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HMQS Paluma

The great Queensland floods of 1893 and HMQ Ships Gayundah and Paluma

A previous edition of this magazine reported on the recent (2011) Queensland floods and the refloating in dry dock of the ex HMAS Diamantina. The great Queensland flood of 1893 was however to cause much greater concern to naval authorities.

Following the withdrawal of British garrison troops from the Australian colonies in the early 1870s a report upon colonial defences was prepared by two Royal Engineers, Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois and Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Scratchley. Shortly afterwards Russia strengthened its Pacific regional forces in particular Imperial Russian Naval forces on the Pacific Station were increased. The ‘Russian Scare’ gave impetus for the colonial governments to implement recommendations of the Jervois report. The recommendations concerning Queensland included the types of ships required stating that suitable vessels were now under construction in England and available at a cost of £ 27,750 each. With the Royal Navy keen to augment its forces on the Australian Station it requisitioning two vessels being built for a South American republic (possibly Chile) and then on-sold these to the Queensland Government.

The vessels chosen were two identical steel built gunboats 120 ft in length, 26 ft beam and drawing 9 ft 6 in and fitted with coal fired compound engines driving twin screws providing a service speed of 10 kts. Despite their small size they were formidably armed with one 8 inch gun forward and a 6 inch gun aft plus three light guns. They were commissioned in 1884 as HMQ Ships Gayundah (Lightning) and Paluma (Thunder). Following trials Paluma’s armament was removed and she was converted for survey duties, sailing from England under the white ensign with a Royal Naval survey crew. Gayundah the Queensland flagship, with a mainly RN steaming crew, sailed under the blue ensign. Both ships arrived safely in Moreton Bay in 1885.

In 1893 following a tropical cyclone a great deluge descended on southern Queensland causing the Brisbane River to burst its banks. On 5th February the river reached its second highest recorded level at the Port Office gauge of 8.35 metres (27 ft 5 in) above low tide levels. The highest recorded level of 8.43 metres (27ft 8 in) occurred in the January 1841 floods. By comparison the 1974 floods peaked at 6.6 metres (22 ft) and the 2011 floods peaked at 4.46 metres (14 ft 7 in) noting the latter was greatly reduced by control of the Ivanhoe Dam.

The impacts of the 1893 great flood were unusual in that the first flood was followed by two more floods of the Brisbane region each within a fortnight, the first on 13 February and the second on 17-19 February each associated with a second and third cyclone.

HMAS Paluma aground
Courier Mail

At the time of the 1893 great flood both Gayundah and Paluma were moored in the Brisbane River but Paluma undergoing refit was unable to raise steam. Gayundah with assistance from a steam tug was helped into Garden Reach where she was secured. With the current estimated to be running at 10 kts Paluma’s cables parted and she was swept away initially into the path of a coastal steamer Elamang but later both ships plus another coastal vessel Maida were all swept along ending up high and dry near a roadway in the Botanical Gardens. Attempts to tow the ships off were to no avail and contracts were drawn up for a concerted salvage attempt but just as these were about to be signed the second flood occurred (one foot less than the initial flood) placing water around the vessels. A steel hawser was taken from the government steamer Advance who spent from early morning to mid afternoon going from full ahead to full astern attempting to move the ship. Eventually on 19 February with the crew also hauling on kedge anchors Paluma gently slid into deeper waters and was able to be re-secured with minimal damage.

Note: Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois was an eminent Royal Engineer with considerable experience in coastal defences. He was to become Governor of South Australia and later Governor-General of New Zealand. His colleague Peter Scratchley was another eminent engineer who became commissioner for defence of the Australian colonies and later as Major-General Sir Peter Scratchley was appointed special commissioner for the British Protectorate of New Guinea.

