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{{Short description|1914 naval battle between Australia and Germany near the Cocos (Keeling) Islands}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict    = Battle of Cocos
|partof      = [[World War I]]
|image       = Imperial War Museum Galleries at the Crystal Palace, 1920-1924 Q20518.jpg
|caption     = Japanese poster depicting the Battle of Cocos
|image_size  = 300px
|date        = 9 November 1914
|place       = Off the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands|Keeling Islands]], [[Indian Ocean]]
|result      = Australian victory
|combatant1  = {{flagcountry|Australia}}
|combatant2  = {{flagcountry|German Empire}}
|commander1  = {{flagicon|Australia|naval-1913}} [[John Glossop]]
|commander2  = {{flagicon|German Empire|naval}} [[Karl von Müller]]
|strength1   = Light cruiser {{HMAS|Sydney|1912|2}}
|strength2   = Light cruiser {{SMS|Emden||2}}<br> Collier {{SS|Buresk|1914|2}}
|casualties1 = 4 killed <br> 16 wounded <br> ''Sydney'' damaged
|casualties2 = 134 killed <br> 69 wounded <br> 157 captured <br> ''Emden'' wrecked <br> ''Buresk'' scuttled
|campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Command of the Oceans 1914-1915}}<br/>{{Campaignbox Asian and Pacific Campaign}}
}}

The '''Battle of Cocos''' was a [[single-ship action]] that occurred on 9 November 1914, after the Australian light cruiser {{HMAS|Sydney|1912|6}}, under the command of [[John Glossop]], responded to an attack on a communications station at [[Direction Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands|Direction Island]] by the German light cruiser {{SMS|Emden}}, commanded by [[Karl von Müller]].

After the retreat of the German [[East Asia Squadron]] from [[Southeast Asia]], ''Emden'' had remained behind to function as a [[commerce raider]]. During a two-month period, the German cruiser captured or sank 25 civilian vessels, [[Bombardment of Madras|shelled Madras]], and destroyed two Allied warships at [[Battle of Penang|Penang]]. In early November, von Müller decided to attack the communications station at Direction Island, in the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]], to hamper Allied communications and frustrate the search for his ship. Around the same time, a convoy of Europe-bound transports carrying [[Australian and New Zealand Army Corps|Australian and New Zealand soldiers]] departed from [[Albany, Western Australia]], with escorts {{HMAS|Melbourne|1912|6}}, HMAS ''Sydney'', {{HMS|Minotaur|1906|6}}, and the {{Ship|Japanese battlecruiser|Ibuki||6}}.

During the night of 8–9 November, ''Emden'' reached the islands and sent a party ashore at around 06:00 to disable the wireless and cable transmission station on Direction Island. The station was able to transmit a distress call before it was shut down. ''Melbourne'' received the message and ordered ''Sydney'' to investigate. The Australian ship arrived off Direction Island at 09:15, spotting and being spotted by ''Emden''; both ships prepared for combat. ''Emden'' opened fire at 09:40, surprising those aboard ''Sydney'' as the range was greater than British intelligence thought ''Emden'' was capable of. The German ship scored several hits, but was unable to inflict disabling damage to the Australian cruiser before ''Sydney'' opened up with her more powerful main guns. After one and one-half hours of fighting, the ''Emden'' was heavily damaged and von Müller ordered her beached on [[North Keeling Island]]. The Australian warship broke off to pursue the [[Collier (ship)|collier]] {{SS|Buresk|1914|2}}, which scuttled herself, then returned to North Keeling Island at 16:00. At this point, ''Emden''{{'}}s [[battle ensign]] was still flying, and after no response to instructions to lower the ensign, Glossop ordered two salvoes shot into the beached cruiser. ''Sydney'' had orders to ascertain the status of the transmission station, but returned the next day to provide medical assistance to the Germans.

Of ''Emden''{{'}}s crew, 134 were killed and 69 wounded, compared to only 4 killed and 16 wounded aboard ''Sydney''. The German survivors were taken aboard the Australian cruiser, with most transferred to the auxiliary cruiser {{RMS|Empress of Russia||2}} on 12 November. ''Sydney'' rejoined the troop convoy in Colombo, then spent the rest of the war assigned to the [[North America and West Indies Station]], then the British [[Grand Fleet]]. Von Müller and some of his officers were imprisoned on [[Malta]], with the rest of the crew being sent to prisoner-of-war camps in Australia. The 50 men of the German shore party on Direction Island commandeered the [[schooner]] ''[[Ayesha (ship)|Ayesha]]'' and escaped, eventually reaching [[Constantinople]] by land. The defeat of the last German ship in the region allowed RAN warships to be deployed to other theatres, and troopships were able to sail unescorted between Australia and the Middle East until renewed raider activity in 1917.

