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[Page 58]
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the towers had been cut through and the station thereby rendered inoperative. A party under Lieut. Bond and accompanied by Captain Travers remained in possession of the wireless station during the night. As the wireless station had been rendered useless and there was little hope of repairs being effected for some time, I directed that it be abandoned - the instruments first being removed - and that the party there should retire to the coast. Commander Beresford was instructed to move his force to Herbertshohe and remain there for the present as garrison.
Commander Beresford was directed yesterday to furnish full report on the day's operations, together with list of casualties, but this has not yet been received, but as far as I am aware they are as follows:-
Killed;
Captain Pockley, A.M.C.
Commander Elwell, R.A.N.
A.Bs Williams
Courtney
Moffat
Street
Wounded:
Lieutenant Bowen, R.A.N.
A.Bs Sullivan T.
Tonks J.
Skillen A.P.W.
From information received by me up to the present in absence of Commander Beresford's report, the three Officers referred to, also Lieut. Bond who accepted the surrender of the wireless station and Captain Travers (Intelligence Officer) who accompanied him, acted in a very gallant way. Captain Pockley removed the red cross badge from his arm and handed it over to one of his men who was without one, and paid the penalty with his life.
[In margin] I wish to specially mention these 5 Officers. W.H.
I have no information as to the total number of casualties on the enemy's side, but know there were quite a number. Amongst the prisoners taken by my force were three German Officers, Captain Wuchert, (Commanding the Armed Native Constabulary), Lieut. Mayer, and Lieut. Kemf, about 16 white Non-commissioned Officers and men and some 56 natives. The Officers will probably be forwarded to Sydney by the Fleet when leaving here in a few days.
Yesterday afternoon the "Berrima" proceeded from Herbertshohe to Rabaul and made fast to the pier at about 6 o'clock. Immediately afterwards the garrison for this place, consisted of four Companies Infantry, 1 section machine guns, and one Company Naval Reserves were put ashore and occupied the town without opposition. All Government Officers, including post office, were seized and German Flags flying removed.