The Harrington Papers – Queensland Defence Force (Marine) 1900-1907

By Hubert Ernest Harrington, a Sub-Lieutenant in the Queensland Defence Force (Marine), 1900-1907

In a letter dated 14 February 1996, Commodore L H Nicholson RAN (Retd) advises: “….I have what I think is a bit of a gem for the N.H.S. …Simon1 recently authorised me to pass the copy on to the most appropriate collection for preservation and use and I believe that to be the N. H. S.” He enclosed the material which we publish below. Written in December 1940, in the firm hand of Hubert Ernest Harrington, it outlines his career in the Queensland Defence Force (Marine) from 1900-1907 when, at his own request, he transferred to the retired list. His appointment on the retired list was terminated in 1928. As space in this Review does not permit of every page being reproduced as written, the editors have published the first two only as received, and the remainder has been transcribed.

The Society records its thanks to Captain Simon Harrington and Commodore Nicholson.

Sub-Lieutenant H. E. Harrington
Sub-Lieutenant H. E. Harrington

pdf25pxSelected images from the Harrington Papers

… May I say that in small things we followed R.N., that is our navy adopted its changes; thus when the Tudor Badge was adopted or changed, we followed and in practice for the Rig of the Day wearing of cap covers etc. our navy followed R.N.

Now I cannot write about things I don’t know of from 1884 to, say, 1895. I don’t know the development of the Queensland Navy. I do know that there was a Naval Brigade in Maryborough during the end of the nineties and I knew the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Witherington, and some junior officers, Arthur Booker and Charles Gray. On my return from England in 1899, the then O.C. of the Brigade asked me whether I would let my name be submitted for appointment as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant: I consented. I was appointed provisionally Sub-Lieut. from 1 January 1900 in the Maryborough Naval Brigade. Gazetted 13th Jan. 1900 Acting Sub-Lieut: This was by Lieut. Governor of Queensland and the appointment was in Queensland Marine Defence Force.

I passed my examination for Sub-Lieut. 8th May 1902. Subjects of examination were;

1. General knowledge of Mariner’s compass, the Log and Lead line

2. Management of boats

3. Rule of road and vessels lights

4. Semaphore signals

5. Gun drill and ammunition for the guns stationed at their own ports

6. Rifle and Cutlass exercises

7. Field Exercises Part 1 (N.B. These were the field exercises for H.M. Fleet)

8. The Defence Act 1884 and “The Regulations Q.M.D.F. (That is Queensland Marine Defence Force)

Result of exam is herewith. N.B. This exam was held in accordance with Commonwealth Gazette Notice 19.12.01.

I append List of Officers in Queensland Defence Force (Marine) in Dec. 1900. This gives an idea of the Naval Establishment in Queensland and the conditions I was working under.

Was appointed Sub-Lieut. as from 20th December 1900: notification Commonwealth Gazette 22.5.02. Appended is letter from Commonwealth Defence Naval Office Brisbane of 4th Sept. 1902 advising me H.E. The Governor had been pleased to appoint me a Sub-Lieut. in Queensland Naval Force.

I applied to be transferred to the unattached list, and was transferred to the unattached list as from 1st March 1905 notification whereof appeared in Commonwealth Gazette of 25th March 1905. I was on my own application transferred to the Retired List of Commonwealth Naval Forces in December 1907: see Commonwealth Gazette of 7.12.07.

I had to report in writing annually. I did this until Wilfie(3) became a Lieut. RAN when I thought he would prefer me to be off the list. So I ceased to report and was notified 5th December 1929 that my appointment in the Retired List “has been terminated”. Gazetted 29 November 1928 – Page 3280. (Copy of termination of appointment signed by G.L. Macandie2 enclosed. Ed.)