==Ships==

===HMAS ''Sydney''===
[[File:StateLibQld 1 120860 Sydney (ship).jpg|thumb|HMAS ''Sydney'']]
{{Main|HMAS Sydney (1912)}}
''Sydney'' was a {{sclass2|Town|cruiser|0||1910}} light cruiser, of the ''Chatham'' subclass.<ref name=Cassells138>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 138</ref> She had a standard displacement of {{convert|5400|LT|t|lk=on}}.<ref name=Cassells138/> The cruiser was {{convert|456|ft|9.75|in|1}} [[length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|430|ft}} long [[between perpendiculars]], with a beam of {{convert|49|ft|10|in}}, and a draught of {{convert|19|ft|8|in}}.<ref name=Cassells138/> A combined coal- and oil-fuelled boiler system allowed the ship to reach speeds over {{convert|25|kn}}.<ref>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pp. 138–9</ref>

The cruiser's main armament consisted of eight [[BL 6 inch Mk XI naval gun|BL 6-inch Mark XI guns]] in single mountings, firing {{convert|100|lb|adj=on}} shells.<ref name=Jose183>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 183</ref><ref name=Cassells139/> Secondary and anti-aircraft armament consisted of a single 3-inch quick-firing high-angle anti-aircraft gun and ten [[0.303 British|0.303-inch machine guns]] (eight [[Lewis gun]]s and two [[Maxim gun]]s).<ref name=Cassells139>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 139</ref> Two 21-inch torpedo tubes were fitted, with a payload of seven torpedoes carried.<ref name=Cassells139/> Two hydraulic-release [[depth charge]] chutes were carried for anti-submarine warfare.<ref name=Cassells139/> A single 12-pounder 8 cwt [[field gun]] and four [[QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss|3-pounder Hotchkiss]] [[saluting gun]]s rounded out the armament.<ref name=Cassells139/>

''Sydney'' was laid down by the [[London and Glasgow Engineering and Iron Shipbuilding Company]] at [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], on 11 February 1911.<ref name=Cassells139/> The ship was launched on 29 August 1912 by the wife of Admiral Sir [[Reginald Henderson]].<ref name=Cassells139/> ''Sydney'' was completed on 26 June 1913, and commissioned into the RAN that day.<ref name=Cassells139/> At the time of the battle, Captain [[John Glossop]] was in charge of the ship, with 434 personnel aboard.<ref name=Stevens39/>

===SMS ''Emden''===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 137-001329, Tsingtau, SMS "Emden" I im Hafen.jpg|thumb|SMS ''Emden'' at Tsingtao in 1914]]
{{Main|SMS Emden (1906)}}
''Emden'' was a [[Dresden-class cruiser|''Dresden''-class cruiser]]. The ship had a displacement of 3,364&nbsp;tons at normal load, was {{convert|118|m|ft}} long, had a beam of {{convert|13.4|m|ft}}, and a draught of {{convert|5.3|m|ft}}.<ref name=G105>Gröner, ''German Warships: 1815–1945'', p. 105</ref><ref name=F2>Forstmeier, ''SMS Emden: Small Protected Cruiser 1906–1914'', p. 2</ref> The light cruiser had a maximum speed of {{convert|24.5|kn}}.<ref name=Jose165/> The ship was armed with ten [[10.5 cm SK L/40 naval gun|{{convert|10.5|cm|abbr=on}} SK L/40]] guns in single mountings, and carried two torpedo tubes.<ref name=G105/>

''Emden'' was built in Danzig by [[Kaiserliche Werft Danzig]].<ref name=Jose165>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 165</ref><ref name=Gronner133>Gröner, ''Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815–1945'', p. 133</ref> The ship was laid down on 6 April 1906, launched on 26 May 1908, and commissioned on 10 July 1909.<ref name=Gronner133/> At the time of the battle, the cruiser was under the command of [[Karl von Müller]], with 316 aboard.<ref name=Stevens38>Stevens, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 38</ref><ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 299</ref>

