the doctors for dos-
ing the food. Some idiot turned on the fire hose on
the aft end of the ship and a number of men suffered
a good deal of discomfort through wet clothes. The
regimental band rendered very good music nightly
and some of the companies organised boxing bouts
which tended to make the very crowded conditions
more agreeable. The scenery along the coast is very
beautiful in some places. Passed a good number of
very pretty islands including some atolls. Were al-
lotted to our different companies of the 2nd Infantry,
Kennedy Regiment. I was allotted to No. 4 Section,
G Company.
Tuesday, 11 August
Arrived at Thursday Island at 7 a.m. Disembarkation
commenced at 10 o’clock. Troops were marched to
our camping ground about a mile inland. Pitched our
tents on a good big dry flat which proved to be very
dusty and dirty. Very late in afternoon before all of the
tents were pitched and company lines allotted owing
chiefly to the disorganised state of everything. Groups
of men stood about willing to work but were unable to
do anything without leaders. The result was tea in the
dark and some of the companies had to go to sleep
without blankets.
Wednesday, 12 August
More tent erection and the same disorder. Our com-
pany attempted to put up a big tent and no-one knew
how to start about it. Took over an hour to find neces-
13
Irvinebank, the author’s home town, about 80 km south west of Cairns. The journey to Cairns would have been made by train.
14
The Northern Herald of 14 August 1914 lists the names of 65 men from the Irvinebank Rifle Club and 12 from the Stannary Hills Rifle Club who embarked on Kanowna.
15
These men had embarked at Townsville the previous day and the Kanowna had then sailed to Cairns.
PrevSection Index NextSection
The Caruse of the Kanowna Contents 11
sary ropes, pegs etc. A strong guard was told off and
no one was allowed to aproach us or depart from the
camp. Water tanks and wells were strictly guarded.
The latrines provided were well built and it was no
trouble for the men to comply with the sanitation or-
ders. The officers in charge of this department are to
be complimented for their efforts made to keep down
sickness and disease. Wednesday night A Company
were marched to the port to furnish a guard. A little
improvement was noticed in the food supply which
up till now had been very scant. The capture of a Ger-
man spy has been reported at the fort. The whole of
the regiment were turned out and served with twenty
rounds of ball ammunition and ordered to sleep that
night in clothing with rifles and equipment close by
them, ready to turn out on alarm being given. A large
number of men were without rifles and unable to ob-
tain them owing to the disorganised state of affairs,
and it would have been awkward if anything serious
had happened. Numerous mulga stories now got afloat
as to the cause of these precautions taken but the real
one is held as close as an oyster by those that know.
I think that the fort got out of touch with the wireless
of the warships. Though strict orders were given that
no man should load his rifle until orders to do so were
given, several men did load and the result was a cou-
ple of accidental discharges of cartridges. The feat of
dodging the guard at night time after a secret visit to
town was most precarious as in some cases nervous
sentries loaded their rifles although ordered not to do
so.
Thursday, 13 August
Unloading stores from Kanowna which had com-
menced the preceding day was gone on with, one
company relieving another so that the work would not
fall to the one lot of men.
Friday, 14 August
As there were a number of rifle club members in civil-
ian clothes and equipped with the long Lee-Enfield
rifle, these men were paraded to the quartermaster’s
tent where their long rifles were taken and one uni-
form, one pair of boots, one greatcoat, one web equip-
ment [and] one short Lee-Enfield rifle were handed
to them. Trainees were put through rifle exercises at
drill and some worked transshipping stores. Some one
rooked my shaving tackle, toothbrush and soap from
my kit bag.
Saturday, 15 August
Five hundred volunteers were called for service in the
Pacific Ocean, destination unknown, but it was gen-
erally supposed to be German New Guinea. Men ob-
tained, and those that did not receive equipment were
given same. Necessary stores for the trip were taken
on board Kanowna again.
Sunday, 16 August
Church Parade in the morning for those wishing to at-
tend. Tents required for the 500 going by Kanowna
were struck and packed and sent onto the boat. The
500 men then signed fresh attestation forms and
oaths
16
after which they were drafted into separate
companies A, B, C, D
17
and paraded at 3 o’clock in
marching order for Colonel’s inspection, after which
we marched to the Kanowna and embarked. At about
midnight the Kanowna left Thursday Island wharf
with all lights out and steamed east. Destination not
known to the men. A stiff easterly wind causing a sea
with big swells.
Monday, 17 August
Conditions aboard boat this trip are not so crowded
but the stiff easterly breeze into which we were driv-
ing causing a nasty sea made things uncomfortable
and before the day was out everyone was seasick.
Only one parade this day at 1 o’clock when a first
field dressing was given to every man and instructions
given how to use same should it become necessary.
No lights were shown except those in the internal parts
of the boat. A fairly rough sea right through the night.
Tuesday, 18 August
A cloudy morning and the same easterly wind blow-
ing. Port Moresby was reached after negotiating a
very treacherous looking harbour. A very interest-
ing display by a dozen natives diving for coins thrown
from the boat was given. The natives seemed very ex-
cited and a large crowd of them gathered on the beach,
some dressed in native clothing others with only a
loincloth. The smart looking native police could be
picked out dressed in a loose navy blue frock edged
with white, with belt, bayonet and pouch attached. Pa-
raded at 2.30.
Wednesday, 19 August
A large native village is situated on the north shore
of the cove consisting of a couple of hundred houses
built right in the water on blocks about fifteen feet
high. At about 8 o’clock a fleet of native canoes with
two large square sails hoisted in each boat sailed out
from the villages and headed westerly evidently on a
fishing expedition. Paraded at 9.30 and marched to
Moresby recreation ground for drill and skirmishing.
Returned to boat at 11.30 where some of the natives
had gathered to sell their coconuts, pawpaws etc. Pa-
raded again at 2.30 to parade ground. About dusk the
destroyers Warrego, Yarra and Parramatta appeared
on the horizon crossed the harbour and disappeared in
Fairfax Bay. Their smart stealthy movements caused
favourable comment on all sides. Thursday and Fri-
day were spent drilling and skirmishing at the parade
ground with an additional parade each morning at 6.30
16
This was necessary because the Defence Act restricted Australian Military Forces personnel to service within Australia.
17
The author had been in No. 4 Section, G Company; presumably it was at this point that he was assigned to No. 3 Section, D Company.
PrevSection Index NextSection
The Caruse of the Kanowna Contents 12
for bathing. The swimming bath at Port Moresby is
far superior to the one at Thursday Island.
Saturday, 22 August
Paraded and marched to native village three miles by
land, and it proved very interesting.
Sunday, 23 August
Church Parade for those wishing to attend, both morn-
ing and evening. During the stay at Moresby the fresh
water supply was very limited. Even salt water could
not be obtained regularly. The food was bad and in-
sufficient. On Wednesday the meat was tainted and
complaints were made on all sides about the tea which
smelt very much like senna. The haricot beans sup-
plied on some days were sour especially on Sunday,
August 23rd when nearly every man threw his share
overboard. No hot water could be obtained for wash-
ing dishes after meals, each man being supposed to
wash his own. The men used to go down to the bath-
room and fill their pannikins with salt water and carry
it on deck and wash their dishes, knives, forks etc., and
as the decks were not washed every day they soon be-
came very dirty. Things would have been better if the
military authorities had taken charge of the commis-
sariat department instead of the shipping people. On
arrival C Company was allotted outpost duty guarding
the wireless station which hitherto had been guarded
by a party of Papuan natives.
Monday, 24 August
Kanowna steamed over to Fairfax Bay to coal, tak-
ing all the troops with her except C Company which
was left at the wireless station. Fairfax Bay is a small
cove about five miles from Moresby and is an ideal
harbour. There is a good depth of water in it and it is
quite out of sight of Moresby. Two oil boats and two
colliers were anchored here also the Warrego. The
Kanowna hitched up alongside the collier Koolonga
and soon after 260 native boys came aboard and coal-
ing was in full swing by 10 o’clock. It was amusing to
watch the natives coming aboard, some wearing noth-
ing but a loincloth, but all wore plenty of bead neck-
laces [and] shell ornaments, and each one carried a
bundle of food: yams, coconuts, sugar cane, bananas
etc. though the authorities provided rice and biscuits.
For about an hour or so they were in high glee shout-
ing and yelling and making a terrible row though they
did not shift much coal and the few native police had
to keep them up to their work. It was very funny to see
them at tucker time. A bucket full of rice was boiled
and into this was stirred a tin of preserved meat, and
when all was ready each one dived his hand into the
bucket and then into his mouth. This went on until
each one had his fill. Coaling operations lasted un-
til Thursday afternoon Aug 27th and altogether about
1000 tons were taken on board. This is pretty slow
work as the niggers worked from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
with spells in between for meals. The natives slept
on board the collier on the hard cold iron decks with-
out any blankets or covering of any sort. While the
coaling was going on the troops paraded as usual and
the 6.30 bathing parade was altered to one for phys-
ical exercise. During the next day or two the ship’s
crew cleaned up the ship. [On] Thursday and Friday
nights concerts were held, the sailors from the War-
rego assisting and a very good program was given.
During the week the Latrine Leader
18
a very amus-
ing and widely read journal made its appearance and
was published when convenient.
Friday, 28 August
A boat crew of men from each section of the different
companies had been practising boat drill for a day or
two previous to this and today a test of disembarking
the troops by means of the ship’s boats was made and
was fairly successful.
Saturday, 29 August
We had a sham fight today. A Company was landed
and were supposed to occupy a position not further
than four miles and not less than two miles [away],
and B and D Companies were landed 1½ hours later
and were to find A Company and wrest the position
from them if possible. A Company however did not
play the game and instead of going the two miles went
only 200 yards and took cover. The result was the cap-
ture of all of D Company’s scouts excepting two or
three. The whole thing was a complete failure and I
lost all confidence in the officers.
Sunday, 30 August
The Anglican minister and a Roman Catholic priest
came aboard and service was held at 10 a.m. Boat rac-
ing in the afternoon. Each section of each company
furnished a crew but the time would not permit of all
the sections rowing off. No. 3 Section, A Company
was leading, the crew consisting of four IBankers.
19
Just after tea news came along of something possibly
doing and everything on board was all activity. Orders
were given for every man to pack his kit and be ready
to move at a minute’s notice. One hundred and fifty
rounds of ammunition were also served out to each
man. The Warrego which had been lying alongside of
us steamed out and everyone was told to sleep fully
dressed ready for the alarm. Nothing however came
of it and the rumour next morning said that three Ger-
man cruisers had been seen close to Moresby.
Monday, 31 August
Parades as usual. The food was bad, and a consid-
erable amount of grumbling was heard about both the
quality and quantity. Whenever a complaint was made
18
Full title: The Latrine Leader, incorporating the W.C. Chronicle
19
Men from Irvinebank
PrevSection Index NextSection
The Caruse of the Kanowna Contents 13
it was impressed upon us that we were on active ser-
vice, both by our OCs and the ship’s stewards, though
the officers fared extremely well.
Tuesday, 1 September
Troops again embarked for sham fight but I was on
picket duty pumping water from the Parramatta to
Kanowna. I don’t know how things went though the
other chaps say that things were carried out better on
this occasion than formerly. Condensed water was
supplied to the Kanowna by any of the destroyers
which happened to be in the harbour but only in small
quantities. The destroyers were seldom in the harbour
during the night, it being their duty to patrol the coast,
and sometimes they would be away for a day or two
at a time. Water is now very scarce and the men are
dealt out two pints per day. This has to do for drink-
ing and washing, though we get a pint of tea at each
meal. We have not been allowed to wear our civilian
clothes on parade, and as we have only one uniform it
is very dirty, washing clothes in salt water being un-
satisfactory.
20
[On] Tuesday night the oil boat Murex
came into port and dropped her anchor a stone’s throw
from the Kanowna. There was great rejoicing when
we learned that there was mail aboard for us, this be-
ing the first mail since leaving Cairns. We received
our mail about 10 p.m. and I was lucky enough to get
two letters. I envied some of the chaps who got ten
letters besides newspapers.
Wednesday, 2 September
The parades this morning have been called off to al-
low the men to read their mail and to write and answer
same. The dinner today was the worst we have yet
had. The tea has been cancelled at dinner time owing
to shortage of water. The haricot beans were not well
cooked, the sago was nearly raw and the bread [was]
stodgy and sour. Several men from D company pa-
raded with their meal to the OC and the result was a
rousing on for the cook.
Thursday, 3 September
Sixteen men were told off from no. 3 Section, D Com-
pany to wash dirty clothes of that section at Fairfax
plantation. Left Kanowna and arrived at landing at
11 o’clock. We loaded all the clothes and three break-
ers
21
from the ship’s boats on a truck and pushed it
along the tramway which runs to within a mile of the
plantation. The tramline is nearly all uphill and we
had hard work pushing the truck. We met a good many
natives when we got to the end of the line and they
seemed very frightened of us. They could not speak
English at all. We could see the plantation about a
mile away and we were not sorry when we got there
as we had to carry the breakers from the end of the
line. The plantation is a fairly large one, there being
1000 acres under sisal hemp. It is worked by native
boys with white bosses. There is plenty of water there
and we soon got busy on the washing and while the
clothes were drying had a walk round and a beautiful
shower bath, the first we had had for a month. When
we were ready to return a boy from the overseer’s
house brought us a big billy of tea and some buns
which reminded me of home. On our return we took
three trucks back with us and we selected trucks with
ball bearings. As the grade was pretty steep going
back we were able to ride on the trucks. We reached
the beach at about 5.30 p.m. The tide was running
in strongly and a stiff wind [was] blowing against us.
The sea was very rough and the first time we pushed
off [we] were immediately swept back. We could see
that we were in for a pretty rough time but we pushed
off again and then the fun started. One good thing
though, the moon was shining brightly so we could
see what we were doing. We had hard work row-
ing, each man taking his turn at the oars. We had
two lieutenants, and the fifth officer from the boat was
in charge but he could not command men owing to
an impediment in his speech. The result was every
man in the boat wanted to be boss and whenever the
boat got side-on everyone would give orders as to how
to right it. This was no good and all was confusion.
