Letter - 24 November 1914 - Colombo, Ceylon

On 15 November 1914, the convoy arrived in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). At the time, the H.M.A.S. Sydney was carrying the German Navy prisoners rescued from the Emden. On the 16th November, four officers and 48 men of the Emden were transferred from the H.M.A.S. Sydney to the H.M.A.T. Orvieto.

The prisoners were held at the extreme end of the after well-deck. The German Navy officers refused parole and were accommodated in a cabin with sentry attached. These prisoners included Captain von Mueller and the Kaiser's nephew Prince Franz-Jozef von Hohenzollern, a second torpedo Lieutenant.

Leave was not granted to the vast majority of the 28,500 men and women aboard the transport ships. A.G. Adams was allowed ashore. His account of this is in a the 30 November letter.

The convoy departed on 17 November 1914 and headed for the Red Sea.

A.G. Adams wrote this letter as the Ovieto approached Aden, Yemen (at the entrance to the Red Sea).
The letter was written to his mother 'Mater' and refers to the German prisoners from Emden, the collision between the A9 H.M.A.T. Shropshire and the A11 H.M.A.T. Ascanius, Ovieto steaming passed the island of Socotra (off the Horn of Africa) and seeing large schools of porpoises.

A transcription of the letter appears at the end.



The text of the letter reads:

H.M.A.T. 'A3' S.S. Orvieto
24.11.14
Nearing Aden

Dear Mater,

We stayed outside the breakwater at Colombo and only a few of the officers got ashore. They wouldn't allow the natives or any motor boats to come out so it wasn't very exciting. We have 46 prisoners also the Captain and four other officers, including a nephew of the Kaiser all from the Emden on board. The only difference it makes to us is that we have double guard duty. The prisoners, which are nearly all stokers etc, as the gun crews were all killed, are on the main deck right aft. There are three petty officers and these sleep in a cabin but are with the rest during the day time. The officers eat in the ......  and have cabins in the promenade deck. They refused to give their parole so of course we have armed sentries on them all the time.

The seniority list of NCOs is coming out in the course of a few days. I believe, and I am told on good authority that I am the 2nd Colour Sgt on the list. I'm not certain but I believe it's right.

We have been vaccinated and there are a few sore arms. I am not ..... at all so far. I didn't .... last year so I suppose I'm immune. We left Colombo about eleven a.m. on the 17th. A lot of the boats didn't leave till 8:30 that night. We had the Hampshire convoying us whilst the Ibouki looked after the others. The latter caught and passed us and headed for Aden. This morning we put on speed and left the rest and have been doing about 15 or 16 knots.

I believe there is to be an enquiry held to investigate a collision which occurred between the Ascanius  with the West Australians and the Shropshire  with the artillery.

We arrive about 7am tomorrow. I believe we are to pick up another Indian contingent from Bombay somewhere about here or anyway before we reach Port Said.

This morning we passed a transport going the opposite direction. She started turning round and manoeuvring in a funny way. The Hampshire went over and told her to get and she went like a rabbit.

Yesterday we passed along the north coast of Sakotra (the island Socotra, off the Horn of Africa). We have seen thousands of porpoises the last two days in great big schools. We had another pre 'alarm' just now for practice.

There doesn't seem to be any thing else. I've been A1. Remember me to all enquiring friends.

Yours lovingly

Athol

P.S. I'm enclosing some effort by the Col Sgt of 'G' Coy. A.G.A.