AUSTRALIA IS AT WAR!
Australian Naval & Military
Expeditionary Force Formed
TROOPS SENT TO CAPTURE
GERMAN NEW GUINEA
The AN&MEF was a small volunteer
force of approximately 2,000 men, raised
in Australia shortly after the outbreak of
the First World War to seize and destroy
German wireless stations in German New
Guinea which was seen as a threat to merchant shipping in the region.
The formation of the AN&MEF was separate from the AIF, and comprised one battalion of infantry enlisted in Sydney and
known as the 1st Battalion AN&MEF, plus
naval reservists, ex-sailors, and militia
from Queensland. The objectives of the
force were the German stations at Yap in
the Caroline Islands, Nauru and at Rabaul,
New Britain.
Reservists on Parade 19 August 1914
On Saturday afternoon, 1100 NSW Volunteers who are to leave with the
Australian Expeditionary Force paraded at the Agricultural Showground, Sydney, and were inspected by Col. Holmes who expressed great
satisfaction with the manner in which they bore themselves. The Men
who are full of eagerness. “Half of them had already seen active service
in the Boer War. The vast majority were trained Militia.”
1914
Colonel William Holmes (left) & Staff
on board HMAT Berrima
Souvenir of the National & NSW Reserve Forces Day 2014 Launch, on Saturday 2nd November 2013
1
ON OUR WAY!
One cheerful mother with her son marching to the wharf.
SMH Wed, 19th August 1914
Onboard the HMAT Berrima troops eagerly read the latest dispatch
as the AN&MEF forces steamed north to seize German New Guinea
Rabaul, New Britain 13th September 1914. German civilian residents watching AN&MEF troops marching through Rabaul, to take
control of German New Guinea. The Australian flag was then raised
with the Official Party standing by as the proclamation was being
read.
2
RAN SILENCES EARLY
GERMAN THREAT
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acted swiftly to
eliminate the enemy threat to the Empire’s shipping.
On 11 August the destroyers HMAS Parramatta,
HMAS Yarra and HMAS Warrego, covered by the
light cruiser HMAS Sydney, prepared to launch a torpedo attack on the German anchorages in Simpsonhaven & Matupi Harbour, New Britain, but found
the enemy squadron gone. On 14 September Encounter
shelled German positions at Toma, the first time
an RAN vessel had fired on an enemy and the RAN’s
first shore bombardment. The German resistance, comprising 40 reservists and 110 native troops was no
match for the ANMEF, covered by the 12” guns of
Australia, with the acting Governor surrendered all of
German New Guinea on 17 Sepember 1914.
Rear Admiral
Sir Leighton Seymour
Bracegirdle KCVO, CMG, DSO, RAN
(31 May 1881 – 23 March 1970)
Rear Admiral Bracegirdle had a distinguished service
in the Naval Militia and served in the Boxer rebellion,
The Boer War, and in the AN&MEF. He was then appointed the Commander of the RAN Bridging Train.
His unit performed well under relentless shrapnel fire,
and remained at Suvla where he was wounded.
In 1916 he was awarded the DSO, and received his
third mention in dispatches. In 1924 he was promoted
to Captain and made the Director of Naval Reserves.
In 1931 he became Military & Official Secretary to
Governors’ General. He retired from the Navy with the
rank of Rear Admiral, and as official secretary in 1947.
The campaign was an overwhelming success, rapidly
achieving all objectives set by the War Office.
A RAN reserve officer, Lieutenant Bond, was awarded
the DSO, the first Australian bravery award of the war.
In a tragic footnote, AE1 disappeared without trace
with all 35 personnel on board, the first unit of
the RAN to be lost on operations. On 26 September
Sydney completed Australian operations against the
German Pacific colonies by destroying the German
wireless station at Angaur in the Palau Islands.
1914 witnessed some notable Australian firsts – the
first land operation of the war, the first amphibious
landing, the first joint operation, coalition operations,
the first offshore expedition planned and coordinated
by Australia, the first bravery decoration, the first
combat casualties with 6 killed and 4 wounded, the
first RAN warship lost, and the first enemy warship
sunk. (Extracts:the RAN Website)
Victorian and South Australian Naval contingents ready to go; they were joined by members from NSW & Qld
3
EARLY VOLUNTEERS
Brian Jacob
Archibald (Jack) King
A Boer War and
World War I Veteran
Captain Errol ‘Chap’
Wharton Kirke
World War I Veteran
Born on 28 October 1887 in Dubbo, NSW, and in 1914 he was 26
years old, a Captain in the Cadet
Corps of Australia and studying
for his final exams as a barrister
while simultaneously employed
as Managing Clerk for the solicitors, Ash and Maclean. Within an
hour of the declaration of war, Errol enlisted, sinking
his rank of Captain and being appointed Second Lieutenant on 18 August 1914 in The Naval and Military
Expeditionary Force. On 19 August, he embarked on
HMAT ‘Berrima’. On arrival he was appointed Adjutant to Colonel Paton and after the Occupation was
also a Prosecutor in the Courts-martials. On 1 January
1915 he was promoted Lieutenant.
My father, Jack King, enlisted in Tasmania, to serve in
the Boer War. He joined the Fourth (Second Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen) Contingent as a Bugler/Private
in No. 2 Company, service No.187.
He left for South Africa (possibly with his own horse)
on board the Troopship Chicago on 27th March 1901
to serve in the Cape Colony area. After his term of service he returned to Australia on the Troopship Britannic on 5th August 1902 and was awarded The Queen
Victoria Medal with Cape Colony Clasp.
He enlisted in The First World War on 12th August
1914, joining The Naval & Military Expeditionary
Force (Tropical Unit) ‘A Company’, service No.140
and left Australia on board the Troopship HMAT
A35 Berrima on 19th August 1914, to serve in German
New Guinea. He returned to Australia on the SS
Matunga and was awarded The 1914/18 Star, The British War Medal, The Victory Medal and was discharged on 4th March 1915.
Returning to Sydney on 18 February 1915, Errol was
promoted to Captain in the AIF on 7 May. On 12 May
he embarked for active service in Egypt where he was
second-in-command of a company of the 17th Battalion. In August 1915 Errol went to Gallipoli, along
with his brothers, Basil and Hunter. Shortly after landing, on 22 August, he was transferred to the 18th Battalion as Officer commanding C Company.
Due to failing health as a result of poor living conditions he endured during his periods of service in South
Africa and New Guinea he was diagnosed as Totally
and Permanently Incapacitated and died in Lady Davidson Military Hospital at Turramurra when I was
aged 13 Years.
He was killed on 4 August 1916 whilst commanding
his Company. Major-General William Holmes, who
had commanded the AN & MEF in Rabaul, wrote to
Errol’s sister, “I can only say that Errol distinguished
himself in every action in which he took part.”
Brian King (Son) 1 Nov 2013
Susan Ramage (Descendant) 1 Nov 2013
Major General
William Holmes
CMG, DSO, MID, VD. (1862-1917)
Major General Holmes was a Militia Officer
who served in the Boer War, and continued
his service after that war and commanded
the AN&MEF.
He was commanding the 4th Division when
killed, 2nd July 1917, whilst escorting the
Premier of NSW W.A. Holman at Messines
battlefield. The Premier was also injured.
General Holmes Drive, south of Sydney was
later named in his honour.
4