We got out about 400 yards and though we rowed all
we could, we [could] not get any further. After two
hours of this a motor boat that had been sent out in
search of us picked us up and towed us back to the
Kanowna. Needless to say we were very thankful to
be back again and after a meal retired and woke up
feeling very sore.
Friday, 4 September
The oil boat Physa steamed away today with mail
aboard. The alarm was given today and all hands
paraded on the boat deck and each man adjusted a
lifebelt after which each section was allotted to their
respective boats. At 7.30 tonight the cruiser Sydney
followed by the two submarines AE1
22
and AE2
23
steamed in,
24
the Sydney tying up by a collier and
coaling, and the submarines went over to the Murex
to take in oil.
Saturday, 5 September
The cruiser Encounter came in and anchored by the
Kanowna and gave us some condensed water. The
troop ship Berrima also came in and went alongside of
20
The Kanowna contingent became known to some as ‘The Dirty Five Hundred’.
21
Breaker: a small water cask for use in a boat
22
The AE1 was lost with all hands near New Britain ten days later. See page 35.
23
The AE2 was sunk in the Sea of Marmora on 30 April 1915. See page 35.
24
This sentence is at odds with the Official War History which has the submarines leaving Townsville on 4 September. See page 38.
PrevSection Index NextSection
The Caruse of the Kanowna Contents 14
the collier. One of the destroyers also came in, [and]
after this the harbour presented a very busy scene.
The natives who came alongside selling pawpaws, co-
conuts, curios etc. had a very busy day today and
seemed to be doing a good trade. After the Kanowna
had taken water from the Encounter she shifted over
alongside of the Berrima and we had a chance to chat
with the troops on her for an hour or so, but soon a few
sentries were posted along the rail of each boat and
we were kept away from each other. We found that
the troops on the Berrima consisted mostly of volun-
teers from Sydney and Melbourne and Naval Reserve
men making a total of 1700 all told. On comparing
we found that they (the Berrima troops) had been is-
sued with two uniforms, one shaving outfit, one jer-
sey, two flannelette shirts, two towels, soap, two pairs
trousers, one underpants and one pair braces. We had
only been issued with one uniform. I believe that most
of the goods mentioned above have been given to the
Berrima men by the citizens of Sydney. They also had
hammocks to sleep in, had their meals in the dining
room, and [had] plenty of food—so much that they
handed us several loaves of bread over the rails, and
we found the bread was a far better quality than ours.
Our chaps have our meals on the deck where we sleep,
each man parading past the stewards with his plate
etc., receiving his meal and returning to his place on
deck and then sitting down on the deck and eating it.
The Encounter went over to the Koolonga and coaled.
None of the troops were allowed to vote today.
25
Sunday, 6 September
Kanowna shifted over alongside Sydney (which had
finished coaling) and received more water and some
stores. Church Parade at 11 a.m., the chaplain from
one of the cruisers preaching. This afternoon we were
allowed over the Sydney and we had a good look all
over her.
Monday, 7 September
Raised anchor at 6 a.m. and moved to Port Moresby
where we dropped a pilot who had fallen down one
of the holds and was considerably hurt two or three
days previously. The two submarines had steamed out
ahead of us and were now in sight again. The other
vessels which we had left in Fairfax Bay were now all
on the move and we could see we were going some-
where at last. The cruiser Sydney cleared the channel
first followed closely by the Berrima, Kanowna, En-
counter, storeship Aorangi and two destroyers. The
other destroyer was probably ahead of us all. When
we got outside of the channel the boat began to pitch
and toss and a good many of us were awfully sea-
sick. It was quite a sight to see the way the little
destroyers used to pitch and toss in the rough seas.
Soon after leaving Moresby a big boat could be seen
in the distance apparently heading for Port Moresby
and the two destroyers steamed over to investigate but
they soon returned, evidently satisfied. The Encounter
moved up into line with the Sydney and the destroy-
ers with the Berrima. Soon after 12 o’clock noon the
Kanowna slowed down and eventually stopped. The
Sydney returned and the destroyers came up near us
and stood by. We could not make out what the deuce
was wrong. We were just receiving dinner when the
bugle sounded the fall in. All troops left their half
eaten dinners and fell in, when volunteers were called
for about thirty firemen, and obtained. We found that
the firemen had mutinied and that the Sydney had or-
dered us to proceed to Townsville. The Sydney and the
destroyers continued on their course and the Kanowna
turned and headed south. All of the troops are very
disgusted and disappointed at seeing the Sydney lads
get in before us after we had been first out and wait-
ing for so long and putting up with all of the rough part
of it. During our stoppage the Kanowna firemen had
all been up before the Captain, some ordered up from
their fires, some from their bunks. They had been
complaining all along on account of not getting suf-
ficient water for washing purposes and other things.
Today things came to a head and they were all made
prisoners by the Captain. The rest of day passed qui-
etly, 90% of troops seasick.
Tuesday, 8 September
and Wednesday, 9 September passed without excite-
ment. The boat made good way and the Barrier was
passed on Wednesday. The scenery in the afternoon
was worth watching.
Thursday, 10 September
Early this morning we arrived at the Townsville an-
chorage and dropped anchor. About 8 o’clock a small
cruiser the Protector came up and took from us a
staff officer Captain Fry who was acting as adjutant
and who had come aboard us at Fairfax Bay from
the Berrima. During his stay with us Captain Fry
had personally enquired into the condition of the men
and stirred things up generally. We noticed a big im-
provement while he was with us and were all sorry
to see him go aboard the cruiser which was going
north. Kanowna steamed into the wharf and tied up
but [we] were ordered back again by authorities. Went
out to anchorage and anchored again. Everyone dis-
appointed. Latrine Leader commandeered.
Friday, 11 September
Parades in morning as usual. Steamed into wharf
again in afternoon and tied up. A strong guard was
posted on the wharf and instructions [were] given that
no information was to be given to the townspeople
whatever. No-one was allowed ashore and we were
told not to tell anyone anything at all but some of the
chaps got to work signalling by semaphore and oth-
ers started talking deaf and dumb language with their
friends ashore. Lots of fellows threw letters wrapped
25
A Federal election was held on this day, 5 September 1914. Andrew Fisher’s Labor Party won convincingly, gaining majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
PrevSection Index NextSection
The Caruse of the Kanowna Contents 15
in matchboxes ashore so that it was not long before
everyone on shore knew all about the expedition.
Saturday, 12 September
[Today] passed without excitement. We were not al-
lowed on shore and the guards were strengthened. Pa-
rades as usual. About 10 p.m. we were paraded and
the CO read a wireless which had just come through
saying that Herbertshohe, Rabaul and Simsonhafen
had been taken by the Australia.
26
Sunday, 13 September
We paraded at 10 a.m. and marched to church, and
were all glad to get ashore and stretch our legs. Af-
ter lunch Captain Marks came aboard and told us that
he had received instructions from the Minister for De-
fence to discharge the Kanowna troops and that if any
of us wished to volunteer for Europe we would be
given the first chance with the second Australian ex-
pedition which is expected to depart in October. After
this we were all allowed to go down on to the wharf
where a large crowd of people had gathered.
Monday, 14 September
Preparations were made for disembarking. About
10 a.m. we marched to Kissing Point and pitched
camp. Things were carried out and camp pitched in
a much better manner than at Thursday Island. Went
and had a good swim on the beach about 200 yards
from the camp. We paraded at 7.30 p.m. and then
marched into town where we were dismissed. The
Olympia Picture Company had offered a free night to
the troops but I did not go. I strolled round town un-
til 10.30 when we were paraded again and marched
back to camp. Kissing Point is a splendid place for a
camp, its only disadvantage being the distance from
the town which is about two miles. No. 3 Section was
photographed at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, 15 September
At 10 a.m. we paraded and marched to the drill shed
and handed in our rifles, bayonets and greatcoats. At
5 p.m. we were all given leave until 11 p.m. I went
into town and had a good time. Expect to be paid and
discharged tomorrow.
Wednesday, 16 September
Paraded and handed in the remainder of equipment.
Paraded at 1 p.m. and D Company presented their
commander Lieutenant Harry and the two subalterns
Lieutenants Wren and Clarke with wristlet watches.
The volunteers for Europe numbering about 140 were
examined by the doctor and about 107 were passed as
fit. We were not paid today. Were allowed leave from
7 p.m. until 10.30. Went into town and arrived back
at camp at 11.30 and had to dodge sentry. Washed my
uniform and got to sleep at 1 a.m.
Thursday, 17 September
Paraded and were given a fortnight’s pay. At 5 p.m.
we paraded and were addressed by Major Aitkin.
27
After this the Charters Towers, Mackay and Ayr con-
tingents marched into town and departed for their re-
spective homes. I received my discharge but have to
stay here in camp until Saturday or Sunday when we
leave for home.
Friday, 18 September
We were paid up in full today and expect to leave for
home tomorrow. Fifteen more volunteers for Europe
from the Cairns contingent were examined by the doc-
tor today and ten including myself [were] passed as
medically fit.
28
We were allowed leave to go into town
at night.
Saturday, 19 September
Paraded early with our kit bags packed and marched
down to the wharf where 130 men embarked for
Cairns by the TSS
29
Mourilyan. The remainder
about
30
are to leave by the Marloo. We found the
conditions on the Mourilyan much better than [on] the
Kanowna. The scenery today was beautiful. We are
due in Cairns early tomorrow morning.
Sunday, 20 September
Arrived at Cairns at 7 a.m. The Marloo and Mourilyan
drew up to the wharf together and all of the troops dis-
embarked together. We were met on the wharf by a
large crowd of people and from there we marched to
the drill shed and were dismissed. Paraded at the drill
shed again at 10.30 a.m. where we received our kit
bags, and the hinterland troops were issued with rail-
way passes to their homes. We were dismissed again
at 11.30 and were allowed the remainder of the day
off. Before being dismissed we were addressed by
Major Toll and Captain Walsh. Captain Walsh compli-
mented the riflemen on their splendid behaviour and
work throughout the expedition. I spent the remain-
der of the day strolling round and having a good time
generally.
Monday, 21 September
Left Cairns by 7 a.m. train and had an uneventful jour-
ney until we reached Mareeba. The scenery in the
Barron Gorge and the Barron Falls was good.
26
Herbertsh
¨
ohe and Simpsonhafen were within 20 km of Rabaul.
27
The officer in command of the Kanowna contingent is referred to in Colonel Holmes’s report as Major Aitken.
28
For family reasons my father did not complete the enlistment process. He took no further part in World War I.
29
Twin Screw Steamer
30
The manuscript has a blank space here.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 18
Irvinebank Rifle Club, 1911. Original in Cairns Histor-
ical Society collection, reproduced with permission. Back
row, l to r: WH Kernan; Bob Donald; Geo. Peters; Richard
Gipps; Geo. Speed; FGDV Gipps (Mgr. Stannary Hills
Co, 1905–06); Alf Linde (killed in France 1914–18); Fred
Peters. Second row: WP Collins; TS Moran (Irvinebank
storekeeper); Geo. Henderson; Alec Henderson; Jim Guil-
foyle; GF Hewitt; WT Waddell; Oliver Woodward (in
charge of blowing up Hill 60 in France in WW1, became
Gen. Mgr. Broken Hill North); Fred Wilkinson. Third row:
Jack Murrane (killed in WW1); Syd Ramage (built The Aus-
tralian hotel, Irvinebank, 1904–05); HJ Armstrong (won
Kings Prize in Townsville in 1907 aged 18); Jack Guilfoyle;
Geo. Kerr (bootmaker in Irvinebank, shop burned down
New Year’s Eve 1908); Bill Stewart (Syd Ramage’s partner,
former carrier at Winton, came to Irvinebank 1902); Char-
lie King; Jim Dawson (Captain Irvinebank Football Team.
Mgr. Vulcan. Wounded WW1. In charge of some work
on Barron Falls Hydro construction 1932). Fourth row:
Joe Murrane; Percy Fitzmaurice; Mike O’Callaghan; Frank
Rogers (a barber, in shop in block burnt Dec 1908. Mike
was sub-accountant at John Moffat’s office at this time. Was
Shire Clerk 1928–31, then went to Cloncurry).
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 19
Cairns troops embarking. Photograph from the collec-
tion of National Archives of Australia. Image number:
J2879:QTH534. Photographer: AL Taylor. NAA caption:
Photographic negative - Embarking troops march in Cairns,
8 April 1918, in front of PJ Joyce’s Mining Exchange Ho-
tel and Dunwoodies Hotel [See also Item QTH542, which
is very similar but is dated September 1920]. The NAA
has interpreted ‘Sep 20’ written on QTH542 as ‘Septem-
ber 1920’ when the intended meaning was almost certainly
‘20 September 1914’. The troops in the photo above are in-
deed marching through Cairns, but it is likely that the photo
was taken on 9 August 1914 and that the troops are march-
ing to the Kanowna where they would then have embarked
for Thursday Island. See also pages 33 and 34.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 20
Kanowna leaving Cairns. Photograph from the collec-
tion of National Archives of Australia. Image number:
J2879:QTH544. Photographer: AL Taylor. NAA caption:
Photographic negative - Ship ‘Kanowna’ carrying close to
1500 troops from Mackay North (including the Kennedy
Regiment). Sailed from Cairns direct to Thursday Island on
9 August 1914. The caption is probably intended to convey
that the troops came from Mackay and places to the north of
there. The photo shows the Kanowna leaving Cairns.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 23
Native village, Port Moresby, W. Photographic print,
number 5 in Narrative of the expedition of the Australian
Squadron to the south east coast of New Guinea, Octo-
ber to December 1884. Reproduced by permission of the
National Library of Australia (catalogue number of photo-
graph: nla.pic-an6589395-27).
