Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Thomas Rafter
SS Wiltshire (A18) 1914-1917

When war was declared, William Thomas Rafter was 21 years old.  He begins his diary as the SS Wiltshire, now troop transport HMAT A18, sails from Sydney on the 23rd September 1914. Having been launched only two years earlier, the Wiltshire was a contemporary passenger and refrigerated cargo steamship. Taking on the Victorian Light Horse and members of the Medical Corps in Melbourne, the ship made its way to Albany where they took their place as one of the 28 Australian and 10 New Zealand troop transports which formed the first troop convoy. The significance was not lost on William, as he described the size and formation of the convoy, its departure, the threat and demise of the Emden and the victory by HMAS Sydney.

Employed as the ship’s Electrician (sometimes referred to as the Electrical Engineer), William was responsible for the lighting of the ship and troop decks. Over the next two years he made five troop transport voyages aboard the Wiltshire, notating what he considered were the key points of interest. For a sailor, this is predominantly the weather and or the next port. William does, however, include many additional comments; if somewhat minimalist on occasions.

One of the most descriptive group of entries coincided with the Wilshire’s second voyage in 1915.  Disembarking Australian troops and their gear at Suez, they continued onto England, but were redirected mid-channel, “...received orders to put into Harve, France. Picked up a boat with 16 men belonging SS Ethiope (Elder Dempster) at 12.30 p.m. Ship was sunk at 9 a.m. by German Submarine [U-41]. Double banked watches and arrived Harve 1 a.m. Saturday 29th [May]...under martial law, Trams and Hotels closed at 9 p.m.

Hospital trains loaded with wounded troops arrive two or three times daily and a fleet of barges arrive by way of canals two or three times a week. Town full of soldiers and sailors and all allied nations. After waiting a fortnight we started to unload our meat for French Government.”

Arriving in England, they “...embarked troops, 53rd RT Welsh, and sailed...for Alexandria...arriving 26th [July], Monday night. Anchored outside and went in next morning, discharged horses, mules and some troops, finally sailing for Island of Lemnos, Wednesday 4th August, to find on arriving on the 6th we had been reported officially sunk 4 hours after Alexandria.

Left Lemnos Sunday 8th for Imbros Island off Gallipoli Peninsula. Arriving Monday morning 9th could see shells bursting all morning as we approached, grand sight, crossed over to peninsula Tuesday 10th and have discharged some troops, mules, ammunitions and stores, still a lot on board. Enemy planes dropped bomb about 50 yards off us and enemy shells have been dropping round. War ship lying between us and shore, troops had severe losses last night.

Thursday 12th operating pretty lively today with shells dropping local man of war. Village 4 miles inland on ridge been on fire since we came over and still alight, large Mosque left standing on account of religious beliefs of Indian troops. Shifted several times on account of shells dropping near us and were hit in three places on Monday night 16th, saloon bar wrecked with one wireless room and bridge slightly damaged, also a life boat. Taube aeroplane circled over us several nights and dropped 2 or 3 bombs but did little damage or no damage. Several other ships damaged by shell fire. Shells dropping around us all yesterday morning 18th and were sent back to Imbros... Can hear heavy gunfire from direction of point of peninsular. Extra heavy gunfire all Friday and still heavier Saturday 21st. Left Imbros 7 p.m., arrived Lemnos Sunday 22nd 6 a.m. for orders. Left Lemnos same night. Object very much like a submarine boat supposed to be a large fish followed astern for 2 or 3 hours. Monday 23rd arrived Alexandria... Went alongside 25th to discharge troops, ... left 27th for Suez to pick up soldiers returning to Australia...”

While they had arrived after the initial battles (ie Lone Pine), the Wiltshire crew had just witnessed the majority of the 1915 August Offensive. Including the last major assault of the Gallipoli Campaign, the Battle of Hill 60, launched on the 21st August 1915.

William’s third trip was far less eventful. Returning to Sydney on the 3rd February 1916, the ship underwent a re-fit, “...all horse stalls removed and troops accommodation in place for 1850 men. Upper works of ship painted grey...” They sailed again on the 20th, storing ship at all the southern ports including a “full complement of troops” in Melbourne. This would be the ships last voyage through the Suez Canal as they were “chased” and “delayed” through the Mediterranean Sea by enemy submarines.

The frenetic pace of those first four voyages, was somewhat tempered during the lay over in Sydney during July 1916. Taking leave, William Thomas Rafter married Edith Daisy Bannister on Saturday the 29th July. His diary entry for that day was typically understated, “Hotel Sydney”. He re-joined the ship 18 days later.

William’s fifth and last voyage began when the Wiltshire “Sailed from Sydney. Left Wharf 9 a.m. and harbour 2.30 p.m., cool weather. 1600 men, 3 nurses, Sid Steed, Mrs Evans.” on Tuesday the 22nd August 1916. William described the weather in the Bight as “dirty”, confining the troops below decks which exacerbated the “outbreak of mumps and measles.” Arriving in Fremantle on the 30th, they “sent about 30 cases of infectious diseases a shore. Sailed same afternoon.”

Arriving at Durban, South Africa on the 9th September, William was informed of his wife’s death just two days earlier from pneumonia. Waiting for him in Plymouth a month later, was a “Letter from wife.”

During the stopover, William wrote to Edith’s brother, Pte. Rupert Theodore Algemon Bannister (No. 2036) (/explore/people/236157) (/explore/people/236157), who was in camp in England at Lark Hill. Rupert was killed in action eight months later on the 8th June 1917.

Preparing for the return voyage to Australia, the Wiltshire “took on 650 wounded men and officers and nurses...” on Sunday the 12th November. It would be a further four days before they got underway, with the “seas coming up.” The winds had reached “hurricane” force by the following night, creating mayhem as “2 seamen lost overboard, 2 or 3 injured, one washed off and back by following sea. Wireless ariels blown down.”

The Wiltshire arrived in Melbourne on New Year’s Eve, at “daylight after a very wild run & discharged wounded (200)...”  Continuing on to Sydney, William sailed through the Heads aboard the Wiltshire for the last time at daybreak on the 3rd January 1917. In the words of the ships' Chief Engineer, the now 24 year old William was, “...leaving the ship to recruit his health.”

Footnote: On the 10th July 1929, William remarried. His second wife was Isabel Elanor Leeming (née Crane), the widow of Pte. Phillip Lorna Leeming (#6039) (/explore/people/321864) (/explore/people/321864) killed in action on the 16th April 1918. Like so many soldiers during the war, Phillip had embarked aboard the Wiltshire and was one of the “1600 men,” William Rafter noted in his diary on the 22nd August 1916.

Karen Standen (2019)

Originally written on behalf of William's son, W. J. Rafter, for the Shoalhaven Family History Society's journal. It is reproduced here with the permission of both parties.