anniversary of HMAS Sydney (I) sinking German …...Launched in 1908, the light cruiser SMS...
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MEDIA BACKGROUNDER 100 th anniversary of HMAS Sydney (I) sinking German raider SMS Emden in the Battle of Cocos Island 9 November 2014 We had the speed on the Emden and fought as suited ourselves. Lieutenant Rupert Garsia, gunnery officer, HMAS Sydney In the first months of the First World War the exploits of the German light cruiser SMS Emden captured the imagination of the public, almost as much in Britain and Australia as in Germany. In September–November 1914 it sank or captured 23 vessels and disrupted trade over a wide area of the Indian Ocean. Many allied ships were engaged in the hunt for Emden. And fear of the Emden and its unknown whereabouts delayed the departure of the first contingent of Australian and New Zealand troops from Albany, Western Australia. On the morning of 9 November Emden raided the Cocos–Keeling Islands to destroy the wireless station there and cut the undersea cable (one of only two telegraphic links between Australia and the rest of the world). Unknown to Emden’s captain, the Australian convoy – having finally set sail – was only 80 kilometres away. The light cruiser HMAS Sydney was detached to investigate a distress signal sent from the island. Sydney engaged the German raider and after a fierce battle that lasted less than two hours, Emden was so badly damaged it was forced to run aground on North Keeling Island to avoid sinking. At first, Emden scored some hits while Sydney’s gunnery was poor, but the Australian ship was able to use its superior speed to maintain its distance and eventually over 100 shells from its more powerful guns hit Emden. The victory thrilled the nation and secured the Indian Ocean for the duration of the war. Launched in 1908, the light cruiser SMS Emden’s maximum speed was 23 knots and it was armed with ten 10.5-centimetre rapid-fire guns and two torpedo tubes. Launched in 1912, the light cruiser HMAS Sydney’s maximum speed was 26 knots and its main armament was its eight 6-inch [15.2-centimetre] guns and two torpedo tubes. Read more about the action See collection items related to HMAS Sydney
Transcript of anniversary of HMAS Sydney (I) sinking German …...Launched in 1908, the light cruiser SMS...
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
100th anniversary of HMAS Sydney (I) sinking German raider SMS Emden in the Battle of Cocos Island 9 November 2014
We had the speed on the Emden and fought as suited ourselves.
Lieutenant Rupert Garsia, gunnery officer, HMAS Sydney
In the first months of the First World War the exploits of the German light cruiser SMS Emden
captured the imagination of the public, almost as much in Britain and Australia as in Germany. In
September–November 1914 it sank or captured 23 vessels and disrupted trade over a wide area of
the Indian Ocean. Many allied ships were engaged in the hunt for Emden. And fear of the Emden and
its unknown whereabouts delayed the departure of the first contingent of Australian and New
Zealand troops from Albany, Western Australia.
On the morning of 9 November Emden raided the Cocos–Keeling Islands to destroy the wireless
station there and cut the undersea cable (one of only two telegraphic links between Australia and
the rest of the world). Unknown to Emden’s captain, the Australian convoy – having finally set sail –
was only 80 kilometres away. The light cruiser HMAS Sydney was detached to investigate a distress
signal sent from the island.
Sydney engaged the German raider and after a fierce battle that lasted less than two hours, Emden
was so badly damaged it was forced to run aground on North Keeling Island to avoid sinking. At first,
Emden scored some hits while Sydney’s gunnery was poor, but the Australian ship was able to use its
superior speed to maintain its distance and eventually over 100 shells from its more powerful guns
hit Emden. The victory thrilled the nation and secured the Indian Ocean for the duration of the war.
Launched in 1908, the light cruiser SMS Emden’s maximum speed was 23 knots and it was armed
with ten 10.5-centimetre rapid-fire guns and two torpedo tubes.
Launched in 1912, the light cruiser HMAS Sydney’s maximum speed was 26 knots and its main
armament was its eight 6-inch [15.2-centimetre] guns and two torpedo tubes.
Read more about the action
See collection items related to HMAS Sydney
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
P00369.013
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P00369.013
THE 'EMDEN'. WWI.
EN0401
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/EN0401/
An unidentified seaman on the deck of HMAS Sydney looks at the wrecked German cruiser Emden,
which had lost a fight against HMAS Sydney and ran ashore on North Keeling Island.
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EN0228
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/EN0228/
The German commerce raider Emden. She was wrecked by HMAS Sydney near Cocos Island on 9
November 1914.
P05194.011
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P05194.011
HMAS Sydney just leaving Fremantle Harbour to fight the German cruiser Emden. An hour later
HMAS Sydney and the Emden were at it "hammer and tongs".
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
H16055
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H16055/
THE "EMDEN" ASHORE AT NORTH KEELING ISLAND AFTER HER ENGAGEMENT WITH THE "SYDNEY".
(DONATED BY CAPT G. H. WILSON, M.C.).
P11611.053.002
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11611.053.002
"On board the Emden."(Album caption). "EMDEN wreck view looking forward" (Original inscription).
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER From an album compiled by Mr CW Burnett, of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. The
album documents the activities of the landing party from SMS Emden which raided the telegraph
station on Direction Island; Emden's battle with HMAS Sydney and its subsequent fate.
305433
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/305433/
1914. GROUP PORTRAIT OF THE OFFICERS OF THE LIGHT CRUISER HMAS SYDNEY (I) AT TIME OF
EMDEN ACTION. THE COMMMANDING OFFICER, CAPTAIN J. GLOSSOP RN, IS AT THE CENTRE OF THE
SECOND ROW. (NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTION).
P11663.002
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11663.002
Group portrait of mostly unidentified sailors on the foredeck of HMAS Sydney, immediately
following the battle with SMS Emden, as the RAN light cruiser pursues Emden's collier, Buresk. From
the collection of Lieutenant Rupert Garcia RAN, HMAS Sydney. Lt Garcia was the officer who first
stepped on board the Emden, the day following the battle with HMAS Sydney. The man standing at
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER far left of the second row from the front, with legs slightly apart and wearing a dark scarf is very
probably 3562 Able Seaman (AB) Walter Ernest Anderson. AB Anderson survived the war and re-
enlisted in 1940, served aboard HMAS Bathurst and was discharged in January 1942 (see
P11597.001).
305444
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/305444/
PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN KARL VON MULLER, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE GERMAN LIGHT
CRUISER SMS EMDEN, 1912-1914. (NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTION).
G01442A
http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/G01442A
Keeling Islands. 11 November 1914. The last of the German raider SMS Emden at Cocos Island. A life-
boat from the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney is on its way to the Emden.
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
