During the First World War the New Zealand Navy had only one ship, an old cruiser, which spent most of the war in the Middle East.  In the first part of 1915 it was operating in the eastern Mediterranean, ranging from the Gulf of Alexandretta to the coast of North Africa.  In mid year it was in the Red Sea before being sent to the Persian Gulf.  PHILOMEL remained there until it returned to New Zealand in early 1917.