Item 05: General William Holmes reports of operations and instructions for officers, 1914-1915 - Page 145

[Page 145]

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL & MILITARY EXPEDITION.
INFANTRY BATTALION.

H.M.A.S. "BERRIMA"
21/9/14.

To/
Brigadier Commanding,
NAVAL & MILITARY EXPEDITION

REPORTS OF OPERATIONS OF 13th, 14th & 15th. Sept. 1914
by
Lieut. Col., W. W. Russell Watson, V.D. Commanding.

In accordance with your instructions at 5 p.m. on 13th Sept., I embarked on H.M.A.S. "ENCOUNTER" with "G" and "H" Companies of Infantry and A.M.C. details, to reinforce HERBERTSHOHE Garrison.  Arrived HEREBERTSHOHE 7 p.m. and found that attack on garrison was a false alarm, and signalled you message to this effect.  At 1.24 a.m. on the 14th. orders arrived to proceed to and occupy TOMA and clear up situation, I then sent Captain Lane to "ENCOUNTER" with marked positions and ranges of enemys position and requested Captain Lewin to co-operate with me at daybreak by shelling the enemy with Lyddite and to send a section of Machine guns ashore also.  The Column did not leave the Coast Road until 6.15 a.m. after shelling had ceased and then proceeded slowly up the hills to GIRE GIRE which was reached at 10 a.m.  A half Company under Lieut. Westgarth was sent forward along the loop road to TAKAPUR and thence to TOMA.  The main Body moving along TOMA Road.  At 12 noon a flag of truce from the Governor was sent in, but did not think its terms satisfactory especially as the Officer demanded Four Hours armistice before he could give me a reply, I sent forward a written demand for surrender of the Governor and his principal Officials, saying that I intended to continue my advance on TOMA (a copy of which has already been forwarded to you). The advance was continued at 1 p.m. and TOMA was occupied at 3.10, the last hour and a half of the march being through a torrential downpour.  Suspecting the Enemy to be in position here I shelled the ridges on the South Side of the Village and proceeded to the Governor's quarters, he had already