An item reported that the British cruiser HMS Pioneer (1) visited Tandjong Priok, Dutch East Indies on 18-23 November 1905.(2)
Notes
1. Part of the Pelorus 3rd class cruisers designed by chief constructor of the British Royal Navy Sir William White (2 February 1845 Plymouth, England-27 February 1913 London, England) consisting of the Pactolus, Pandora, Pegasus, Pelorus, Perseus, Pioneer, Pomone, Prometheus, Proserpine, Psyche and Pyramus, preceded by the Arrogant-class and succeeded by the Highflyer-class. Laid down at the Chatham Dockyard, England on 16 December 1897, launched by Miss Andoe on 28 June 1899, completed on 23 January 1900, laid up in reserve, commissioned on 10 July 1900, decommissioned on 29 November 192, handed over to Australia on 29 November 1912, commissioned as a tender to Graden Island naval base on 1 March 1913, refitted in second part of 1913, training ship for reservists since 1 January 1914, served in German East Africa [Zanzibar] 1915-1916, decommissioned on 7 November 1916, became an accommodation vessel in 1922, transferred to the Cockatoo Island Dockyard to be scrapped in May 1923, handed over to the Commonwealth Shipping Board in 1924, being hulked sold to H.P. Stacey, Sydney, Australia in 1926 and finally scuttled off Sydney Heads, Australia on 18 February 1931. Wreck still exists.
2. The Dutch newspaper Bredasche courant dated 18 October 1908 reported that a steamship sighted off Djebel-Zoukoub, Algeria the HMS Pioneer towing the HMS Pyramus.The Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 27 November 1905 reported that the HMS Pioneer departed in Thursday afternoon towards Sydney, Australia leaving the Pyramas behind which was still under repairs. The Pyramus would stay for another two weeks at Batavia waiting for the British cruisers 1st class Powerful and Terrible. The commanding officer of the squadron was to decided if she was to be docked at Batavia or to be towed towards Sydney. The Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated Tuesday 21 November 1905 reported the arrival on Friday of the HMS Pioneer at Tandjong Priok for bunkering coals. She was underway from Colombo, Ceylon towards Sydney, Australia. Armed with 8 guns and a crew numbering 215 men (including 10 officers).
Source
Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1905-1906
