Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I welcome the opportunity to speak today on an issue that I am sure you are very keen on as well, Mr Deputy Speaker Scott. We are rapidly approaching the 100th anniversary of the declaration of war for World War I. In the early months of the war, in 1914, a very important battle took place, which we should keep in our minds, particularly those of us from Western Australia, although it took place a fair distance off our shores. I refer to the engagement between the HMAS Sydney, a light cruiser, and the German cruiser the SMS Emden.

At the start of the war, the German East Asia Squadron were ordered back to Germany to act in Europe. They left behind the Emden, which was going to act as a commerce raider. In the first two months of the Emden operating independently, some 25 ships were sunk in the region, and others were damaged. At one point, on 8 November 1914, the captain of the Emden, Karl von Mueller, decided that they would disable the Australian transmission station on Direction Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands group. Just before a landing party of about 50 troops were able to achieve that, a distress signal was sent out. It was very fortunate that the convoy of the first Australian troops on their way to Egypt, accompanied by the HMAS Sydney, was nearby, and Sydneywas able to be dispatched to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

At 9.15 on the morning of 9 November 1914, Emdenwas engaged by the Sydney. It was disabled by the Sydney and later in the morning surrendered. It was a great win for the Australian Navy. Whilst 160-odd Germans were killed, four Australians were killed and 16 were injured on the Sydney. It was the first real win of the Australian armed forces in World War I. On 8 and 9 November this year, on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, there will be a great commemoration of this most important event in Australian military history.

See this speech in context