Australia’s first victory at sea during World War I was also the first engagement fought by a warship of the fledgling Royal Australian Navy. The Battle of Cocos took place on 9 November 1914 when the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney responded to an attack by the German light cruiser SMS Emden on a communications station at Direction Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
While Emden was the first to fire, Sydney’s more powerful guns resulted in Emden’s eventual surrender after she was deliberately beached on the North Keeling Island reef. There were fatalities on both sides, including 134 crew from Emden and four from Sydney.
Designer
Stacey Zass, page12
Products released in this issue
- Stamps 1 x 70c, 1 x $3.50
- Covers (blank pictorial and gummed)
- Postal numismatic cover
- Prestige cover
- Gutter strips
Technical specifications
- Issue date
- 14 October 2014
- Issue withdrawal date
- 30 April 2014
- Denominations
- 1 x 70c, 1 x $3.50
- Stamp design
- Stacey Zass, page12
- Product design
- John White, Australia Post Design Studio
- Paper - gummed
- Tullis Russell
- Printer - gummed
- RA Print
- Printing process
- Lithography
- Stamp size
- 35mm x 35mm
- Perforations
- 14.286 x 14.286
- Sheet layout
- Module of 50
- FDI postmark
- Cocos (Keeling) Island, WA 6799
- FDI withdrawal date
- 12 November 2014
This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.