 At nightfall on 12 September , the Berrima landed the AN & MEF infantry battalion at Rabaul . The following afternoon , although the governor had not yet surrendered the territory , a ceremony was carried out to signal the British occupation of New Britain . The German administration had withdrawn inland to Toma and at dawn on 14 September , and HMAS Encounter subsequently bombarded a ridge near the town , while half a battalion advanced towards the town supported by a field gun . The show of firepower was sufficient to start negotiations , ending the Siege of Toma following the surrender of the remaining garrison of 40 Germans and 110 native police . The German territory surrendered on 17 September 1914 . 
