ON RESCUE SHIP

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 81, 30 December 1940, Page 9

ON RESCUE SHIP

Work Of Soldiers And Airmen Praised Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, December 29. A group of women told their story as the Waimarino headed for port. They said that everything possible had been done for them. There were 300 women on board and only one girl showed any sign of panic. She was soon reassured. A man and his wife, who had braved the perils of submarines, mines and bombers in a voyage from England, were surprised to find excitement coming at the very end of their voyage. Groups of women sat in the sun busily effacing signs of interrupted sleep and hurried departure by the application of powder and lipstick. It was learned that a large number of soldiers and airmen on the Rangatira had done splendid work in assisting the crew in the emergency. Soldiers had been posted as pickets to control the movements of passengers to the dining-rooms and to direct them to lifeboat stations. Airmen had worked hard in assisting to load lifeboats. News of the grounding of the Rangatira soon spread throughout Christchurch, and many persons journeyed to Lyttelton. Among these, of course, were persons who were waiting for relatives and friends journeying from Wellington on the Rangatira.