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[Page 106]
A Garrison Force, consisting of ½ Company Naval Reserves, 1½ Companies of Infantry, and a Detachment of A.M.C., under Major Martin was landed.
The Proclamation of the Brigadier was read and posted in various places. All German Residents, including 4 Officials and 13 others, were take prisoners, but were subsequently released on their taking the oath of neutrality. The Principal Official was absent in the country.
The ships sailed from Friedrich Wilhelmshafen at 5-15 p.m. same day, and reached Rabaul at 2-40 p.m. on 26th September.
In conclusion Colonel Holmes desires to offer his sincere personal thanks to every Officer, Warrant, Petty and Non-commissioned Officer and Man of the Expeditionary Force under his command for their loyal service and devotion to duty, without which the eminently successful results attained in such a marvellously short time after organisation could not possibly have been achieved.
At the same time he regrets deeply that the operations have resulted in loss of life and the shedding of some of Australia's best blood, and he offers his sympathy and also the sympathy of all those under his command, to the relations of those who have so nobly fallen.
By this time other troops in larger numbers, and perhaps accompanied by more glamour than attended our departure, have left Australia's shores to take their place alongside Britain's best Troops in the Empire's struggle, and more still will no doubt soon follow, but the Brigadier asks the members of the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force to bear in mind that they were the first to respond to the call of duty prepared to serve anywhere without question, and that they have nobly achieved what was required of them in assisting to alter the face of the map by extending the red spots of which all Britishers are so justly proud.