BLOWN UP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 192, 15 August 1941, Page 6

BLOWN UP

NAVAL TRAWLER

LOSS OF THE PURIRI

STORY TOLD AT INQUEST

A verdict that the deceased lost their lives through H.M.S. Puriri. in which they were serving, striking a mine in the Hauraki Gulf, was given by the coroner. Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M.. at the Magistrate's Court this morning, at an inquest inro the deaths of five members, of the crew of the minesweeper, which struck a mine and sank about Si miles north-east of the Whangarei Heads on May l}.

Mr. Hunt had reported to the Solicitor-General that he had reason to believe that the deaths had occurred in such circumstances that an inquest ought to be held, but that "the bodies were lying in places from which the> could not be recovered." The Solicitor-General forwarded his formal direction for the holding of the inquest. Arthur Homewood Hyde, a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve at present serving in H.M.S. Philomel. gave evidence to show that he was an officer on board H.M.S. Puriri on May 1-1, when she was engaged in mine clearance operations" in the Hauraki Gulf.

About 11 a.m. that dav. 11.M.5. Puriri struck a mine and sank within a few minutes. As a result cither of the explosion or the sinking of the ship, five men lost their lives They were: — Douglas William Blarklaws. a naval lieutenant, master of the vessel, aged 37. married, living with his wife at 35. Argvle Street Heme Bay; Barndt August Mattson. stoker petty officer, aged 30. single, whose father lives at Whenuapai; Leon Purkin. able seaman, single, aped 27. whose mother lives at Te Hoc Hoe. Putaruru: John Richardson. steward, single, aged 31. who had no relatives in New Zealand: Georce Edward Roy Hohlcv. steward married. whose wife lives at 55, Gribblchirst Road. Sandringham. Master Seen to Fall Into Sea Lieutenant Hyde stated that at the time of the explosion Lieutenant o lack laws was on the bridge of the Juriri and was carried awav by the blast. He was Inst seen falling into ~c sc f L a . m °ng stone ballast and other debris.

Stoker Petty Officer Matron was in his cabin during his watch below and was no doubt killed in his bunk.' He was not seen again by anv surviv ing member of the crew. Able Seaman Purkin was washing his hands in the forecastle and must have been killed insiantaneouslv. „^p ward Richardson and* Steward in thi' sald , w,tnes s. were working wardroom pantry, both of w.miH hl Cre , wrecked - and death eadh case ecn instantaneous in

t,le Purin c ank boats lowered , from H.M.S. Gale Mas a °. Gn &aged in mine clearance operations, and an extensive search was made for survivors but none could be found. Since the sinking a search of the waters and roast in the locality had been made and observation kept bv naval patrols, the police, fishermen launchmen and settlers, but no trace of am of the bo lies had been found.