THE "SOUTHLAND" from The Story of The Anzacs

The whole history of Anzac shows that the Australians could hold their own under fire whether in attack or defence, with any soldiers in the world. A famous incident showed that they possessed another kind of courage-a courage which leads men to face death calmly and coolly when it appears to them quite suddenly under an unexpected and terrible form.

The transport "Southland" was conveying from Alexandria to the scene of action certain Australian units, including the Army Service Corps, and other details, also Major-General Legge and his Staff, and Colonel Linton and his Brigade Staff.

On the morning of September 2nd, she had nearly reached her journey's end, and was bowling along in sight of land, south of Mudros Bay, when, at about 9-3o a.m., some of the men saw a torpedo travelling straight for the ship. They watched the line of death coming closer and closer until the crash came, and the ship reeled beneath a terrible explosion, which cut a hole 40ft. by i2ft. in her side. A few seconds later a second torpedo passed just beneath the vessel's stern. The order was at once issued "Ship sinking, abandon ship."

Throughout the short voyage the troops had been instructed in boat drill, and in the use of life belts. When the crash came there was no sign of fear, and no more hurry than was involved in a brisk march to their appointed positions. One thousand six hundred Australians lined up to their stations. They stood as steady as rocks, singing "Australia will be there"; and to the query "Are we down-hearted?" they returned a deep throated "No." They insisted on the crew and the injured having first turn at the boats, and only after this were they gradually got away. Some men stayed on the deck for two hours, expecting every moment that the ship would go down, and carry them to destruction.

At 11.3o the only troops remaining on board were the Staff of the 2nd Australian Division, and a party of volunteers and stokers and details belonging to the ship. As the boats were got off the ship, two of them capsized; in response to a call for volunteers, six men dived into the water and righted an over-turned life-boat. Private Smith dived from the deck and prevented a patent raft from drifting away.

Every boat and punt had now been cast loose from the ship, and the men saved were taken aboard a destroyer and a hospital ship. Throughout ,the whole ordeal, -Major-General Legge had behaved with imperturbable coolness, and he and his staff were the last to leave. Colonel Linton was in one of the capsized boats, and to the great sorrow of all on the "Southland," he subsequently died from heart-failure as a result of exposure. While the soldiers were trying to save him, he said, "Save the others first."

During the whole of the episode the conditions were such as might have occasioned and even excused a panic, but there was not the slightest sign of this, as far as the Australians were concerned, from beginning to end. For two hours of deadly danger they "stood and were still to the Birkenhead drill." When the majority left, the ship was still considered to be in a sinking condition, yet a number of Australian officers and men volunteered to go down and stoke her into harbour under her own steam. They did this, putting the finishing touch upon an episode which has added fresh lustre to the glory of their country.

Speaking of the "Southland," one writer says, "As for the men, I want to write to every newspaper and say, never can men have faced death with greater courage, and with a braver front than the Australasians 'on the 'Southland.' They all sang 'Australia will be there.' By God, they were there. We knew they were brave in a charge, now we know they are heroes."