Now the amount of documentation that I have attached must be rather tedious, but I have done so that the evolution from Q.M.D.F. to Commonwealth Naval Forces can be clearly traced. On the outbreak of war in 1914, being on the retired list, I offered my services and repeatedly applied to be used, but I was told at Rushcutters Bay that I should “stand by”, that I might yet be wanted. The correspondence with my papers clearly indicates that I did try very hard to do anything that His Majesty might have required of me. It is difficult for me after this space of time to set out with precision my recollections of the time spent by me in the Naval Brigade, ‘H’ Company’, or ‘H Company, the Maryborough Company” we were called at the Naval Barracks in Brisbane when we went there for training. I cannot remember our strength. There was a Lieutenant in Command, Dr. Cairns Penny, an Irish gentleman, competent and enthusiastic in Brigade matters. Myself senior Sub-Lieut and another Sub-Lieut. who did not pass his exam. Much later another Sub-Lieut joined – a nice young man – but I did not as far as I can remember see much of him.

Origins of the QUEENSLAND Navy

Old Thunder and Lightning – the Origins of the Queensland Navy

IT WAS A RUSSIAN SCARE in the eighteen seventies that caused the Queensland Government of the day to form a defence plan for the protection of the colony. From the naval point of view a gunboat and a torpedo boat were considered sufficient protection for the Moreton Bay anchorage, whilst a second gunboat was required for the defence of the coast. The protection of the Brisbane River itself was to be by a series of batteries and fixed torpedoes, and it was further recommended that small steamers employed on harbour duties in all ports should be fitted to carry ‘spar’ torpedoes, and to be available for the defence of harbours.

The ‘spar’ torpedo was really an explosive charge fitted on the end of a boom and run out over the bows of the vessel. The charge was fired electrically at will. The instructions to coxswains warned them to wait until they heard the spar ‘crack’ before making the firing circuit. The volunteers for these craft were surely worthy ancestors of the midget submarine crews and the frogmen of our time.

The two gunboats for this Queensland Marine Defence Force were given aboriginal names, Gayundah (Lightning) and Paluma (Thunder). They were built by Sir W. G. Armstrong Mitchell and Co. at Newcastleon- Tyne. It would be a most appropriate and fitting gesture if the names of these pioneer warships, which did such yeoman service in our naval development could be given to the proposed frigates to be purchased in the USA.

We can imagine how different service in these ships must have been, compared with our lot of today. They were 120 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and drew 9½ feet of water. Their displacement was only 360 tons. Originally they had a ‘turtle back’ forecastle over which an 8 in. BL 12 ton gun fired. (The training arc was only 7½ degrees either side of the fore and aft line.) Aft, a 6 in. BL 4 ton gun capable of training to 10 degrees before the beam, either side, was mounted in a shield. The ‘close range’ weapons consisted of two one and a half inch Nordenfeldt guns, one point 45 5 barrel machine gun; one 1 inch 4 barrel machine gun. Two 25 foot whalers and one 24 foot jolly boat and a dinghy were hoisted in davits. A fighting top was originally fitted on the foremast, but removed at an early date.

They were powered by horizontal, direct action compound engines of 400 IHP, designed for a speed of ten knots. During their trials on the 26th September 1884, both ships made over 10.5 knots, and the guns fired both common shell and chilled shot with ‘every satisfaction.’ The vessels were, in appearance, very similar to the Colony of Victoria’s Albert.

Gayundah arrived at Brisbane on 28th March 1885, having come out from Britain via the Suez Canal. The ships carried light yards, but sail was only used as an auxiliary, and then under most favourable conditions.

It was appreciated by the Queensland Government that the colony could not adequately defend itself without the assistance of the Imperial Squadron, and early arrangements were made for their gunboats to work and train with the Imperial Forces. This arrangement resulted in Paluma being fitted for surveying duties on completion of her trials. A workroom replaced the 8 in. gun forward, and a deck house the 6 in. gun aft. Paluma sailed from the United Kingdom with a RN surveying crew, and as a White Ensign ship. Gayundah, on the other hand, came out as a Queensland gunboat wearing a blue ensign. Negotiations to permit her to work with the Australian squadron and the placing of her at the disposal of Her Majesty continued, and with a letter from Admiral Tryon, Commander in Chief in HMS Nelson, dated September 1886, a ‘warrant to wear a White Ensign‘ was forwarded, the services of the ship having been accepted by the Admiralty.

