Writers Fowler and Adam, (Alison Douglas Adam) R.A.N.R., Herbertshohe.
The Donation
The papers of Alison Douglas Adam, of the Newcastle Naval Brigade, and Writer of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (R.A.N.R) were donated by Mr David H. Dial OAM to the University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections (now Special Collections) on 15 October 2014.
The donation was inspired by the launch of the Rodoni glass negatives depicting sailors and troops of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) in German New Guinea in September 1914.
Alison Douglas Adam, of Wickham (N.S.W.), was a clerk at a Newcastle shipping agent at the time of enlistment in the ANMEF. His rank in the ANMEF was ‘Writer.,’ and, as such, was responsible for most of the ‘written’ information connected with the ANMEF in New Guinea.
Donation of the Adam Papers. Dr Edward Bridle, Gionni Di Gravio and David H. Dial OAM, photographed on the 15 October 2014
Photograph of Alison Douglas Adam, taken when he was an accountant or clerk with Huddart Parker in Newcastle. He passed away in 1958, aged 65. (Photograph courtesy of Greg Ray, and information provided by Jack Lawson, Alison Douglas Adam’s son-in -law) [Email: 5 April 2022]
DAVID DIAL OAM COLLECTION: Newcastle Naval Brigade [Conduit: Mr David Dial; Donated 15 October, 2014]
The papers of Alison Douglas Adam,
of the Newcastle Naval Brigade, and Writer, R.A.N.R.
A9052(i) Front Cover of Notebook
A9052(i) Small notebook; 48 pages, 80mm x 125mm.
Contents:-
Hand drawn and coloured “International Code of Flags;”
“Tide and Bar Signals Newcastle;”
Hand drawn diagrams of “Tide and Bar Signals at the Port of Newcastle;”
List of “Ports represented by Numeral Flags;”
“Morse Signalling Alphabetical Code;”
Hand drawn diagrams of “Descriptive Flags – ships and barques;”
List of Huddart Parker Limited fleet of ships;
One two-page coloured charts, “Flags and Pennants to be Used in The International Code” and “House Flags and Funnels of The Associated Lines;”
List of:
“New Zealand Shipping Coy Ltd Fleet” ships;
“Aberdeen White Star Line Fleet” ships;
“Liverpool White Star Line Fleet” ships;
“P & O Fleet” ships; list of “Steam Tenders & Tugs;”
“A.U.S.N. Coy Fleet” ships;
“J. Fenwick’s Fleet of Steam Tugs;”
“Melbourne S. S. Co. Ltd. Fleet;”
“J. & A. Brow’s Fleet of Steam Tugs;”
Tipped-in printed list of “Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Limited” Fleet ships.
Private Diary of ALISON DOUGLAS ADAM from 15 August 1914 – 12 March 1915.
PRIVATE DIARY
Sample page from A9052(ii) Private Diary of ALISON DOUGLAS ADAM from 15 August 1914 – 12 March 1915.
A9052(ii) Small notebook, 120 pages, 80mm x 125mm. Contents entirely in shorthand; flyleaf label reads “A.D. Adam, R.A.N.R. / Official No. 1 / Rifle No. 50 / Company No. 2”. Private Diary of ALISON DOUGLAS ADAM from 15 August 1914 – 12 March 1915. Labelled ‘Official No.1’ Royal Australian Naval Reserve, Reserve ‘C’, Rifle No. 50, Company no. 2. [Shorthand of complete diary kindly translated by Margaret Fryer, April 2015.] [DOWNLOAD 17.8MB PDF]
ADAM’S NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION
A9052(iii) Notebook: flyleaf inscription reads ““A.D. Adam, writer, R.A.N.R. / Australian Naval and Military Expedition to New Guinea, 1914”.
