The Capture of New Guinea: Chapter 5 of the Story of the Anzacs

First Roll Call of 3rd Brigade after The Great Landing

The German menace was indeed of long standing, and went back to the seventies, when Governor Cairns of Queensland advised the Home Government that if Great Britain refused to annex New Guinea, Germany or some other power would probably do so, with consequences "that would greatly injure the future prospects of Australia." 

The British Government annexed southeastern New Guinea in 1884, and decided to establish a Protectorate over the whole island, except the portion at the western end already occupied by the Dutch. It was subsequently, however, intimated that there would be German opposition, and while negotiations were pending, "the British negotiators at Berlin became aware that Germany had annexed the whole coast down to the Gulf of Huon and several of the adjacent islands, thus commanding for the future the main trade route from Singapore." (Life of Lord Granville, Vol. II page 374.)

Australia was astonished and indignant, but Mr. Gladstone preferred to take the yielding course. "He saw that a choice had to be made, and recognised that the continued hostility of Germany was a danger greater than that of the irritation of the Australian Colonies about New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. He therefore threw the whole weight of his influence into the scale of an agreement with concessions to Germany, notwithstanding his former dislike and suspicions, and the recent conduct of Prince Bismarck which had gone far to justify them." (Life of Lord Granville, Vol. IL page 430.)

By giving in to Germany, he not only forfeited control of one of the great Pacific trade routes and made over to Germany some 70,000 square miles of territory upon which Great Britain had a well-established claim, but he also left Australia most dangerously exposed to a German attack. For the sake of her whole life and future, at the outbreak of the present war, Australia was bound to ensure that this important point of vantage should no longer remain in the hands of her enemy, but should become British and remain British for ever.

Within two weeks of the declaration of War, Australia had equipped an Expeditionary Force consisting of six Companies of the Naval Reserve, and one Battalion of Infantry. The whole of this Force had volunteered for active service abroad. The Barracks at Sydney were rushed by the applicants, all of whom were ignorant of their destination. It speaks well for the efficiency of the Defence Department that it was able to despatch this Force at such short notice.

The main objective of the Expeditionary Force was the German Naval Base of Simpson's Hafen, situated on the north-eastern corner of the island of New Pomerania, which forms part of the Bismarck Archipelago. The island is divided from the mainland of New Guinea by a narrow strip of sea. Herbertsh6he, the seat of the German Government in the Bismarck Archipelago, lies to the southern side of the entrance to Simpson's Hafen, and is about ten miles from the Base itself. Four miles inland lies the town of Rabaul. Simpson's Hafen is an ideal site for a Naval Base, and during the last few years Germany has turned its natural advantages 10 the best possible use. 

Under the plea of protecting her trade and furthering her policy of expansion, she had built up a most formidable naval arsenal within easy striking distance of Torres Straits. There seems little doubt that Simpson's Hafen was constructed with the view of furthering an aggressive policy in the Pacific, and that its creation had the same object as the increase of the German Fleet - the destruction, namely, of British trade and maritime supremacy.

Its size and object have always been a puzzle to the island traders. (See N.Z. "Herald," September 14th, 1914). As early as 1904 a writer in a Sydney morning paper had stated that we should never know with certainty what was being stored in the warehouses of Simpson's Hafen till we were at war with Germany. The Germans had also erected a superb wireless station upon the island, and had spent many years and thousands of pounds upon its installation.

After war broke out, they fortified the position with the greatest care and skill, choosing ideal positions for their trenches and defences. According to Commander Beresford, R.A.N., no force in the world would have shifted British defenders from these positions.

On September 14th, 1914, a cablegram was received in Australia from Admiral Patey : "Herbertshöhe occupied : British flag hoisted at 7.30 on the morning of September 11th." The announcement gave the keenest satisfaction to Australians, who had only dimly suspected the whereabouts of the Naval Force and had no idea as to what it had been doing.

But the capture of Herbertshöhe was only the beginning of what proved to be a some-what stubborn undertaking. On September 11th a force, under Commander J. H. A. Beresford, of the Royal Australian Navy, made for land with the object of destroying the wireless station.

The shore at this place is rough and thickly wooded, the ground rising in short steep hills. The advance party succeeded in landing before the enemy was aware of its intention, but once ashore, was received with vigorous opposition. The advance had to be made along a track about 25 feet wide, bounded on each side by impenetrable scrub. A stubborn bush fight took place for four miles, the troops having to contest every inch of the way with an invisible enemy, who kept up a continual fire from the points of vantage supplied by the densely wooded country. 

In several places the woods and forests had been mined. When the four miles had been covered, personal contact was at last established with the Germans. It was discovered that the strength of the defenders had been greatly under-rated, and a message was despatched for reinforcements. Before these were forthcoming, the Germans entrenched strongly, and endeavoured to engage the Australians in a frontal attack, and then gradually to surround their whole force with a party working round to the rear. Our men continued to advance, however, without reinforcements, and when they were within 150 yards of the first trench, the commander of the German force on the seaward side of the station surrendered unconditionally. In the meantime, twelve pounder guns had been landed, in preparation for shelling the wireless station, should it not surrender. A fresh encounter took place at the next trench with considerable German losses; but in the evening a further seven miles was covered, and the wireless station was reached without other loss.

On Sunday, 13th September, a portion of the troops, numbering between 700 and 800, with machine guns and field guns, advanced to Toma, where the German Governor had occupied a fortified position with the main body of the troops; this was shelled by the "Encounter," and, later in the afternoon, by the guns of the land force. Hereupon, the Governor sent a flag of truce and asked for a conference. He was given 48 hours to make his decision: the final surrender was made on September 21st.

Considering the difficulties and dangers attendant on this Expedition, the dense bush, the narrow road, and the mines and pits prepared in all quarters by the enemy - the losses were very small, and the result must be considered brilliant. Unfortunately, however, the capture of German New Guinea was attended with two very sad losses-Submarine AE 1, with 39 officers and men, disappeared, and has never been heard of since and Dr. Bryan Pockley, of the Australian Medical Corps, was killed in the first encounter with the Germans. The heroic circumstances of his death deserve mention here. As there was no surgeon with the Naval reserves, he had been ordered when they landed at Herbertshöhe to advance with the troops. 

During the first engagement he noticed that his Orderly, who was preparing to carry a wounded man to the rear, had no Red Cross badge upon his arm. He at once took off his own, and pressed it on him. He then proceeded to treat the remaining wounded, working among them in his shirt sleeves and with no distinguishing mark. While he was engaged in this work of mercy, he received a fatal wound in the chest. His death made a deep impression upon Australians, partly because of its heroism and his great personal popularity, partly because he was among the very first Australian victims of the War.