100 years ago today

[muzrub]

1st November 1914.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-1...-fleet/5846812

Albany Anzac convoy centenary

The first convoy of Anzac troops to fight in WWI departed on November 1, 1914 from Albany in Western Australia
The 26 Australian and 10 New Zealand troop carriers departed from King George Sound
The fleet was escorted by the HMAS Sydney, HMAS Melbourne and HMS Minotaur
Japanese ship HIJMS Ibuki and transport ships HMAT Ascanius and HMAT Medic joined the convoy two days later
The Anzac troops landed on the beaches of Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April, 1915

The 30,000 troops who departed in the first fleet had come from all walks of life, from right across the nation, Mr Edwards said.

"From the mining towns, from the Wheatbelt and farming towns, from lawyers' offices, from railway stations, they were shopkeepers, they were shop owners, they were business owners, they were young men from the outback, fit, strapping," he said.

"They were supported by so many women who went away in terms of nursing support.

"This was the cream of Australian youth, and it must have so dramatically hurt our nation, our community, our mothers and fathers who gave their young sons and their young daughters to the tempest and trauma of that horrific war in Gallipoli and in France."

Australia's population was less than five million at the time war broke out. The cost in lives and casualties was high. Of the 416,809 men who enlisted, 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner. More than half of the men who enlisted were killed or wounded.


Cheers

Jamie

[Tan Berk]

100 years ago today Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire after the events of 29 october:
29 October, the point of no return was reached when Admiral Souchon took Goeben, Breslau and a squadron of Turkish warships into the Black Sea and raided the Russian ports of Novorossiysk, Odessa and Sevastopol. For 25 minutes, Goeben′s main and secondary guns fired on Sevastopol. In reply, two 12 in (300 mm) shells fired from a Russian fort at an extreme range of over 10 mi (8.7 nmi; 16 km) blew a pair of holes in the ship's aft smoke-stack killing 14 men. On the return journey, Goeben hit the Russian destroyer Leiteneat Pushchin with two 5.9 in (150 mm) shells and sank the Russian minelayer Prut, which had 700 mines on board intended for a minefield planned to be laid across the battlecruiser's homeward route.

The attack on Novorossiysk was also an outstanding success, with 14 steamers in the harbour sunk by Breslau′s guns while 40 oil tanks were set on fire, liberating streams of burning petroleum that engulfed whole streets. Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire on 2 November, and France and Britain followed on 5 November. The first land battles were expected in the Caucasus, and transport steamers started carrying Turkish troops eastwards along the Anatolian coast to Samsun and Trebizond. The Russian Black Sea Fleet sank three of these ships so, when another convoy sailed on 16 November, Breslau accompanied it as an escort while Goeben—which had located and severed the Sevastopol-Odessa submarine cable on the night of 10/11 November—cruised in the middle of the Black Sea.

[herkules]

Jamie,

what the heck were the Australians so keen on going to war for ?

Yes, I understand Australia had been a British colony but how about the

enthusiasm ?

I do not think that Germany had plans to conquer Australia or harm Australian

interests !

Be so kind and point out the real/particular Australian interest in entering

WW I !

Don't tell me the reason was to fight the ' Huns' !!!

The British King was a half a ' Hun ' , the ' Zar's wife ' was a 'Hun' ...

and almost half of USA were 'Huns' !!

Can't we just agree on 'Economics' ??!

Why don't we call a spade a spade !!?

And above all enjoy our lives in peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best regards

Wolf

[Wilhelm]

From what I remember about the start of WWI the recruiters around the world were overwhelmed by volunteers eager to "do their bit". No body wanted to be known as a "slacker". They were in for a big surprise.

[muzrub]

Double post.

[muzrub]

Jamie,

what the heck were the Australians so keen on going to war for ?

Yes, I understand Australia had been a British colony but how about the

enthusiasm ?

I do not think that Germany had plans to conquer Australia or harm Australian

interests !

Be so kind and point out the real/particular Australian interest in entering

WW I !

Don't tell me the reason was to fight the ' Huns' !!!

The British King was a half a ' Hun ' , the ' Zar's wife ' was a 'Hun' ...

and almost half of USA were 'Huns' !!

Can't we just agree on 'Economics' ??!

Why don't we call a spade a spade !!?

And above all enjoy our lives in peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best regards

Wolf

Wow, that's a big question. I'll try to answer it as simply as I can.


Australia become a Federation in 1901, we were a new nation. We believed in a fair working week, and an honest days pay for an honest days work. Our ideals were based on egalitarianism, simply: No person was better than the other.
Australia started off the century feeling positive.
We had a population of 5 million, and we covered the continent, but we worried about our shores because it was continent full of riches--- also large and open.
The future was strong, and our wealth was all around us. Australia was new, bold and believed in herself--- we'd discovered our own form of patriotism, still unique today.
All that being said, at the beginning of the century as much as Australians loved and had great pride in our nation, we also had as much for Empire.
Australia, was a nation made from Empire and it strongly believed in Empire. As a new nation we needed Empire, why?
Because we had fears, we were concerned about the Russians, and Germany with its pacific fleet, and its competition with Britain to build a larger and more powerful fleet of ships. We were also concerned about the Japanese and how they could effect our links to Britain, and trade. Isolation was our greatest fear (in many ways it still is).