==Background and leadup==
Prior to World War I, ''Emden'' was operating as part of the German [[East Asia Squadron]]. Shortly after the war began, the threat of the Australian battlecruiser {{HMAS|Australia|1911|6}}, plus the likelihood that Japan would join the Allies, prompted the German squadron to head into the Pacific Ocean, as the first stage of a retreat to Germany.<ref>Stevens, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', pp. 33–4</ref><ref>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 106</ref> Unlike the rest of the force, ''Emden'', on von Müller's suggestion, was ordered to head into the Indian Ocean and commence a raiding campaign, as she was the most modern vessel in the East Asia Squadron.<ref>Stevens, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 34</ref> Over the next two months, the German ship captured or sank 25 civilian vessels, [[Bombardment of Madras|shelled Madras]], and destroyed Russian [[protected cruiser]] {{Ship|Russian cruiser|Zhemchug||2}} and French [[destroyer]] [[Arquebuse-class destroyer#Ships|''Mousquet'']] at [[Battle of Penang|Penang]].<ref name=Stevens38/><ref name=Odgers65>Odgers, ''Diggers'', p. 65</ref> During these two months, none of ''Emden''{{'}}s personnel were killed.<ref name=Frame110/> At some point during the deployment, a fake fourth funnel was erected to disguise ''Emden'' as a British cruiser, specifically {{HMS|Yarmouth|1911|6}}.<ref name=Frame110>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 110</ref> Military historian [[George Odgers]] described ''Emden''{{'}}s activities as "one of the most daring careers of maritime destruction in naval history".<ref name=Odgers65/> Aware of the increasing efforts to find his ship, von Müller selected the wireless station at Direction Island as his next target, with the hope that, in addition to hampering communications between Australia and the United Kingdom, disabling it would frustrate efforts to coordinate the search for ''Emden'' (which by this point included sixteen warships from five Allied nations), and direct them away from the Aden-India shipping route, which was where he intended ''Emden'' to operate next.<ref name=Stevens39>Stevens, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 39</ref><ref name=Frame110/> She was being supported by ''Buresk'', a British [[collier (ship)|collier]] that had been captured on 27 September.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 185</ref> Although operating independently at the time under a [[prize crew]], ''Emden'' had arranged to transmit a signal summoning the collier to the Cocos Islands, allowing the cruiser to refuel before heading west.<ref name=Carlton244>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 244</ref>

[[File:Cruise of the Emden 1914 Map.png|thumb|left|A map showing ''Emden''{{'}}s route while operating as a commerce raider.  The map erroneously states that ''Ayesha'' sailed to the Red Sea.]]
In October 1914, ''Sydney'' and [[sister ship]] {{HMAS|Melbourne|1912|6}} were assigned to escort the first convoy of [[Australian and New Zealand Army Corps|Australian and New Zealand soldiers]] heading for Egypt.<ref name=Cassells139/> Originally, the Japanese armoured cruiser {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Nisshin||2}} was to be part of the convoy force, but she ran aground on 12 October, and ''Sydney'' was assigned instead.<ref>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 158</ref> The two cruisers sailed to [[Albany, Western Australia]], where they met the 36-ship convoy and the other two escorts, British armoured cruiser {{HMS|Minotaur|1906|6}} and Japanese battlecruiser {{Ship|Japanese battlecruiser|Ibuki||2}}.<ref name=Cassells139/> ''Sydney'', ''Melbourne'', ''Minotaur'', and the 36 merchant ships departed from Albany on 1 November, heading for [[Colombo]]; ''Ibuki'' had diverted to Fremantle to collect another two transports, and caught up two days later.<ref name=Cassells139/><ref>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 161</ref> On 8 November, ''Minotaur'' left the convoy with orders to [[South-West Africa Campaign|support operations]] against [[German South-West Africa]], as the destruction of the South Atlantic Squadron at the [[Battle of Coronel]] left both the expedition and the [[Union of South Africa]] exposed to naval attack.<ref name=Jose180>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 180</ref> After the cruiser's departure, ''Melbourne'' was assigned as lead ship of the convoy.<ref name=Jose180/>

==Battle==

===Wireless station capture===
During the night of 8–9 November, ''Emden'' sailed to Direction Island.<ref name=Stevens39/> At 06:00 on 9 November, the ship anchored in the Cocos lagoon, deployed a steam pinnace (to tow a 50-strong landing party in two boats, led by ''Emden''{{'}}s first officer, [[Hellmuth von Mücke]], ashore), and transmitted the coded summons for ''Buresk''.<ref name=Stevens39/><ref name=Carlton244/><ref>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pp. 139–40</ref> The ship was spotted by off-duty personnel at the cable and wireless station, and although the ship was initially suspected to be ''Minotaur'', the station's medical officer observed that the foremost funnel was false, and informed superintendent Darcy Farrant that it may be ''Emden'' in the bay.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 244–5</ref> Farrant ordered the telegraphist on duty (already alerted by the German's coded signal) to begin transmitting a distress call by wireless and cable.<ref name=Carlton245>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 245</ref> ''Emden'' was able to jam the wireless signal shortly after it began, while the cable distress call continued until an armed party burst into the transmission room.<ref name=Cassells139/><ref name=Stevens39/> ''Minotaur'' heard the wireless call and acknowledged, but von Müller was unconcerned, as the signal strength indicated that ''Minotaur'' was at least 10 hours away.<ref name=Carlton246>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 246</ref> Von Mücke instructed Farrant to surrender the keys to the station's buildings and any weapons, which the superintendent handed over, along with news that the Kaiser had announced awards for ''Emden''{{'}}s actions at Penang.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 246–7</ref>

[[File:Emden Axe.jpg|thumb|Axe used by SMS ''Emden'' landing party to cut submarine telegraph cables on Direction Island, Cocos Islands, in 1914. Displayed at Porthcurno Telegraph Museum.]]

