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[Page 6]
Log of H.M.A.S. SYDNEY
April 1914.
I joined the Sydney from Garden Island in April 1914 and started my Commission very good with 5 days Leave, the watch on board coaling the ship, ready to proceed to Singapore to escort the two Submarines to Sydney. We stayed 10 days in Singapore and then we left for Batavia. Leaving there for Port Darwin the People there gave us a great time. May the 4th we left for Cairns where we got another run ashore. On leaving Cairns we fell in with dirty weather and put into Morton Bay for Shelter, for the strain was to great on the Crews of the Submarines, Weather abated so we left for Sydney arriving on Sunday about 8 A.M.
We then refitted at Garden Island but we did not complete our defects owing to the Admiral requiring us for the Northern Cruise. We left for Townsville and it was there we first heard that Germany had declared war with Russia.
Friday Aug. 1st. and things were looking grave for the Great Powers.
Aug. 2nd, Coaled Ship to our utmost capacity and again the next day.
3rd.
At 3 A.M. HMAS Warrego & Yarra joined HMAS Sydney at Townsville and Oiled Ship straight away from the SS "Cyrena" who had orders given to her that she would have to remain at that port.
4th Aug.
News was received that war had broken out between Great Britain and Germany. The Sydney and two destroyers proceeded to Thursday Island arriving during the night. On our arrival we picked up the SS "Physa" Oil vessel