LOCAL MEMBERS OF PAMIR ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29820, 12 May 1962, Page 17

LOCAL MEMBERS OF PAMIR ASSOCIATION

Several Lyttelton men are eligible to join the Pamir Association which has been formed in Auckland. One is the Lyttelton harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion) who relieved Captain D. N. McLeish, of Lyttelton, as master of the famous 3100ton barque which was seized at Wellington as a war prize in 1941. After the Finnish squarerigger, owned by Gustav Ericson, was taken over by the New Zealand Government, she traded between New Zealand and the North American Pacific coast unarmed. On one occasion during the war a Japanese submarine surfaced and stayed near the graceful Pamir for some time then made off. The New-Zealand Government returned the Pamir to her Finnish owners after the war. In 1955 she became a German training vessel. In this role she ended her career by foundering in the North Atlantic. Many cadets were drowned. While under the New Zealand flag, the Pamir was commanded first by Captain C. V. Stanich, of Auckland. He was followed by Captains McLeish and Champion. Captain D. C. Champion, a Union Company master and the harbourmaster’s brother then commanded her. Her last commander was the late Captain S. Collier, of Auckland, who took the Pamir to Britain and back to New Zealand Three other members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board staff would also be eligible for membership of the association. Two are well-known pilots, Captains L W. Davis and J. A. Barbour. The third is Mr J. Burlington, mate of the board’s tug. Two brothers, employed by the Shaw Savill and Albion Line at Lyttelton, Messrs M. J- and M. B, Pearson.

who live in Christchurch, both served in the Pamir. Mr K. Sinclair, who works in Lyttelton, and Messrs G. Sheppard and P. Hunt, who work in Christchurch, are also eligible for membership of the Pamir Association. No former members of the Pamir’s crew in Lyttelton or Christchurch have been approached to join the new association. They had not even heard of it until this week.