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 25
Wireless station, Port Moresby, August 1914.
Australian War Memorial Negative Number P01434.007.
AWM caption:
Port Moresby, New Guinea. 1914–08. Inscription on verso:
“View of radio station, Port Moresby, Aug 1914 showing
entrenchments and A.C. (Armed Constabulary?) camp”.
(Original print held in AWM PR91/102) (Donor E. Johnson)
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 26
Sydney, AE1 and AE2 at Cairns, 1914. State Library
of New South Wales collection, ID Number: At Work and
Play - 04907 (Digital order no. bcp 04907).
The large vessel behind the Sydney looks as if it may have
been the Berrima. Perhaps the photograph was taken on
2 or 3 September 1914, and the ships were on their way to
Thursday Island. See page 38.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 27
Kanowna and Physa at Port Moresby.
Australian War Memorial Negative Number P01434.003.
AWM caption:
View of the harbour from a street in the town, showing the oil
tanker Physa in the background and HMAT Kanowna at the
end of the wharf. (Original print held in AWM PR91/102)
(Donor E. Johnson)
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 28
Sisal hemp plantation at Fairfax Harbour. Photo-
graphic print 138x88 mm in the Walter Alfred Bock col-
lection, Papua New Guinea, ca. 1910–1956. Reproduced by
permission of the National Library of Australia (catalogue
number nla.pic-an24697419). Inscription in ink on verso:
‘Sisal hemp plantation, Fairfax Harbour, Papua’.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 29
Shell Oil Company tanker Murex. This was the first of
a succession of tankers named ‘Murex’ which have been
owned by Shell. She was built in 1892 and torpedoed and
sunk in the Mediterranean in 1916. I am grateful to the Pho-
tographic Services Department, Shell International Ltd for
this image and for permission to reproduce it.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 30
Expedition ships, Fairfax Harbour.
Australian War Memorial Negative Number J03316.
AWM caption:
A view of Fairfax Harbour, the anchorage of Port Moresby,
showing some ships of the Expedition the day before sail-
ing for Simpsonhafen (donated by Lieutenant Commander
GA Hill, RNR).
From l to r the ships appear to be ?, Berrima, Murex,
Kanowna and Encounter. The day before sailing for
Simpsonhafen was 6 September 1914. The diary has the
Kanowna alongside the Sydney on 6 September, and along-
side the Encounter for part of 5 September. That the
tanker in the photo is the Murex is indicated by the reports
that the Physa steamed away with mail on 4 September
(page 13) and that the Murex left Port Moresby on 7 Septem-
ber (page 39).
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 31
The author’s Certificate of Discharge [LEFT]
See diary entry for 17 September.
Colin Macdonald collection.
No. 3 Section, D Company [ABOVE]
Detail from a photo which belonged to the author,
and is almost certainly the one referred to in the
diary entry for 14 September. The original print
(208x154 mm) is mounted on cream card with the
imprint ‘The Federal Studio, Townsville’ on the
front. It had no caption during the author’s life-
time.
Facial resemblance suggests that the man third
from the right in the second row from the front
may be the author.
Colin Macdonald collection.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 33
Troops returned by Mourilyan Sep 20. Photograph from
the collection of National Archives of Australia.
Image number: J2879:QTH542. Photographer: AL Taylor.
NAA caption: Photographic negative - Army expedi-
tionary forces returned by the ship ‘Mourilyan’ at Cairns,
20 September 1920 [In background are PJ Joyce’s Min-
ing Exchange Hotel and Dunwoodie’s Hotel] [See also Item
QTH534, which is very similar but is dated 8 April 1918].
The dates ascribed by NAA to both photos are probably in-
correct. AL Taylor was a Cairns photographer, and the back-
ground confirms that the photograph was taken in Cairns,
but it is likely that the date of this photo is 20 September
1914 (not 1920), and that the troops are members of the
Kanowna contingent who have just disembarked from the
Mourilyan. See also pages 19 and 34.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Photographs Contents 34
Section of troops returned by Marloo Sep 20. Photo-
graph from the collection of National Archives of Australia.
Image number: J2879:QTH532. Photographer: AL Tay-
lor. NAA caption: Photographic negative - Troops of the
First Expeditionary Forces returned by ”Marloo” Septem-
ber 1920 [Royal Hotel visible in background]. AL Taylor
was a Cairns photographer, and the background confirms
that the photograph was taken in Cairns. It seems likely
that these are members of the Kanowna contingent pho-
tographed soon after they disembarked from the Marloo on
20 September 1914 (not 1920). See also pages 19 and 33.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 35
Some photographs not reproduced here
Many photos relevant to the diary may be found and
viewed by searching the extraordinary collection of
images that is accessible through the internet. The list
below is a selection (by no means an exhaustive one)
of photos found in this way.
Kanowna at wharf, Townsville (1).
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
P00481.001. AWM caption: Townsville, Qld,
1914-08-08. HMAT Kanowna drawing away from
the wharf, taking the first Australian Navy and Mili-
tary Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) to German New
Guinea. A large crowd has gathered to farewell the
ship. In fact, the occasion is the embarkation of
Kennedy Regiment troops for Thursday Island.
Kanowna at wharf, Townsville (2).
Photograph in John Oxley Library, State Library of
Queensland collection, ID Number: 181443. Identi-
cal with the previous photo.
Kanowna at wharf, Townsville (3).
Photograph in John Oxley Library, State Library of
Queensland collection, ID Number: 132397. What
appears to be a railway wagon loaded with firewood
is in the foreground.
Drill on wharf, Port Moresby (1).
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
J03317. AWM caption: Physical drill on the wharf
at Port Moresby. The troops were kept fit by plenty of
this sort of thing during the cooler hours of the day
(donor Lieutenant Commander GA Hill, RNR).
Drill on wharf, Port Moresby (2).
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
J03318. AWM caption: Physical drill on the wharf
at Port Moresby. The troops were kept fit by plenty of
this sort of thing during the cooler hours of the day
(donor Lieutenant Commander GA Hill, RNR).
Encounter, coaling party.
Australian War Memorial Naval Historical collection,
ID Number: 300631. AWM caption: Coaling party
on board HMAS (ex HMS) Encounter. The griminess
of the men and the state of the ship’s deck, which must
be made spotless, testify to the filthiness of the task
and its unpopularity.
AE1.
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
J03241. AWM caption: HMA Submarine AE1 with
HMAS Australia and HMAS Yarra at a rendezvous off
Rossel Island in 1914-09, taken from the bridge of
HMAS Encounter. The AE1 was lost with all hands
off Duke of York Islands in 1914-09 (donor Comman-
der GF Langford RAN).
Another part of the AWM website has the following:
On 14 September, AE1, accompanied by HMAS Par-
ramatta, left Blanche Bay, New Britain, to patrol off
Cape Gazelle [about 30 km east of Rabaul]. She was
last seen by Parramatta at 3.30 pm that day and no
trace has been found of her, or her company, since. It
has been presumed that AE1 struck an uncharted reef
and sank.
AE2.
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
301364. AWM caption: Port bow view of HMA Sub-
marine AE2. Note the extended periscope on the for-
ward part of the conning tower. The AE2 was sunk
in the Sea of Marmora on 1915-04-30. The crew sur-
vived and were taken prisoner by Turkish forces. The
wreck, in good condition, was located on 1998-06-11
in 72 m of water.
AE2 and AE1.
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
PrevSection Index NextSection
Some photographs not reproduced here Contents 36
H11559. AWM caption: Sydney, NSW c. 1914.
Australian Navy (RAN) submarines AE1 and AE2.
AE2 later joined the British Fleet at the Dardanelles,
Turkey, on 1915-04-25 and was sunk in the Sea of
Marmora on 1915-04-30 by the Turkish torpedo boat
Sultan Hissar; technical problems contributed to the
sinking. AE1 operated in the New Guinea area and
was lost without trace on 1914-09-14.
Aorangi.
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
H12595. AWM caption: Rossel Island, New Guinea.
September 1914. A rendezvous of Australian ships
preparing to sail for Rabaul, New Britain. The pho-
tograph was taken from HMAS Encounter with HMAS
Australia straight ahead, then store ship Aorangi to
the left in front of merchant ship Berrima and HMAS
Sydney extreme left.
Berrima.
State Library of Victoria collection, ID Number:
H91.250/1560. Green, Allan C 1878–1954 photogra-
pher. Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1900–ca. 1954]. Nega-
tive: glass; 12.1x16.6 cm (half plate).
Encounter.
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
H17506. AWM caption: Portside view of Challenger
class light cruiser HMAS Encounter.
Koolonga.
State Library of Victoria collection, ID Number:
H91.108/429. Green, Allan C 1878–1954 photogra-
pher. Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1900–ca. 1954]. Nega-
tive: glass; 12.1x16.6 cm (half plate).
Marloo.
State Library of Victoria collection, ID Number:
H91.108/2937. Green, Allan C 1878–1954 photogra-
pher. Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1900–ca. 1954]. Nega-
tive: glass; 12.1x16.6 cm (half plate).
Parramatta and Yarra at Coffs Harbour, 1911.
State Library of New South Wales collection,
ID Number: At Work and Play - 01769.
Protector.
Australian War Memorial Naval Historical collection,
ID Number: 301189. AWM caption: Port Melbourne,
Vic, 1914. Starboard side view of the former south
Australian Colonial gunboat HMAS (ex HMS) Protec-
tor (I) as a gunnery tender to Williamstown Naval De-
pot. The forward firing 8 [inch?] gun mounted in a
casemate forward has been removed and the forecas-
tle built up and the original 6 inch guns removed from
the hull casemates. She appears to be armed with a
4 inch gun on the stern while 3 pounder guns may be
just discerned above the open hatch in the hull side
forward and just behind the ventilators.
Sydney.
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
EN0194. AWM caption: The light cruiser HMAS
Sydney steams towards Rabaul. The British seized
control of German New Guinea on 11 September
1914 with a naval force that included HMAS Sydney,
HMAS Australia, SS Berrima and three destroyers.
Warrego.
State Library of Victoria collection, ID Number:
H91.108/213. Green, Allan C 1878–1954 photogra-
pher. Date(s) of creation: [ca. 1900–ca. 1954]. Nega-
tive: glass; 12.1x16.6 cm (half plate).
Yarra.
Australian War Memorial collection, ID Number:
J03319. AWM caption: HMATBD Yarra coming to
an anchorage at Port Moresby - a very fine shelter of-
fering protection both from the weather and possible
raids by the enemy.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 37
Appendix A
Official history of Australia in the war of 1914–1918
Below are excerpts from the Official history of Aus-
tralia in the war of 1914–1918
31
which deal with
Colonel William Holmes and with the Australian
Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF)
which he commanded. The AN&MEF was created ur-
gently in the first days of World War I to attack Ger-
man interests in the western Pacific. An account of the
Kanowna episode is included.
Colonel (later Major-General) William Holmes was
Commander of the AN&MEF, 1914–15; 5th Infantry
Brigade, 1915–16; and 4th Division, 1916–17. He
was killed in action near Messines in 1917.
When the Defence Act of 1903 created a Common-
wealth army, Holmes identified himself keenly with
the work of organisation, gained a high reputation in
command of a regiment, and at the outbreak of the war
was commanding the 6th Infantry Brigade. In private
life he was secretary of the Sydney Water and Sewer-
age Board. His part in defence work was, therefore,
the occupation of spare time, not his life’s career. Still,
though no specialist in the military art, he already pos-
sessed a sound knowledge of military routine, and few
militia officers in Australia were better versed in in-
fantry training; afterwards in France he was to reveal
rare qualities as the commander of an Australian di-
vision. He had a keen, practical brain, a quick grasp
of essentials, a knowledge of men, and a capacity for
organisation and administration. Holmes’s men were
were never known to ‘go back’ on their leader. When
he was leaving New Guinea, almost the whole of his
force, though willing to remain there under his com-
mand, expressed the wish to return with him to Aus-
tralia; and many of them went with him to Gallipoli
and France . . .
Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914,
and Holmes was appointed Officer Commanding the
AN&MEF six days later on 10 August.
Enlistment for the expeditionary force began on the
day following Holmes’s appointment. There was a
ready response to the call for volunteers: two battal-
ions of infantry could have been recruited from the
men who offered their services within the first few
days. This, the first force to be sent oversea from Aus-
tralia in this war, exhibited in its composition the re-
markable diversity of types that also characterised the
AIF. Almost every vocation was represented: school
teacher and wharf labourer, bank clerk and bushman,
shop assistant and farrier, stood side by side on the
parade-ground, waiting for the medical examination.
There were those who, drifting without moorings in
the ebb and flow of city life, clutched at this chance of
a new career; some were lured by a spirit of sheer ad-
venture; others, putting material interests and family
ties behind, answered simply to the call of duty. It was
serviceable material; there were men who could turn
their hand to everything, and there were men who had
special technical or professional qualifications and ex-
perience. When, at a later stage, it became necessary
to carry on the administration of German New Guinea,
it was found that from the members of this force ev-
ery position, whether administrative, technical or in-
dustrial, could be competently filled . . .
The troops were assembled in Sydney, and embarked
there on the Berrima.
Embarkation was carried out during August 18th,
seven days after the first infantryman had been
31
S.S. Mackenzie, The Australians at Rabaul, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918, vol. 10, University of Queensland Press in association with the Australian War Memorial, St Lucia, Qld., 1987,
pp. 24–33. The complete work is accessible on-line at the War Memorial’s website (www.awm.gov.au ⇒ First World War Official Histories).
PrevSection Index NextSection
Official War History Contents 38
enrolled. Along the route by which it marched from
the Agricultural Ground through the Sydney streets,
the battalion was cheered by a warm-hearted people,
for whom the sight of departing contingents was soon
to become a common experience. The naval and other
units were embarked on the same day. Shortly after
noon on August 19th the Berrima, flying the white
ensign, pulled out from Farm Cove and, followed by
cheers of farewell, made for the Heads.
