Shipmates sink a pint each day
William McColgan ( Junior), 24, a wood- machinist, joined the Kennedy militia’s expedition to Thursday Island in August 1914, then enlisted for overseas service with the Australian Imperial Force. He was posted to France as an artillery driver in December 1916, and was gassed seven months later. Following his recovery he remustered as a gunner at his own request. He was killed in action at Pozieres on October 17, 1917. Townsville City Council renamed Rose St, Hyde Park, in his honour in 1919, but closed the street in 1969.
They issue us jam, butter, bread, and cheese as ration, and for breakfast porridge, then sausages or stew or fish and potatoes.
Of course we get no choice, but they vary the course as much as possible.
For dinner we always get soup, meat, and vegetables and puddings of various sorts.
For tea we have cold meat, sometimes salt junk, and bread and jam. It is very good tucker.
On Monday morning one of the convoys going at full speed came in from our starboard flank about 6.30, cleared for action.
There was great excitement aboard, as we did not know what was up, but naturally we expected some trouble.
About 10 o’clock, when we were on parade, another convoy came across our bows and cleared for action. The excitement increased.
About this time the Cocos Islands were about 12 miles on our port side.
Just about 10.30, soon after the second convoy had disappeared from sight, we got a wireless message from the Sydney saying the Emden had beached in a sinking condition on the north Cocos Island — “done for”.
The Sydney, we learned, did it all herself. There was great excitement, cheering, and handshaking on board.
“What O! The Australian Navy.”
We had a half- holiday in the afternoon in honour of the event. From a letter from an unnamed member of the First Australian Expeditionary Force, writing on November 13 to Mr F. Currey, senior clerk, Postmaster- General’s Department, published in The Northern Miner on December 24, 1914. The convoy of 36 transport ships carried 28,500 Australian and New Zealand men and women and thousands of horses.