On This Day
1914-1918 > WW1
On This Day - 1914-1918
- November 26, 1914
ADML G. E. Patey, took command of his battle squadron off the Mexican coast. It comprised of HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle- cruiser), HMS NEWCASTLE, (cruiser), and the Japanese Ships ASAMA, IDZUMO, and HIZEN.
- November 19, 1914
The sloop HMAS UNA, (CMDR J. M. Jackson, RN), was commissioned. UNA, (as KOMET), was laid down in Vulkan Vegesack Yard, Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1911.
- November 18, 1914
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), steamed off the Mexican west coast in search of the German Pacific Squadron. On 26 November she rendezvoused with the Japanese cruisers ASAMA, IDZUMO, and HIZEN.
- November 17, 1914
The captured German yacht KOMET was commissioned as HMAS UNA, at Sydney. It was intended to name the vessel PRIMA, conveying ‘the first warship captured’ but UNA, meaning ‘the only warship’ was finally selected.
- November 14, 1914
VADM Sir Goerge Patey. RN, in his flagship HMAS AUSTRALIA I rendezvoused off the Mexican coast with HMS NEWCASTLE, to block any attempt by ADML von Spee and his ships, to sail to Canada, or pass through the Panama Canal.
- November 9, 1914
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. C. T. Glossop, RN), engaged the German raider EMDEN, (CAPT Karl von Muller), off Cocos Island. The superior armament of SYDNEY asserted itself, and the EMDEN was driven ashore on North Direction Island. The casualties suffered indicated the battering the Germans received. SYDNEY’s casualties were four killed and eight wounded, and EMDEN’s were 115 killed and 80 wounded. In the action SYDNEY fired 670 rounds of 150 mm shells, and one torpedo. After reducing EMDEN to a burning shambles, SYDNEY intercepted and sank the German collier BURESK.
- November 3, 1914
HMAS PIONEER, (cruiser), lost her fore-topmast and suffered other damage in heavy seas, while escorting the first troop convoy in the Indian Ocean. PIONEER returned to Fremantle for repairs.
- November 1, 1914
The first convoy of 28 troop ships sailed from Albany, WA, for Egypt. The escort comprised HMA Ships MELBOURNE and SYDNEY, (cruisers), HMS MINOTAUR, and the Japanese cruiser IBUKI.
- October 11, 1914
The German Governor of New Guinea’s steam yacht KOMET, was captured by the NUSA, manned by the Australian Naval Brigade, at Bougainville. KOMET was later commissioned as HMAS UNA.
- September 27, 1914
Wireless transmissions from HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), were picked up by the German station at Yap, 1000 miles away