Ruskin logs, 1914-1918 / Alfred Ruskin - Page 35

[Page 35]

We now weigh anchor and proceed to North Keeling Island where the Emden was and on arriving she had the distress signal flying so we hauled close up and anchored and Communicated by boat to render all the assistance possible.

We then sent Both Cutters over to find out how many survivors & wounded and received the signal that out of 460 there was 150 remaining, 280 thus Killed or missing.

The Captain was asked if he would give his parole and word of Honour we would then take them on board and make for Colombo to which he agreed. So we commenced bringing of the wounded and survivors. The Captain was the last to leave, he was quite safe and uninjured also was Prince Holonzone [Hohenzollern] the Kaiser's nephew.

It was a ghastly sight to see on board how our lyddite shells took effect so we were all day getting the wounded off to the ship, the after part of the ship being full of them and the doctors were kept very busy and several men were told to offer help. The Captain wished to set fire to his ship to Burn the dead and to destroy the most ghastly sight I have ever seen. There were also some wounded men on the Island which we sent boats in for with fresh water for which the Germans rushed for as they were parched after nearly 2 days with out water, there being none on the Island.

I regret to report that A.B. Reginald Sharp passed peacefully away at 2.15 P.M.