Letter Card - 31 October 1914 - HMAT A3 Orvieto

This Letter Card was sent from A.G. Adams to his mother on the day of his departure from Melbourne on H.M.A.T Orvietto.

My apologies for the lateness of this post. I have only found this document in recent days.

You might note how the Letter Card was re-addressed from the Oriental Hotel, Melbourne, and on to the Huddart Parker firm in Wellington and then on to the Grand Hotel Rotorua, New Zealand.

The text of the letter reads:

31.10.14 H.M.A.T. A3 Orvieto

Dear Mater,

Am quite well leaving tonight. 

Love 

Athol 

Next Christmas postcard - undated - probably December 1914

This is the final postcard sent home for Christmas.

This post card was also printed aboard the H.M.A.T. 'Orvieto'. The printed message on the reverse reads:

'Kind Thoughts and Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and Prosperity in the Coming Year.' Athol G. Adams.

A short verse is also included in the corner:

The wind blows cold,  but hearts are warm And love smiles at the weather, For Yule is here,  when those apart In spirit are together.

This postcard is addressed to A.G.Adams' eldest brother, A.P. Adams (Arthur Parker Adams), who lived on his sheep farm 'Bidgemia', outside the town of Urana in the Riverina district of New South Wales, Australia.

The front of the postcard depicts a young rubber plantation.

And the reverse reads:

'Hot as Hades and raining a fair amount. Good trip not much excitement. AGA.'

This card was probably written whilst on board the H.M.A.T. Orvieto and then posted on arrival at Egypt.

Christmas postcard - undated - probably December 1914

A.G. Adams sent three post cards home for Christmas.

All three postcards were printed aboard the H.M.A.T. 'Orvieto'. Two have a printed message on the reverse which reads:

'Kind Thoughts and Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and Prosperity in the Coming Year.' Athol G. Adams.

A short verse is also included in the corner:

The wind blows cold,  but hearts are warm And love smiles at the weather, For Yule is here,  when those apart In spirit are together.

The first of these postcards is addressed to Athol's step-father, Mr Guy Sherwood.

The hand-written note says:

 'Have you ever seen anything like this? AGA'.

I think that the card was written whilst at sea on the H.M.A.T. 'Orvieto' and then posted on arrival at Egypt in early December 1914.

HMAT Orvieto arrives Port Said

The 5th Battalion Unit Diary (AWM Ref 22/23/1) notes that the H.M.A.T Orvieto arrived Port Said  on 1st December. The German prisoners from the Emden were transferred to H.M.S. Hampshire the same day. 'A' Company of the 5th Battalion disembarked at Port Said and went by train to Cairo as the advanced party.

The entire Battalion was vaccinated between Colombo and Port Said.

Letter - undated - probably 30 Nov 1914

This letter is written by A.G. Adams to his mother. There is no envelope (therefore no postmark/stamp) and the date on top right is confusing (12 June is not possible). A.G. Adams refers to the predicted arrival in Port Said the following day. The 5th Battalion Unit Diary (AWM ref. 23/22/1) notes the Battalion arrived in Port Said on 1st December 1914.

A.G. Adams writes about their run ashore to the Globe Hotel, Colombo, getting about in rickshaws, visiting the museum, the cinnamon gardens and a Buddhist temple.

Note the letterhead - Mounted Cadets Melbourne.

Dear Mother,

We got to Colombo at about 6:30a.m. and after breakfast we all went ashore together. We went to the Globe Hotel and from there we started out in carriages. At least all of them except Head, Nicholson, Cleveland and I, who had rickshaws. We went to the Museum, Cinnamon Gardens, and a Buddhist temple. In all we went about 16 miles. All this was before lunch. In the afternoon we went round the town and took a train-ride through the native quarters. Had tea and went on a short rickshaw ride, 22 all in a line, and went down to the boat. After we left Colombo it was fairly rough and when we got into the Red Sea it was hot for one day. Ever since that it has been nice and cool. We got into Suez at about 7 a.m. and having passed the Doctor started up the band. We expect to arrive in Port Said at about 4 a.m. tomorrow (1st December 1914). We have had Church Parade tonight as there was no service this morning. I've been to 8 services since we left. 
There is no more news so good bye.
I remain your lovingly

Athol

Postcard - undated - probably November 1914

This postcard seems to be written from the H.M.A.T. Orvieto on the way to Colombo.

A. G. Adams mentions that the weather is hot and details some of the routine of a soldier's life on board a convoy ship.

Dear Mater,

The fine weather still continues. It has not been so very hot though we have had a following wind. 

Colonel Ryan has been very solicitous of my welfare and always asks how I am getting on. We have not had much work since getting into the hot weather. We work from 9 o'c until 11:30, and from 2 till 3. Then the N.C.Os have a lecture until 4 and drill until 4:30. Sometimes we have the lecture from 8pm to 9. And of course don't get the 3 to 4 .....

We're not allowed to give dates or places or particulars of anything so it is pretty difficult to write anything that has to pass the censor.

 I'm putting on weight fast. In fact I'm as fat as butter. Norm Marshall sends kind regards. I'll send a letter closed but it will be held back a week or so.

Love

Athol.

Letter - 13 November 1914 - The Emden runs aground

On 13 November 1914 the following letter was sent by A.G. Adams to his mother (Adah Emilie Sherwood) who was staying at the Orient Hotel, Collins Street, Melbourne. The letter is addressed to her as 'Mater'.

This letter is being posted a little earlier than the due date, 13 November 1914, as it refers to the capture of the Emden on 10 November 1914.

