Item ADM 137/13/2 - Folio 135: telegram from Loanda to Admiralty, 14 October 1914 – 7 warships nationality unknown...

Folio 135: telegram from Loanda to Admiralty, 14 October 1914 – 7 warships nationality unknown lights out reported off Port Alexandre. Folio 141: telegram from Commander-in-Chief Cape, Simonstown to Admiralty, 14 October 1914 – 3 6-inch Quick Firer [guns] and 3 47inch guns required for defence of Luderitz Bay and Walfisch Bay. Folio 143: telegram from Senior Naval Officer, Sierra Leone to Admiralty, 14 October 1914 – HMS Astraea with convoy arrived safely. Folio 152: telegram from HMS Carnarvon to Admiralty, 15 October 1914 – HMS Albion has left for Ascension. Folio 155: telegram from Admiralty to all Intelligence Officers, 16 October 1914 – no increase of loss of merchant shipping through keeping trade routes always open Essential trade should not be stopped. Folio 157b: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief Cape, Simonstown, 15 October 1914 – 7 warships off Port Alexandre Might be 7 British transports off Luderitzbucht about 3rd October. Folio 158: telegram from Admiralty to HMS Astraea, 15 October 1914 – proceed with convoy to St Vincent, Cape Verde where HMS Highflyer will relieve you Then return to Cape. Folio 165: telegram from Commander-in-Chief Cape, Simonstown to Admiralty, 15 October 1914 – Portuguese Consul General Cape Town says [7] vessels were whalers Have ordered [armed merchant cruiser] Kinfauns Castle back to Walfisch Bay. Folio 170: telegram from HMS Astraea to Admiralty, 16 October 1914 – leaving Sierra Leone with convoy daylight 17 October. Folio 172: telegram from Commander-in-Chief Cape, HMS Britannia to Admiralty, 16 October 1914 – I am sending [armed merchant cruiser] Armadale Castle to Walfisch Bay to bring away women and children now on board [armed merchant cruiser] Kinfauns Castle She will be back 20th October. Folio 172: telegram from Swanston, Las Palmas to Admiralty, 16 October 1914 – Spanish merchant vessel Cadiz reports [German cruiser] Karlsruhe near St Paul Rock 9th October 1914. Folio 173: telegram from Intelligence Officer, Cape Town to Admiralty, 16 October 1914 – [Portuguese cruiser] Dom Carlos I convoying SS Durham Castle arrived today. Folio 181: telegram from Naval Agent, Sierra Leone to Admiralty 17 October 1914 – HMS Astraea left with two transports. Folio 189: telegram from the Governor General of the Union of South Africa to Secretary of State for the Colonies, 18 October 1914 – internal situation much improved History Section 8 page 66: [armed merchant cruiser] Armadale Castle arrived Walfisch Bay; took over white passengers from [armed merchant cruiser] Kinfauns Castle Sailed 7pm, M 04432/14. Folio 202: telegram from British Consul General, Lorenzo Marques to Admiralty, 19 October 1914 – Portuguese Government have decided to disembark expedition from SS Durham Castle and put on Portuguese steamship Mozambique. Folio 215: telegram from St Vincent, Cape Verde to Admiralty, 20 October 1914 – HMS Astraea and convoy arrived safely Convoy taken over by HMS Kent Folio 216: telegram to HMS Albion from Admiralty 20th October 1914 – join Cape command Commander-in-Chief wishes you to proceed to Walfisch Bay. Folios 217-223: Committee of Imperial Defence Sub-Committee met to consider whether guns should be mounted to protect Luderitz Bay and Walfisch Bay Found no suitable sites at Walfisch Bay; thought Admiralty should only replace guns lent to Union by Commander-in-Chief Cape. Folio 225: telegram from Cape Town to Admiralty, 21 October 1914 – SS Armadale Castle arrived today. Folio 226: telegram from Commander-in-Chief Simonstown to Admiralty 21st October 1914 – HMS Hyacinth cruising off Cape of Good Hope to intercept German colliers. Folio 227: telegram from St Vincent, Cape Verde to Admiralty 21st October 1914 – HMS Astraea sailed for St