A9052(iii) Notebook: flyleaf inscription reads ““A.D. Adam, writer, R.A.N.R. / Australian Naval and Military Expedition to New Guinea, 1914”. Contains a narrative of the Expedition from the author’s perspective, including transcripts of official documents, covering the period from August, 1914 to March, 1915. [With Transcription by David Dial, OAM] [DOWNLOAD 32.1MB PDF]
CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS
A9052(iv) Reports on the operations at Kabakaul, 11th-12th September, 1914; labelled “Confidential.” Ts, carbons. Reports by Commander Beresford, Lieutenant Bowen, Midshipman Buller, P.O. Palmer, Lieutenant O.W. Gillam, Sergeant Dispenser Wray and Sub-Lieutenant Webber. Alison Douglas Adam (1894-1959) Compiler(?) [DOWNLOAD 21.7 MB PDF]
GOVERNMENT GAZETTES
Front cover of file A9052(v) Government Gazettes
A9052(v) Government Gazette, British Administration – German New Guinea. Volume 1, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. Volume 2, No. 1. Paper covers; inside front cover bears inscription “A.D. Adam (R.A.N.R.) / Herbertshöhe – New Britain / 11th September, 1914 to / 10th February, 1915”. Individual numbers also bear Adam’s signature. [DOWNLOAD 46.5MB PDF]
“AUSTRALIA AT WAR”.
HER FIRST GREAT ACHIEVEMENT
THE CAPTURE OF GERMAN NEW GUINEA
Title of A9052(vi) “Australia at War”. Her First Great Achievement. The Capture of German New Guinea.
A9052(vi) “Australia at War”. Her First Great Achievement. The Capture of German New Guinea. 2+19pp ts (carbons). [DOWNLOAD 36.3MB PDF]
A9052(vii) Second copy of the above; some differences in pagination. Ts, carbons.
CLIPPINGS
Certificate of Discharge
A9052(viii) Government Gazette, British Administration – German New Guinea. Volume 1, No. 1, pp. 3-10; Certificate of Discharge of Alison Douglas Adam from the Royal Australian Navy, 8 May, 1915 (photostat copy); Newcastle Morning Herald, 16 August, 1945, pp. 1-2, reporting on the Japanese surrender. [DOWNLOAD 29.8MB PDF]
PUBLICATIONS
Homecoming of the Fleet Uni by Keith Murdoch (The Lone Hand, 1 September, 1913)
A9052(ix) Murdoch, Keith: “The Home Coming of the Fleet Unit,” The Lone Hand, September 1, 1913, pp. 411-426. [DOWNLOAD 12.4MB PDF]
Front Cover of How Australia took German New Guinea : an illustrated record by F.S. Burnell
A9052(x) Burnell, F.S. How Australia Took German New Guinea. Sydney: Gordon and Gotch [n.d.]
A9052(xii) (Recto) Pass issued to Otto Wortmann, manager of Kabakaul Plantation, Herbertshöhe, upon his taking the Oath of Neutrality. Multiple endorsements, variously dated 1914-1915.
A9052(xii) (Verso) Pass issued to Otto Wortmann, manager of Kabakaul Plantation, Herbertshöhe, upon his taking the Oath of Neutrality. Multiple endorsements, variously dated 1914-1915.
A9052(xii) Pass issued to Otto Wortmann, manager of Kabakaul Plantation, Herbertshöhe, upon his taking the Oath of Neutrality. Multiple endorsements, variously dated 1914-1915.
PHOTOGRAPHS NAVAL CAMP, TOMAGO N.S.W. 1914
A9052(xiii) Photograph: Naval Camp, Tomago, 25 February to 13 March, 1914.
A9052(xiv) Photograph: Officers attending Naval Camp, Tomago, 25 February 1914 to 13 March 1914. Lieuts. Bracegirdle and Gillam, CPOs Harman and Nye, POs Madams and Moran, Gunner Leaver.
A9052(xiv) Photograph (Verso): Officers attending Naval Camp, Tomago, 25 February 1914 to 13 March 1914. Lieuts. Bracegirdle and Gillam, CPOs Harman and Nye, POs Madams and Moran, Gunner Leaver.
A9052(xiv) Photograph: Officers attending Naval Camp, Tomago, 25 February 1914 to 13 March 1914. Lieuts. Bracegirdle and Gillam, CPOs Harman and Nye, POs Madams and Moran, Gunner Leaver.
A9052(xv) Photograph: Officers and Men attending Naval Camp, Tomago, 25 February 1914 to 13 March 1914.
A9052(xv) Photograph: Officers and Men attending Naval Camp, Tomago, 25 February 1914 to 13 March 1914.
