A while back I attended a lecture at our local library given by a diver who is involved in the search for the shell that is believed to be the first shot fired after World War One was declared.
On August 5th 1914 a German merchant vessel the SS Pfalz, was intending to leave port before the declaration of war was made known. Britain had declared war on Germany as of 11pm on August 4th, which was 9am August 5th in Australia. As the ship reached Port Phillip Heads she ignored the signal to heave to. Upon orders from Fort Queenscliff a warning shot was fired across the bow from Fort Nepean. It was 12:45pm. The ship was returned to Melbourne under guard. She was later refitted for use by the allies during the war.
itchingforhitching 
Back in the time before OHS, girlfriend and I were up on the bridge of the Tas ferry (Australian Trader?). It was so rough that people had been seasick before we even untied from dock in Melbourne. Someone on the bridge told us that, in those conditions, all they could do was point the vessel in the right direction and hope. They had no actual control over it.
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Remember a couple of years back when the waves were so high they cracked the windows on the bridge of the Spirit of Tasmania.
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Fascinating
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A welcome addition to the fleet as well one would guess.
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Well, that’s a story new to those of us on the other side of the world – or to me, anyway!
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Not well known here either. The diver told some fascinating stories of their work locating wrecks and items of historical significance.
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