After taking control of the station and its 34 staff, German personnel smashed the transmitting equipment and severed two of the station's three undersea cables, as well as a dummy cable.<ref name=Cassells139/><ref name=Stevens39/><ref name=Oz2Zim>{{Citation |date=20 September 2013 |title=From Australia to Zimmermann: A Brief History of Cable Telegraphy during World War One |work=Innovating in Combat |publisher=Museum of the History of Science |edition=Draft |pages=6–9 |url=http://blogs.mhs.ox.ac.uk/innovatingincombat/files/2013/03/Innovating-in-Combat-educational-resources-telegraph-cable-draft-1.pdf |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref> They also felled the main wireless mast; although they took care at the request of the staff to avoid damaging the station's tennis court, the mast landed on a cache of [[Scotch whisky]].<ref name=Cassells139/> At around 09:00, lookouts on ''Emden'' saw smoke from an approaching ship.<ref name=Carlton250>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 250</ref> Initially assumed to be ''Buresk'', by 09:15 she had been identified as an approaching warship, believed to be {{HMS|Newcastle|1909|6}} or another vessel of similar vintage.<ref name=Carlton250/><ref name=Jose181/> As ''Emden'' was prepared for battle, several signals were sent to the shore party to hurry up, but at 09:30, the raider had to raise anchor and sail to meet the approaching hostile ship, leaving von Mücke's party behind despite their best efforts to catch up.<ref name=Cassells140>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 140</ref><ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 250–1</ref>

The ANZAC convoy, positioned {{convert|80|km}} north-east of the Cocos Islands, heard the coded ''Buresk'' summons, then the distress call from Direction Island.<ref name=Carlton254.5>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 254–5</ref> Believing the unidentified ship to be ''Emden'' or {{SMS|Königsberg|1905|2}} (also believed to be at large in the region), ''Melbourne''{{'}}s captain, Mortimer Silver, ordered his ship to make full speed and turn for Cocos.<ref name=Jose181/><ref name=Carlton254.5/> Silver quickly realised that as commander of the convoy escort, he needed to remain with the troopships, and he reluctantly ordered ''Sydney'' to detach.<ref name=Jose181>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 181</ref> ''Ibuki'' raised her [[battle ensign]] and requested permission to follow ''Sydney'', but the Japanese ship was ordered to remain with the convoy.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 256–7</ref> At 09:15, ''Sydney'' spotted Direction Island and the attacking ship.<ref name=Jose181/> Confident of being able to outrun, outrange, and [[weight of fire|outshoot]] the German vessel, Glossop ordered the ship to prepare for action.<ref name=Jose181/><ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 258–9</ref> He agreed with his gunnery officer to open fire at {{convert|9500|yd}}: well within ''Sydney''{{'}}s firing range, but outside the believed range of ''Emden''{{'s}} guns.<ref name="Carlton, First Victory, p. 259">Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 259</ref>

===Combat===
''Emden'' was the first to fire at 09:40, and scored hits on her fourth salvo: two shells exploded near the aft control station and wrecked the aft [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]]s, while a third punched through the forward rangefinder and through the bridge without exploding.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 264–5</ref> These shots landed at a range of approximately {{convert|10000|yd}}; the 30-degree elevation of her main guns allowed her to fire much further than British estimates.<ref name="Carlton, First Victory, p. 259"/><ref name=Frame111>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 111</ref> Von Müller recognised that his success in the battle required ''Emden'' to do as much damage as possible before the other ship retaliated, but despite the heavy rate of fire from the Germans over the next ten minutes (at points reaching a salvo every six seconds), the high angle of the guns and the narrow profile presented by ''Sydney'' meant that only fifteen shells hit the Australian warship, of which only five exploded.<ref name=Jose182.3>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', pp. 182–3</ref> As well as the rangefinders, damage was sustained to the S2 gun when a nearby impact sent hot shrapnel into the gun crew then ignited cordite charges being stored nearby for the fight, and another shell exploded in a forward mess deck.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 269–71</ref> Four sailors were killed and another sixteen wounded; the only casualties aboard ''Sydney'' during the entire engagement.<ref name=Cassells141>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 141</ref><ref name=Jose182>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 182</ref>

