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

Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

  • Events
  • Account
  • 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
      • RAN Vessels – Where are they now?
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Other
      • Newsletters: Call The Hands
      • Occasional Papers and Historical Booklets
      • 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
  • Naval Art
  • Tours & Cruises
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, East
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, West
    • Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack
    • 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 / Emden-Sydney Relics at Penguin

Emden-Sydney Relics at Penguin

Gallagher, L. S. QMG · Dec 31, 1971 · Print This Page

Author
Gallagher, L. S. QMG
Subjects
None noted
Tags
SMS Emden, Dumaresq J.S. RAN
RAN Ships
HMAS Huon I, HMAS Warrego I, HMAS Swan I, HMAS Tasmania, HMAS Penguin (Shore Base - Balmoral), HMAS Australia I, HMAS Sydney I, HMAS Parramatta I, HMAS Melbourne I
Publication
December 1971 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

Relics of SMS Emden bask in the sunshine on the lawn of HMAS Penguin at Balmoral, Sydney. The principal relic is one of the German cruiser’s ten 4 1 inch guns complete with armoured half turret. Nearby lies a spare barrel and a 6 inch shell from her victor, HMAS Sydney.

The Caretaker at Penguin who maintains the relics in almost fighting condition pats the shining black barrel of the gun and says `They never had a chance. Emden’s 4.1’s were no match for the eight 6 inch guns of the Australian.’

One of the Emden’s ten 4.1 inch guns on the lawn at HMAS PENGUIN. In the background are a spare barrel and a 6 inch shell from HMAS SYDNEY.

HMAS Sydney, a Chatham Class 6 inch Light Cruiser of 5,400 tons with four stacks, was built by Harland and Wolf of Glasgow at a cost of 350,000 Pounds sterling, and arrived in Sydney in October 1913 in company with her sister ship Melbourne and battle cruiser Australia.

At the outbreak of World War I, Australia’s duty was to the `Mother Country’ and Sydney, in company with the British cruiser Minotaur, Melbourne and the Japanese cruiser Ibuki had the job of escorting the first convoy of troops from Australia. Whilst the convoy was steaming through the Indian Ocean, the German cruiser Emden landed a raiding party on Direction Island (Cocos Group) but before radio and cable installations could be destroyed, an SOS had been sent out.

Sydney, under the command of Captain J. C.T. Glossop, RN, responded to the signal, and was detached from the convoy to investigate. In the engagement that followed, Emden was set ablaze by Sydney’s gunfire and forced aground on North Keeling Island, thus bringing to an end a ship which had in six short weeks in the Indian Ocean captured or sunk 22 allied ships.

Sydney carried on duties with Melbourne in the West Indies and North America during the following year and in 1917, under the command of Captain J S Dumaresq, engaged a German Zeppelin (L.43), in a running fight. During the same year, in company with Australia, aircraft were successfully launched from specially erected revolving platforms designed by Captain Dumaresq, becoming the first RAN ship to do so.

Melbourne and Sydney continued with North Sea operations during 1918, and both were present with Australia at the surrender of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow. The three ships returned to Sydney in 1919, and Sydney with HMA Ships Tasmania, Swan, Warrego, Huon and Parramatta were paid off in 1928 and broken up at Cockatoo Dock in the following year.

Naval Historical Review SMS Emden, Dumaresq J.S. RAN

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 Fall of Singapore
  • HMAS Armidale
  • Napoleon, the Royal Navy and Me
  • The Case of the Unknown Sailor
  • Night of the midget subs — Sydney under attack

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
  • Explore Naval Art
  • Dockyard Heritage Tour
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2025