COMMONWEALTH RIFLE CLUBS
A9052(xvi) Photograph: Commonwealth Naval Reserves Rifle Clubs, 27 June 1914. Photograph by Brand, 178 Castlereagh St, Sydney.
A9052(xvi) Photograph: Commonwealth Naval Reserves Rifle Clubs, 27 June 1914. Photograph by Brand, 178 Castlereagh St, Sydney.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF FIELD-MARSHALS AND ADMIRAL
A9052(xvii) Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener
A9052(xviii) Admiral Sir John Jellicoe
A9052(xix) – Field-Marshal Sir John D. P. French
A9052(xvii) – (xix) Photographs of Field-Marshall Earl Kitchener, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Field-Marshall Sir John D.P. French. (These photographs appear to be prints manufactured early in the Great War, however, the original of the photograph of Admiral Jellicoe might date from some years earlier, as he appears in a Captain’s uniform.)
ADAM’S PHOTO ALBUM
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) Mioko Island with harbor
“Dear Ailine,… From A D Adams”
“Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road looking towards site of 1st trench.
“Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road looking towards site of 1st trench.
“View on Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road, looking towards site of first Trench”
“View on Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road, looking towards site of first Trench”
“Scene showing hole filled in, caused by the explosion of 1st Mine, Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road”
Type: “Scene showing hole filled in, caused by the explosion of 1st Mine, Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road”
“Second Mine, Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road.”
“Second Mine, Kaba Kaul – Bitapaka Road.”
“Native Police Boy, who was wounded in the eye, during the action at Kaba Kaul, but who since recovered.”
“Native Police Boy, who was wounded in the eye, during the action at Kaba Kaul, but who since recovered.”
Close View of main Building at Wireless Station – Bitapaka.”
Close View of main Building at Wireless Station – Bitapaka.”
“Engine at Wireless Station, Bitapaka.”
“Engine at Wireless Station, Bitapaka.”
“Wireless Mast, at Station, Bitapaka.”
“Wireless Mast, at Station, Bitapaka.”
“Graves at Kaba Kaul.”
“Graves at Kaba Kaul…”
“Hospital, Pockley Road, Herbershohe. (ex German Club)”
“Hospital, Pockley Road, Herbershohe. (ex German Club)”
Native Police Boys, with Petty Officer Hoffman, Captain Flood, et al
Native Police Boys, with Petty Officer Hoffman, Captain Flood, et al
“Native Police Boys. (Petty Officer Hoffman and Able Seaman Jeffries”
“Native Police Boys. (Petty Officer Hoffman and Able Seaman Jeffries”
Signal Station, Herbertshohe
Signal Station, Herbertshohe
Post Office, Elwell Road, Herbertshohe.
Post Office, Elwell Road, Herbertshohe.
Barrack Square, Herbertshohe. (Parade Ground)
Barrack Square, Herbertshohe. (Parade Ground)
“Garrison Mission Church built by Natives of Methodist Mission Station, Raluana, for the use of the Australian Garrison Troops at Herbertshohe.”
“Garrison Mission Church built by Natives of Methodist Mission Station, Raluana, for the use of the Australian Garrison Troops at Herbertshohe.”
“Stables at Herbertshohe.”
“Stables at Herbertshohe.”
Balenbucket Hospital, (Dr. Runge) Herbertshohe.
Balenbucket Hospital, (Dr. Runge) Herbertshohe.
“Graves in Cemetery at Herbertshohe. From Left to Right:- A.B. Street, A.B. Williams, Capt. Pockley”
“Graves in Cemetery at Herbertshohe. From Left to Right:- A.B. Street, A.B. Williams, Capt. Pockley”
“Graves in Cemetery at Herbertshohe. From Left to Right:- A.B. Williams, (Died of Malaria), A.B. Street, A.B. Williams, Capt. Pockley (Killed in action, 11/9/14)”
“Graves in Cemetery at Herbertshohe. From Left to Right:- A.B. Williams, (Died of Malaria), A.B. Street, A.B. Williams, Capt. Pockley (Killed in action, 11/9/14)”
TNative Head Dress.
Native Head Dress.
Tree at Toma, used as Wireless Station by Germans.
Tree at Toma, used as Wireless Station by Germans.