The destination of the expedition had not been an-
nounced, and was known to few outside a small of-
ficial circle. The force had been enlisted for ‘service
abroad’; the prevailing opinion was that the German
possessions in the western Pacific were to be attacked,
but speculation as to possible spheres of action was
one of the few diversions in which members of the
force and their friends had hitherto been able to in-
dulge. The course set by the Berrima was therefore
watched with interest, and when she left North Head
on the port beam and proceeded on a northerly course
along the coast, the objective was evident to all.
Two days afterwards the Berrima rounded the long is-
land that guards the southern side of Moreton Bay, and
dropped anchor in that wide, shallow inlet. On the
run up the coast from Sydney an examination of the
stores had revealed the fact that signalling equipment
and mess-tins had not been sent aboard. None could
be obtained in Brisbane. Colonel Holmes was subse-
quently informed that the signalling equipment would
be sent on in the supply-ship Aorangi; there were no
mess-tins in stock, so the troops cheerfully managed
with pannikins and tin plates.
From Moreton Bay the Berrima steamed along the
Queensland coast. Off the low spit of Sandy Cape she
was met by the light cruiser Sydney, and the ships pro-
ceeded in company to Palm Island, which lies north of
Townsville inside the Great Barrier Reef. The cruiser
Encounter was already there when on August 24th
the Berrima made the islands. The same rendezvous
had been appointed for the supply-ship Aorangi, the
submarine tenders Protector and Upolu, and the sub-
marines AE1 and AE2. It had at first been in-
tended that the Berrima should be escorted by the
Sydney and Encounter to Port Moresby, where she
would be joined by the SS Kanowna with a contin-
gent of 500 volunteers from the Kennedy Regiment—
the citizen force battalion raised in northern Queens-
land. But Rear-Admiral Patey, when he found him-
self called upon to escort the New Zealand expedition
to Samoa, ordered the destroyers from Rossel Island
to Port Moresby, and gave particular instructions that
the Berrima should not be brought north of Palm Is-
land until he returned from Samoa. This meant that
the expeditionary force was ‘hung up’ for an indefi-
nite period. Delay at this stage was peculiarly irksome
to those charged with the performance of an urgent
mission. It was also extremely trying for the troops,
restricted as they were day after day to the same sur-
roundings after the sense of movement, the high spir-
its, and the keen expectations which filled the first
days of the voyage. The men were in no mood for
anything except the enterprise on which they had set
out. Still, they were far from being idle. From the
time the Berrima left Sydney the naval and military
units were drilled and kept employed as thoroughly as
the limited space on board would permit. During the
stay at Palm Island they were taken ashore nearly ev-
ery day, across a shingle beach to rocky ground and
bush—a terrain ill-suited to manoeuvres; but it taught
them how to maintain touch in thickly-wooded coun-
try, and the lesson afterwards proved invaluable in the
dense jungles of New Britain. A short rifle range was
established, and the men received careful instruction
in musketry. The daily landing had also the advan-
tage of giving the naval-reservists constant practice in
boat-work and the landing of troops.
On August 30th Captain Glossop of HMAS Sydney re-
ceived wireless instructions from the rear-admiral that
the Sydney, with all her companions and convoy, was
to be at a rendezvous east of the Louisiade group by
7 a.m. on September 9th. The Upolu and the sub-
marines should accompany him, if they had joined
up, and if fuel were available. The Sydney and En-
counter were to extemporise mine-sweeping appara-
tus, and all ships were to be coaled and oiled either
at Port Moresby or at the rendezvous near Rossel La-
goon . . .
In accordance with these orders the Sydney, En-
counter, Berrima, and Aorangi sailed from Palm
Island on September 2nd and proceeded to Port
Moresby to complete there with coal and oil and to
collect the other ships of the convoy. Two days later
the Upolu, the Protector, and the submarines AE1 and
AE2 left Townsville for the rendezvous.
32
But a defect
in the Upolu’s condensers reduced her speed to six
knots; she and the Protector were therefore ordered
to proceed direct to Rabaul, which, even at their best
speed, they could not reach till after the arrival of the
main expedition.
On arrival at Port Moresby, which was reached on
the 4th of September, Colonel Holmes inspected the
troops on board the Kanowna.
33
The result was ex-
tremely discouraging. The Kennedy Regiment had
orders in case of war to reinforce the garrison of
Thursday Island, and its eager but inexperienced of-
ficers had, as soon as they received news of the out-
break of war, hastily mobilised the regiment, requisi-
32
This sentence is at odds with the diary entry for 4 September which has the submarines reaching Port Moresby or, more likely, Fairfax Harbour on that day.
33
A report by Colonel Holmes has the inspection being made on Sunday 6 September. See page 40.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Official War History Contents 39
tioned the Kanowna (under the provisions of the De-
fence Act), and were duly transported to that des-
tination. At Thursday Island volunteers had been
called for service outside the Commonwealth, and
half the regiment (that is, 500 men) had responded,
the Kanowna being retained to carry them wherever
they might be required. In these circumstances a com-
mander with inadequate military training, with no reg-
imental staff, and served only by youthful or com-
paratively inexperienced company officers, had en-
countered exceptional difficulties. Many of his men
were just ‘trainees’, boys of eighteen to twenty years,
physically unfit for tropical campaigning. Supplies
of clothing and boots were non-existent or unsuitable,
food supplies were deficient, there were no tents, no
mosquito-nets, no hammocks, and the shipboard ac-
commodation was hopelessly inadequate, as might be
expected in a vessel unexpectedly taken over for war
duties. The ship’s company, too, which had not been
consulted or asked to volunteer, and which was ex-
pected to take the vessel far beyond the limits of its
authorised run, was discontented and ready to strike.
In view of all these difficulties, Colonel Holmes de-
cided
34
to tell the admiral that he regretfully consid-
ered the Kanowna’s troops unfitted for active service,
and to recommend that they be returned to the State
to which they belonged. In the meantime the admiral
was informed by wireless from the Sydney that it was
considered desirable to discharge the Kanowna and
the troops on board her, unless he urgently required
them.
On the morning of September 7th the cruisers Syd-
ney and Encounter, the auxiliary cruiser Berrima, the
destroyers Warrego and Yarra, the submarines AE1
and AE2, the transport Kanowna, and the supply ship
Aorangi left Port Moresby for the appointed ren-
dezvous at Rossel Island. The Parramatta followed,
convoying the collier Koolonga and the oil tanker
Murex, as these vessels were too slow to keep up with
the others. The reef-guarded entrance to Port Moresby
had not been left far behind when it was noticed that
the Kanowna was falling back. Shortly afterwards
she stopped, swung broadside on to the convoy, and
hoisted the signal ‘lost control’. The Sydney turned
in a half-circle and went back towards her, sending
on one of the destroyers, which ranged alongside the
drifting transport. It was then ascertained that the
firemen had mutinied and refused to stoke the ship,
objecting to proceeding any further with the expedi-
tion.
35
The Sydney signalled to the Berrima: ‘I have
sent the Kanowna direct to Townsville’. Another mes-
sage ran: ‘It was only the firemen who mutinied; there
were volunteers from the troops to do the stoking. I
suggest that trainees be disbanded, and, if more troops
required, seasoned men (who have) passed medical
test be employed’. To this Colonel Holmes replied: ‘I
consider the Kanowna detachment as at present con-
stituted and equipped unfit for immediate service, and
in view of today’s events and your action in ordering
ship back to Townsville recommend disbandment, and
reorganisation if admiral considers further troops nec-
essary’. This message was conveyed to the Kanowna
as an official instruction from Colonel Holmes. Admi-
ral Patey, who was informed, agreed that the Berrima
troops were sufficient.
The disbanding of the Kanowna detachment was a
regrettable episode, and caused considerable heart-
burning; but there can be no doubt, on the facts, that
Colonel Holmes was right in his decision that this
unit, in the condition in which he found it, was unfit
for service with his expedition. Two facts have been
clearly demonstrated during the military occupation
of German New Guinea—that the country is one for
men between twenty-five and forty years of age, and
that the insidious climate fastens relentlessly upon any
physical weakness. Only seasoned men of robust bod-
ily fitness could be depended on to endure the rigours
of even a few days’ marching and fighting in those lat-
itudes, where the moist heat hangs like an oppressive
curtain and makes strenuous exertion for more than a
few hours intolerable to a white race.
The troops on the discharged transport were from first
to last the victims of circumstances. They had offered
themselves for service; they had been accepted; and
they were prepared to do their best. There was no lack
of spirit, and their disappointment at being left behind
was keen and lasting. If called upon, they would have
stoked the Kanowna to New Britain as readily as they
did to Townsville. Many afterwards joined the AIF,
and some of their names will ever be preserved in
Australian history.
34
Footnote in the original: It was at first resolved to take the Kanowna’s troops to Rabaul for employment in garrison duties only. This decision was afterwards abandoned.
35
Footnote in the original: Though the troops had volunteered for overseas service, the Kanowna’s crew, it must be remembered, had not.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 40
Appendix B: Holmes’s letter to Legge
Colonel (later Major-General) William Holmes was
Commander of the Australian Naval and Military Ex-
peditionary Force (AN&MEF), 1914–15; 5th Infantry
Brigade, 1915–16; and 4th Division, 1916–17. He
was killed in action in Flanders in 1917.
Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914,
and Holmes was appointed Officer Commanding the
AN&MEF six days later on 10 August. Enlistment
for the AN&MEF began the following day (11 August)
and the troops embarked on Berrima in Sydney a week
later. She sailed the following day (19 August) but was
delayed at Palm Island off Townsville until 2 Septem-
ber waiting for naval support, and did not reach Port
Moresby until 5 September.
Colonel (later Major-General) JG Legge was Chief of
the General Staff.
The text that follows is from the opening pages of a
copy of a letter from Holmes to Legge in the collec-
tion of the National Archives of Australia at the Aus-
tralian War Memorial in Canberra.
36
The document
is a typewritten copy with no handwritten signatures
or initials.
HMAS “BERRIMA”,
AT SEA,
OFF WOODLARK ISLAND,
9th September, 1914
Dear Colonel Legge,
I wrote you last from Palm Island, off Townsville, on
the 27th August, detailing all happenings up to that
date, which letter I hope duly reached you.
I made good use of our time then by sending the troops
ashore every day, where they received most valuable
individual instruction in musketry under the personal
direction of Major Heritage and Lieutenant Marsden,
who is one of the Staff of the School of Musketry.
Both these officers have done yeoman service in this
direction and they were assisted by one or two other
officers (including my son), who have been through
musketry courses at the School at Randwick. I es-
tablished a short range on shore which answered all
purposes admirably. Nothing in the way of manoeu-
vres could be attempted as the ground was not suit-
able. The men have got quite handy and expert with
the rifle, including both soldiers and sailors; the latter
were very green at first but are now splendid.
There is a most excellent feeling on board; the dis-
cipline is of the best, food is good and there is not a
single case in hospital. I work all hands hard three
times a day.
All have been inoculated against Enteric and vacci-
nated against small-pox. Howse has now commenced
on the quinine as a preventative of malaria.
At Port Moresby I found the “Kanowna” with her de-
tachment of 500 Queensland Troops. I inspected them
on Sunday, 6th instant, and must say I was sadly dis-
appointed, as they compared most unfavourably with
those on board this ship, and I concluded they would
be a very weak reed to lean upon. I therefore consid-
ered it my duty to write the following report on same
day to hand to the Admiral when I should meet him at
sea at the rendezvous off Rossel Island, which meet-
ing took place this morning.
(signed) William Holmes
[Continued on next page]
36
NAA: Series AWM33, Item 4, Report by Colonel W Holmes DSO VD, Commanding Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (9 September - 13 October 1914).
PrevSection Index NextSection
Holmes’s letter to Legge Contents 41
Troopship “Berrima”,
Fairfax Harbour,
Port Moresby,
6th September, 1914
From Officer Commanding
Australian Naval and Military Exped.
To The Rear Admiral Commanding
Australian Squadron.
“Today I made an inspection of the whole of the
officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the
Infantry Contingent now on board the Troopship
“Kanowna” and regret to have to report that I consider
the whole unit absolutely unfitted for active service,
and recommend that they be not taken further but re-
turned at once to the State to which they belong.
My reasons for arriving at this conclusion are as
follows:-
1. The officer in command has had very little mil-
itary training or experience, and, in addition,
lacks personality and self-reliance.
2. There is no Regimental Staff. To repair this
omission I have been obliged to detail an offi-
cer from the “Berrima” to act as Adjutant.
3. The unit consists of four companies, but only
two of these are commissioned by Captains,
who have had 8 years and 6½ years service re-
spectively. The other two companies are com-
manded, one by a 1st Lieutenant of only two
years commissioned service, and the other by a
2nd Lieutenant of a few months service. In “D”
Company the three officers are young second
lieutenants. Of the 13 officers 7 are 21 years of
age and under of but a few months of service
each.
4. There is only one permanent Staff n. c. o., who
acts as Regimental Sergeant Major.
5. Although the Contingent has been on service
for three weeks, no non-commissioned officers
have yet been appointed, but a few men are act-
ing.
6. The Unit consists of 1/3rd Trainees under
the Commonwealth Universal Training System,
and 2/3rds Rifle Club Members. Some of the
former are immature lads under 18 years of age,
although I understand the instructions provided
for men of the Naval and Military Expedition
being between the ages of 19 and 39 years.
7. Many of these young men exhibit very poor
physical development, and in my opinion could
not do a day’s march as soldiers, particularly in
the tropics.
8. The Medical Officer on board informed me that
some of the men suffered from varicocele, vari-
cose veins, thrombosis and hernia, and were un-
fit for service.
9. The men are possessed of only one suit of cloth-
ing, which they have now been wearing for
three weeks without a change.
