In 2015 we remembered the start of what became knows as " The Great War " but few seem to know that the first shot of that war was fired here in Australia. That is a fascinating story !
On July 30, 1914 the German cargo ship SS Pfalz sailed into Port Phillip Bay and tied up at Victoria Dock. The 6000 ton Pfalz was a regular trader, bringing general cargo from Bremen in Germany and returning with Tasmanian apples and South Australian pears, and she had refrigerated holds to keep the fruit in prime condition, which was quite an innovation for that period.
Events in Europe were rapidly spinning out of control and her master, Captain Kuhlken was anxious to conclude his business and get back to sea. He was due to sail to Sydney after his Victorian visit, but he dumped the Sydney cargo on the wharf, took on coal and prepared to leave as the news worsened.
Australian authorities were keen to prevent it's departure, but short of a declaration of war she could not be legally stopped. At 7-45 am on Wednesday, August 5 - just an hour and a quarter before Britain declared war on Germany - the Pfalz set sail under the control of harbour pilot Captain Montgomery Robinson. The ship was intercepted by the launch Alvina and a naval officer and two ratings boarded her and demanded to check her papers. This was done meticulously - and slowly - but eventually the delay became unreasonable and the naval party withdrew to the Alvina and the Pfalz again got under way.
The Alvina was returning to shore when the telegraphs began clattering with the news that war had been declared. Immediately the signal station raised flags ordering the German ship to " Heave to or be sunk ". The ship was now off Portsea and Captain Robinson was concentrating on the strong currents the ship was about to encounter and did not notice this signal - and Captain Kuhlken did not bring it to his notice.
Stopping the Pfalz now rested in the hands of the gun crew manning the defence fort at Port Nepean and the commanding officer there ordered that a shot be fired across her bows. The sights were set on one of the massive six inch naval guns and this raised a huge spout of water when the shell crossed the ships bow and exploded. A startled Captain Robinson immediately rang the ship's telegraph to " Stop Engines ", but Captain Kuhlken wrestled with him and tried to gain access to ring " Full Ahead ". He was determined to escape to sea and one of his crew produced a Luger pistol and put it to the pilot's head.
Robinson pointed to the guns clearly visible at Port Nepean and made it clear that there was no chance the next shot would miss - and that this was point blank range for a gun of that size. The Germans saw reason and the Pfalz turned about and returned to port, where she was confiscated by the Royal Australian navy and her crew interned for the duration of the war.
An examination of the Pfalz disclosed that she was not as innocent as she seemed. It was discovered that steel plating, reinforced with drilled holes to enable naval guns to be mounted were strategically placed at various points and a hidden compartment at the bottom of one of the holds contained a cache of four inch naval guns. Her captain and crew were all German naval reservists and in the event of war the ship could quickly be converted to an armed raider and prey on merchant shipping on the trade route between Europe and Australia.
Not only did Australia host the first shot of World War One, the taking of the Pfalz could be considered the first naval victory of that long war !
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