Item 01: Fred Hamilton-Kenny letter diary, 29 August-19 October 1914 - Page 16
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[Page 16]
We took position in front of the town with the Parramatta & Protector on our right & the Sumatra on our left - We saw no one – no boats came off - The German flag flew at one or two points & a lot of now Deutsch flags – white with an anchor – flew over sheds & buildings but no Union Jack - The Australia remained outside - No Germans apparent but I picked up a small mob with my glasses -
You never saw such an apparently dead & deserted township - There cant be more than 5 -600 souls here -
Well then we dropped anchor & had dinner & after dinner the 2nd officer got his mandoline & we had rag time songs & our boat looked like a corner public house on a Saty night (We are looked on as a rag time ship – Robert D Lee is our rag name) - The Parramatta chap promptly made us darken ship & out went every glim - He thought we'd have a dance next or a Stoker's night out - Bed & sleep & up at 6 - Breakfast at 8 - Position unchanged - Still the German flags flying & we in position