AIR CASUALTY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 64, 9 December 1940, Page 8

AIR CASUALTY

Missing On Active Service

The following'air casualty was announced last night:—

Sergeant John Charles Cornish, R.N.Z.A.F., missing on active service. Father: Air. J. Cornish, Tregunna Street. Castlecliff, Wanganui.

N.Z. SEAMEN’S DEATHS

Trawler Blown Up

Dominion Special Service M’ALAIERSTON N., December 7.

Advice lias been received by Air. and Airs. T. Wass, 10 Upton Street, Herne Bay, Auckland, and formerly of Palmerston North, that their sou, Ordinary Seaman Peter Wass. R.N.V.R., who was formerly reported missing, believed killed, met his death when H.AI. Trawler Oswaldian was blown up by a mine. The information was contained in an extract from a letter received by the Prime Alinister, Air. Fraser, from the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, Air. AV. J. Jordan. "Yesterday I met Seaman Norman Lawrence Sceliy. and asked him questions about Seaman Peter Wass.” wrote Air. Jordan. "The story is that Peter Wass was iji H.AI. Trawler Oswaldian (previously a Hull fishing trawler) ou patrol duty. The shin was close enough on August 3 to speak to Wass and Ross Mills, Remuera (also reported missing, believed killed, on the same date), who were together on the trawler. "Later the Oswaldian was destroyed, evidently by a mine. "Both Peter Wass and Ross Mills were highly respected and were most efficient seamen, and their loss is felt very keenly by the whole of the officers and ratings with whom they came to Britain. . . The relatives may be grateful for this small detail of file cause of tlie loss."