The Story of The Long Shot
In August 1914, the world was on the brink of the Great War. However, the first shot of this global conflict did not ring out in the trenches of the Somme or the borders of Belgium—it was fired right here in Victoria, Australia, from Fort Nepean.
The Escape of the SS Pfalz On August 5, 1914, the German steamship Pfalz, operated by Norddeutscher Lloyd, was tied up at Victoria Dock. Fully aware of the deteriorating situation in Europe, Captain Kuhiken loaded enough coal to attempt a daring escape to friendlier waters.
As the Pfalz steamed toward Port Phillip Bay Heads, Fort Nepean received word that war had officially been declared. Lieutenant-Colonel Sandford at Fort Queenscliff immediately gave the order to Lieutenant C. Morris at Fort Nepean: "Stop her or sink her."
The First Shot The Pfalz initially ignored signal flags to halt. In response, a 6-inch Mk VII gun (B1) fired a "heave to" warning shot directly across her bow. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the local pilot aboard, Captain Robinson, convinced Captain Kuhiken to surrender the ship or face certain destruction. The Pfalz was turned back to Portsea and captured.
A Second Life: HMT Boorara Requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy, the vessel was refitted as a troop carrier and renamed HMT Boorara. She survived a spectacularly chaotic war. She served in the Aegean Sea, transported Turkish prisoners from the Dardanelles, survived a collision with a French Navy cruiser in 1915, and remarkably survived being torpedoed in the English Channel twice in 1918.
The Final Voyage Following WWI, she was used to repatriate Australian troops before entering the commercial cargo sector. In 1926, she was sold to a Greek shipping line and renamed the Nereus. On August 8, 1937, while sailing in heavy fog, she ran aground on rocks off Cape Beale, Vancouver Island. While the crew was rescued, the ship broke her back within 48 hours and was totally lost.
The Project & Media Recognition
The "Long Shot" project garnered massive national attention during the 2014 WWI Centenary, highlighting Victoria's unique role in the outbreak of the Great War. The expedition and historical research were heavily featured across Australian media:
- Television & News: Channel 7 News, The Today Show (ANZAC Day), The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and the Herald Sun.
- Radio Coverage: ABC 774 Melbourne, ABC 666 Canberra, 3AW (Ross and John), and Radio 3WBC FM 94.1.
- Special Recognition: A letter of acknowledgment from the Prime Minister’s Office (May 15, 2014) and features by the National Library of Australia.
Project Supporters
The SOE team extends our deepest gratitude to the sponsors and supporters who made The Long Shot project possible: Aqua Power Marine, Omnigraphics, Shearwater Research, Whitewater Documentaries, IANTD, Aquability, Ranelagh Club, The First Shot, BlackDog Enterprises, Val Morgan Outdoor, Modern Mag, Randall Industries, and Lytton Design & Construction.