Item 01: Fred Hamilton-Kenny letter diary, 29 August-19 October 1914 - Page 24
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[Page 24]
2 Rabaul
H. M. A. S. Upolu,
Sept 14 - 1914 -
Dear girl
It's Monday morning – 9 - 30 am - & we'v heard the big guns firing 'down the bay' - The Melbourne went out yesterday & we heard there was likely to be a scrap outside - Firing went on at intervals for ¾ of an hour & then ceased - Well – I shall tell later about this - What I'm after now is to tell you of our star turn yesterday – two of us at any rate up & down & one of the 2 was me - Our first time on the beach - About noon a general order or notice came out – Flag ship of course - It was to the effect that the British flag would be hoisted & saluted at 3 pm over the island of New Britain - A declaration of annexation read - A parade wd be held at 2. 50 pm & then came details of dress - Swords to be worn - Service helmets & the usual white rig out - The Submarine chaps & our officers had no rig out & so couldn't comply - No more could I but I meant to be there somehow - After lunch I found out that our Captain had borrowed a helmet & a bally sword & meant to turn up so I went & spoke [indecipherable] - He referred me to Besant & I promptly went & asked got leave to go - Got it all right & then rigged myself up in my new serge suit