World War 1 and the Battle of Penang
A hundred years ago this week, the first global conflict in the world began. And it set in motion many geopolitical quakes whose ramifications we continue to witness today.
It was on July 28, 1914, that Austria declared war on Serbia. On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia. Two days later, Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium. On Aug 4, Great Britain declared war on Germany.
And thus began World War 1. On one side were Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire; on the other side were Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan and the United States.
Most historians say the war actually began with the assassination on June 28, 1914, of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne – and his wife, by a Serbian.
Exactly a month later, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, with Germany supporting it. France and Russia took the side of Serbia, and soon other nations around the world entered the fray.
By the time it ended on Nov 11, 1918, at least 17 million people, including civilians, were dead and another 20 million wounded. It marked the end of the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, German and Russian empires.
World War 1 planted many seeds, including the seeds that germinated into World War 2. The never-ending turmoil in the Middle-East has its roots in World War 1, too, and how the allies shared the spoils of war. That war also planted the seeds of the rise of the United States as a superpower and the rise of the world’s first communist state, the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic.
Though most of the fighting occurred in Europe, battles were fought in most parts of the world and on all the oceans; even in the then Malaya.
Reminders of this can be seen in the cenotaphs in some cities and towns in Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, George Town and Ipoh, with at least the veterans associations holding annual functions to remember the sacrifices of those who died.
The veterans and those who know some history of Malaya would remember the incident that came to be known as the Battle of Penang. This happened on Oct 28, 1914.
Penang, then part of the British Empire, was a popular port used both by naval and merchant vessels.
In the early hours of Oct 28, the German cruiser Emden which had been preying upon British merchant vessels in the waters off China and Southeast Asia, entered Penang port disguised as an allied vessel and flying the Russian flag.
A Russian cruiser, the Zhemchug, was then undergoing repairs at the port.
Nearing the Zhemchug, the Emden lowered its Russian flag and raised the German flag before firing a torpedo at it. The first apparently missed but a second torpedo did not and the Russian cruiser, undergoing repairs and its crew taken by surprise, sank.
At least 85 of the 250 crew members of the Zhemchug died, according to a November 9, 1914, report in a US weekly called The Independent. On its way out of the port, the Emden engaged with the French destroyer Mousquet, which was returning to port, and sank it too.
Why did the German cruiser bring down the Russian flag and fly its own German flag before attacking the Zhemchug and the Mousquet? Well, under the international code of naval warfare it was permissible for a ship to disguise itself, including using a false flag, to come near an enemy vessel but it is required to display its real flag before firing. That is what the Emden did.
A Wikipedia entry, however, says the Emden was disguised as a British cruiser and that 89 crew members of the Zhemchug died that day.
Older Singaporeans might recall what is known as the Singapore Mutiny. In October, the 5th Light Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army arrived in Singapore from Madras (now Chennai) in India. It was made up entirely of Muslims.
In November, they were told that they would be transferred to Hong Kong. That month, Turkey decided to join Germany and declared war on Britain.
The Turkish sultan, Mehmet V, called on Muslims everywhere to rise up against Britain and its allies. It was a call for jihad.
As the day to leave for Hong Kong approached, a rumour spread that the British actually planned to send the soldiers to Turkey to fight fellow Muslims. On the day of embarkation – February 15, 2015 – the 800 Indian soldiers mutinied. They killed the British officers and others who tried to stop them.
The British had to appeal for help from the French, Russian and Japanese warships nearby. These docked in the harbour on February 17, and went to the aid of the British. By Feb 22, after a series of fierce battles, most of the mutineers had been killed or captured. At least 37 mutineers were later executed.
Another piece of news that might interest the curious is that one of the warships used by the British in its naval battles in Europe was named “HMS Malaya”. And because the construction cost of the ship was borne by the Federated Malay States, it flew the red-white-yellow flag of the Federated Malay States.
HMS Malaya also served in World War 2. The ship’s bell can be seen in the East India Club in London, according to a Wikipedia entry.
I am sure some older Malaysians and Singaporeans would have heard of many more stories about World War 1. It would be great if those who know could kindly share the tales with us.
