RESCUE OF FOUR ARTILLERYMEN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 47, 19 November 1941, Page 10

RESCUE OF FOUR ARTILLERYMEN

Water-Logged Rowing Skiff

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 18,

After battling in a small boat through heavy , seas and against a strong wind for a mile and ti half Captain R. S. Judson, V.C., Guards Vita, Points, and two soldiers rescued four artillery men clinging to a water-log-ged rowing skiff in the Waitemata Harbour. The four men were on the point of exhaustion through the cold and the buffeting of the seas when rescue came.

The coxswain of the skiff. Gunner E. J. Eastman, by a perilous swim of nearly a quarter of a mile managed to reach the shore, bravely quitting the skiff because the extra weight would have caused it to founder. The foul oarsmen. Bombardier J. J. Rasmussen, Gunner V. J. Lowe, Gunner J. E. Hammond and Gunner F. J. Hodges, and tlie coxswain. Gunner Eastman, are members of the 9th Heavy Regiment. New Zealand Artillery, and were training for tlie military rowing championship to be held early next month. Using a four-oar skiff the men rowed from St. Mary’s Bay to calm water in the vicinity of Princes Wharf. A sudden change in the weather occurred as the skiff was returning to the boathouse. A sarong wind and current, and a rolling sea put the small craft into difficulties and it finally filled with water in midstream. Tlie buoyancy compartments became flooded witli water and it was found that tlie water-logged skiff could barely take the weight of five men. Gunner Eastman reached the shore exhausted while the rescue of his companions was 1 made.