SINKING OF THE BALLARAT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1917, Page 3

SINKING OF THE BALLARAT

Splendid Siory of Australians’ Courage. London, April 26 The story of the sinking of the Ballarat is one of which Australians may well be p-oud. Onr ladj paraded likß the British soldiers oo the Birkenhead bnt, h&pply, without the less of life which a beaded the sinking of that historic transport, as all were saved from *ho Ballarat. The men had arranged extensive celebrations for Anzic Day, commencing with a memorial eervice at 2.80 p.m. and were beginning to muster, fully dressed, at £.5, when a torpsdo was seen on the port side. The lookout in the stern telephoned to the bridge. The immense vessel swung rondd very quickly. Another two seconds and the torpedo would have missed, but a dull thud, followed b f a rendiDg sound, told that it had struck.

The vessel settled down by ths stern. Soon it was discovered that one propeller had been torn off, and a gaping hole bad been left. No one saw the submarine. A few of ths men say that they saw a periscope 500 yards away, bnt it was not seen from the deck or the bridge. SLOW VOYAGE ON BAD. COAL The Ballsrat’a troops were practically all Victorian reinforcements for the 2nd and the 4th Brigades. . Colonel McVea, of the Victorian Scottish, says that the troops had done boat station drill until they had reduced the time requited to launch the boats to four minutes.

The voyage was uneventful and slow-, owing to the reduction of the steamer’s speed, in consequence of the use of bad coal. Whilst steaming all lights were out. At night the Ballarat had a great beacon fl-ime nine feet above the funnel, owing to the quality of the eohl Men who wers on board ascribe the lisa of the vessel to the fact that she vv<ia not able to osll for good coal. While embarking into the boats the men remained moit cheerfal. One of the officers oheerily told the company, “You may smoke on this parade, boys.” Many had cigarettes ; others carried their battalion pets, including a squirrel, dogs, puppies and parrots, and when alTwere afloat in the boats “Australia Will be There,” was sung in unison by many boatloads.

After a few minutes the engineer reported that h 8 was able to go ahead with the remaining damaged propeller. The boats were recalled, and the men went on board again. There was a call for volunteers to go into the stokehold, and hundred volunteered, including the whole of the railway unit. Forty were stlacted, but were not sent below, bscanee water had gained rapidly. The vessel seemed to be stealdiy settling down, and the engine room was flooded. The men reformed at their stations, and were ordered to go on board two of the trawlers, which had come rapidly from all directions. Transhipment was completed of all the men and some of the crew by 4.10 p.m. Fully 80 percent of the men were without kit. Many were in dungarees; others were coatless and ha'less, borne had shoes. A few men from the hospital were in pyjamas. BRAYE NORSES AND .CHAPLAINS. During the whole time, the only curses aboard, Sister Tatlow, of Victoria, and Sister Lord, of Tasmania, who had been had dis> played conspicuous courage, visiting dompanies, and tying lifebelts, work in which Chaplains Goller (Presbyterian), Buckley (Anglican), and Ryan (Roman Catholic) were also employed. A hundred men photographed the

sinking ship and the final parade, but the officers did not allow the men to break the ranks to get their valuables* Great cheers were given as the patrollers moved away. The men had transhipped down rope ladders and ropes. The only injury was that a private sustained a broken shoulder from flying metal when the torpedo struck. The men were lauded late at night and fgat’ly in the morning. They were hospitably treated, and then sent on 10 Salisbury on Thursday. Whan the ship sank after midnight, the only living creatures on board were cats and puppies, which afterwards swam round the tug. AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE PROUD, An officer said : “ Australia should be proud of tbeir soldierly bearing, which was without any blemish. It brought tears to the eyea to eee the straight lines, and the eager, cheery faoes of the men, with steady, -busy officers. Nowhere was there the slightest sign of haste or panie.” There were many coincidences. Three of the men were on board the Southland, whiob was sunk in 1915. Fifteen participated in the landing at Atzac Bay. The men were convinced the Germans set a trap for the Ballarat, as they wished to av6nge the An* zacs’ landing.

Brigadier-General Anderson is arranging issues of clothes. Hundreds of the men cabled to Australia that they were safe, some adding : “ But broke—send money." An inquiry was being heard when • a smothered sound indicated that the Teasel was hit. The adjutant, the son of a Melbourne clergyman, and the assistant adjutant were amongst the last to leave, by sliding down_a rope with thp contents of the strongroom,

The men sent representatives to London to get a souvenir of the sinking printed. The last number of the Ballarat Beacon was being distributed when the steamer was torpedoed. The wireless* operator immediately sent ou't messages. A number of vessels quickly responded ; the ship was taken in tow, but sank before she could be beached.

The captain and first officer remained to the last. The vessel’s military papers were saved. Some soldiers, tired of waiting their turns to enter the boats, resumed, interrupted games and played ragtime on the piano. A group playing two-up with pennies at first warning rushed to the side; the thrower examined the coins, exclaiming ; “ Here ! Never mind the ship, I’ve got two heads.” A lieutenant farewelling the troops said : “ Boys ! You behaved like true Australians —■ I’m proud of you.” ' There were numerous instances of of bravery. An Australian on his own initiative climbed over the bows, which were forty feet in the air, and down a rope fastened to the rafts. Another descended a rope and rescued a mascot squirrel from rhe wate.

Batches of men arrived at Salisbury throughout the night and Sir Nowton Moore provided a hot meal.' The trainees subscribed money for comforts for the Australians.