The Last Gentlemen of War - about the exhibition

Katherine Veness's blog | Created 9 years ago

Banner showing Last Gentlemen of War text — **Last Gentlemen of War banner**
Image copyright WA Museum

On 4 October 1913, the Royal Australian Navy Fleet arrived in Sydney to the cheers and admiration of thousands of onlookers. Among this impressive fleet was the HMAS Sydney, who would soon enter history and validate Australia’s investment in a navy of its own.

Sydney was a ‘Chatham’ Class light cruiser; 140 m long, with a 15.2 m beam, an impressive artillery including machine guns and torpedo tubes, and a maximum speed of 26 knots (48 km/h). 376 crewmembers were employed to run the Sydney. Little did they know what impact they were to have on Australian history in just over a year.

The German ship SMS Emden, in comparison, was just 118 m long, with a 13.4 m beam, 360 crewmembers, and a maximum speed of 23 knots (43 km/h). These specifications, as well as a less well-equipped artillery, would determine the fate of the Emden during its Indian Ocean trade-ship raiding regime.

Display case showing artefacts such as a prisoner's diary — **Display case showing various artefacts**
Image copyright WA Museum

Display case showing artefacts from the SMS Emden — **Display case from the exhibition**
Image copyright WA Museum

The paths of the Emden and Sydney crossed on 9 November 1914, at Direction Island, in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The crew of the Emden had declared the island for Germany.

A stroke of luck for the Australian ship Sydney meant that Emden captain Karl von Müller had no idea that the Sydney was steaming towards his ship’s exact location, just minutes after the call for help was sent from the island.

Wall panels and display case describing the events of the battle — **Displays describing events of the battle**
Image copyright WA Museum

Map display showing important locations relevant to the battle — **Map display showing important locations**
Image copyright WA Museum

Learn what happens next as the battle between the Sydney and Emden unfolds, and what events led up to the now famous wireless message from the Sydney:

Emden beached and done for.

Text panel describing further attacks on the SMS Emden by HMAS Sydney — **Text panel from the exhibition**
Image copyright WA Museum

The Last Gentlemen of War is open to the public at the Western Australian Maritime Museum from 7 November 2014 – 26 April 2015.

Please visit the website for more information.