''Sydney'' attempted to open the gap between the two ships as she opened fire.<ref name=Cassells141/><ref name=Carlton271>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 271</ref> This was hampered by the loss of both rangefinders, requiring each mounting to be targeted and fired locally.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 267, 271</ref> The first two salvoes missed, but two shells from the third struck: one exploding in ''Emden''{{'}}s wireless office, another by the Germans' forward gun.<ref name=Cassells141/><ref name=Carlton271/> Heavy fire from ''Sydney'' damaged or destroyed ''Emden''{{'}}s steering gear, rangefinders, and the [[voicepipe]]s to the turrets and engineering, and knocked out several guns.<ref name=Jose183/><ref name=Cassells141/><ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 274–5</ref> The forward funnel collapsed overboard, then the foremast fell and crushed the fore-bridge.<ref name=Cassells141/> A shell from ''Sydney'' landed in the aft ammunition room of ''Emden'', and the Germans had to flood it or risk a massive explosion.<ref name=Jose184>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 184</ref>

[[File:SMS Emden wreck.jpg|thumb|right|''Emden'' beached on North Keeling Island]]
At around 10:20, the manoeuvring of the two ships brought them to within {{convert|5500|yd}}, and Glossop took the opportunity to order a torpedo firing.<ref name=Carlton273>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 273</ref> The torpedo failed to cover the distance, and sank without exploding.<ref name=Carlton273/> The Australian ship sped up and turned to starboard so guns that had yet to fire could engage.<ref name=Jose184/><ref name=Carlton277>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 277</ref> ''Emden'' matched ''Sydney''{{'}}s turn, but by this point, the second funnel had been blasted off, and there was a fire in the engine room.<ref name=Jose184/> In addition, about half of the cruiser's personnel had been killed or wounded, and the abandoning of the attack party on Direction Island meant there were no reserves to replace them.<ref name=Jose184/> By 11:00, only one of ''Emden''{{'}}s guns was still firing.<ref name=Stevens40>Stevens, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 40</ref> As the third funnel went overboard, ''Emden'' found herself closer to [[North Keeling Island]], and von Müller ordered the ship to beach there, hoping to prevent further loss of life.<ref name=Jose184/><ref name=Stevens40/> ''Emden'' ran aground at around 11:20, at which point, ''Sydney'' ceased fire.<ref name=Frame111/><ref name=Stevens40/> After ''Sydney'' contacted the convoy to report "''Emden'' beached and done for", the soldiers aboard the troopships were granted a half-day holiday from duties and training to celebrate.<ref name=Odgers66>Odgers, ''Diggers'', p. 66</ref><ref name=Carlton280/>

===After ''Emden''{{'}}s beaching===
''Sydney'' then turned to pursue and capture ''Buresk'', which had arrived on the horizon during the battle.<ref name=Cassells141/><ref name=Carlton280>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 280</ref> The cruiser caught up shortly after 12:00 and fired a warning shot, but on closing with ''Buresk'', ''Sydney'' found the collier had already commenced [[scuttling]].<ref name=Cassells141/><ref name=Stevens40/> ''Sydney'' recovered the boarding party and the crew from ''Buresk'', fired four shells to hasten the collier's sinking, then once she had submerged, turned back towards North Keeling Island.<ref name=Jose188>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 188</ref>

The Australian cruiser reached ''Emden'' around 16:00.<ref name=Jose188/> The Germans' battle ensign was still flying, generally a sign that a ship intends to continue fighting.<ref name=Cassells141/><ref name=Frame113>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 113</ref> ''Sydney'' signalled "Do you surrender?" in international code by both lights and flag-hoist.<ref name=Jose188/><ref name=Frame113/> The signal was not understood, and ''Emden'' responded with "What signal? No signal books".<ref name=Frame113/> The instruction to surrender was repeated by ''Sydney'' in plain [[morse code]], then after there was no reply, the message "Have you received my signal?" was sent.<ref name=Jose188/><ref name=Frame113/> With no response forthcoming, and operating under the assumption that ''Emden'' could still potentially fire, launch torpedoes, or use small arms against any boarding parties, Glossop ordered ''Sydney'' to fire two salvoes into the wrecked ship.<ref name=Frame113/><ref name=Jose189>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 189</ref> This attack killed 20 German personnel.<ref name=Frame113/> The ensign was pulled down and burned, and a white sheet was raised over the quarterdeck as a [[flag of surrender]].<ref name=Jose189/><ref name=Carlton284>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 284</ref> During the battle, 130 personnel aboard ''Emden'' were killed, and 69 were wounded; four of the latter died of their wounds.<ref name=Cassells141/>

Glossop had orders to ascertain the status of the transmission station, and left with ''Sydney'' to do so, after sending a boat with ''Buresk''{{'}}s crew to ''Emden'' with some medical supplies and a message that they would return the next day.<ref name=Stevens40/><ref name=Carlton284/> In addition to checking on Direction Island, there was also the potential that ''Emden'' and ''Königsberg'' had been operating together and that the second ship would approach to recover the attack party from the island, or go after the troop convoy; consequently, ''Sydney'' could not render assistance to ''Emden''{{'}}s survivors until such threats had passed.<ref name=Stevens40/><ref name=Jose190>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 190</ref> It was too late to make a landing on Direction Island, so the cruiser spent the night patrolling the islands, and approached the wireless station the next morning.<ref name=Jose190/> On arrival, the Australians learned that the Germans [[#Landing party|had escaped the previous evening]] in a commandeered schooner.<ref name=Jose190/> ''Sydney'' embarked the island's doctor and two assistants, then headed for North Keeling Island.<ref name=Jose190/>

