Sailing of the Second Convoy from Albany

 Wednesday 31st December was the 100th anniversary of the Second Convoy sailing from Albany W.A. The convoy comprised sixteen vessels including five enemy ships which had been seized in Australian ports at the outbreak of the war.  The convoy also included three New Zealand transports. The convoy carried 12,500 troops and more than 5000 horses.  Because of the improved security in the Indian Ocean the convoy did not require a naval escort similar to the first convoy but the Royal Australian submarine AE2, with Reuben Mitchell on board (Reuben was the subject of an earlier post) left with the convoy towed by Berrima. The ships of the second convoy began arriving at Alexandria on 28 January 1915.

First use of the term ANZAC

This week marks the 100th anniversary of two key events for the 1st AIF in their preparation for war. Firstly,  December 3rd marks the day that troops who departed Albany as part of the first convoy disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt.  Four and half months of training followed near Cairo, Egypt as well as defence of the Suez Canal as they prepared for the assault on the Dardanelles.

The second key event occurs on December 8 when the term ANZAC is first used to refer collectively to Australian and New Zealand forces.  While stationed in Egypt troops from both countries were placed under the command of Lieutenant General William Birdwood and formed into the ANZAC Corp.