10. Many of the men have been issued with ill-
fitting, and in some cases, odd, boots; they have
therefore been obliged to wear private boots of a
light pattern, which are nearly worn out. Some
are wearing light elastic side boots (Jemimas),
while others are wearing an old pattern regi-
mental issue, which are falling to pieces. Many
men are now on their uppers and could not
march five miles without discomfort, or worse.
11. The Unit is not provided with tents, hammocks,
or mosquito nets.
12. Very little instruction has been given on board,
while the Musketry Instruction is conspicuous
for its entire absence, not a shot having been
fired.
13. The discipline of the Ship is unsatisfactory.
14. I understand that the ship was only provisioned
to convey the troops as far as Thursday Island;
the result is that the shore rations, of which
30 days supply only were taken on board, are
now being drawn upon.
15. No provision whatever has been made on the
Ship in the way of Mess Tables, and the men af-
ter receiving their meals have to sit on the decks
to eat same.
16. As there are no hammocks or bunks, most of the
men sleep on the decks with only waterproof
sheets and blankets”.
(Sgd.) W. H.
Colonel.
I fear that Major Aitken, the officer in command had
rather a difficult row to hoe, as I gathered from him the
Ship’s Company was averse to leaving the Australian
Coast, and instead of helping him placed obstacles in
his way. I formed the opinion that the Ship’s Stewards
were practically running the Ship. He mentioned to
me that great difficulty was experienced in getting suf-
ficient salt water for the troops while fresh water was
out of the question as the Ship was not equipped with
distilling plant and had to depend solely on her tanks,
which were not ample. He also had great difficulty
about the lighting of the Ship. Unfortunately Major
Aitken was not, in my opinion, sufficiently strong in
character and personality to overcome the difficulties
which presented themselves.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Holmes’s letter to Legge Contents 42
Early on the morning of Monday, the 7th instant,
our fleet left Port Moresby for the rendezvous ap-
pointed by the Admiral at Rossel Island. After we had
been out an hour or two we noticed the “Kanowna”
was falling back; presently she stopped altogether and
turned broadside on and hoisted signal “Lost control”.
The “Sydney” and a Destroyer returned to investigate,
when it was discovered the firemen had mutinied and
refused to stoke the Ship as they objected to proceed-
ing any further with the Expedition.
The “Sydney” then signalled to me “I have sent the
“Kanowna” direct to Townsville”. At 4-50 p.m. he
signalled “Would you like any message transmitted
with regard to Troops”. In reply I requested him to
supply me with further particulars as to the trouble on
the “Kanowna” to enable me to answer his question.
He signalled “It was only the Firemen who mutinied;
there were volunteers from the Troops to do the stok-
ing. I suggest that trainees be disbanded and if more
troops required seasoned men passed medical test be
employed”.
To this I replied:- “I consider “Kanowna” detachment
as at present constituted and equipped unfit for im-
mediate service, and in view of today’s events and
your action in ordering Ship back to Townsville, rec-
ommend disbandment and reorganization if Admi-
ral considers further Troops necessary. Request that
arrangements be made for Captain Fry loaned from
“Berrima” to “Kanowna” as Adjutant return to this
force earliest opportunity”.
Captain Glossop then asked “Do you wish me to make
that an official message from you re Troops”.
To this I replied:- “Yes”.
On the following day I received a message from Ad-
miral “ “Berrima” troops sufficient”.
At the Conference with the Admiral at the ren-
dezvous off Rossel Island I handed him my report on
“Kanowna” troops, when the whole matter was con-
sidered and he concurred in the action taken and said
he would forward my report along with his to Mel-
bourne, which I presume will arrive at the same time
as this.
At the Conference it was decided to go direct to
Simpsonhafen and seize the Wireless Stations at Her-
bertshohe,
37
and occupy that place and also Rabaul,
the seat of Government of the German possessions in
the Pacific, on the 11th. instant . . .
Two typewritten pages are omitted here. Among other
things they deal with Holmes’s plans for the adminis-
tration of Rabaul in the event of its being captured by
the AN&MEF.
I am hoping to send this to you by the “Sydney” or
“Melbourne” which will, I believe, be leaving Rabaul
for Australia to escort the Expedition to Europe. I will
write again and let you know how my arrangements
for the dash on Rabaul have worked out.
I am extremely anxious to know how things are shap-
ing in Australia with the Expedition, as my fear has
been that we have taken on a pretty stiff proposition
especially in the matter of officering the forces. I am,
of course, entirely without news of the outside world
and am just longing for a post and newspapers.
Heritage Watson and Paton send you their very kind-
est regards, as does also,
Yours sincerely,
(signed) William Holmes
Colonel.
P. S. Although I have written you this in a semi-private
and non-official way, you are quite at liberty to use it
in any way your discretion may dictate.
Another matter I should perhaps mention in regard to
the boots issued to my force. They are a good pat-
tern and very comfortable, but on inspection yester-
day Watson found that 170 pairs required attention by
the Regimental Cobbler.
The work at Palm Island necessitated a good deal of
climbing over very rough rocks in landing from the
boats and marching over a shingle beach, which had
the effect of cutting the stitching on both sides under
the ball of the foot, and not at the toe.
Luckily I took a shoemaking kit with me and have had
repairs effected before the damage had gone too far.
It is a point worthy of the attention of the Q. M. G.
whether it would not be well to protect the soles with
strong brads or in some other way. Otherwise the boot
is splendid, but if we are to remain here long a second
pair for each man should be sent to me along with
supplies.
(signed) W. H.
The file contains additional letters from Holmes to
Legge reporting subsequent events.
37
Simpsonhafen and Herbertsh
¨
ohe were within 20 km of Rabaul.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 43
Appendix C: Admiral’s report to Naval Board
Rear-Admiral Patey reported on the Kanowna episode
to the Commonwealth Naval Board. His report and
related documents are in the collection of the National
Archives of Australia in Melbourne.
38
Selected ex-
cerpts from the file cited in the footnote are repro-
duced below.
Rear-Admiral Patey’s report
The original of Rear-Admiral Patey’s typewritten and
signed report to The Secretary to the Naval Board,
Navy Office, Melbourne, is in the file. A copy follows:
HMAS “AUSTRALIA”,
at Sea,
10th September 1914.
Sir,
I have the honour to forward herewith report from
HMAS “SYDNEY” on the subject of the mutiny of
firemen of “Kanowna” - and also report from the
Brigadier, Colonel Holmes, on the result of his In-
spection of the Unit of Troops on board “Kanowna”.
2. Extracts from “SYDNEY’s” Letter of Proceedings
referring to “Kanowna” are also attached.
3. I am of the opinion that “SYDNEY’s” action was
entirely justified in this matter, and that if “Kanowna”
and her Troops had not been discharged they would
have delayed and hampered the Expedition, with a
probability of subsequent disaster.
4. I attach also lists of supplies made to “Kanowna”.
In addition to these lists “Kanowna” received 896 tons
of Southern coal from “Koolonga”.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
George E Patey
REAR ADMIRAL
Captain Glossop’s report
Captain Glossop of HMAS Sydney reported on the
Kanowna episode to Rear-Admiral Patey. The origi-
nal of his typewritten and signed report (addressed to
the Rear Admiral Commanding, HM Australian Fleet)
is in the file. A copy follows:
HMAS “Sydney” at sea,
Lat 11.27 S, Long 154.35 E,
9th September 1914.
Sir,
I regret to report that at 0.45 p.m. on 7th instant I ob-
served SS “Kanowna” which had dropped consider-
ably astern of station, haul out of line, I hoisted “dis-
regard” and ran down to investigate, the Destroyers
were astern of her, and at 0.50 p.m. I received a wire-
less telegraph message from “Warrego” “ “Kanowna”
reports crew in a state of mutiny and requires assis-
tance”. I then directed “Berrima” to join “Encounter”,
and “Encounter” to proceed at 10 knots with convoy.
The following signals were exchanged:
At 1.2 p.m. “Kanowna” made by flag “Want assis-
tance, mutiny.
At 1.5 p.m. “Warrego” to “Sydney”. The firemen of
“Kanowna” have mutinied and are in costody [sic] of
an armed guard. I have ordered Officer Commanding
the troops to stand by to stoke the ship with troops.
At 1.9 p.m. Officer Commanding Troops to “Syd-
ney”. We have 34 volunteers from the troops to fire
ship.
38
NAA: MP1049/1, 1914/0486, New Guinea Expedition August 1914 - Re Troopship “Kanowna”, mutiny on and sending back to Australia.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Admiral’s report to Naval Board Contents 44
At 1.13 p.m. “Sydney” to “Kanowna” Captain to
Captain”. Proceed direct to Townsville via Magnetic
Passage and await orders. Report whether firemen
will work to Townsville.
At 1.20 p.m. “Sydney” to “Kanowna”. Hasten re-
ply, cannot wait.
At 1.21 p.m. “Kanowna” to “Sydney”. We can get
to Townsville without the firemen we have plenty of
volunteers from the troops.
At 1.24 p.m. “Sydney” to Officer Commanding
Troops. Take charge of the ship and see my orders
carried out, secure all mutineers. Acknowledge re-
ceipt.
At 1.28 p.m. “Kanowna” to “Sydney”. Signal to Of-
ficer Commanding Troops received.
At 1.35 p.m. “Sydney” to “Kanowna”. Are you pro-
ceeding to Townsville. Reply. Yes.
At 1.30 p.m. I proceeded with Destroyers with
despatch to overtake convoy and resumed position at
head of column at 4.50 p.m.
2. It was blowing a fresh SE trade 5.6 at the time and
under all the circumstances of the case, particularly as
to (1) the delay in convoy, the limit of time owing to
the weather being reached, (2) my telegram of 6th in-
stant, 1800, (3) the unsuitability of ship - no stores, no
water, no control, and (4) the inefficiency of the troops
and equipment, vide separate report of Brigadier, I
considered that the ship would be of more harm to the
Expedition than service and therefore acted as above
stated.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
John CT Glossop
Captain.
Colonel Holmes’s report
The original of Colonel Holmes’s typewritten and
signed report to the Rear-Admiral Commanding Aus-
tralian Squadron is in the file. It is essentially identi-
cal with the copy starting on page 41, except that the
following postscript is appended:
(P.S.) Attached hereto is a report by the Principal
Medical Officer on the result of his inspection of the
Army Medical Corps Unit on board the “Kanowna”,
showing the same to be quite unprepared for active
service.
William Holmes
Colonel.
Lieut-Colonel Howse’s report
Lieut-Colonel Howse was Principal Medical Officer
with the AN&MEF. The original of his typewritten and
signed report to Colonel Holmes is in the file. A copy
follows:
Australian Naval and Military Expedition
Australian Army Medical Corps
HMAS “BERRIMA”
6th September 1914.
The Brigadier,
A N & M Expedition.
I have to report that the equipment of detachment of
AAMC attached to Infantry on SS “KANOWNA” was
totally inadequate.
After Captain Kay, who was in charge of AAMC Unit
on SS “KANOWNA” reported himself on Septem-
ber 5th, I instructed Captain Maguire to report on the
equipment and I attach a copy of his report. After see-
ing his report I directed that Captain Kay be supplied
with a few things urgently required and that his unit
be fully equipped if it became detached for duty.
On September 6th 1914, I examined Captain Fernley,
AAMC and found him suffering from hernia; he had
been operated upon for hernia about seventeen months
ago and only got return after violent exertion whilst
on duty at Thursday Island. Notwithstanding the fact
that he was complaining of great pain, he agreed to
still continue on light duty until it was convenient for
him to return to Queensland for operative treatment.
In my opinion, he should not have been passed for ac-
tive service.
Neville R Howse
Lieut-Colonel,
PMO, A N & M Expedition.
Captain Maguire’s report
The original of Captain Maguire’s typewritten and
signed report to Lieut-Colonel Howse is in the file. A
copy follows:
Australian Naval and Military Expedition
Australian Army Medical Corps
AAMC Headquarters,
HMAS “BERRIMA”
6th September 1914.
PMO,
A N & M Expedition.
I beg to report that at your request, I inspected the
medical stores of the AAMC Detail accompanying the
Queensland troops on board the SS “KANOWNA”,
PrevSection Index NextSection
Admiral’s report to Naval Board Contents 45
while lying in Port Moresby on the morning of 5th
September 1914.
The AAMC Detail was composed of two officers and
ten men, under the command of Captain Stuart Kay.
In my opinion, the stores and equipment of the Detail
were totally inadequate to meet the medical require-
ments of the troops on active service.
When Captain Kay reported to you on board HMAS
“BERRIMA” on the morning of 5th September 1914,
he stated to you in my presence that his equipment
was absolutely inadequate, that he had already used up
most of his stores; that the materials which remained
were insufficient for the needs of the troops, and re-
quested that you should make good his deficiencies
from your stores.
After inspecting the stores, I recommended to you that
we should supply two pounds of chloroform and one
pint of tincture of iodine, to meet a surgical emer-
gency, together with a set of dental forceps. This was
done and a receipt obtained for these articles. I further
recommend that he be adequately equipped as soon as
the unit was detached for separate work.
On 6th September, at your request, and in your pres-
ence, I examined Captain Fernley, AAMC of the
Queensland Detail. I found that he had the scar of
an operation for inguinal hernia on the right side. The
deeper parts of the abdominal wall in the region of the
scar had yielded and the hernia had returned. Captain
Fernley complained that it was causing him much pain
and inconvenience.
In my opinion, Captain Fernley was only fit for very
light duty until he could be returned to the base.
FA Maguire
Captain,
OC, AAMC Detail
Letter of proceedings
The file contains an extract from a letter of proceed-
ings from HMAS Sydney dated 9th September, 1914.
Part of the extract follows:
17. This ship (“Kanowna”) is completely out of
all stores and requires replenishing at Rabaul, I
have stored her from “Sydney” as far as Rabaul, as
“Aorangi” lay in outer harbour and there has been
no opportunity in the 48 hours to store her from
“Aorangi”, and until noon on Sunday, I did not under-
stand she required more than beef, vegetables and wa-
ter all of which I had arranged for. It appears she was
simply intended originally to take troops to Thursday
Island, has been kept on for Port Moresby, and again
for Rabaul, so the matter is now urgent.
