HMAS Encounter

[christine liava'a]

Can anyone tell me what the Encounter was doing in Fiji in February 1915, when this sailor died?

All the AWM site says is;

"In October (1914), Encounter patrolled the Fiji-Samoa area, capturing the German schooner Elfrede. After a refit, she continued patrol duties in the Pacific, landing troops to protect the cable station on Fanning Island in July 1915. After grounding on a coral reef at Johnson Island, Encounter had to put-in at Hong Kong for repairs."

Even the Official History of the Navy is not very informative.

Name: BANKS, ROBERT

Initials: R

Nationality: Australian

Rank: Engine Room Artificer 1st Class

Regiment: Royal Australian Navy

Unit Text: (R.N./268806). H.M.A.S. "Encounter."

Age: 42

Date of Death: 27/02/1915

Service No: RAN/7693

Additional information: Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Husband of Sarah Elizabeth Banks, of 57, High St., Portsmouth. Born at Hull. Served in the South African Campaign.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 5009. Private Memorial.

Cemetery: SUVA OLD CEMETERY

[robbie]

Can anyone tell me what the Encounter was doing in Fiji in February 1915, when this sailor died?

All the AWM site says is;

"In October (1914), Encounter patrolled the Fiji-Samoa area, capturing the German schooner Elfrede. After a refit, she continued patrol duties in the Pacific, landing troops to protect the cable station on Fanning Island in July 1915. After grounding on a coral reef at Johnson Island, Encounter had to put-in at Hong Kong for repairs."

Even the Official History of the Navy is not very informative.

Name: BANKS, ROBERT

Initials: R

Nationality: Australian

Rank: Engine Room Artificer 1st Class

Regiment: Royal Australian Navy

Unit Text: (R.N./268806). H.M.A.S. "Encounter."

Age: 42

Date of Death: 27/02/1915

Service No: RAN/7693

Additional information: Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Husband of Sarah Elizabeth Banks, of 57, High St., Portsmouth. Born at Hull. Served in the South African Campaign.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 5009. Private Memorial.

Cemetery: SUVA OLD CEMETERY

Does this help at all?

Following the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Encounter was part of the force which occupied German New Guinea. In the course of these operations she captured the steamer Zambezi on 12 August and, on 14 September, bombarded Toma Ridge to support the Australian Military and Naval Expeditionary Force. She covered the landing at Madang on 24 December.

In October, Encounter patrolled the Fiji-Samoa area, capturing the German schooner Elfrede. After a refit, she continued patrol duties in the Pacific, landing troops to protect the cable station on Fanning Island in July 1915. After grounding on a coral reef at Johnson Island, Encounter had to put-in at Hong Kong for repairs.

From January 1916, Encounter patrolled East Indies waters, returning to Australia the next month. She remained in Australian waters for the rest of the war. During this period she attended to the stricken Cumberland, which had struck a mine off Gabo Island on 6 July 1917, and searched the wreck of the raider Seeadler at Mopelia Island in September 1917.

www.diggerhistory.info/pages-navy/encounter.htm

Robbie