Son’s tribute to HMAS Sydney captain on 100th anniversary of WWI battle

THE son of the HMAS Sydney captain who sank a German cruiser in Australia’s first naval battle of World War I says his father was a “hero”.

THE son of the HMAS Sydney captain who sank a German cruiser in Australia’s first naval battle of World War I says his father was a “hero” – who had luck on his side.

James Glossop, a 90-year-old retired Royal Navy lieutenant-commander, spoke to The Sunday Times this week about the infamous Cocos Islands battle 100 years ago today.

James Glossop holding his fathers service medals. Photo: Clare Lewis

His father was Capt. John Glossop, the man at the helm of the HMAS Sydney when it was diverted from escorting the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who departed Albany to attack the 3500-tonne SMS Emden on November 9, 1914.

A service will be held in the Cocos Islands today while the WA Maritime Museum has opened an exhibition called The Last Gentlemen of War, recreating the battle and telling a story of decency, honour and even humour – a stark contrast to the bloody acts of war that would follow.

“I don’t remember my father saying much about his part in the action because he died when I was 10, but later I learnt how important the action was and what a significant role he had played,” James Glossop, who lives in Sydney, said.

Despite his father’s victory, Mr Glossop said “luck played a very great part” when a shell fired by the Emden struck the bridge of the Sydney but did not explode.

James Glossop with a photo of his father, Captain John Glossop of HMAS Sydney. Photo: Clare Lewis.

“Had it exploded, my father would not have survived and the outcome would have been very different,” he said.

The Emden and her daring yet chivalrous captain Karl von Muller captured more than two dozen cargo ships, cruising the Indian Ocean unchallenged for 12 weeks. Captured crews were dropped at various ports and told of courteous treatment by their captors.

But the Emden’s run ended when it landed a crew at North Keeling Island to blow up a communication station only to be surprised by the Sydney.

Emden took a pounding.

In desperation to save the 243 of his 376 men still alive, von Müller ran the ship on to the fringing reef. At 11.30am, with Emden aground, Capt. Glossop sent the now-famous wireless message, “Emden beached and done for”.

Just as remarkable is the tale of the German crew stranded ashore: they escaped and sailed to Sumatra, survived a series of sea and land journeys and a three-day gunbattle with Bedouin tribesmen to reach Constantinople and rejoin German forces.

THE LAST GENTLEMEN OF WAR

WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, Fremantle, until April 26, 2015.

Free (entry fees apply to other WA Maritime Museum exhibits).

Originally published as Son’s tribute to HMAS Sydney captain on 100th anniversary of WWI battle