• 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
      • On This Day
      • Podcasts
      • Videos
      • 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 / Publications / Naval Historical Review / Chivalry and Courtesy in war and when most unexpected!

Chivalry and Courtesy in war and when most unexpected!

Date, John C., RANVR (Rtd) · Sep 19, 1989 · Print This Page

Author
Date, John C., RANVR (Rtd)
Subjects
History - general
Tags
Naval Communications, Japanese midget submarine, Falkland Islands, Chivalry
RAN Ships
HMAS Sydney I
Publication
September 1989 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

In the sea action on 9 November, 1914 off Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean, between the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German cruiser SMS Emden, a kindly gesture was acknowledged as shown in the copy letter below.

 

H.M.S. Hampshire,
6.XII.14.
Dear Sir

I enclose herewith your white shirts you had the kindness to lend us on board the “Sydney” Dr. Luther and I thank you very, very much.

We are very sorry indeed not to be able to send these shirts back to you washed as we had no opportunity. I hope you will not be too angry about it.

We never will forget all the kindness we got during the time on board the “Sydney” and wish to you all a good voyage.

Please give my special compliments to Mr Lavaye and Garist.

I am yours sincerely, Fritthacft Oberlentmant Snr. Sec.

Dr. Darbey
Esqu.
H.M.A.S. “Sydney“


Only the next month on the 8 December, 1914, in the far away Battle of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic Ocean, the flag officer of the victorious British squadron Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee was to signal to Commander Pockhammer, the senior surviving German officer, “The Commander-in-Chief is very gratified that your life has been spared and we all feel that the Gneisenau fought in a most plucky manner. Unfortunately the two countries are at war; the officers of both navies, who can count friends in the other, have to carry out their country’s duties which your Admiral, Captain and officers worthily maintained to the end.” Sturdee received the equally chivalrous reply, “In the name of all our officers and men saved, I thank Your Excellency for your kind words. We regret, as you, the course of the fight, as we have personally learned to know during peace time the English navy and her officers. We are most thankful for our good reception.”


At the naval Battle of Matapan on 28/29 March, 1941, in the Mediterranean Sea, as the British fleet had to leave many Italian survivors in the water, Admiral Sir A.B. Cunningham sent a signal to the Italian C-in-C, on the mercantile radio distress wave, “Have been endeavouring to pick up your survivors from last night’s action but forced to abandon them due to heavy bombing attacks. If you send fast hospital ship to position Lat . . . Long … it will be given safe conduct.” The reply came back, “Thank you, this will be done.” with the hospital ship Gradisca eventually saving a further 160 men.


On the night of 31 May, 1942, Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney Harbour and in the resulting action two midget submarines were destroyed.

The bodies of the four Japanese recovered from the midgets were cremated at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney. The funeral was carried out with full naval honours, the coffins draped with the Japanese ensign, a volley fired by a saluting party and was attended by Rear Admiral G.C. Muirhead-Gould, C-in-C, Sydney, with the ashes of the crewmen being returned to Japan.

Following is a literal translation of a more recent acknowledgement.

Translation of graditude
Translation of graditude

These few examples of chivalry and courtesy in war are worth reflecting upon…

Naval Historical Review, History - general Naval Communications, Japanese midget submarine, Falkland Islands, Chivalry

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

Facebook

  • Facebook
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy
  • Log Out

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2023