Stores supplied to Kanowna
The file contains a one-page printed form on which
is a handwritten list of stores supplied to Kanowna at
Port Moresby, and their value. It is dated 6th Septem-
ber 1914 and is signed: FJ Folkes, Chief Steward,
SS “Kanowna”. The potatoes and most of the fresh
beef came from Berrima, the balance of the food from
Sydney, and the fresh water from Sydney and En-
counter. One pound (symbol ‘lb’) was about half a
kilogram. An edited copy of the list follows:
Rice, 440 lb; raisins, 57 lb; currants, 60 lb; cream of
tartar, 16 lb; carb. of soda, 8 lb; sago, 84 lb; tapi-
oca, 84 lb; curry powder, 14 lb; haricot beans, 112 lb;
marrowfat peas, 112 lb; salt, 112 lb; split peas, 56 lb;
pepper, 8 lb; mixed spice, 8 lb; milk, 144 12 ounce
tins; fresh beef, 14825 lb; potatoes, 8400 lb; fresh wa-
ter, 96 tons.
Comment by Naval Board member
The file contains an undated handwritten signed
minute by Rear-Admiral Creswell, First Naval Mem-
ber of the Commonwealth Naval Board:
Subject: Detachment of Kanowna from N Guinea ex-
pedition
. . . All reports enclosed show plentiful evidence that
Kanowna should have been sent back from Moresby -
i.e. that she should never have been permitted to join
the expedition (Moresby to Rabaul). They were (in
Kanowna) lacking in every detail & qualification nec-
essary to an efficient unit. This ship should never have
left Moresby.
WR Creswell
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 46
Appendix D: Irvinebank Rifle Club members on Kanowna
The Northern Herald of 14 August 1914 published
the names of the members of twenty-two mainly local
rifle clubs who embarked on the Kanowna on 9 Au-
gust. Clubs whose members are listed include the
Irvinebank and Stannary Hills clubs, and the list for
the former club is reproduced below. Of the sixty-five
men whose names are on the Irvinebank club’s list,
the number who died in World War I was probably
ten.
39
Allan, John
40
Arbouin, Charles
Arbouin, James
Armstrong, Herbert James
41
Borghero, Jack
Borghero, Leslie Thos.
Boyd, Roy
Bradshaw, Alex. Miller
Brooks, William Abercrombie
Cafferty, John
Cawley, Frank
Clarke, Thomas
42
Collins, James
Cummings, Alex
Cummings, Michael
43
Dabondi [Debondi?], Antoni
Davis, Benjamin Charles
Desher [Disher], Wallace
Donaldson, James Allan
Eales, Andrew
Eales, Herbert Charles
Fitzmaurice, Percy R
Fitzmorris [Fitzmaurice?], Herbert
Ford, James
Henderson, George
Hewitt, George Frank
Hinchey, Douglas
Hodgett, Alfred
Hoult, William
Hume, George
Hyde, Michael
Kerridge, Frank
44
Kesney [Kenny?], William Thomas
45
Kirkman, John Lachlan
Knight, James
46
Langbourne, Lewis
Louch, Charles William Frederick
Manly, John James
McAllister, Edward
47
MacDonald [Macdonald], Frederick
Meehan, James Patrick
Moran, Patrick Joseph
Murdoch, William
Murrane, John
48
39
Information about the deaths is from the Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour database.
40
John Allan, clerk, of Irvinebank was killed at Passchendale Wood on 3 November 1917 aged 24.
41
Later commissioned as Second Lieutenant.
42
Thomas Clarke of Irvinebank died on 12 April 1916.
43
Michael Cummings, miner, of Irvinebank died of pneumonia in England on 13 April 1917 aged 23.
44
Frank Kerridge, teamster, of Irvinebank was killed in France on 8 March 1917 aged 24.
45
William Thomas Kenny, engineering student, of Irvinebank was killed at Pozieres on 5 August 1916 aged 22.
46
James Taylor Knight who enlisted at Irvinebank died of wounds at Gallipoli on 7 August 1915 aged 25.
47
David Henry John McAllister who enlisted at Irvinebank died of wounds in France on 8 October 1918 aged 23.
48
John Edward Murrane, tin dresser, of Irvinebank was killed at Armentieres on 13 May 1916 aged 34.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Irvinebank Rifle Club members on Kanowna Contents 47
Neilson, Peter
Parr, Thomas
Penny, Richard Martin
Rayment, Sydney Thomas
Richardson, Sydney Charles
Roberts, William Harper
Robinson, JW
Rooran, William
Ryan, Joseph
Shepherd, Arthur Raymond
Shepherd, William
Sheridan, Charles
49
Spiers[Speirs], William
Stanley, Henry
Stern, John
Stevens, Robert John
Stone, Ernest
Stone, Percy
Tennent, Joseph Thomas
Waddell, William Thomas [Thomson]
50
Young, John
49
Charles Henry Sheridan, miner, of Irvinebank was killed in action at Gallipoli on 10 May 1915 aged 30.
50
William Thomson Waddell, engineer, of Irvinebank who had been to New Guinea on the Kanowna was killed at Mont St Quentin in France on 2 September 1918 aged 27.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 48
Appendix E: Rifle club members in uniform
The accompanying table lists photographs of rifle club
members dating from 1914 or earlier that I have been able
to view with the aid of www.pictureaustralia.org.
The columns in the table show: club name; state; date;
photo identification number; and (number of men in uni-
form) / (number of adult males). The numbers in the last
column are subject to some uncertainty, in part because
most of the photos have been rendered at low resolution,
but the striking contrast between the proportion of men in
uniform in Queensland and New South Wales on one hand
and in South Australia on the other is not in doubt.
St George Qld c. 1901 187446 20 / 23
Chillagoe Qld c. 1907 187063 7 / 9
Coomera Qld c. 1910 LS-LSP-CD001-IMG0060 8 / 28
Irvinebank Qld 1911 page 18, this book 25 / 29
Alberton Qld c. 1913 LS-LSP-CD030-IMG0084 12 / 18
Tilba NSW 1902 ? nla.pic-an2438552 0 / 38
Wollongong NSW c. 1905 P01/P01276 4 / 5
Wollongong NSW 1907 P03/P03169 10 / 10
Uralgurra NSW 1900–09 04491 7 / 9
Balmoral Vic 1890 MM 003415 0 / 20
Adelaide SA 1897 B 17539 0 / 46
Adelaide SA 1898 B 22012 0 / 9
Clarendon SA 1900 B 35543 0 / 26
Clarendon SA 1900 B 35557 0 / 6
Victor Harbor SA c. 1900 B 28966 0 / 25
Brighton SA 1902 B 23151 11 / 22
German SA 1902 B 40893 0 / 18
Cyclists SA 1903 B 59494 0 / 21
Cyclists SA c. 1905 B 59495 0 / 7
District SA 1907 B 26359 0 / 25
Hindmarsh Valley SA c. 1907 B 23847 0 / 11
Cyclists SA 1908 B 59497 0 / 13
Cyclists SA 1908 B 59498 3 / 47
Cyclists SA c. 1908 B 59496 0 / 10
Murray Bridge SA c. 1910 B 19063 2 / 31
Murray Bridge SA c. 1910 B 19059 0 / 9
Auburn SA 1912 B 40602 0 / 17
Murray Bridge SA 1912 B 46025 0 / 10
Murray Bridge SA 1914 B 46026 1 / 13
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 49
Appendix F: Literal transcription of diary
[Page boundaries are denoted by empty lines.]
Fred M. Macdonald
No 3 Section
D Company
Second Infantry
Kennedy Regiment
Aus. Naval & Military Expeditionary force
[The above text is on the inside of the front cover and is
repeated on the inside of the back cover. After the front
cover there are two blank pages before the next entry.]
Regimental Number 1929
Number of Rifle 7899
[Eight blank pages follow before the next entry.]
= Diary = The Caruse of the “Kanowna”
Left IBK on August 7th with
2nd IBK contingent consisting of
30 Rifle Club members. We picked
up 19 members of the Stannary Club
at Stannary Hills where we were
addressed by Colonel Beach. Arrived
in Cairns at 6 oclock P.M. and reported
at the drillshed where we were
allotted to our various hotels.
Paraded at 8 oclock and marched
to the wharf to farewell the Cairns
Naval reserve men who however
did not depart. until Aug 8th
August 8th
Paraded at 9 AM. for medical
examination and was passed as
fit. 4 men were excluded as being
unfit and 3 more for being over
45 years of age. Paraded again at
2 30 for drill and instruction.
dismissed at 6.30. Baggage parade
at 8 oclock. Were dismissed and at 10 P.M.
& paraded again at 12 oclock
midnight and marched to wharf.
August 9th
Kanowna arrived at Cairns at
1.30 A.M. with large contingent
of Kennedy Regiment. We were
expecting to embark but were
dismissed at 3..AM. Embarkation
being postponed until daylight.
Paraded again at 7 oclock and
marched from Drillshed to Kanowna
and embarked. Departure made
at 10.10 A.M. Large crowd of
citizens farwelling us. 1200
troops aboard besides crew of 100
horses, ambulance waggons
ammuntition etc equipment
provisions etc. A strict
censorship was now on all
correspondence was now brough
brought about.
August 10th 1914.
Diarrhoea broke out and nearly
all on board suffered more or less.
Some people blamed the Doctors for
dosing the food. Some idiot
turned on the fire hose on the aft
end of the ship and a number
of men suffered a good deal of
discomfiture through wet clothes.
The regimental band rendered
very good music nightly and
some of the companies organised
boxing bouts which tended to
make the very crowded conditions
more agreeable. The scenery along
the coast is very beautiful in
some places. Passed a good number
of very pretty islands including
some atolls. Were alotted to our
different companies of the 2nd
Infantry Kennedy Regiment. I
was alotted to No 4 section G. Company.
August the 11th
Arrived at Thursday Island
at 7 AM. Disembarkation
commenced at 10 oclock. Troops
were marched to our camping
ground about a mile inland.
Pitched our tents on a good big
dry flat. which proved to be
very dusty and dirty. Very late
in afternoon before all of the
tents were pitched and Company
lines alotted owing cheifly to
the disorganised state of every-
thing. Groups of men stood
about willing to work but
were unable to work do
anything without leaders.
The result was tea in the dark
and some of the companies
had to go to sleep without
blankets.
August 12th
More tent erection and the same
disorder. Our Company attempted
to put up a big tent and noone
knew how to start about it.
Took over an hour to find necessary
ropes pegs etc. A strong guard
was told off and no one was
allowed to aproach us or depart
from the camp. Water tanks and wells
were strictly guarded. The Latrines
provided were well built and
it was no trouble for the men
to comply with the sanitation
orders. The officers in charge
of this department are to be
complimented on for their
efforts made to keep down
sickness and disease. Wednesday
night (A) Company were marched
to the port to furnish a guard.
A little improvement was
noticed in the food supply
which up till now had been
very scant. The capture of
a German spy at has been
reported at the fort. The whole of the
regiment were turned out
and served with 20 rounds
of ball ammunition and
ordered to sleep that night
in clothing with rifles and
equipment close by them, ready
to turn out on alarm being
given. A large number of
men were without rifles and
unable to obtain them owing
to the disorganised state of
affairs. and it would have
been awkward if anything
serious had happened.
Numerous mulgar stories
now got afloat as to the
cause of these precautions
taken
but the real one is held as
close as an oyster by those that
know. I think that the fort
got out of touch with the
wireless of the warships. Though
strict orders were given that
PrevSection Index NextSection
Literal transcription of diary Contents 50
no man should load his
rifle until orders to do so were
given. several men did load
and the result was a couple
of accidental discharges of
cartridges. The feat of dodging
the guard at night time
after a secret visit to town
was most precarious as in
some cases nervous sentrys
loaded their rifles although
ordered not to do so.
Thursday 13th Aug
Unloading stores from “Kanowna”
which had commenced the
proceeding day was gone on
with. One Company relieving
another so that the work
would not fall to the one
lot of men.
Friday 14th
As there were a number of
rifle Club members in civilian
clothes and equipped with
the long Lee Enfield rifle. These
men were paraded to the
quartermaster’s tent where
their long rifles and were
taken and one uniform,
1 pair of boots, 1 Grea 1 greatcoat,
1 web equipment, 1 short Lee
Enfield rifle was handed
to them. Trainees were put
through rifle exercises at
drill. and some worked
transshipping stores. Some
one rooked my shaving tackle
tooth brush and soap from my
kit bag
Saturday 15th
500 volunteers were called for
service in the Pacific Ocean
destination unknown, but
it was generally supposed to
be German New Guinea. Men
obtained and those that did not
receive equipment were given
same. Necessary stores for the
trip were taken on board
Kanowna again.
Sunday 16th
Church Parade in the morning
for those wishing to attend.
Tents required for the 500 going
by Kanowna were struck and packed
and sent onto the boat.
The 500 men then signed fresh
attestion forms and oaths
after which they
were drafted into separate companies
A, B, C, D and paraded at
3 oclock in marching order for
Colonel’s inspection. After which
we marched to the Kanowna
and embarked. At about
midnight the Kanowna
left Thursday Island wharf
with all lights out and steamed
East. Destination not known
to the men. All A stiff
Easterly wind causeding a sea
with big swells.
Monday 17th
Conditions aboard boat this
trip are not so crowded
but the stiff Easterly breeze
into which we were driving
causing a nasty sea made
things uncomfortable and
before the day was out
everyone was seasick. Only
one parade this day at 1 oclock
when a first field dressing
Page 7
was given to every man and
instructions given how to use
same should it become necessary.
No lights were shown except those
in the internal parts of the
boats. A fairly rough sea
right through the night.
Tuesday 18th August
A Cloudy morning and the same
easterly wind blowing. Port
Moresby was reached after negotiating
a very treacherous looking harbour.
