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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, Fremantle, HIJNS Soya, 1915

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1915

Overview

Japanese ship His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship "Soya" at Fremantle

Historical information

Soya was a protected cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy, acquired as a prize-of-war during the Russo-Japanese War from the Imperial Russian Navy, where it was originally known as the Russian cruiser Varyag. In the opening Battle of Chemulpo Bay of the Russo-Japanese War, she suffered heavy and was scuttled by its crew on 9 February 1904. After the war, the Japanese raised the badly damaged wreck from Chemulpo harbor, repaired it, and commissioned it into the Imperial Japanese Navy as the 2nd-class cruiser Soya on 9 July 1907.The Soya made two visits to Fremantle Port , in January 1913 and in June 1915. “During World War I, when Russia and Japan became allies against the Central Alliance the Soya (along with several other vessels) was transferred back to Russia at Vladivostok on 5 April 1916, and its original name, Varyag, was restored.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-P1900.1857

Item type

Postcards

Themes

War and Conflict

World War 1

Contextual Information

WEST AUSTRALIAN – MONDAY 20 JANUARY 1913
THE JAPANESE CRUISERS.DEPARTURE FROM FREMANTLE.
On Saturday morning, in the presence of a great number of persons, the Japanese cruisers Edzuma and Soya cast their moorings at Fremantle and steamed from the harbour on their way to Melbourne. The Adzuma was the first to go. To the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" and "Swannee River" and Japanese national airs, played by her own band, she moved from the wharf under her own steam, the officers standing at the stern and bidding farewell to their We stern Australian friends. Cries of "Good-bye' broke from the crowd, and smiling, the Japanese acknowledged the salutations. The demonstration or the crowd was an expression of goodwill toward visitors who had, without exception, conducted themselves exceptionally well during their stay at Fremantle. With the lilt of the music coming over the water, the Adzuma steamed slowly to the river mouth and stood out to sea. Half an hour later the Soya was towed stern first from the north wharf by the tug Penguin. Swinging in mid-stream, the cruiser went on alone, and followed the Adzuma to Rottnest.' The two vessels spent an hour in evolutions off the island before steaming southward.

WEST AUSTRALIAN – TUESDAY 1 JUNE 1915
JAPANESE CRUISERS TO VISIT AUSTRALIA
Information has been received by the Federal Government. that two Japanese training vessels HIJMS Ano and HIJNS Soya, reach. Fremantle to-day. They are expected to reach Melbourne on 14 June. The Ano, 7,726 tons, was formerly the Imperial Russian cruiser Bayano and the Soya, 6,500 tons. was formerly the Russian Cruiser Varvag. The officers and men will probably be entertained by the Government.

Year

1915

Geotag

-32.047617297984, 115.74741771933

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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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