9 Nov 2014

War Report - 9 November

From New Zealand in World War I, 8:53 pm on 9 November 2014

In early November 1914 the war still seemed far away - the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was heading to Egypt - by now nearing Ceylon. Extract from Bay of Plenty Times in which news was dominated by the battles between British and German troops in Northern Europe.

But on 19th November an event much closer to home - the Australian navy ship Sydney sank the German raider Emden in the Indian Ocean with the loss of 134 German crew. The Emden had been on a rampage capturing 20 merchant vessels and sinking four warships. Unnamed New Zealand soldier describes the activity in the convoy and signaller Cyril Bassett (later to win the VC) describes reading the signals about the sinking of the Emden to the disbelief of his mates.

An extract from the diary of Colonel William Malone describes the German prisoners held on his ship. The home front remained relatively quiet - and schoolgirl Marjorie Lees comments on the lack of war news at school but the emphasis on raising patriotic funds.

Music extracts:

Artist: John McCormack
Song: There’s a Long Long Trail A Winding
Composer: King/Elliott
Album: Oh, It’s a Lovely War Vol 2
Label: CD41 486309

Artist: Courtland and Jeffries
Song: Oh, Oh, It’s a Lovely War
Composer: n/s
Album: Songs of World War 1
Label: Goentertainment 557331 1900s

Artist: John McCormack
Song: Keep the Home Fires Burning
Composer: n/s
Album: Songs of World War 1
Label: CD Geoentertainment 41 486286                 

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