HMAS Tobruk sailors pause to remember AE1

14 September 2010

HMAS Tobruk Ship’s Company and embarked forces have commemorated the 96th anniversary of the loss of Australian World War 1 submarine AE1 and its 35 man crew on 14 September 1914, by laying wreaths at sea.

The ceremony was held on 11 September as Tobruk passed through the last known position of the AE1, following a recent deployment to Rabaul, Papua New Guinea as part of Pacific Partnership 2010.

“The opportunity to honour these sailors so close to their last known position was a special event for the Australian Defence Force personnel onboard Tobruk, said Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Scott.

“The men of AE1, along with the sailors and Officers of AE2 had completed the longest journey ever conducted by a Submarine at the time when they delivered the newly built boats to Sydney from England. Not long after, the crew of AE1 was sent to Rabaul as part of Australia’s World War I effort against the German Pacific Fleet: where they went missing,” Commander Scott said.

“The sea remains an unforgiving, dangerous environment, even more so during war. The chance to honour our first generation of Submariners in this way is particularly poignant; their exact location may be unknown but their contribution and sacrifices will not be forgotten.”

The memory of the tragedy is especially hard for the families of the lost submariners said AE1 Incorporated spokesperson Dr Kathyrn Spurling.

“For generations of relatives of the 35 crew there has been no closure. We need to honour these men for their service and sacrifice and this means finding AE1 and resolving how they died,” she said.

“The disappearance of AE1 was Australia’s first naval tragedy and the 96 year old mystery remains unresolved.” Dr Spurling said.