The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Local connection
“Readers may have noticed just before Christmas that the wreck of an Australian submarine, HMAS AE-1, was discovered off the coast of Papua New Guinea,” emails Lt Cdr Iain Stewart RNR of Broughty Ferry.
“The submarine was last sighted on September 14, 1914 during naval operations to capture German overseas territories in the SW Pacific.
“There is a Courier Country connection to the loss in that one of the 35 crew members was born in Perth. Stoker James Guild, aged 30, was serving in the Royal Navy and was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy when the Australians bought two E Class submarines from Britain just before the outbreak of the First World War.
“He was the son of Mr William Guild, 46 Commercial Street, Bridgend, Perth and is remembered in the Perth City Golden Book. In addition, he is commemorated on the Royal Navy Memorial on Plymouth Hoe.
“It is possible that the submarine suffered an accident whilst submerged and struck the seabed with enough force to cause the conning tower to tilt forward cracking open the pressure hull.
“The exact location of the wreck, which is now a protected war grave, is being kept secret to prevent illegal salvage hunters from looting the hull.
“Australian Defence Minister Merise Payne said: ‘I trust that this discovery will bring peace of mind to the descendants of the families of the crew who lost their lives on board...’