Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 33
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[Page 33]
and rushed over and took shelter on the other side till they were needed again.
Another shell passed clean through the ship but didn't explode, fortunately, for men who were on the deck below. It passed out through the Commander's cabin and wrecked everything with which it came in contact. Fortunately the Commander was safe in the lower conning tower at the time and no loss of life occurred.
Yet another entered the mess decks forward and exploding started a fire which being near the magazine which caused a few anxious moments. There again no one was hurt, as everybody was on deck. Our armour was hit and dented in several places, but nothing more came on board except splinters which riddled the funnel casings and made holes in the deck.
The Germans are reputed to have used 1500 shells in the action and from the way they fell like rain around the ship one can quite believe it. The Sydney was extraordinarily lucky to get off so lightly.
Since the action at Cocos life under shell fire has become a commonplace for many Australians; but I think everyone who has experienced it remembers the first time best.
The roar and din of the guns the flames and smell of burning cordite, the concussion, and the quivering of the ship, the noise of one's own projectiles like a train going up a hill and the indescribable high pitched scream of the enemy shells added to the sense of personal danger, make up a total ensemble which leaves its mark on even the least impressionable amongst us.
The whole atmosphere around the roaring guns seems rarefied, and at each discharge one catches one's breath and feels as if one had been hit or pushed by a large unseen hand. On gunnery people and others no doubt the effect is less, but I am speaking of those who hear the guns going off in full earnest for the first time.