Please Correct and add ending to this Newspaper Article !

A week ago, on the 2nd of September 1915, the ANZAC troopship the Southland was carrying a thousand men from the 21st Battalion. The Troopship was unexpectedly torpedoed by a German submarine on her way to Gallipoli.

The Southland was struck at 10a.m. When she was heading on her way to Lemnos Island and Gallipoli. There were no anti-submarine drills on board and “the Southland” was lightly armed.

Before the devastation, the men aboard were unaware of the situation they were in. They were still having a smoke and checking their gears. They did not realise the stealth German submarine was submerging.

Before they knew it, the German submarine submerged to the surface, aimed and fired a torpedo targeting the Southland. The torpedo hit and the ship shuddered from the impact.

The evacuation siren blew, everyone was told to abandon the ship. A few panicked and fled into lifeboats and were lowered without waiting for others. A few lifeboats were jammed and knocked over. A few soldiers had jumped into the sea, believing the ship would sink.

Despite the unexpected situation, most onboard were organized and stayed calm. The evacuation was a success and casualty was kept to a minimum. Two thirds of the Battalion had evacuated to safety. Unfortunately, the other one third had been either killed by the impact of the torpedo or lost in the Aegean Sea.


“It was so terrifying and so unexpected, there was a very big explosion, and everyone was told to evacuate and not to panic. My mates and I was
assigned onto a lifeboat, the

boat had been knocked into the sea and tipped over. Two of my mates died. I was very lucky to survive, ” remarked one of the surviving soldiers.

Surprisingly, the Southland stayed afloat. Engineers on the ship had managed to close the ship’s bulkheads. “The Southland still has a chance to stay afloat long enough to make a run for Lemnos and beach her at Mudros Bay,” announced one of the engineers.

The remaining survivors on lifeboats were rescued by a nearby ally French-ship, “the Racoon”. After an SOS had been signalled out, another French ship “the Neuralia” had arrived, it was a hospital ship.

The brave surviving soldiers will now continue their journey to Mudros Bay in Gallipoli. They are given new supplies replacing their lost possessions.

"Attack on the Southland gave many onboard an experience that they would not easily forget. Their bravery and courage have"