In January our main feature was Jeremy Thomas on SMS Emden. The talk entitled A Tale of Five Ships concerned the exploits of the German light cruiser Emden in the Indian Ocean in the first months of the First World War and, following her sinking, the efforts of part of her crew to return to Germany.
SMS Emden was part of the East Asia Squadron based at Tsingtao (now Qingdao) in China on the outbreak of the First World War. The rest of the squadron under Admiral von Spee made an ill-fated attempt to return to Germany via Cape Horn, while Karl von Müller was granted permission to cruise in the Indian Ocean as long as possible. Emden spent three months creating mayhem until trapped and overwhelmed by HMAS Sydney while attempting to destroy a wireless station in the Cocos Islands.
With Emden wrecked the landing party tasked with demolishing the wireless station was effectively marooned. Not for long. Under command of the cruiser’s executive officer Hellmuth von Mücke, they commandeered and patched up the topsail schooner Ayesha which took them to Padang in Sumatra. From there they hitched a ride with the German freighter SS Choising to Hodeidah, then by dhow, camel and train to Jeddah and eventually Constantinople and a hero’s welcome.
Jim Baumann followed Jeremy with his talk on Model ships at miniature scales. Jim is regarded as one of this country’s – perhaps the world’s – premier modellers and his display of 1/700 scale ships certainly did nothing to contradict that reputation. He started by explaining his approach to the art, and how his interest focusses on miniature waterline models in their natural environment. Models goes further than paintings, drawings or even full-size ships in allowing the observer to take in a 360-degree view in its entirety. They thus have a unique way of illustrating and conserving history. Jim illustrated his talk with pictures of models he has built and reference to those in the room, (including a beautiful RMS Mauretania, illustrated) covering some of the techniques he uses in the process. A fascinating talk might well have run on except that our carriages were threatening to turn back into pumpkins.
Please see our Events page for future attractions.