Hi Rob and All,
The story of Rob's Grandpa reminded me of a couple of newspaper
articles I recently found in the Swan Express. My Dad and his brothers
were all Navy men but I hadn't realized they weren't the first of the
family to serve at sear during war time. I had read before about the
two submarines the Australian Navy had for WW1 and have often
considered how brave (or crazy) our men who went down in them must
have been. They actually belonged the the British but these two subs
were loaned to Australia in WW1. The AE1 disappeared without a trace
with all hands on board. The AE2 was captured by the Turks. What I
didn't realize until I found these articles was that my Dad's uncle,
my grandmother's brother was one of these brave young men who risked
their lives in these two submarines. Below are the two articles I
found. Don't you just love Trove. I have since found many interesting
articles on the AE2 and also some nice photographs of the crew. 20
August 1915 Swan ExpressON THE AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINE.AN UNRECORDED
MISHAP.In a letter published in last issue from J. Cullen, of Midland
Junction, who was captured by the Turks when the Australian submarine
A.E.2 was sunk, it was mentioned that he was on the A.E.2 when a
previous mishap befel her. In the letter reprinted below Cullen gives
particulars of the incidentreferred to: "Well, mother, it was very
nearly all up with us the other day. We were coming in off , and were
going full speed, when we hit a rock and ripped all the bottom of the
boat out. I can tell you it was a shock. I thought our last day had
come. I was on watch in the engine room, and she was jumping like
something drunk, and sinking pretty fast, when the order came down
"Every man for himself." So we all made for the conning tower to get
out, but she was right over on her side by that time, so things were
pretty awkward, but all hands kept very cool and we got out. When we
got up top all her bridge was awash and it was very rough weather, so
the captain ordered us to be ready to swim. We all stripped, but there
was not much hope of us swimming on account of the sea that was
running, So in the end the skipper made us stand by the boat. Well, we
were there sending signals for two hours before assistance came and it
was very cold standing there with nothing on. They got us on board a
destroyer like drowned rats. I can tell you I think myself lucky."
Swan Express 28 March 1919AN INTERESTING LETTER.TO A MIDLAND BOY'S
MOTHER.Mrs. Cullen of Boundary road, Midland Junction, has received an
interesting letter from Lady Stewart with regard to her son, Stoker
Jas. Cullen of the Australian submarine AE2, which was sunk in Turkish
waters and the surviving members of the crew taken prisoners. The
letter was written by Lady Stewart on December 27, 1918, after
visiting Stoker Cullen in hospital in London, and reads "You will
wonder who it is that is writing to you, so I must explain that I was
in St. George's Hospital on Thursday last to see President Wilson
pass. My husband was an Admiral, also my father and father-in-law, and
many relatives, in the navy, so I naturally take a special interest in
our splendid sailors, and hearing there was a sailor in one of the
wards I said I would like to visit him, so was taken to see your son.
I feel sure you will be glad to hear from me about him, and that he is
getting on very well. I told him I should write to you, which pleased
him very much, and he said he was sure you would like to get a letter
and know that he is better and very comfortable, and the nurses
extremely kind and attentive to him. He told me he had come from
Australia in a submarine. What a terrible and wonderful time he has
had. You must indeed be immensely proud of him, as truly the .whole
old country is of him, and the other splendid men who have come from
over the sea to help their old mother country in her need, and they
have done gloriously, as the result of this terrible war has proved by
the absolute defeat of theHuns. From the diabolical way in which from
the first the Germans have fought and behaved, also from the
righteousness of our cause, against theirs of might against right, I
have always felt that right must and would prevail, and so it has. One
cannot be too grateful to the Almighty for the help that He has given
us to conquer the foe. I hope to go to see your son again soon. He
seemed to have had as nice a Christmas as he could under the sad
circumstances of being so far from his parents and family and in a
hospital, but the ward was very prettily decorated,and it all looked
bright and cheerful. They had a nice entertainment on Christmas
afternoon. I was in Australia when I was a little girl, from three
years to seven years old. My grandfather, Sir Charles Fitzroy,was
Governor at Sydney, New South Wales, and my parents stayed with him at
Government House. My mother, Mrs. Keith Stewart, his only daughter,
laid the sod of the first railway in Australia, and that was a good
many years ago. I must end now, and wishing you every good wish for
the New Year. How different this Christmas seems to the last four
terrible years of anxiety and sorrow. I trust that before very long
you will have your son safely back with you."