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Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) was a small volunteer force of approximately 2,000 men, raised in Australia shortly after the outbreak of World War I to seize and destroy German wireless stations in German New Guinea in the south-west Pacific. The German wireless installations were ordered to be destroyed because they were used by Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) Maximilian von Spee's East Asia Squadron of the Imperial German Navy, which threatened merchant shipping in the region. Following the capture of German possessions in the region, the AN&MEF provided occupation forces for the duration of the war. New Zealand provided a similar force for the occupation of German Samoa.

Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

1914

Australia

British Empire

Australian Army

Infantry

2,000 men

World War I

Colonel William Holmes

The raising of the Australian flag on 16 December 1914 in Angoram, New Guinea.

The raising of the Australian flag on 16 December 1914 in Angoram, New Guinea.

The submarine AE1 with other Australian ships off Rossel Island on 9 September 1914. On 14 September it disappeared during a patrol off Rabaul.

The submarine AE1 with other Australian ships off Rossel Island on 9 September 1914. On 14 September it disappeared during a patrol off Rabaul.

The fleet, headed by the flagship Australia, entering Rabaul's Simpson Harbour on 12 September 1914.

The fleet, headed by the flagship Australia, entering Rabaul's Simpson Harbour on 12 September 1914.