LOSS OF LINERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 29, 3 February 1945, Page 7

LOSS OF LINERS

FOUR ORIENT SHIPS

SINKINGS BY GERMANS

Stories relating to the sinking of the well-known Orient liners Orama, Orcades, Oronsay and Orford by enemy action, now released for publication by the Orient Steam Navigation Company, again reveal the heroism and devotion to duty displayed throughout the present war by the British Merchant Navy. They unfold yet another glorious page of the history of British ships and add lustre to the imperishable record of the seamen who have unflinchingly met the enemy, often in the face of tremendous odds.

The sinking of the Orama (20,000 tons) by a part of the German Battle Fleet in the North Sea was in one respect unique among the sinkings during the war. It happened during the course of the operations connected with the evacuation of Narvik in May, 1940. and the liner, somewhat hastily pressed into action as a troop carrier, and, lightly armed, became involved, while alone, with an enemy force, any vessel of which was able to pump shells into her at a range far beyond that at which she could reply. Finally the attackers closed in. and 279 of the Orama's crew were made prisoner; 20 other members of the crew were killed in the action.

Few Men Repatriated

The nature of this forlorn affair, in which only surface craft, without either aircraft or submarines, were involved, was unique during this war for any liner approaching this size. Almost all these merchant seamen are still prisoners of war in Germany after four and a half years; five have died and only 39 have since been repatriated, including one to Australia. During the days of the evacuation of British troops and equipment from France in May, 1940, the Orford, acting as a troopship, was detailed to lie ready at Marseilles for whatever purpose the local Naval Control should decide. While there a force of German bombers made a low-level surprise attack, and by a combined weight of high explosive and incendiary missiles a fire was started in the Orford, which, fanned by the strong wind then blowing, cut off the two ends of the ship and became quickly unmanageable. The crew were able, with the exception of 14 men who were trapped and lost, to escape from the ship, which had to be abandoned to the flames. It was only after an adventurous eleventh hour journey across France that the remaining crew of 281 evaded internment or capture themselves and reached Britain.

Attacks By U-Boats

One of the Avar's most concentrated and massive blows against any one shipping company was struck by U-boats against liners of the Orient Line acting as troopships when, within 48 hours of one another, in October, 1942, the Oronsay, of 20,000 tons, and the Orcades, of 23,500 tons (the latter the newest vessel of the Orient fleet), were sunk off the west coast of Africa in two entirely distinct attacks several hundred miles apart. _ The Oronsay was struck on October 9, at 3.30 a.m., in pitch dark and a large swell running. The ship heaved away from the terrific explosion and then fell some 27 degrees toward it, and stayed there. The engine room arid, boiler rooms had been separated arid could not communicate with one'another. The boiler rooms were flooded, and the ship slowly stopped. As it grew light it was possible to see that the force of. the explosion had destroyed the ship's wireless, and, worse,, had caused- the destruction, of the emergency wireless as well. Captain Savage decided to have the boats lowered, but before this could be done a second torpedo struck, blowing to smitherines a boat which was half lowered. The captain now gave orders for the abandonment of the ship, which was completed and passengers and crew were well away in the boats before a third and then a fourth torpedo hit the vessel. The fourth struck at approximately 8 o clock, some 2\ hours after the first. The Oronsay quickly dipped below the water and glided down at an angle of about 30 degrees, disappearing very quickly and leaving surprisingly little trace behind her. No sign was ever seen of the submarine. Eight days later, on October 17, the main party of survivors, in lifeboats containing some 266 people, were picked up by one of H.M. ships which was searching for them; some more were picked up a day later. One boat load, however, in charge of the fourth officer, become separated from the rest and was picked up after some five days at sea by a French naval vessel, the Dumont d'Urviller and by one of the French merchant vessels she was escorting. Loss of the Orcades The day after the sinking of the Oronsay her larger and younger sister ship,, the .Orcades, was struck while sailing alone, some hundreds of. miles to the southward, about 11.30 in the morning. There were over 1000 people on board, troops and civilians, men and women, of many nationalities and colours, and although the ship was down by the head she remained on an even keel and was in no immediate danger of sinking. At 11.40 a third torpedo struck the ship and. Captain Fox decided to get all the passengers and troops and the majority of his crew away in the boats. All *>ut eight boats, which were left for those who remained with the ship, were lowered safely, but while disengaging from the ship one was capsized against the ship by the rough sea and the occupants were lost.

The captain now gave orders for the Orcades to proceed with her one remaining engine, and, making approximately five knots, this- was done. The -steering gear, too, had been destroyed, and the vessel was found to be describing a great circle; Those remaining on board the Orcades sighted a steamer at 12.50 p.m. and hoisted signals to warn her that a submarine was near, but a rain squall came down and they lost sight of the ship. There were 55 members of the crew left on board and-they stood by their guns, determined to fight for their ship, but from the time of the first attack nothing was seen either of a torpedo track of a submarine. The Finishing Blows By now- the holds were threequarters full of water, but the ship still floated and was still struggling on when about 2.30 p.m. she was struck by three more torpedoes ano« her.crew knew that they had lost her after all. The captain himseN, hadito jump into the water and swim from the ship. He was able to find a raft just in time to climb upon it and; turning round, to see his ship disappear beneath the waves. It was during these moments that the chief engineer, Mr. William Johnston, 0.8. E., lost his life. It later transpired that the ship that had "been sighted apd lost in a. rain squall picked up the little fleet of boats that had been sent away from the Orcades. ...