About This Unit
HMS Psyche (pronounced sigh-kee), a Pelorus third class protected cruiser named after the Greek mythological depiction of the soul, was laid down for the Royal Navy (RN) at the Devonport Dockyards on 15 November 1897. She was serving in New Zealand waters at the outbreak of World War I on 4 August 1914. The early months of the War were busy for Psyche as the cruiser was involved in the capture of the German Protectorate of Samoa as well as other German assets in the Pacific. She also formed part of the escort force for troop convoys bound for the Middle East from New Zealand. She decommissioned on 22 January 1915 and was laid up in Sydney. On 13 May 1915, the Prime Minister’s Department requested that the Admiralty loan Psyche to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a training vessel. The Admiralty responded positively on 1 June and exactly a month later, on 1 July, HMAS Psyche commissioned into the RAN under the command of Commander (later Rear Admiral) Henry Feakes, RAN.
For full details on HMAS Psyche click here (www.navy.gov.au)