Helena. Folio 228: telegram from Ascension Island to Admiralty, 21 October 1914 – HMS Albion sailed 1125am. Folio 229: telegram from Intelligence Officer, Cape Town to Admiralty, 21 October 1914 – German ship Adelaide at Loanda raising steam History Section 8 page 67: [armed merchant cruiser] Kinfauns Castle proceeded to Swakopmund Fog Fired on a few troops there Landed, found nobody Returned to Walfisch Bay Sent letter to German government demanding stoppage of removal of stores from Swakopmund and withdrawal of troops from Walfisch Bay M 04432/14. Folio 235: telegram from Cape Town to Admiralty, 22 October 1914 – [armed merchant cruiser] Armadale Castle left Cape Town to co-operate with HMS Hyacinth (ieto patrol to 180’ S Of Cape Point M 04190/14. Folio 236: telegram from Loanda to Admiralty, 22 October 1914 -7 warships now thought to be whalers. Folio 238: telegram from Governor of South Africa to Secretary of State Colonies, 22 October 1914 – position grave [General] Beyers and [General] De Wet secretely carrying on rebellion with object of re-establishment of Dutch Republic. Folio 241: telegram from British Consul General, Lourenzo Marques to Admiralty, 23 October 1914 – Portuguese Government Port Amelia report native story German warship entered Kiswere (no date given). Folio 246: telegram from HMS Highflyer,St Vincent, Cape Verde to Admiralty, 23 October 1914 – [supply ship] Baron Ardrossan ordered from St Vincent to Duala and then Walfisch. Folios 252-254: telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief Cape, 24 October 1914 – Union apparently do not want more naval guns Defence of Walfisch difficult 5-inch howitzers from Mauritius can come by freight 50 Royal Marine Artillery ratings with Colonel Rose leave by mail today for Capetown Is Luderitz wireless working Will there be wireless at Walfisch Bay, Ludertitz Bay, Port Nolloth to Cape when operations begin. Folio 255: telegram from St Helena to Admiralty, 24 October 1914 – HMS Albion arrived St Helena History Section 8 page 67: [armed merchant cruiser] Kinfauns Castle returned to Swakopmund and bombarded Folio 258: telegram from Commander-in-Chief HMS Britannia, Simonstown to Admiralty 25th October 1914 – progress of rebellion Strong ground to believe [General] Beyers is going to fight. Folio 259: telegram from Commander-in-Chief HMS Britannia, Simonstown, 25 October 1914 – would like one 6inch gun spare for HMS Hyacinth Two 6 inch guns for Walfisch Bay which is not impossible to defend, better than keeping man-of-war there. Folio 260: telegram from Commander-in-Chief, Simonstown to Admiralty, 25 October 1914 – in view of [General] Beyer’s rebellion submit His Majesty’s Government recommend suspension of German South West Africa operations until rebellion is supressed I am placing a Naval Brigade consisting of 200 RNVR South African Division at the disposal of Officer Commanding for defence of the Peninsula. Folio 268: telegram from Commander-in-Chief Cape, Simonstown to Admiralty, 26 October 1914 – communication with Walfisch Bay maintained through [armed merchant cruiser] Kinfauns Castle Nolloth in touch with Slangkop SS Monarch at Ludertitz Bay in touch with Nolloth. No wireless at Walfisch. Listing continued in ADM 137/13/3.

The National Archives >> Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies >> Records of the Navy Board and the Board of Admiralty >> Admiralty: Historical Section: Records used for Official History, First World War >> Cape Station including German South West Africa and St Helena General Operation Telegrams, part 2, 2 October to 9 December 1914. (Most but not all of the telegrams are described at item level, order document as ADM 137/13).

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https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16417629

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