Fire in Benzine Store, Herbertshohe, 3rd February, 1915.
Fire in Benzine Store, Herbertshohe, 3rd February, 1915.
Headquarters Police Boys, Herbertshohe. From Left to Right:- “Morba”, “Dubbie”, “Bellio”. Front: “Buzzie”
Headquarters Police Boys, Herbertshohe. From Left to Right:- “Morba”, “Dubbie”, “Bellio”. Front: “Buzzie”
Group of Natives, showing Armed Sentry.
Group of Natives, showing Armed Sentry.
Water supply Cart for Outposts, Herbertshohe.
Water supply Cart for Outposts, Herbertshohe.
Native shaving with a piece of glass.
Native shaving with a piece of glass.
Natives, with Petty Officer Beton, M.A.A. Herbertshohe.
Natives, with Petty Officer Beton, M.A.A. Herbertshohe.
Natives belonging to Methodist Mission Station, Raluana. (Rev. J. H. Margetts).
Natives belonging to Methodist Mission Station, Raluana. (Rev. J. H. Margetts).
Duk-duk (Native Dance) Costume.
Duk-duk (Native Dance) Costume.
“Naval Expeditionary Party embarking on H.M.A.S. “Siar” and “Nusa”, which left Herbertshohe for Fredrich Wilhelm’s Haven, New Guinea, escorted by H.M.A.S. “Yarra”, on WEdnesday Morning, 2 Dec., 1914. (H.M.A.S. “Nusa” arriving from Rabaul – in the distance.)”
“Naval Expeditionary Party embarking on H.M.A.S. “Siar” and “Nusa”, which left Herbertshohe for Fredrich Wilhelm’s Haven, New Guinea, escorted by H.M.A.S. “Yarra”, on WEdnesday Morning, 2 Dec., 1914. (H.M.A.S. “Nusa” arriving from Rabaul – in the distance.)”
Writers Fowler and Adam, R.A.N.R., Herbertshohe.
Writers Fowler and Adam, R.A.N.R., Herbertshohe.
Midshipman H.A. Willian, R.A.N.R.
Midshipman H.A. Willian, R.A.N.R.
Junior Naval Officers at Herbertshohe. From Left to Right. Back Row:- Midshipman Willian, Midshipman Sage, Midshipman Cock, Midshipman Buller, Sub-Lieutenant Hext, & Signal B’swain Hunter.
Junior Naval Officers at Herbertshohe. From Left to Right. Back Row:- Midshipman Willian, Midshipman Sage, Midshipman Cock, Midshipman Buller, Sub-Lieutenant Hext, & Signal B’swain Hunter.
Rabaul
Hafenstrasse mit Schienenstrang der N.G.C. nach Lloydbrucke.
Postcard to Arline, Edna & Ollie from Alison 27/10/1914
New Pomerania , German New Guinea . Erholungsheim Toma
New Pomerania , German New Guinea . Erholungsheim Toma
New Pomerania , German New Guinea . Erholungsheim Toma
New Pomerania , German New Guinea . Erholungsheim Toma – Market
Herbertshohe
Herbertshohe
“Tanz der mitglieder des duk-duk neu pommern bismark archipel. “
Postcard to Roy from Alison 10/12/14
Bismarck Archipelago . Rabaulclub am Fube der “Mutter” (erloschener Vulkan) i.e., at the foot of the mother.
“This is a view of Rabaul, the seat of the Late German Government, and now the Headquarters of the Expedition. It is situated about 10 miles from here. Mount Mother is seen in the back ground. Alison”
S.S. Morinda
S.S. Morinda
Marsina
Marsina
“Herbertshohe (Deutsch New Guniea) Hotel Deutscher Hof (Gebaude mit Wohn- und Schlafraumen).”