A very interesting display by do by
a dozen natives diving for coins
thrown from the boat was given.
The natives seemed very excited
and a large crowd of them
gathered on the beach some dressed
in native clothing others with
only a loincloth. The smart
looking native police could be
picked out dressed in a loose
navy blue frock edged with
white with belt, bayonet and
pouch attached. Paraded at 2.30.
Wednesday 18th
A large native village is
situated on the North shore of
the cove consisting of a couple
of hundred houses built right in
the water on high blocks about
15 feet high. At about 8 oclock
a fleet of native canoes with
2 large square sails hoisted in
each boat sailed out from the
villages and headed Westerly
evidently on a fishing expedition.
Paraded again at 9.30 and marched
to Moresby recreation ground for
drill and skirmishing. Returned
to boat at 11.30 where some of the
natives had gathered to sell their
cocoanuts, pawpaws etc. Paraded
again at 2.30 to parade ground.
About dusk the destroyers “Warrego”
“Yarra” and “Parramatta” appeared
on the horizon crossed the harbour
and dissapeared in Fairfax bay.
Their smart stealthy movements caused
favourable comment on all sides.
Thursday & Friday and Saturday
was spent drilling and skirmishing
at the parade ground with an
additional parade each morning
at 6.30 for bathing. The swimming bath at
Port Moresby is far superior to the
one at T. Island.
Saturday August 22nd
A visit Paraded and marched to Native Villiage
3 miles by land. and it proved very
interesting.
Sunday August 23rd
Church parade for those wishing
to attend. Both morning and evening
During the stay at Moresby the fresh water
supply was very limited. As Even
salt water could not be obtained
regularly. The food was bad and
insufficient. On Wednesday the
meat was tainted and complaints
were made on all sides about
the tea which smelt very much
like senna. The Haricot beans
supplied on some days were sour
especially on Sunday August 23rd
when nearly every man threw
his share overboard. No hot water
could be obtained for washing
dishes after meals each man
being supposed to wash his own.
The men used to go down to
the bathroom and fill their
pannikins with salt water and
carry it on deck and wash
their dishes knives forks etc.
and as the decks were not washed
every day they soon became very
dirty. Things would have been
better had if the Military authorities
had taken charge of the commissairiat
department instead of the shipping
people. On arrival C Company
was alotted outpost duty guarding
the wireless station which
hitherto had been guarded by a
party of Papuan Natives.
August 24th
Kanowna steamed over to Fairfax
bay to coal. taking all the troops with
her except C Company which
was left at the wirless station.
Fairfax bay is a small cove about
few 5 miles from Moresby and is
an ideal harbour. There is a good
depth of water in it and it
is quite out of sight of Moresby.
Two oil boats and 2 colliers were
anchored here also the Warrego.
The Kanowna hitched up alongside
the collier Koolonga and soon
after 260 native boys came
aboard and coaling was in
full swing by 10 oclock. It was
amusing to watch the natives
coming ashore aboard some carrying
wearing nothing but a loin cloth
but all had wore plenty of bead
necklaces shell ornaments and
each one carried a bundle of food
yams cocoanuts sugar cane bananas
etc though the authorities provided
rice and biscuits. For about an hour
or so they were in high glee
shouting and yelling and
making a terrible row though
they did not shift much coal
and the few native police
had to keep them up to their
work. It was very funny to see
them at tucker time. A bucket
full of rice was boiled and in
to this was stirred a tin of
preserved meat and when all
was ready each one dived his
hand into the bucket and then
into his mouth. This went on
until each one had his fill.
Coaling operations lasted until
Thursday afternoon Aug 27th
and altogether about 1000 tons were
taken on board. This is pretty slow
work as the niggers worked from
PrevSection Index NextSection
Literal transcription of diary Contents 51
6 a.m to 9 P.M with spells in
between for meals. The natives
slept on board the collier on the
hard cold iron decks without
any blankets, or covering of any
sort. While the coaling was
going on the troops paraded as
usual and the 6.30 bathing
parade was altered to one for physical
exercise. During the next day or two
the ships crew cleaned up the
ship. Thursday and Friday nights
concerts were held. The sailors
from the Warrego assisting
and a very good program was
given. During the week the
Latrine Leader a very amusing
and widely read journal
made its appearance and was
published and when convenient.
and Friday August 28th.
A boat crew of men from each
section of the different companies
had been practising boat drill for a day or
to previous to this and today a
test of disembarking the troops
by means of the ships boats were
made and was fairly successful.
Sunday Aug 30th. The Ch Anglican
minister and an RC priest came
aboard and service was held at
10 A.M. Boat racing in the
afternoon. Each section of each
crew company furnished a crew but
the time would not permit of
all the sections rowing off.
No.3 section A Company won was
leading the crew consisting of 4
I.Bankers and. Just after tea
news came along of something
possibly doing and everything
on board was all activity
Orders were given for every man
to pack his kit and be ready
to move at a minutes notice
150 rounds of ammunition was
also served out to each man.
The Warrego which had been
lying alongside of us steamed
out and the men everyone was
told to sleep fully dressed ready
for the alarm. Nothing however
came of it and the rumour next
morning said that 3 German
cruisers had been seen close
to Moresby.
Saturday Aug 29th.
We had a sham fight today
A Coy was landed and were
supposed to occupy a position
of at not further than 4 miles
and not less than 2 miles and
(B) and (D) Companies were
landed 1½ hours later and
were to find A Company and
wrest the position from them if
possible. A Company however
did not play the game and
instead of going the 2 miles
went only 200 yards and took
cover. The result was the
capture of all of D Companies
scouts exceptine 2 or 3.
The whole thing was a complete
failure and I lost all confidence
in O.Cs. the officers.
Monday August 31st
Parades as usual
The food was bad and a considerable
amount of grumbling was heard
about both the quality and quantity
Whenever a complaint was made
it was impressed upon us that
we were on active service both
by our OCs and the ships stewards
though the officers fared
extremely well.
Tuesday Au Sept 1st
Troops again embarked for sham
fight but I was on picket
duty pumping water from the
Parramatta to Kanowna. I dont
know how things went though
the other chaps say that
things were carried out better
on this occasion than formerly.
Condensed water was supplied
to the Kanowna by any of the
destroyers which happened to be
in the harbour but only in
small quantities. The
destroyers were seldom in the
harbour during the night it
being their duty to to patrol
the coast and sometimes they
would be away for a day or 2
at a time. Water is now very
scarce and the men are dealt
out ? 2 pints twice per day. This has
to do for drinking and washing.
Though we get a pint of tea
at each meal. We have not
been allowed to wear our civilian
clothes on parade and as we
have only one uniform it is
very dirty. Washing clothes
in salt water being unsatisfactory.
Tuesday Sept night the Oil
boat Murix came into port and
dropped her anchor a stones throw
from the Kanowna. There was great
rejoicing when we learned that
there was mail aboard for us.
This being the first mail since
leaving Cairns. We received our
mail about 10 PM and I was
lucky enough to get 2 letters.
I envied some of the chaps who
got 10 letters besides newspapers.
Wednesday Sept 2nd.
The parades tod this morning
have been called off to allow
the men to read their mail
and an to write and answer
same. The dinner to day was
the worst we have yet had.
The tea has been cancelled at
dinnertime owing to shortage of
water. The haricot beans were
not well cooked and the
sago was nearly raw. and
the bread stodgy and sour.
Several men from D company
paraded with their meal to the
O.C. and the result was a
rousing on for the cook.
Thursday Sept 3rd
Sixteen men were told off from No 3
section D company to wash
dirty clothes of that section
at Fairfax plantation. Left
Kanowna and arrived at
landing at 11 oclock. We loaded
all the clothes on a a and
3 breakers from the ships
boats which on a truck and
pushed it along the tramway
which runs to within a mile
of the plantation. The tramline
has a very is nearly all uphill
and we had hard work
pushing the truck. We met
a good many natives when
The we got to the end of the line. and
They seemed very frightened of us.
They could not speak English
at all. We could see the plantation
about a mile away. and we were not
sorry when we got there as we had to
carry the breakers to t from the end
of the line. The plantation is a
fairly large one there being 1000
acres under sisal hemp. It is
worked by native boys with white
bosses. There is plenty of water there
and we soon got busy on the
washing and while the clothes
were drying had a walk round
and a beautiful shower bath.
the first we had had for a month.
When we were ready to return a
boy from the overseers house brought
us a big billy of tea and some buns
which reminded me of home.
On our return we took three trucks
back with us an we selected trucks
with ball bearings and as the
grade was pretty steep going back
we were able to ride on the trucks
We reached the beach at about 5.30 PM
and the tide was running in
strongly and a stiff wind blowing
against us. The sea was very
rough and the first time we
pushed off were immediately swept
back. We could see that we
were in for a pretty rough time
but we pushed off again and
then the fun started. One good
thing though the moon was
shining brightly so we could
see what we were doing.
We had hard work rowing each
man taking his turn at the
oars. We hat 2 Lieutenants
an the 5
th
officer from the
boat was in charge but he
could not command men
owing to an impediment in
his speech. The result was
every man in the boat wanted
to be boss and whenever the
boat got side on Everyone would
give orders as to how to write
right it. This was no good
and all was confusion.
We got out about 400 yards
and though we rowed all we
could we not get any further
After two hours of this a motor
boat that had been sent out
in search of us picked us up
and towed us back to the
Kanowna. Needless to say we were
very thankful to be back again
and after a meal retired and
PrevSection Index NextSection
Literal transcription of diary Contents 52
woke up feeling very sore.
The Sept 4th
The oil boat Physa steamed
away today with mail aboard.
The alarm was given today and
all hands paraded on the boat
deck and each man adjusted
a lifebelt after which each
section was alotted to their
different respective boats. At 7.30 tonight
The cruiser Syney followed by
the 2 submarines (A.E.1) and
(A.E.2) steamed in. the Sydney
tying up by a collier an coaling
and the submarines went over
to the Murix to take in oil.
Saturday Sept 5th.
The cruiser Encounter came in
and anchored by the Kanowna
and gave us some condensed
water. The troop ship “Berrima”
also came in and went
alongside of the collier. One
of the destroyers also came in
after this the harbour presented
a very busy scene. The natives
who came alongside selling
paw paws cocoanuts curios
etc had a very busy day today
and seemed to be doing a
good trade. After the Kanowna
had taken water from the
Encounter she shifted over
alongside of the Berrima
and we had a chance to chat
with the troops on her for an
hour or so. but soon a few
sentries were posted along the
rail of each boat and we
were kept away from each
other. We found that the troops
on the Berrima consisted
mostly of volunteers from
Sydney and Melbourne and
Naval reserve men making
a total of 1700. all told. On
comparing we found that they
(the Berrima troops) had been
issued with 2 uniforms. 1 shaving
outfit, 1 jersey, 2 flannelette shirts
2 towels, soap, 2 prs trousers,
1 underpants and 1 pr braces.
We had only been issued with
only one uniform. I believe
that most of the goods
mentioned above have been
given to the Berrima men
by the citizens of Sydney.
They also had hammocks to
sleep in and had their
meals in the dining room
and plenty of food so much
that they handed us s
several loaves of bread over
the rails and we found the
bread was a far better quality
than ours. Our chaps have
our meals on the deck where
we sleep each man parading
past the Stewards with his
plate etc. receiving his
meal and returning to his
place and on deck and then
sitting down on the deck
and eating it. The Encounter
went over to the Koolonga
and coaled. None of the troops
were allowed to vote today.
Sunday Sept 6th
Kanowna shifted over alongside
Sydney (who had finished
coaling) and received more
water and some stores. Church
parade at 11 AM. the chaplain
from one of the cruisers
preaching. This afternoon we
were allowed of over the Sydney
and we had a good look all
over her.
Sept 7th Monday
Raised anchor at 6 AM. and
moved to P. Moresby where
we dropped a pilot who had
fallen down one of the holds
and was considerably hurt.
2 or 3 days previously. The 2
submarines had steamed out
ahead of us and were now
visible in sight again. The
other vessels which we had
left in Fairfax bay were
now all on the move and we
could see we were going some
where at last. The cruiser
Sydney cleared the channel
first followed closely by the
Berrima, Kanowna, Encounter
storeship Aorangi, 2 destroyers
the other destroyer was probably
ahead of us all. When we got
outside of the channel it was
the boat began to pitch and
toss and a good many of us
were awfully seasick. It
was quite a sight to see
the way the little destroyers
used to pitch and toss in the rough
seas
Soon after leaving Moresby a
big boat could be seen in
the distance apparently
heading for P Moresby and the
2 destroyers steamed over to
investigate but they soon
returned evidently satisfied.
The Encounter moved up into line
with the Sydney and the
destroyers with the Berrima.
Soon after 12 oclock noon the
Kanowna slowed down and
eventually stopped. The Sydney
returned and the destroyers
came up near us and stood by
We could not make out what
the deuce was wrong. We were
just receiving dinner when the
bugle sounded the fall in. All
troops left their half eaten
dinners and fell in when
volunteers were called for about
30 firemen and obtained. We
found that the firemen had
mutinied and that the Sydney
had ordered us to proceed to
Townsville. The Sydney and
the destroyers continued on
their course and the Kanowna
turned and headed South.
All of the troops are very
disgusted and dissapointed
at seeing the Sydney lads
get in before us. After we
had been first out and
waiting for so long and putting
up with all of the rough
part of it. During our stoppage
the Kanowna firemen had all
been ord up before the Captain
some ordered up from their
fires some from their bunks.
They had been complaining
all along on account of not
getting sufficient water for
washing purposes and other
things. Today things came
to a head and they were all
made prisoners by the Captain.
The rest of day passed quietly 90%
of troops seasick.
Tuesday Sept 8th and Wed 9th
passed without excitement.
