Cecil Gordon Grace of West Maitland was a stoker aboard the cruiser HMAS Sydney that confronted the Emden in the Indian Ocean on Sunday, November 9, 1914.

Known simply as Pops to his family, Grace from West Maitland talked little of his wartime experiences.

He died a year after his granddaughter Elizabeth Leedham of Melville was born.

But he left them a priceless collection of photographs, a telescope he used aboard the Sydney and two of his sailor’s hats.

And he left them so much more: a fine tradition of military service of which they are justly proud.

To Mrs Leedham and her son Geoffrey, Grace was a prime example of a man who performed his duty – an example they said they would carry with them forever.

Vital details of the battle with the Emden also came from Grace: “Sydney had blown the inside out of her,” he told the Maitland Mercury after that historic battle in which the Emden’s captain beached his battered vessel on North Keeling Island to save the rest of his crew.

And Maitland historian Peter Bogan, who uncovered details of that battle, said he could not have written his story without information and interviews published in the Mercury at the time.

Grace enlisted in the Royal Austlralian Navy on June 23, 1914, before the start of World War I.

After the confrontation with the Emden, Grace was awarded 12 pounds and ten shillings as his share in the prizemoney.

Mr Bogan also uncovered details of the Sydney’s battles against German zeppelin L43.

After Sydney expended all her anti-aircraft ammunition and the zeppelin all its bombs, the two combatants were said to “have parted on good terms”.

One proud medal of Grace’s stands out from the others – a commemorative medallion struck by the navy to recognise Australia’s first naval fight.

The centrepiece for the medallion is a Mexican silver dollar recovered from the wreck of the Emden, these being presented to the officers and crew of the Sydney.

After the war, Grace lived in Thornton, continuing his career as a stoker, but on NSW Railway steam trains.

He had two sons and five grandchildren.

As with so many families, the Leedhams knew little of their ancestor’s role in history.

“Dad did talk about the battle, but we had few details,” Mrs Leedham said.

“Now through the research of Mr Bogan, we have become aware of the importance of what Pops did, together with all the Australian sailors of those times.

“And knowledge of his role in our history has given us all a sense of pride.”

Her son, Geoffrey Robert Leedham, 18, finished his HSC exams a week ago.

“It is pretty special, knowing we have a family member who was in that historic sea fight,” Geoffrey said.

“On Sunday, our thoughts will all be with this man we never knew, but who has come to mean so much to us.

“I have a mate who is an electronics technician in the Australian Navy and I was considering a military career too.

“I think of Cecil Grace a lot – of the tough lives sailors led in those days, especially if you were a stoker.

“But whatever I decide to do, it is good to be able to look up to a man like this in your family history.”

Mrs Leedham summed up her family’s feelings.

“I am honoured to have a family link to HMAS Sydney’s battle and I am in awe of the men on both ships,” she said.

“Reading of the battle, I can only amagine the adrenalin, fear and chaos.”

And she shared a special piece of information: “If you ever take a trip to Manly on the Sydney ferry and view to your left, you can see the single mast from HMAS Sydney as you go along from Government House.”

nAnother Maitland lad who served aboard the Sydney was Allan Benjamin Fryer who was aboard the Sydney at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on November 21 1918.

The Sydney escorted her old enemy’s namesake, another German ship carrying the name Emden, into Scapa Flow for internment.

His niece, Val Menzies of Kotara, said she would be honouring his memory on the date the German fleet surrendered.