Postcard to Laurie from Alison, 22/9/1914
(German New Guinea) Herbertshohe Hotel Hof German
Postcard to Edna from Alison 22/9/1914
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) Hotel Deutscher Hof
Postcard to Auntie Neen (?) from Alison 26/9/14
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) Fischerhutte (im Vordergrunde Fischreusen)
Postcard to Mother from Alison, 22/9/14
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea)
Postcad to Dad from Alison, 26/9/14
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) house in Takugar (Gazelle-Halbinsel) Dwelling House at Takubar
Postcard to Desmond and Verle (?) from Alison, 29/9/14
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) Natives from Takubar
Postcard to Dick from Alison, 22/9/1914
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) House Boys
Postcard to Laurie from Alison 28/9/1914
Greetings from Ralum – Bismarck Archipelago
Postcard to Arline from Alison, 28/10/1914
Roll of Honour. Citizens of Wickham, Volunteers to Great War
Reverse of Postcard
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) Hausmadchen
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) Hausmadchen
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) girls from New Mecklenburg
Herbertshohe (German New Guinea) girls from New Mecklenburg
Office buildings of N.D.L.
Office buildings of N.D.L.
Casino der N.G.C.
Casino der N.G.C.
Race Course at Rabaul
Race Course at Rabaul
Men in canoes
Reverse of Men in canoes
Coastal scene with antenna in background
Reverse side of Coastal scene with antenna in background
Rocky Outcrops
Reverse of Rocky Outcrops
Coastal scene of vessels in harbour and palm trees
Coastal scene of vessels in harbour and palm trees
Sunset scene?
Sunset scene?
Natives in ceremonial dress
Reverse of Natives in ceremonial dress
Dancers
Reverse of Dancers image
Native people with canoes on shoreline
Reverse of photograph of Native people with canoes on shoreline
Fishing net suspended in tree (?)
Reverse of Fishing net suspended in tree (?)
Matupi
Matupi
Matupi
Matupi
Memorial at Bitapaka to Australians killed at the landing.
Memorial at Bitapaka to Australians killed at the landing.
Wireless Station Bitapaka
Wireless Station Bitapaka
Native Market
Native Market
A busy scene at the main wharf of Rabaul (newspaper clipping)
Panorama of Rabaul
Newsclipping: Volcanic eruption in New Guinea, 30 May 1937
First Australian Garrison at Herbertshohe.
First Australian Garrison at Herbertshohe.
First Australian Garrison at Herbertshohe.
“Natives, ‘Yalip’ and ‘Madom’
“Natives, ‘Yalip’ and ‘Madom’
New Pomerania , German New Guinea . Erholungsheim Toma – Market
Reverse of Postcard New Pomerania , German New Guinea . Erholungsheim Toma – Market
A9052(xx) Photograph album containing original photographs and printed postcards of German New Guinea. Inside front cover bears the inscription stating “A.D. Adam, / (1st Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force, / German New Guinea. / 19th August, 1914 – 19th February, 1915.)”
MAPS OF HERBERTSHOHE
A9052(xxi) Cardboard tube, labelled “A.D. Adam / Writer R.A.N.R. / (Staff)”; originally containing hand-drawn map of Herbertshöhe, now at M6979.
M6979 Hand-drawn map of Herbertshöhe, originally in cardboard tube labelled “A.D. Adam / Writer R.A.N.R. / (Staff)”
M6979 Hand-drawn map of Herbertshöhe, originally in cardboard tube labelled “A.D. Adam / Writer R.A.N.R. / (Staff)” (tube now A9052(xxi)).
M6980 Űbersichtskarte von Nördlichen Teil der Gazelle-Halbinsel. Angefertigt vom Vermessungsamt des Kaiserlichen Gouvernements von Deutsch-Neu-Guinea im Jahre 1913. [Overview Map of the Northern Portion of the Gazelle Peninsula. Prepared by the Survey Office of the Imperial Government of German New Guinea in the year 1913]. Scale 1:100,000.M6980 Űbersichtskarte von Nördlichen Teil der Gazelle-Halbinsel. Angefertigt vom Vermessungsamt des Kaiserlichen Gouvernements von Deutsch-Neu-Guinea im Jahre 1913. [Overview Map of the Northern Portion of the Gazelle Peninsula. Prepared by the Survey Office of the Imperial Government of German New Guinea in the year 1913]. Scale 1:100,000.
This post was compiled with the generous assistance of Mr David Dial, OAM, Dr Ken Thornton, Emeritus Professor John Fryer, Mrs Margaret Fryer, Ms Karen Moller and Ms Natasha Schroder.
Gionni Di Gravio, OAM
University Archivist, Chair, Hunter Living Histories
February 2022
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