DEEP MEAT

By Graham Davis

Dive team member Samir Alhafith, decompressing after a 110m dive on Sydney’s Peaks.

When a team of civilian divers descended 96 metres to the wreckage of a large ship off Green Cape, NSW, a few months ago they knew immediately they had found their target, the steamer Cumberland.

The seabed around her was dotted with the bones of large animals. The divers knew that when she disappeared beneath the waves on August 11, 1917, she carried a cargo of bulk frozen meat along with “enormous quantities of Red Cross comforts” destined for those serving in the war against the Germans.

What was significant about the loss the 8993 tonne, 144 metre long steamer was that her demise brought World War 1 to the shores of Australia. She was also the first wartime casualty in Australian home waters. Few people realised it at the time.

Cumberland’s master, CAPT McGibbon had taken his ship to Townsville and on to Sydney for cargo. He then plotted a course south with his eventual destination, the United Kingdom.

The track was the usual eastern Australian seaboard trade route that would take him past Gabo Island. The route was also known to the enemy.

Captain Nerger of the German merchant raider Wolf placed a field of mines across the route.

On July 6, 1917 the Cumberland sailed into the field with one mine detonating with a huge blast.

A geyser of water erupted. Many of those on board thought a saboteur had planted a bomb in the forward holds, perhaps when she was being loaded in Townsville.

It was much later that it was realised that Cumberland had struck a mine. Captain McGibbon sent out an SOS. The message was relayed to the Japanese light cruiser Chikuma, then on station protecting Australia’s east coast from enemy vessel activity.

With water flooding the forward section, Cumberland limped to Gabo Island and was run aground for repairs.
A diver from Chikuma descended to find a hole nine metres in diameter in the steamer’s hull. While this was going on vessels dashed from Sydney and Melbourne with salvage equipment, pumps and mooring gear.

Over the next five weeks a large temporary patch was put over the hole. It was then decided to tow her to Eden for further repairs.

While under tow a storm arrived breaking the patching and forcing the towing tugs, James Patterson and Champion, to run to safety. Two steamers, the Merimbula and the Bermagui stood by to help as the situation worsened.
Cumberland began to sink bow first. “It was an awe inspiring sight,” witnesses said later. Cumberland sank about five miles south-east of Green Cape on August 11, 1917.

Merimbula evacuated her crew before she disappeared. At the time her loss caused international alarm and shocked Australia. The war had been brought to Australia’s doostep.

Prime Minister Billy Hughes raised the incident in Parliament while the US Government feared attacks on its merchant fleet.

For decades and through a second World War, the wreck lay untouched although the Viking Queen had tried unsucessfully to find her in 1938. Then in 1951 a British salvage team from the Foremost 17 descended in a diving bell and found that not only had the ship carried meat she also had about 1,825 tonnes of copper and lead ingots. The team from Foremost 17 carried out a difficult salvage.

Cumberland is now protected from disturbance by the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act of 1976 and there are severe penalties for people found breaching the Act. These include heavy fines and or jail terms.

A team of NSW-based technical divers, members of The Sydney Project, has obtained permission to dive on the wreck to carry out the first ever archaeological survey of her.

On November 8/9 2003 initial dives to the 96 metre (315 ft) depth were made. The divers used Tri-mix open circuit or “Inspiration” rebreather closed circuit systems. They were the first “free” divers to the Cumberland.

The divers found her standing 14 metres above the seabed. She was cavernous in scale. The bow section consisted of a confusing mass of plating and miscellaneous material. She appeared to have collapsed on one side.

The divers found numerous animal bones scattered around the wreck site, the remains of her meat cargo. They also found remnant ingots from the 1951/52 salvage operation. And there on a section of plating on her bow were the letters “U”, “M” and “E”.

The Maritime archaeologist at the NSW Heritage Office, Tim Smith said that surveys such as that undertaken by The Sydney Project Divers, can discover significant information.

“Historic shipwreck sites hold fascinating stories and can tell us new things about past maritime activities.
“There is a need for continuing archaeological assessment of the Cumberland site and further recording of the visible remains.

“The team is looking to deploying remote operated vehicles fitted with video systems to help them with their future research.

“The Heritage Office is working with independent teams such as The Sydney Project to uncover much about our rich maritime heritage.”

The NSW Assistant Planning Minister (with responsibility for shipwreck sites) Ms Diane Beamer, has commended The Sydney Project team for undertaking the Cumberland survey.

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