The boat made good way and
the barrier was passed on
Wednesday. The scenery in the
afternoon was worth watching
Thursday Sept 10th
Early this morning we arrived
at the Townsville anchorage
and dropped anchor. About
8 oclock a small cruiser The “Protector”
came up and took from us
a staff officer Captain Fry who was
acting as adjutant and who
had come aboard us at
Fairfax bay from the Berrima
During his stay with us Captain
Fry had personally enquired
into the condition of the men
and stirred things up generally.
We noticed a big improvement
while he was with us and
were all sorry to see him go
aboard the cruiser which
was going North. Steamed
into Kanowna steamed into the
wharf and tied up but were
ordered back again by authorities.
Went out to anchorage again
and anchored again. Everyone
dissapointed. Latrine Leader commandeered
Friday Sept 11th
Parades in morning as usual
Steamed into ancho wharf again
in afternoon and tied up.
A strong guard was posted on the
wharf and instructions given
that no information was to be
given to the townspeople whatever
No one was allowed ashore and we
we were told not to tell any one
anything at all. but some of the
chaps got to work signalling
by semaphore and others started
talking deaf & dumb language with
their friends ashore. Lots of fellows
threw letters wrapped in
matchboxes ashore. so that it
was not long before everyone
on shore knew all about the
expedition.
Saturday Sept 12th
Passed without excitement. We
were not allowed on shore and
the guards were strengthened.
Parades as usual. About 10 PM. We
were paraded and the C.O. read a
PrevSection Index NextSection
Literal transcription of diary Contents 53
wireless which had just come through
saying that Herbertshohe, Rabaul and
Sunday Sept 13th
Simsonhafen had been taken
by the “Australia”.
Sunday Sept 13th.
We paraded at 10 A.M. and marched
to church and were all glad to
get ashore and stretch our legs.
After lunch Captain Marks
came aboard and told us that
he had received instructions
from the Minister for defence to
discharge the Kanowna troops and
that if any of us wished to
volunteer for Europe we would
be given the first consideration
chance with the second
Australian expedition which
is expected to depart in October.
After this we were all allowed
to go down on to the wharf where
a large crowd of people had
gathered.
Monday Sept 14th
Preparations were made for
disembarking. About 10 A.M. we
marched to Kissing point and
pitched camp. Things were carried
out and camp pitched in a much
better manner that at Thursday
Island. Went and had a good swim
on the beach about 200 yards from
the camp. We paraded at 7.30 PM
and then marched into town where
we were dismissed. The Olympia
picture Co had offered a free night
to the troops but I did not go.
I strolled round town until 10.30
when we were paraded again
and marched back to camp.
Kissing point is a splendid place
for a camp. The Its only disadvantage
being the distance from the town
which is about 2 miles. No 3 section
was photographed at 5 PM
Tuesday Sept 15th
At 10 A.M. We paraded and marched
to the drill shed and handed in
our rifles, bayonets & great coats.
At 5 P.M when we were all given
leave until 11 PM. I Went in to
town and had a good time.
Expect to be paid and discharged
tomorrow
Wednesday Sept 16th
Paraded and handed in the
remainder of equipment. Paraded
at 1 PM and D Company presented
their commander Lieut. Harry and
the 2 subalterns Lieuts Wren & Clarke
with wristlet watches. The volunteers
for Europe numbering about 140 were examined
by the doctor and about 107 were
passed as fit. We were not paid.
to day. Were allowed leave from 7 PM
until 10.30. Went in to town and
arrived back at camp at 11.30 and
had to dodge sentry. Washed my
uniform and got to sleep at 1 AM
Thursday Sept 17th.
Paraded and were given a fortnights
pay. At 5 PM We paraded and
farewelle were addressed by Major
Aitkin after this the Charters
Towers, Mackay and Ayr contingents
marched into town and departed
for their respective homes. I
received my discharge but
have to stay here until in
camp until Saturday or Sunday
when we leave for home. We
Sept 18th Friday
We were paid up in full to day
and expect to leave for home
tomorrow. 15 more volunteers for
Europe from the Cairns contingent
were examined by the doctor
today and 10 including myself passed
as medically fit. We were allowed
leave to go in to town at night.
Saturday Sept 19th
Paraded early with our kit bags
packed and marched down to
the wharf where 130 men embarked
for Cairns by the T.S.S Mourilyan.
The remainder about are to
leave by the “Marloo”. We found
the conditions on the Mourilyan
much better than the Kanowna.
The scenery today was beautiful
We are due in Cairns early
tomorrow morning.
Sunday Sept 20th
Arrived at Cairns at 7. A.M
The “Marloo” and Mourilyan drew up
to the wharf together and all of
the troops disembarked together.
We were met on the wharf by a
large crowd of people and from
there we marched to the drillshed
and were dismissed. Paraded
at the drillshed again at 10.30.AM
and where we received our kit
bags, and the Hinterland troops
were issued with railway passes
to their homes. We were dismissed
again at 11.30 and were allowed
the remainder of the day off.
(Before being dismissed we were
addressed by Major Toll and
Captain Walsh. Captain Walsh
complimented the riflemen on
their splendid behaviour and work
throughout the expedition.
I spent the remainder of the
day strolling round and having
a good time generally.
Monday April Sept 21st
Left Cairns by 7. AM train and
had an uneventful journey as
until we reached Mareeba.
The scenery in the Barron gorge
and the Barron falls was good
PrevSection Index NextSection
Literal transcription of diary Contents 54
An opening of the diary. Two facing pages of the diary
are shown here a little reduced. The diary has been writ-
ten in pencil in a saddle-stitched book with soft cardboard
covers to whose outer surfaces is glued cloth impregnated
with a glossy black flexible material. The book was made
from (at least) forty sheets of paper, stitched in the middle,
making a total of 160 pages, but two leaves appear to have
been torn out of the front half of the book leaving a total of
156 pages. The text of the diary seems to be complete. The
pages are 114x178 mm, and have horizontal blue ruled lines
and vertical red ones. The groups of three vertical columns
were probably designed to hold amounts in the imperial cur-
rency of the time (pounds, shillings and pence), but with the
book rotated 180 degrees so that these columns would have
been at the right hand edge of each page.
PrevSection Index NextSection
Contents 55
Index
AE1, 13, 14, 26, 35, 36, 38, 39
AE2, 13, 14, 26, 35, 36, 38, 39
Aitkin, Major, 15, 41
Allan, John, 46
Aorangi, 14, 36, 38, 39, 45
Arbouin
Charles, 46
James, 46
Armstrong, Herbert James, 18, 46
Australia, 15, 36, 43
Beach, Colonel, 10
Bennetto, Neil, 9
Berrima, 13, 14, 26, 30, 36–45
Borghero
Jack, 46
Leslie Thos., 46
boxing, 10
Boyd, Roy, 46
Bradshaw, Alex. Miller, 46
Brooks, William Abercrombie, 46
Broughton, Pat, 9
Cafferty, John, 46
Captain
Fernley, 44, 45
Fry, 14, 42
Glossop, 38, 43, 44
Kay, 44, 45
Kay, Stuart, 7
Maguire, 44
Marks, 15
Martin, GE, 8
Toll, 8
Walsh, 15
Cawley, Frank, 46
church parade, 11, 12, 14, 15
Clarke, Lieutenant, 15
Clarke, Thomas, 46
clothing
for troops, 11, 13, 14
Papuan, 11, 12
coaling, 12–14, 35, 43
Collins
James, 46
WP, 18
Collinson, JW, 7, 8
Colonel
Holmes, William, 37–40, 43, 44
Legge, JG, 40
concert, 10, 12
Creswell, Rear-Admiral WR, 45
Cummings
Alex, 46
Michael, 46
Dabondi [Debondi?], Antoni, 46
Davis, Benjamin Charles, 46
Dawson, Jim, 18
destroyer, 11, 13, 14
diarrhoea, 10
Discharge Certificate, 31
Disher, Wallace, 46
Donald, Bob, 18
Donaldson, James Allan, 46
dressing, field, 11
Eales
Andrew, 46
Herbert Charles, 46
election, Federal, 14
Encounter, 13, 14, 30, 35, 36, 38, 39, 43
Fearnley & Co building, Cairns, 34
Fernley, Captain, 44, 45
field dressing, 11
Fitzmaurice
Herbert, 46
Percy R, 18, 46
Folkes, Chief Steward FJ, 45
food
for troops, 11–14
Papuan, 11, 12, 14
Ford, James, 46
Fry, Captain, 14, 42
Gipps
FGDV, 18
Richard, 18
Glossop, Captain JCT, 38, 43, 44
Guilfoyle
Jack, 18
Jim, 18
Harry, Lieutenant, 15
hemp plantation, 13, 28
Henderson
Alec, 18
George, 18, 46
Heritage, Major, 40, 42
Hewitt, George Frank, 18, 46
Hinchey, Douglas, 46
Hodgett, Alfred, 46
Holmes, Colonel William, 37–40, 43, 44
hotel
Australian, Irvinebank, 18
Dunwoodies, Cairns, 19, 33
Joyce’s Mining Exchange, Cairns, 19,
33
Royal, Cairns, 34
Hoult, William, 46
Howse, Lieut-Colonel NR, 44
Hume, George, 46
Hyde, Michael, 46
Irvinebank, 3, 10
PrevSection NextSection
Index Contents 56
Rifle Club, 10, 17, 18, 46
Jack & Newell’s store, Cairns, 34
Kanowna, 7, 38, 43
at Cairns, 10, 20, 21
at Fairfax Harbour, 12–14, 30, 38–40
at Port Moresby wharf, 27
at Thursday Island, 11
at Townsville, 14, 35
Kay, Captain, 44, 45
Kay, Stuart, 7
Kennedy Regiment, 7–10, 16, 20, 38
Kenny, William Thomas, 46
Kernan, WH, 18
Kerr, George, 18
Kerridge, Frank, 46
Kesney, William Thomas, 46
King, Charlie, 18
Kirkman, John Lachlan, 46
Kissing Point, Townsville, 15
Knight, James, 46
Koolonga, 12, 14, 36, 39, 43
Langbourne, Lewis, 46
Latrine Leader, 12, 14
latrines, Thursday Island, 11
Legge, Colonel JG, 40
Lieutenant
Clarke, 15
Harry, 15
Marsden, 40
Smith, HG, 7
Wren, 15
Linde, Alf, 18
Louch, Charles William Frederick, 46
Macdonald, Frederick Malcolm, 3, 46
Maguire, Captain FA, 44
mail, 13
Major
Aitkin, 15, 41
Heritage, 40, 42
Toll, 15
Manly, John James, 46
Marks, Captain, 15
Marloo, 15, 34, 36
Marsden, Lieutenant, 40
Martin, Captain GE, 8
Mayor, AG, photographer, 24
McAllister
David Henry John, 46
Edward, 46
Meehan, James Patrick, 46
Montalbion, 3
Moran
Patrick Joseph, 46
TS, 18
Mourilyan, 15, 32, 33
Murdoch, William, 46
Murex, 13, 29, 30, 39
Murrane
Joe, 18
John, 18, 46
music, 10
mutiny by stokers, 14, 39, 42, 43
native
police, 11, 12
village, 11, 12, 23, 24
Naval Reserve men, 10, 14
Neilson, Peter, 47
O’Callaghan, Mike, 18
Parr, Thomas, 47
Parramatta, 11, 13, 35, 36, 39
Patey, Rear-Admiral GE, 38, 39, 43
Penny, Richard Martin, 47
Peters
Fred, 18
George, 18
photographer
Mayor, AG, 24
Taylor, AL, 19, 20, 33, 34
Physa, 13, 27
police, native, 11, 12
Port Moresby, 11, 12, 14, 23, 24
wharf, 27, 35
wireless station, 12, 25
Protector, 14, 36, 38
Ramage, Syd, 18
Rayment, Sydney Thomas, 47
Rear-Admiral
Creswell, 45
Patey, 38, 39, 43
Richardson, Sydney Charles, 47
rifle clubs, 8, 17, 18, 46, 48
rifle, Lee-Enfield, 11
Roberts, William Harper, 47
Robinson, JW, 47
Rogers, Frank, 18
Rooran, William, 47
Ryan, Joseph, 47
seasickness, 11, 14
semaphore, 14
sham fight, 12, 13
Shepherd
Arthur Raymond, 47
William, 47
Sheridan, Charles, 47
sisal hemp plantation, 13, 28
Smith, HG, 7
Speed, George, 18
Speirs, William, 47
Spiers, Robert, 9
Spiers, William, 47
Stanley, Henry, 47
Stannary Hills, 10
Rifle Club, 10, 46
Stern, John, 47
Stevens, Robert John, 47
Stewart, Bill, 18
Stone
Ernest, 47
Percy, 47
stores, 45
swimming bath, 12
Sydney, 13, 14, 26, 30, 36, 38, 39, 42–45
Taylor, AL, see photographer, Taylor, AL
Tennent, Joseph Thomas, 47
tents, 10, 11
Thursday Island, 7, 10, 11, 22, 38, 39
Toll, Captain, 8
Toll, Major, 15
Townsville, 7, 8, 14
Upolu, 38
village, native, 11, 12, 23, 24
vote, troops not allowed to, 14
Waddell, William Thomson, 17, 18, 47
Walsh, Captain, 15
Warrego, 11, 12, 36, 39, 43
washing, 12–14
water supplies, 11–14, 45
wharf, Port Moresby, 27, 35
Wilkinson, Fred, 18
wireless station, Port Moresby, 12, 25
Woodward, Oliver, 18
Wren, Lieutenant, 15
Yarra, 11, 36, 39
Young, John, 47
PrevSection NextSection
Maps Contents 57
Port Moresby. This is a detail from a Plan of Port
Moresby and the road to the Lalokie River, New Guinea,
published by the Surveyor General’s Office, Brisbane,
Queensland [in 1915?]. The complete map measures
597x480 mm and its scale is 40 chains to an inch. The de-
tail above corresponds to 11.4x8.3 km (7.1x5.2 miles) on the
ground. Reproduced by permission of the National Library
of Australia.
PrevSection Index
