• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Show Search
  • 0 items
Hide Search
Menu
  • Home
  • Research
    • Where to start
      • Research – We can help!
      • Self help
      • Naval Service Records
      • Library
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Resources
      • Articles
      • Videos
      • On This Day
      • Podcasts
      • Australian Military Ship Losses
      • RAN events on a  Google Earth Map
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Other
      • Newsletters: Call The Hands
      • Occasional Papers
      • Books
      • HMAS Shropshire
      • Book reviews
    • Close
  • Naval Heritage Sites
    • World Heritage Listings
      • Cockatoo Island
    • National Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
      • HMVS Cerberus
    • Commonwealth Heritage Listings
      • Garden Island NSW
      • HMAS Watson
      • HMAS Penguin
      • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
      • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
      • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
      • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
      • HMAS Cerberus
      • Naval Offices QLD
      • Garden Island WA
      • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
      • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
    • NSW Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Rushcutter
    • Close
  • Tours & Cruises
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, East
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, West
    • 81st. Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack
    • Tour of Sub Base Platypus
    • Garden Island Dockyard Heritage Tour
    • Garden Island Northern Hill and Garden Tour
    • Tour Bookings
    • Close
  • About us
    • About Us
      • What we do
      • Our People
      • Office Bearers
      • Become a volunteer
      • Our Goals and Strategy
    • Organisation
      • Victoria Chapter
      • WA Chapter
      • ACT Chapter
    • Close
  • Membership
  • Shop
  • Become a volunteer
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Article topics / Book reviews / Book Review: Under New Management – The Royal Australian Navy and the Removal of Germany from the Pacific, 1914-15

Book Review: Under New Management – The Royal Australian Navy and the Removal of Germany from the Pacific, 1914-15

Book reviewer · Mar 23, 2015 · Print This Page

Author
Book reviewer
Subjects
History - WW1, Book reviews, History - pre-Federation, Naval Engagements, Operations and Capabilities
Tags
New Guinea, German East Asiatic Squadron, German New Guinea
RAN Ships
None noted.
Publication
March 2015 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

Under New Management – The Royal Australian Navy and the Removal of Germany from the Pacific, 1914-15. By Ian Pfennigwerth. Echo Books, West Geelong, Victoria, 2014. Soft cover of 182 pages illustrated with black and white maps and photographs, rrp $24.95.

This comprehensive book is well researched and not only provides a compelling story but also a useful reference in one relatively small volume.  Even today Australians have a poor knowledge of Papua New Guinea (PNG) which is by far our nearest neighbour. The author helps overcome this lack of understanding through a story of the fledgling Royal Australian Navy’s involvement in its first campaign in this then remote region.

We learn of the early history of Papua New Guinea where many explorers ventured through these relatively isolated and inhospitable lands in search of trading opportunities. As no colonial power sought to claim the eastern portion of New Guinea it was left to German trading houses to establish European settlements, leading to an agreement reached in 1886 between Britain and Germany on geographic boundaries between their areas of competing interests in the Pacific region.  Australia, especially the Queensland Colonial Government, saw this as a threat to their sovereignty.

The formation of a well balanced and formidable Australian fleet is explored with its early call into service to confront the German East Asiatic Squadron by undertaking an attack on German possessions in the Pacific. The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) of 2,000 men was raised under the overall command of the Australian fleet commander, Vice Admiral Sir George Patey.  Remarkably, within days of the declaration of war the AN&MEF was mobilised, kitted out and embarked for training and battle.

The first armed encounter with the enemy, resulting in Australia’s first war-time casualties and the loss of submarine AE-1, occurred six months before the better known Gallipoli campaign. The recorded memories of Commander Stan Veale, RANVR, who was then a midshipman, are a vivid reminder of the dangers faced in this action to attack and secure an enemy radio station in what became known as the Battle of Bita Paka. The book goes on to explain the wider ramifications of the war at sea leading to the elimination of the German East Asiatic Squadron and thence a German presence from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This of course led to later Australian involvement in the mandated administration of PNG.

While the RAN committed itself admirably throughout this conflict there was at times some confusion in the command structure with a lack of appreciation between military and naval areas of responsibilities. In such a wide ranging history some minor errors are expected but these are minimal and do not affect the overall story. The book however admirably demonstrates the important contribution made by a very young navy in extending Australia’s national influence throughout the Pacific region.

Reviewed by Leyland Wilkinson

 

Naval Historical Review, History - WW1, Book reviews, History - pre-Federation, Naval Engagements, Operations and Capabilities New Guinea, German East Asiatic Squadron, German New Guinea

Primary Sidebar

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

Latest Podcasts

  • The Case of the Unknown Sailor
  • Night of the midget subs — Sydney under attack
  • D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN – Part 1
  • D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN – Part 2
  • D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN – Part 3

Links to other podcasts

Australian Naval History Podcasts
This podcast series examines Australia’s Naval history, featuring a variety of naval history experts from the Naval Studies Group and elsewhere.
Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society and the RAN Seapower Centre

Life on the Line Podcasts
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories.
These recordings can be accessed through Apple iTunes or for Android users, Stitcher.

Video Links

  • Australian War Memorial YouTube channel
  • Royal Australian Navy YouTube Channel
  • Research – We can help!
  • Naval Heritage Sites
  • Garden Island Dockyard Heritage Tour
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy
  • Log Out

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2023