Summary

Medal issued to commemorate the sinking of the SMS Emden by HMAS Sydney.

Emden was a German cruiser that formed part of the German East Asiatic Squadron early in World War I. It stalked Indian Ocean shipping routes and became the scourge of Allied naval ships. On 9 November 1914 HMAS Sydney surprised the Emden while it was attacking the British radio station on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and badly damaged it. The Emden was deliberately run aground. It lost 134 killed and 65 wounded; the Sydney lost four killed and 12 wounded. The medals issued incorporated a portion of the Mexican silver dollars recovered from the Emden.

They were presented to the captain of the Sydney, staff on the Cocos Islands, the Admiralty, (later) the Australian War Memorial and other 'approved' Australian museums. The remainder were sold to the public as souvenirs and money accrued above production costs were to go to the RAN Relief Fund.

Obverse Description

Mexican Eight reales from the wreck mounted under looped crown on NOV 9 1914 / HMAS . SYDNEY . SMS . EMDEN

Reverse Description

Attachment stamped W. KERR / SYDNEY Coin: : Cap of Liberty surrounded by rays of sun, three chop marks- one on cap around below; *8 R.M.1888.M.H.10Ds.20Gs. On cap: 'LIBERTAD'.

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

Emden was a German cruiser that formed part of the German East Asiatic Squadron early in World War I. It stalked Indian Ocean shipping routes and became the scourge of Allied naval ships. Between August and October 1914 it captured or sank 21 vessels. The following month nine Allied vessels were involved in the hunt for Emden, and an escort of four warships was allocated to the first Australian and New Zealand troop convoy. One of these escorts, HMAS Sydney, surprised the Emden while it was attacking the British radio station on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and badly damaged it. The Emden was deliberately run aground. The Emden lost 134 killed and 65 wounded; the Sydney lost 4 killed and 12 wounded. The remaining Germany escaped under cover of darkness. -Australian War Memorial web site http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_12749.htm. Yahoo Geocities web site http://www.geocities.com/pumbo99/other_1.html. -D. Tout-Smith 26/9/2003.

The medals issued incorporated a portion of the Mexican silver dollars recovered from the Emden. They were presented to the captain of the Sydney, staff on the Cocos Islands, the Admiralty, the Australian War Memorial and other 'approved' Australian museums. The remainder were sold to the public as souvenirs and money accrued about production costs were to go to the RAN Relief Fund. -Carlisle, L. 1983. Australian Commemorative Medals and Medalets from 1788, p.130. -D. Tout-Smith 22/1/2004.

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