The text of the letter reads:

H.M.A.S. A3   S.S. Orvieto
Nearing Colombo 13-11-14

Dear Mater,

I've sent you a P.C. which ought to have reached you about a week or more ago. We have  been steaming about 10 knots since we left Albany. There are 28 Australian troopers and 10 New Zealanders. We have been lying in three columns with the New Zealanders behind and between the outer lines with the Orvieto leading the centre line.

There is a diagram here showing the arrangement of the leading ships in the convoy.

 We started out with the 'Minotaur', 1st class cruiser, the Sydney & Melbourne, and the 'Ibuki' a Japanese pre Dreadnought battleship. About the 6th 'Minotaur' steamed away scouting. Then on the 9th about 6:30am the Cocos Island signal station sent a message 'S.O.S. strange cruiser entering harbour'. Within ten minutes the Sydney had steamed away at 27 knots. A little after nine she was in action with the 'Emden' and chased the latter due north or straight towards us. You should have seen the Melbourne and 'Ibouki', they both got out on our western flank with smoke just pouring out of their funnels. The 'Ibouki' had to steam right across our bows to get there from her station on the other flank and she looked great with the water coming away from her bows in great waves and the smoke belching from her stacks and forming a background. But as it turned out there was no cause for alarm as the Sydney did the job on her own in 20 minutes and forced the Emden to run ashore to save herself from foundering. We were going to have the prisoners on here and had all arrangements made but the Empress of Asia went and got them from the Sydney. Yesterday the Empress of Asia, a new C.P.R boat passed us doing about 25 knots bound for the Cocos Islands to get the guns off the Emden and to repair the cable station. She is a fine boat 17,500 tons, three funnels and cruiser stern. She mounts 4, six-inch guns I believe.

The New Zealanders and a couple of our boats went ahead today doing 12 knots. They will reach Colombo about 3 hours ahead of us. I don't know how long we will be there - probably about 4 days. I'm writing this in my pyjamas and I'm as hot as the deuce. Nothing much happens on board. We have the same routine every day. I don't know anybody's address so I'm posting everything care of you. Please forward same.

The Hampshire joined us today as escort. She is a sister ship to the 'Monmouth' which was sunk. They have inoculated us twice for enteric and we are to be vaccinated this week. There doesn't seem to be anything else. Regards to all.

Yours lovingly, Athol 

NOTES

A list of the convoy of troops ships which left Albany on 1st November 1914 can be found at: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/25396510/anzac-flotilla-arrives-in-albany/
Follow the link to: Ships in the original Albany convoy

Cape Leeuwin was the last of the visible coast of Australia many of these troops were to see for many years. For some it was to be the last time they ever saw their homeland.

Athol refers to the capture of the Emden in his letter.
Since 2 August, when war was declared by Germany on Russia, the German ship Emden had been operating on the open sea as a lone wolf raider. On 4 August 1914, she took her first prize the Russian passenger ship Rjasan. During the next three months, Emden, under the command of Captain von Muller, sunk 15 English ships. She also took other prizes including the Greek steamer Pontoporos.

On 9 November, HMAS Melbourne received a signal from the Cocos-Keeling Group (Australian) saying 'enemy warship off island'. The convoy carrying the Australian and New Zealand troops was then about 60 miles from Cocos Keeling. HMAS Sydney reached top speed of 27 knots and headed off to capture the enemy raider and protect the troop ships. Emden had 10 guns of 4.1-inch calibre and Sydney had 6-inch guns allowing her to stay outside Emden's range. The battle lasted nearly two hours with Sydney claiming victory and Emden run aground and badly damaged.

 

 

 

Postcard - 26 October 1914

On 26th October 1914 the following postcard was sent by A.G. Adams to his eldest brother (Arthur Parker Adams) who was farming a property outside the village of Urana, in the Riverina district of southern NSW.

The front of the postcard shows the city of Albany in WA.

The text on the reverse of the postcard reads:

  A.P. Adams Esq
“Bidgemia”
  Urana

NSW

26.10.14
Have had a good trip calm weather, good cabin & tucker. Ben Levers is on as Capt. Med Officer to Engineers. We have a whole lot of the heads on board. Its raining like the devil now. I don’t think that we will get ashore here.
Yours A.G.A.
 

Aerogram - 25 October 1914

On 25th October 1914 the following letter was sent by A.G. Adams to his mother who was then staying at the Oriental Hotel, Collins Street, Melbourne.

The text of the aerogram is as follows:

We’ve had a beautiful trip so far. It has been quite calm all the time. Only a very few have been sea sick, and hardly any of our own chaps. I have Jack Newham in my cabin with me; they only allowed for 5 Sgts per company, so I took Jack in & Norm. Marshall went in with the junior Sgt. We mess in the 2^nd saloon and the food is A.1. The troops mess and sleep in messes of from 10 to 16. We have 7 messes, each in charge of a non. com. or senior private. They have very good food and are all very happy so far. We reach Albany some time tomorrow morning. I’ve seen Col. Ryan and Major White, both wanted to know how I was doing. Dick Casey is on board as a Lieut. in the Automobile Corps. That crowd are all officers or batmen so there’s not much in that. The fruit is being issued to all the troops as it showed signs of not keeping very well.  Ben Levers is on board as Med. Off to the Engineers. Peter Schuler is on as press rep. The Melbourne passed us yesterday, going past like a motor passes a tram. We have only seen one other ship which we passed going the same way as ourselves. I suppose we’ll pick the rest of the troopers up at Albany. There’s not much more.

Yours lovingly    Athol