German Samoa

There was a significant exception with German New Guinea, known as Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, and the Bismarck Archipelago to the north of Australia, which we'll come to in a bit.

Firstly, the occupation of German Samoa by New Zealand in late August 1914.

The ink was barely dry on the European war declarations when the New Zealand government authorized the creation of an expeditionary force in response to a British request to seize the new wireless station on the island of Samoa.

Since 1899, the British, Germans, and Americans had agreed to the partition of Samoa to end a tribal civil war with two groups trying to gain control of the two major islands.

He became the first and only violent casualty of the expedition and occupation.

The somewhat farcical and failing efforts to fix the radio station had been observed by the Samoan locals, with the prestige and reputation of the New Zealanders being adversely impacted.

On hearing of the occupation of German Samoa, von Spee, who was yet to head to South America, sailed to the islands.

His approach was observed with trepidation by the Kiwis.

The ship was assigned to the East Asian Squadron on leaving Kiel in April 1910.

She joined the other ships in Apia, German Samoa, in July 1910 and with them sailed to Singtao in October.

The next few years were spent on colonial duties, hosting visiting ships, dinners, banquets, garden parties and grand balls.

It meant plenty of trips to idyllic islands and the occasional presence needed to suppress a local native uprising.