==Aftermath==
The Australian cruiser reached the wreck of ''Emden'' at 13:00 on 10 November.<ref name=Carlton292>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 292</ref> After sending an officer over to receive assurance that the Germans would not fight, Glossop began a rescue operation.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 292–3</ref> Transferring the German survivors from ''Emden'' to ''Sydney'' took about five hours, with the difficulty of transferring so many wounded, rough seas, and overcrowding aboard the Australian cruiser.<ref name=Jose191>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 191</ref> The two Australian medical officers aboard ''Sydney'' and the medical staff from Direction Island worked from 18:00 on 10 November to 04:30 the next morning to clear the most pressing needs for medical attention, with ''Emden'' survivors prioritised.<ref name=Jose191/> Some of the Germans had swum ashore after the beaching, and the difficulty of recovering them from the beach in the dark meant the rescue of the 20-odd survivors was put off until the morning of 11 November, although personnel from ''Sydney'' and ''Buresk'' were sent ashore the previous evening with supplies.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 297–9</ref> Most of 11 November was spent treating less pressing cases; the Direction Island staff left the ship around midday, and ''Emden''{{'}}s ship's surgeon, who had previously been unable to assist because of the shock and stress of caring for so many wounded from the battle's end until ''Sydney'' returned, had recovered enough by this point to assist as an [[anaesthetist]].<ref>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', pp. 190–1</ref>

On 12 November, the auxiliary cruiser {{RMS|Empress of Russia||2}} arrived, and the majority of the German personnel (excluding the officers and those too injured to be moved) were transferred over for transportation to Colombo.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 300–1</ref> ''Sydney'' caught up to the ANZAC convoy at Colombo on 15 November.<ref>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', pp. 192, 204</ref> There were no celebrations of ''Sydney''{{'}}s success as the cruiser entered harbour: Glossop had signalled ahead to request that the sailors and soldiers aboard the warships and transports refrain from cheering, out of respect for the German wounded being carried aboard.<ref name=Odgers66/><ref name=Jose192>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 192</ref>

[[File:SMS Emden SLV AllanGreen.jpg|thumb|The wreck of ''Emden'', some years after the battle]]
After ''Emden''{{'}}s defeat, the only German warship in the Indian Ocean basin was [[SMS Königsberg (1905)|SMS ''Königsberg'']]; the cruiser had been blockaded in the [[Rufiji River]] in October, and remained there until her [[Battle of Rufiji Delta|destruction in July 1915]].<ref name=Odgers67>Odgers, ''Diggers'', p. 67</ref> Australia was no longer under direct threat from the [[Central Powers]], and many of the RAN ships designated for the nation's defence could be safely deployed to other theatres.<ref name=Odgers67/><ref name=Stevens41>Stevens, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 41</ref> Over the next two years, troop convoys from Australia and New Zealand to the Middle East sailed without naval escort, further freeing Allied resources.<ref name=Stevens41/> The state of affairs persisted until the raiders {{SMS|Wolf|1916|2}} and {{SMS|Seeadler|1915|2}} began operations in the region in 1917.<ref name=Frame122.4>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', pp. 142–44</ref>

===''Emden''===
Von Müller and a small complement of officers were sent to [[Malta]] and imprisoned at the [[Verdala Palace|Verdala Barracks]].<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 306</ref> The rest of the personnel were taken to Australia and placed in prisoner-of-war camps at [[Holsworthy, New South Wales|Holsworthy]], [[Trial Bay]], and [[Berrima, New South Wales|Berrima]].<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 313</ref> Five sailors, suffering from long-term effects of wounds and amputations were repatriated to Germany in 1916.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 318</ref>

Von Müller was awarded the [[Iron Cross]], First Class for the battle.<ref name=Frame115/> The Kaiser announced the construction of a new ''Emden'' on 15 November, which would bear an Iron Cross on her bow.<ref name=Frame115/><ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 312</ref> A [[Königsberg-class cruiser (1915)|''Königsberg''-class cruiser]] laid down in 1914 was named {{SMS|Emden|1916|6}} on completion in 1916, and built with an Iron Cross mounted on her stem-head.<ref>Gardiner & Gray (eds.), ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921'', p. 162</ref>