Before Federation we'd fought in the Sudan, the Boer War, and the Boxer Rebellion. But not as a nation, only as separate states.
When World One came into being and Britain declared war--- we also, through our ties of Empire also declared war. Our leaders promised Britain 20,000 men. But within 2 weeks 50,000 volunteered, why?
Various reasons.
Here's some, 90% of the Australian population was of British descent. We wanted a global presence, to be seen as a major player, especially in Asia. The war was supposed to only last 6 months or less, and many saw this as a chance to travel, to have adventures. While others wanted to go back to England and thought this to be a free ticket on the back of the army. To others it was an opportunity to start again, change your name and enlist. You must consider how small Australia was compared to the size of the land mass. Our cities, although large to us and covered European style buildings were nothing compared to London, Paris, New York. When the US pacific fleet sailed into Sydney harbour earlier in the century, our people wanted to be apart of that. We yearned for a global reach, to forge our own history.
In very Australian terminology, "You gotta be in it".
You must remember that the last large multinational European war was 100 years earlier, ending in the defeat of Napoleon. Of course other wars had been fought, but not on the same scale. The horror of large industrial war had been romanticized by time.
I don't believe a nation can be formed in blood, or by war. But our nation learned what sacrifice meant by 1918. Our losses were staggering. We remained the only volunteer Army during the war, the conscription bills were defeated twice.
By the time Gallipoli had been played out, and the horrors of the Western front revealed--- it was all too late. Our innocence was lost, but our patriotism lives on. We learned the hard way what it's like to play on the world stage, a stage we still play on; Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Somalia, Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan (and back again).

Australians now, like then believe in punching above our weight. We have a way of life here which should be the envy of the world and we want it exported. We live in peace, together and play a team game on the global stage; no different than in 1914.

That's all I have time for today, I gotta pick the kids up. I hope that I answered something.

Cheers,

Jamie

[mchap]

Well written Jamie, thanks for that.

[muzrub]

Well written Jamie, thanks for that.

Thanks, I only wish I had more time for editing, there's a few clangers in there. However, the kids weren't going to wait much longer I was running late as it was, lol.

Cheers.

[muzrub]

Australia teaches the Kaiser at lesson at Sea!

9 November 1914.

Australia rules the waves!

By early November Emden, under Captain von Müller, had sunk or captured 22 ships, thoroughly disrupting shipping operations, forcing up insurance premiums, and drawing warships away from other theatres. On 9 November 1914 Emden landed a shore party at Direction Island to destroy the cable station. The operators managed to get off a warning signal before the station was closed down. The message was picked up by the convoy and Sydney, commanded by Captain Glossop, was detached to intercept. Better armed, faster and more manoeuvrable, Sydney caught the German cruiser by surprise, forcing von Müller to abandon his landing party. Despite a fierce resistance the outcome was a foregone conclusion—the Australian ship pounded Emden into a burning hulk, and von Müller drove his ship up onto North Keeling Island to save his remaining crew. Sydney suffered four killed and eight wounded, Emden 115 killed and 80 wounded. Sydney then intercepted Emden’s collier Buresk, which scuttled herself as the cruiser approached. The 50 strong landing party from the Emden, led by Lieutenant Commander von Muecke, seized the station’s schooner Ayesha and escaped, eventually reaching Germany after various adventures.

The destruction of the Emden freed the shipping routes of the Indian Ocean from raiding warships. However, the German East Asiatic Squadron remained at large, a continuing threat to shipping in the Pacific Ocean

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(1912)

[römischIX]

I like the german movie about the cruiser Emden, they showed in TV.

[gregM]

Really well done thread

[Robert T.]

"Slaughter of the Innocents" at Langemarck


Last letters of a young law student from Oldenburg addressed to his parents.

_________________________

“Saturday, the 7th of November 1914

Dear Parents!

Today begins with great joy. The dear letters of father, mother and Erwin from the 17th to the 19th of October arrived, and in addition to that, a care parcel sent by mother came into my hands. Thank you very much, dear parents. I have already read the letters once, but I will peruse them several times again today and in the following days. I must shamefully confess that I have not written yet to dear M. G. who delighted me by sending some chocolate. At the same time four newspapers arrived, among them one from the 29th and 30th of October. Thank God, now I have got something to do again. Yesterday it was no longer pleasant. Now you can see bright faces everywhere and people indulging in chocolate and other things. Do not send any more tins and rags to swaddle my shoes, rather send sweets and sausages. Last night everybody received hot soup, half a loaf of bread and a small piece of bacon. We can really be satisfied with that. If nothing unexpected happens, I will right away snuggle up in my hole, write a letter to M. G. and then read the “news for town and village” while enjoying chocolate and peppermint. I also found H’s postcard. Until now he has not been through much. I really believe that the artillery is much better off. I am healthy as can be.
Farewell and thank you very much and best wishes.

