TRIBUTE TO WAR DEAD

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27567, 26 January 1955, Page 12

TRIB UTE TO WAR DEAD

SERVICE IN FORMER PRISON SHIP

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 25. The New Zealand and Australian servicemen who lost their lives in the Nino Bixio were remembered at a simple service conducted on the fore hatch of the ship as she lay in Wellington Harbour this afternoon. Sir Howard Kippenberger, Dominion president of the Returned Services’ Association, recalled how the Nino Bixio was carrying 3000 prisoners of war, among them about 500 New Zealanders and Australians, from North Africa to Italy. A British submarine attacked the ship off the coast o Greece, and unwittingly fired two torpedoes into the holds full of Allied prisoners.

Among the 2700 killed in the explosions were 120 New Zealanders and an unknown number of Australians, said Sir Howard Kippenberger. The captain did what he could for the wounded, and turned his ship toward the coast of Greece, where it sank. It was later raised and taken to Venice, where it was sunk again to block the harbour. After the war it was raised again. Cr. E. R. Toop, deputising for the Mayor of Wellington (Mr R. L. Macalister), the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald), and the Australian High Commissioner (Mr P. R.

Heydon) also spoke. The siren of the Nino Bixio was sounded in a salute to the dead. Other

ships in the harbour folowed suit Wreaths were laid for the R.SA., the Prisoners of War Association, and the Australian Imperial Forces. The Ven. Archdeacon C. McKenzie

conducted the short service. It ended with the shrill notes of Reveille.