Shortly after the battle, the auxiliary cruiser {{RMS|Empress of Japan|1891|2}} visited the wreck to recover the signal logs from ''Emden''.<ref name=Jose207>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 207</ref> In 1915, a Japanese company proposed that the ship be repaired and refloated, but an inspection by {{HMAS|Protector|1884|6}} concluded that surf damage to ''Emden'' made such an operation unfeasible.<ref name=Jose207/> By 1919, there were reports that the wreck had disappeared.<ref name=Jose207/> The wreck was eventually broken up ''[[in situ]]'' in the early 1950s by a Japanese salvage company; parts of the ship remain scattered around the area.<ref name=G106>Gröner, ''German Warships: 1815–1945'', p. 106</ref><ref>von Mücke, ''The Emden–Ayesha Adventure: German Raiders in the South Seas and Beyond, 1914'', p. 96</ref>

===''Sydney''===
After completing escort duties, the Australian ship was deployed to the [[North America and West Indies Station]] for eighteen months, then spent the rest of the war attached to the British [[Grand Fleet]].<ref>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pp. 139, 141</ref> At the [[Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow#Surrender of the fleet|surrender of the German High Seas Fleet]], in November 1918, ''Sydney'' was assigned to escort the new ''Emden''.<ref name=Bastock47>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 47</ref>

''Sydney'' remained in service until 1928, and was [[ship breaking|broken up]] for scrap in 1929.<ref name=Cassells141/> For the battle, ''Sydney'' was awarded the [[battle honour]] "''Emden 1914''".<ref name=Cassells143.207>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pp. 143, 247</ref> This was the first honour for a single ship action awarded to a RAN vessel, and one of only three awarded to any British Commonwealth ship during the 20th century.<ref name=Cassells143.207/> Glossop was appointed a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]].<ref name=Frame115>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 115</ref>

===Landing party===
[[File:WW1 Landing at Direction Island.jpg|thumb|right|The German sailors at the Direction Island Jetty, about to head to ''Ayesha'' (background)]]
After being abandoned, the German shore party returned to Direction Island, placed the territory under German martial law, and set up weapons on the beach to oppose a potential landing.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 262</ref> They witnessed the first stages of the battle, but by the time the combatants disappeared from view, it was clear that ''Emden'' had been seriously damaged, and if she survived, von Müller's priority would be heading to a neutral port to effect repairs.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 286</ref> Unlikely to hold the beach against any investigating Allied warships, von Mücke decided to commandeer the 97-ton schooner ''[[Ayesha (ship)|Ayesha]]'', which had been anchored in the lagoon, and attempt to sail to the neutral [[Dutch East Indies]].<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 286–7</ref> With the willing assistance of the station staff, the Germans loaded ''Ayesha'' with half the island's food supply, then towed the schooner out of the lagoon with the steam launch that evening.<ref name=Cassells140/><ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 288–9</ref>

The schooner initially sailed to [[Padang, Indonesia|Padang]], where they were escorted into port on 27 November by the Dutch destroyer [[Wolf-class destroyer#Ships|''Lynx'']] and only allowed to remain under strict terms, so the Netherlands could maintain their [[History of the Netherlands#Neutrality during the First World War|stance of neutrality]].<ref name=Jose206>Jose, ''The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918'', p. 206</ref> With the threat that ''Ayesha'' would be seized by Dutch authorities, von Mücke took the schooner out during the night of 28 November, and headed for a rendezvous point he had announced to the German merchant vessels sheltering at Padang.<ref name=Jose206/> On 14 December, the freighter ''Choising'' arrived at the rendezvous, and the Germans were welcomed aboard.<ref name=Jose206/> ''Choising'' delivered them to [[Hodeida]] on 9 January 1915.<ref name=Jose206/><ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 323</ref> After a lack of help and extensive delays, von Mücke marched his force to [[Sana'a]], arriving on 6 February 1915.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 324–6</ref> After another round of delays disguised as hospitality, the Germans returned to Hodeida, hired two {{convert|14|m|adj=on}} [[sambuk]]s and sailed north along the coast on 14 March.<ref name=Carlton327>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 327</ref> Three days later, one sambuk grounded on a coral reef, then sank with no lost crew.<ref name=Carlton327/> On reaching [[Al Qunfudhah]], von Mücke hired a larger vessel, then sailed to [[Al Lith]], where one of the Germans died from [[typhus]].<ref name=Carlton327/> The Germans headed overland to [[Jeddah]] with a party of Turkish and Arab guards, and were forced to fight running battles against [[Bedouin]] raiders from 30 March.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 328–9</ref> Another two Germans were killed, and a third wounded before a relief force arrived to escort them to Jeddah.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 329–32</ref> Another chartered sambuk took the party to [[Al Wajh]], arriving on 29 April.<ref name=Carlton333>Carlton, ''First Victory'', p. 333</ref> They were escorted to the [[Hejaz Railway]], then travelled to [[Constantinople]], reporting to the German admiral stationed there on 23 May.<ref>Carlton, ''First Victory'', pp. 333–4</ref>

==In popular culture==
''[[How We Fought the Emden]]'' (1915) and ''[[The Exploits of the Emden]]'' (1928) were two [[Cinema of Australia|Australian]] silent films depicting the battle and the events leading up to it.

