MEMORIAL FOR HOLMGLEN

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 15

MEMORIAL FOR HOLMGLEN

Plaque And BeH To Be Erected

When a memorial service for the crew of the coastal vessel Holmglen was held in St. Mary’s Church. Timaru, on November 27, it was decided that the house flag of the Holm Shipping Company which preceded the wreath bearers to the altar would not go back into service, but would be used in Timaru at the annual seafarers’ service.

A further tribute is proposed. Interested persons in Timaru have been planning the erection of a suitable memorial to those who lost their lives in the Holmglen on November 24, 1959. The form the memorial will take will be a plaque containing the names of the officers and crew. Surmounting the plaque it is proposed to hang the bell of the first Holmglen which served on the New Zealand coast for 25 years.

The Holmglen was sold for further service in New Caledonia and after being renamed Vila Star was again renamed in 1959, Tutuba. The Holmglen was last in Timaru as Vila Star. Representations made by the Department of External Affairs to the British resident commissioner at Vila (New Hebrides) resulted in his approaching Captain Gubbay, owner of the ship, offering to present the bell for the purpose of a memorial. As the ship would be without a bell he quite naturally asked that it would be replaced. A new bell is now being secured in New Zealand and will be forwarded to Vila. Captain J. Holm on behalf of Holm and Company, owners of the Holmglen. has offered to purchase the new bell and pay all transport costs. It is hoped that the Merchant Service Guild, Marine Engineers’ Institute, Seamen’s Union, Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union, and others interested will make donations towards the memorial. The site of the memorial will have to be decided by the Timaru City Council.