Don Roulston Buzzard

Appendix 2.0
Australia at War

Introduction

In 1914, the British Imperial Government remained responsible for the foreign policy of the empire, including declarations of war, so the British Government of Herbert Asquith did not need to consult any of the United Kingdom’s colonial governments when making its declaration of war on 4th August 1914. The Australian Government’s role thereafter was to determine the extent of its military contribution to the Imperial forces. However, while Australia’s constitutional independence from Britain has long since been clear, then as now, Australia’s parliament has no formal constitutional role in decisions to go war.

It is unlikely that Australian Prime Minister Fisher or his contemporaries, had any idea of the human and financial sacrifice of Australia’s commitment in World War 1. Overall, 324,000 members served overseas with the Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) and of these, over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

Similarly, when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced on 3rd September 1939 that Britain was at war with Germany, Australia was again automatically at war, with Australia’s Prime Minister Robert Menzies announcing on the radio (one hour and fifteen minutes later): “it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially, that in consequence of a persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her and that, as a result, Australia is also at war”.

Seizure of Ships

The first shots fired by Australia in World War 1 were to seize a German ship the S.S. “Pfalz”. The ship had originally anchored in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne but as soon as the captain heard war had been declared between the United Kingdom and Germany, he upped anchor and left the harbour.

Port Phillip, Queenscliff Fort and The Rip

The First Shot

But a differing account of the “escape” of the “Pfalz” was carried in the newspapers next day when it was reported that the ship was intercepted by the “Alvina”, and as all the paperwork required of the Master of the “Pfalz” was in order, it was allowed to proceed. However, the guns at Fort Queenscliff fired a warning shot across her bows and she returned to Port Phillip Bay.

“Pflaz” returns to Port Phillip

The seizure of the “Pfalz”, as a prize of war, was not as simple as boarding and taking control of the ship. The skipper said he did not know Australia was at war with Germany and so was only interned or detained.

Captain of “Pflaz” not aware of war

Up to this stage, it was assumed that the “Pfalz” had returned of it’s own accord but the story turned again as mention was made of the gunboat “Albert” who had been stationed on the three mile territorial limit, escorting the “escaping” ship back to the bay.

Gunboat escorts “Pflaz” back to the Harbour

The Attorney-General of Australia then saw fit to tell the newspapers that the Hague Convention laid down guidelines for the treatment of ships when war was declared between countries.

Hague Convention

This was followed up by a Proclamation from the Government to leave no doubt as to the status of enemy ships in Australian ports.

After the seizure of the ship, some enterprising merchants turned their attention to the ship’s cargo.

Cargo of the “Pflaz”

Shortly after, a list of interned ships was published in the newspapers. What became of these ships is uncertain, but they were probably sold to shipping lines owned by Australian companies.

List of Seized German Ships

Seizure of Territory

On the Federation of Australia on 1st January 1901, the 6 British colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (A.N. & M.E.F.) was the first military force to serve the new nation, Australia, overseas. [73]

On 19th August 1914, the A.N. & M.E.F., a small volunteer force of approx. 2000 men, set sail from Sydney with the mission to seize and destroy German wireless stations in German New Guinea in the south-west Pacific. These wireless stations were used by the German Navy and threatened merchant shipping in the area. The force was also to seize or neutralise German territories in the Pacific stretching from the Caroline and Marshall Islands in the north, to New Britain and German New Guinea in the south.

Following the capture of German possessions in the region, the A.N. & M.E.F. provided occupation forces for the duration of the war. New Zealand provided a similar force for the occupation of German Samoa.

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[73] Wikipedia - Treaty of London (1839)