In 2010, German director {{ill|Berengar Pfahl|de}} began work on ''[[Die Männer der Emden]]'' (''The Emden Men''), a film based on the story of the 50 German sailors left behind on Direction Island and their voyage home.<ref name=Fernando>Fernando, ''World locations made in Lanka''</ref> Much of the filming occurred in Sri Lanka, with the luxury yacht ''[[Raja Laut]]'' used to represent the schooner ''Ayesha''.<ref name=Fernando/> The film was released in 2012.<ref name=Fernando/><ref>{{cite web|title= Die Männer der Emden|url= http://www.die-maenner-der-emden.de/geschichte.html|access-date= 20 April 2014|publisher= Die Männer der Emden.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140421081755/http://www.die-maenner-der-emden.de/geschichte.html|archive-date= 21 April 2014|url-status= dead}}</ref>

==Citations==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
'''Books'''
*{{cite book |last=Bastock |first=John |title=Australia's Ships of War |year=1975 |publisher=Angus and Robertson |location=Cremorne, NSW |isbn=0207129274 |oclc=2525523}}
*{{cite book|last1=Carlton|first1=Mike|title=First Victory: 1914|date=2013|publisher=William Heinemann|location=Australia|isbn=978-1-74275-763-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Capital Ships: Their Battles and their Badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, NSW |isbn=0-7318-0941-6 |oclc=48761594}}
* {{cite book|last=Forstmeier|first=Friedrich|editor-last=Preston|editor-first=Antony|year=1972|chapter=SMS Emden, Small Protected Cruiser 1906–1914|pages=1–24|title=Warship Profile 25|publisher=Profile Publications|location=Windsor, UK}}
*{{cite book |last=Frame |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Frame (bishop) |title=No Pleasure Cruise: The Story of the Royal Australian Navy |year=2004 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=Crows Nest, NSW |isbn=1-74114-233-4 |oclc=55980812}}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner |editor1-first=Robert |editor2-last=Gray |editor2-first=Randal |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |year=1985 |location=Annapolis |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-87021-907-3 |oclc=12119866}}
*{{cite book |last=Gröner |first=Erich |title=Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815–1945 |volume=I |publisher=Bernard & Graefe |year=1982 |isbn=3-7637-4800-8 |oclc=157015400 |language=de}}
*{{cite book |last=Gröner|first=Erich|title=German Warships: 1815–1945|year=1990|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-87021-790-9|location=Annapolis, MD}}
*{{Cite book|last=Jose |first=Arthur W. |author-link=Arthur Wilberforce Jose |title=The Royal Australian Navy 1914–1918 |publisher=Angus and Robertson |location=Sydney, NSW |orig-year=1928 |year=1941 |edition=9th |series=The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 |volume=IX |oclc=215763279 |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069926/}}
*{{cite book|last=Odgers |first=George |author-link=George Odgers |title=Diggers: The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force in Eleven Wars |publisher=Lansdowne |location=London |date=1994 |volume=1 |isbn=978-1-86302-385-6 |oclc=31743147}}
*{{cite book |last=Stevens |first=David |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence |volume=III |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=South Melbourne, VIC |isbn=0-19-555542-2 |oclc=50418095 |chapter=World War I}}
* {{Cite book |last=von Mücke|first=Hellmuth|author-link=Hellmuth von Mücke|title=The Emden–Ayesha Adventure: German Raiders in the South Seas and Beyond, 1914|year=2000|location=Annapolis, MD|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=1-55750-873-9}}

'''News articles'''
*{{cite news|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/110703/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_1.html |title=World locations made in Lanka |last=Fernando |first=Susitha R. |date=3 August 2011 |work=The Sunday Times |access-date=18 January 2012|location=Sri Lanka}}

==External links==
*[http://cocossydney.blogspot.com "Cocos"] – a weblog positing diary entries from HMAS ''Sydney'' sailor Richard Horne, including a first-hand account of the Battle of Cocos
*[https://atlantic-cable.com/Article/1914BattleOfCocos/index.htm Direction Island Cable Station and the Battle of Cocos] — ''History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications'' page with description, photos and links to details on cables at the station

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cocos, Battle Of}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1914]]
[[Category:1914 in Australia]]
[[Category:Naval battles of the Asian and Pacific Theatre (World War I)]]
[[Category:Military attacks against Australia]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War I involving Australia]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War I involving Germany]]
[[Category:November 1914]]
[[Category:Australia–Germany military relations]]