MINESWEEPER LOST
SINKS AFTER STRIKING MINE,
OFFICER AND FOUR MEN MISSING.
TWO OF THE CREW INJURED.?
(P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 14. The Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Nash) made the following announcement to-day: “The Government deeply regrets .. to announce the loss of His Majesty’s minesweeper Puriri. The Puriri was commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand Minesweeping Flotilla as recently as April 19 last. “She was engaged in mino clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf when, unfortunately, about 11 a.m. to-day, she struck a mine and sank immediately. The Government deeply regrets that one. officer and four, men are missing, and must be presumed to have lost their lives.
“Two men who were injured, and one who was bruised, have been brought into harbour in charge of a medical officer. The two injured men arc now in hospital. The remaining five officers and 19 men have been saved and are not injured.
“Tho Government is sure that -the whole population of tho Dominion will join with it in expressing deep sympathy with the'relatives'ef 'the lost officer and men in this, tho.first casualty to a New Zealand warship. Tho relatives will, however, derive, comfort from the fact that they lost their lives in performance of their important and dangerous duty.” The following is the list of casualties: Missing, Presumed Dead. —- Lieut. Douglas William Blacklaws, R.N;R. (N.Z.). Wife, Mrs Ruth, Aline Blacklaws, Herne' Bay, Auckland. Able-Scaman Leon Purkin. Mother, Mrs Mary Marioty, To Hoe Hoe, Putaruru. Steward . John Richardson.. No next-of-kin. , Steward George Edward Roy Hobley. Wife, Mrs Dorothy Hobley, Auckland. Stoker Potty-Officer Barndt August Mattson. Father, Mr Benjamin Mattson, Whenuapai, Auckland. Seriously Injured, in Hospital. Able-Seaman Unfold Martin West. Father, Mr N. H. West, Napier. ■ Injured, in Hospital. Able-Seaman Duncan Rex Stewart. Mother, Mrs Beatrice Stewart, Nelson. ‘
Able-Seaman Norman Bernard Dunning, R.N.V.R., sustained bruises and has now gone to his home. His mother is Mrs Arabella A. Dunning, Wellington.
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Bibliographic details
Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 181, 15 May 1941, Page 5
Word Count
319MINESWEEPER LOST Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 181, 15 May 1941, Page 5
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