Your Hermann.”

________________________________________

“Sunday, the 8th of November 1914

Dear Parents!

Sunday, a day of peace. A magnificent morning. The sky is wholly blue and the
November sun is spreading its warm rays upon our cold hands and clothes which are soaked from the nightly fog and humidity. I can hear the Sunday bells ringing in the distance – I am certain of it! This beautiful Sunday calm is disturbed only by the bullets hissing above us, aimed at us from the enemy trenches only 250 meters away, and the cannons that are roaring further away from us today. We are lying on straw and I have never been so content and serenely cheerful as on this wonderful day.

Father’s dear third letter and the “news” from October 31st which arrived this morning are lying just next to me. They have made us extremely happy. Thank you very much, my dear parents, for the good news. So you have heard about my experiences from the wounded soldiers and meanwhile you must have also received my accounts. I am overjoyed even to receive the smallest message from you, and I am especially pleased that everything arrives, it seems, even though often quite late. The chocolate tastes wonderful! I don’t want to be immodest, but send more of it. May I list all my wishes? I believe that I am immodest and have talked too much about such things, but on the other hand, it is all part of our diet as the food is always the same here and often there is none at all.
It seems that the enemy knows that we receive a hot dinner at 7 p.m. when night falls. In the last few days they have regularly opened such murderous fire around that time that our cooking team could not come near to us, and as a consequence we had cold pea or bean soup at half past eight – there is nothing else but we are satisfied. Otherwise there is just bread and every now and then we receive a small piece of bacon as a special treat –father was right. So you can imagine how delicious your presents are. Please send more and plenty! Above all, it is chocolate we wish for, or candy, sausages and simply anything which is edible. Quantity is more important than quality. And now the joyous Christmas season is approaching, so there will be soon marzipan and other delicious wonders. You might think that your Hermann is quite demanding, but if you could see what is going on here and how happy you will make us with your presents, then you will pardon my gluttony.
Our battle is hard and, as I have read in the newspaper, the subject is being followed with the greatest interest and suspense. How many lives it has cost us! Last night, our third company commander succumbed to his wounds and D. was wounded, there is a spot in our trench where 20 soldiers were killed or wounded. God has really been mercifully protecting me until now and truly I have a premonition that I will see my native country again. And these premonitions often come true. How many have had premonitions about their death and, as I have heard in many cases, were then killed in action. Whatever that might mean, the most important thing is to be brave and that is what I have been doing so far. Victory is imperative and thank God that the chances are favourable. Sincerely,

Your Hermann.”

______________________________


“Monday, the 9th of November

Dear father!

Thank you very much for your card from the third of November that I received today. We are still lying in the same trench, but unfortunately the beautiful and sunny weather has changed – it started to rain which has made our stay far less than comfortable. I hope that we will soon be replaced so that we can leave the trenches. Our bones are becoming terribly stiff and I am afraid that when it starts raining I may have to deal with a case of rheumatism, something from which I fortunately had been spared so far. Farewell sincerely,

Your Hermann.”

__________________________




Hermann’s last ever message, written down as he was suffering from his wounds and hopelessly expecting to die. The laboured characters bearing witness to painful effort and losing strength, along with some comments from the publisher;


“My dearest parents!
Myself too, I must die the most
beautiful death. These are my
last regards. Farewell and
do not weep. I am
eternally grateful for
all the good that I have
received from you. Farewell
eternally. I will see you
in heaven. Your
Hermann.



These last farewell greetings dated the 10th of November were written from the battlefield half an hour after an assault in which H. was gravely wounded. H. succumbed to his wounds on the 18th of November and lies buried in consecrated ground in Flanders. Deeply moved and shaken we read your last letters, dear, young hero. We did not know you, but we have grown fond of you and let you into our heart. When one day the great hour of reunion in heaven draws near, we will also look out for you, press your hand firmly and persistently and look into your dear, big, childlike, heroic eyes. Until then, sleep protected by God’s care! You have done your duty for our dear Fatherland, and nobody could have achieved a greater feat. We thank you!
GERMANY, WHAT HEROIC SONS YOU HAVE GOT!”

[Willi Z.]

Thanks for sharing that Robert.

[starikurac]

Thanks Robert for sharing that!

[Wilhelm]

Christmas was coming to Verdun. Lt. Richtofen had never spent Christmas away from home. His letters to his mother told of his continued dislike of his duties, he wanted to fight. He envied his brother Lothar, who was still in the cavalry and still in Russia and fighting the enemies of the Vaterland. This was not what he had signed up for.