 The Squadron was under the command of Rear Admiral Sir George E. Patey, a British admiral who was knighted on the deck of the "Australia" before it departed England in 1913.The first naval operation of the war was in support of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force during the occupation of German New Guinea.The naval portion of the force included the "Australia", "Melbourne", "Sydney", "Warrego", "Encounter", and submarine "AE1".