The auxiliary cruiser HMAS BERRIMA, (CMDR J. B. Stevenson, RN), was commissioned. BERRIMA was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the P&O Steam Navigation Co Ltd, in August 1914. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 August 1914
Australian Naval History on 16 August 1914
HMAS PIONEER, (light cruiser), captured the German merchant ship NEUMUNSTER, off Rottnest Island, WA. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 August 1914
HMAS MELBOURNE, (cruiser), intercepted the collier ALCONDA off Rossel Island, and requisitioned her cargo of coal. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 August 1914
HMA Ships PARRAMATTA, YARRA, and WARREGO, (torpedo boat destroyers), landed parties at Rabaul. HMAS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), captured the German steamer ZAMBESI in St George’s Channel, New Britain. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 August 1914
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), and the Australia Squadron, under VADM Sir George Patey, RN, arrived in St Georges Channel, near Rabaul, on a search for ADML von Spee’s forces. The German ...
Australian Naval History on 10 August 1914
An Australian Government Order-in-Council was gazetted placing all Commonwealth Naval Forces, including the Naval Board, under British Admiralty control, for the duration of WWI, (and was later repeated for WWII). ...
Australian Naval History on 7 August 1914
VADM Sir George Patey, RN, wrote the first wartime order for the RAN, and for that matter the Commonwealth of Australia, whilst onboard his flagship, HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser). It was ...
Australian Naval History on 5 August 1914
The message conveying the news of the outbreak of war with Germany was received in Australia at 12.30pm. The disposition of ships of the RAN, at the declaration of WWI, ...
Australian Naval History on 4 August 1914
Great Britain declared war on Germany. The telegram informing Australia of a state of hostilities was not received in Melbourne until 5 August. At the outbreak of war the strength ...
Australian Naval History on 3 August 1914
Even before the declaration of war between Britain and Germany, the Australian Cabinet met in Melbourne and promptly offered the Australian fleet to Britain. Port war lookout and examination stations ...
Australian Naval History on 30 July 1914
Garden Island Wireless Station intercepted the Admiralty warning to HM Ships that war with Germany was imminent. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 July 1914
LEUT A. M. Longmore, an Australian serving with the RNAS, made the first successful aerial torpedo drop by a naval pilot from a Short Folder seaplane. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 May 1914
The RAN’s first two submarines, AE1 and AE2, arrived in Sydney after a record voyage from England. Within a year both submarines had been lost on active service, with AE1 ...
Australian Naval History on 1 April 1914
LEUT A. M. Longmore, an Australian serving with the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, flew the First Sea Lord, Winston Churchill, on his first flight in a Maurice ...
Australian Naval History on 2 March 1914
HMA Submarines AE1 and AE2 sailed from Portsmouth on their maiden voyage to Australia. The passage took 83 days and was at the time the longest journey ever under taken ...
Australian Naval History on 28 February 1914
The E class submarines HMA Ships AE1, (LCDR T. F. Besant, RN), and AE2, (LCDR H. H. G. D. Stoker, RN), were commissioned in Portsmouth, England. AE1 and AE2 were ...
Australian Naval History on 1 January 1914
HMAS Pioneer was recommissioned as an independent command for service as a seagoing training ship for the Naval Reserve, operating under the orders of the Director of Naval Reserves ...
Australian Naval History on 21 October 1913
RADM Sir George E Patey, RN, assumed command of the Australia Station from ADML Sir George King Hall, RN, as the Station’s last RN commander-in-chief. ...
Australian Naval History on 4 October 1913
The first RAN fleet, under the command of RADM Sir George Patey, RN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), entered Sydney Harbour. With AUSTRALIA were her consorts HMA Ships MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ENCOUNTER, ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1913
The administration of the following Sydney Naval Establishments was transferred to the Naval Board of the Commonwealth of Australia; Garden Island Dockyard; Royal Edward Victualling Yard; Naval Ordnance Depot; Spectacle ...
Australian Naval History on 23 June 1913
RADM G. Patey, MVO, hoisted his flag in HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), at Portsmouth. He was knighted the same day on his own quarterdeck by HRH King George V. The Town ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1913
The battle-cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, (CAPT S. H. Radcliffe, RN), was commissioned at Portsmouth, England. AUSTRALIA was laid down in John Brown Yard, Clydebank, Scotland, on 23 June 1910, and launched ...
Australian Naval History on 21 May 1913
RADM Sir George Patey, KCVO, RN, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Australian Squadron. His flagship was HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser). ...
Australian Naval History on 9 May 1913
ADML Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN, (1913 – 1998), first graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College to reach the rank of Admiral, was born ...
Australian Naval History on 8 May 1913
The Minister for the Navy approved the formation of the Naval Dockyard Police. The initial strength was one Chief Warrant Officer, one Sergeant, nine Senior Constables, and 29 Constables. ...