THE QUEEN MARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 302, 21 December 1935, Page 10

THE QUEEN MARY.

COMMANDER'S CAREER . RAN AWAY TO SEA. "SAIL" TO GREATEST LINER. (Special.—By Air Mail.) LONDON", November 30. Sir Edgar Britten, Commodore of the Cunard-White Star fleet, whose appointment to the command of the Queen Mary was announced this week, ra-ff away to sea. On leaving school lie entered business in the Midlands. After a few years of business life, however, the call of the sea proved irresistible, and, in 1892, at the age of 18, he ran away to become an apprentice in the barque Jessie Osborne, trading between Liverpool and the west coast of America. He remained in sail for 10 years, and holds the rare distinction of possessing master's certificates for both sail and steam. He joined the Cunard Company as fourth officer in the Invernia, in 1901. In 191.3 he secured his first command — of tlio Phrygia, engaged in the Mediterranean service. In the same year he was transferred to the Lusitania, where he acted as staff captain.

Throughout the war Sir Edgar was engaged in transport and hospital ship work. He acted as staff captain of the Aquitaniii, and commanded, among other ships, the Lycia, the Tusca.nia, the Pannonia and the Kursk. Since the war he has commanded the Saxonia, the Andania, the Samaria, the Franconia, the Mauretania and the Aquitania. He succeeded Commodore Sir Arthur Rostron as commander of the Berengaria in 1931, and was knighted in 1934. He was made commodore of the fleet early this year. It is believed that he has not yet seen the Queen Mary.

Sir Edgar is 01, and is due to retire in two years' time. Lady Britten, who lives with her 18-year-old daughter Mary, in a London flat, Avas delighted when she heard of her husband's new appointment. "I had no idea that he was to receive it," she said. Sir Edgar has figured in many dramas of the sea. In November, 1933, he steamed 300 miles at full speed and searched for nine hours, in terrific; seas, for the crew of the British steamer Saxilby, which foundered in the Atlantic.