This decision on the part of the Queensland Government led to the famous cause celebre when Captain Wright’s term of appointment drew to a close. He tentatively arranged for leave and pay in advance prior to relinquishing the command, it being supposed he wished to make arrangements to return to UK However, when he made it known he did not intend to leave the colony at the time, he was advised that in view of the altered circumstances advance of pay would not be made. In due time the Colonial Secretary ‘dismissed‘ Captain Wright, and directed the First Lieutenant to assume command of the ship and stores. Wright was unable to ‘accept‘ such a dismissal, and contended the ship wearing a White Ensign, he held his office by appointment from the Admiralty. The case was turned over by the Admiralty to the Crown Law Officers, who ruled that the acceptance by the Admiralty of the ship, and the placing at the disposal of Her Majesty of HMQ Ship Gayundah did make the officers and crew subject to the Naval Discipline Act. But such a decision in the days of slow communications took a long time, and the Colonial Secretary’s Office, anxious to finalise the matter, directed the Commissioner of Police to proceed on board and remove Captain Wright from his ship. This the Crown Law Officers ruled should have been done through the Admiral Commanding in Chief, and is the incident that has produced the legend of the ‘Forts in the Brisbane River firing on the Flagship to prevent her sailing.‘ At this time Paluma was carrying out surveys in Queensland and Tasmanian waters. Paluma was despatched to examine the Adolphus Channel area, after the loss of the SS Quetta, in 1890. It was reported that in a seaway head-seas broke over her bridge and came down the funnel, causing the stokers great trouble in keeping the boiler fires going.’

The great flood of ’93 was ridden out by Gayundah, but Paluma, (Capt. Pirie, RN) which was undergoing a refit in the Brisbane River, was swept away, and deposited in the Botanical Gardens.

She was in good company, for the SS Elamane and Maida were also caught in the flood and deposited high and dry with her. It is reputed that a contract to refloat Paluma was about to be signed when a second flood enabled her ship’s company, with kedge anchors and with the assistance of the Government steamer Advance, to refloat her.

Gayundah paid off in 1893 and Paluma two years later. From this time both ships were manned as requisite for Easter training of the Naval Brigade. The armaments were modernised during the South African war, a 4.7 in. QF gun being mounted aft in Gayundah, while Paluma took 2 5 in. BL guns forward.

To Gayundah must go the honour of being the first British Man-of-war on the Australia Station to successfully operate wireless telegraphy (1900). Captain Creswell and his staff set up Marconi wireless transmitter and receiving sets at Kangaroo Point, and Gayundah was rigged with a long bamboo foretopmast and worked Kangaroo Point from Moreton Bay.

After Federation, both vessels were retained for service with the Commonwealth Naval Forces, being used mainly as training ships for the Naval Brigades. In 1911 Gayundah continued in the role of training ship when universal training was instituted. She only fired one angry shot in her career when she captured two luggers pearlpoaching in Australian waters and took them into Broome. During World War I her turtleback forecastle was altered, which improved her sea-keeping qualities, and she patrolled in home waters, to be sold out of the Service at the end of hostilities. Paluma was sold to the Melbourne Harbour Trust in 1911 and renamed The Rip. For a time she served blasting at the ‘Rip’ and as the ‘Buoy and Light‘ tender. In December 1948 she was in Westernport checking and replacing buoys and marks for the anticipated arrival of HMS Vanguard. This was practically her last useful service, and with the commissioning of the ex-Australian Minesweeper, Whyalla, converted for similar duty with the Melbourne Harbour Trust, the Rip, ex ‘Paluma,’ was laid up in the Maribyrong River near the Footscray bridge.

Australian Naval History on 6 February 1893

During a flood the gunboat HMQS PALUMA (CAPT G. Pirie, RN), the steamer ELIMANG, and the hulk MARY EVANS, were washed up high and dry in Brisbane’s Botanical Gardens. The same disastrous flood carried away three bridges across the Brisbane River and swept 12 other ships out to sea.

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