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Family group, Lamutrik, Caroline Islands. Original photograph, November 1914, taken by a crew member of the German cruiser Cormoran

#5022
Family group outside their house, Lamutrik, western Caroline Islands
Original photograph, November 1914
This photograph was taken by a crew member of the German cruiser Cormoran, whose campaign against British and Australian ships in the western Pacific in the first months of the Great War was rather shortlived. The Cormoran sailed from Tsingtao and joined von Spee's squadron at Majuro in the Marshall Islands on August 27th. After an abortive raid on Madang (occupied by the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force) the Cormoran headed for the safety of Yap but was surprised by a Japanese battleship off the entrance to the harbour. Altering course to the western Carolines, she took refuge at the tiny island of Lamutrik in order to carry out repairs and arrange fresh supplies of food and coal, the latter without success. Korvetten-Kapitan Zuckschwerdt took the Cormoran to Guam, where the cruiser was interned on December 14th, 1914.
150 x 103 mm
Inscribed in pencil verso Lamutrik (Karolinen-Insel) Nov 1914
Note the carved wooden fishing charm suspended from the roof of the dwelling.
Superb condition.
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