WELL-KNOWN MARINER

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 269, 9 August 1943, Page 6

WELL-KNOWN MARINER

Second Decoration Received

An additional decoration, the Lloyd's Medal for Bravery at Sea, has been received by Captain C. M. Andrews, of the 'Shaw Savill and Albion service. Recently he received the 0.8. E; in recognition of his services.

Captain Andrews is well-known in the New Zealand-Uhited Kingdom trade. He was in command of a liner well known in the New Zealand trade, and when his ship was somewhere in the North Atlantic she was attacked by a German U-boat. She went down in six minutes. The boats that were got away from the ship were loaded to the gunnies, carrying personnel well over the authorized, number. As they got away from the sinking ship Captain Andrews was seen on the bridge. However, he subsequently dived froin the boat deck into the sea, having some difficulty in keeping clear of the ship's derricks and gear, by now level with the water. He swam for some time before he was picked up by one of the boats, which alreatly had 46 people aboard, but room was made for one more. There was no lying down; all aboard were packed tightly- together. Captain Andrews assumed command. .Some of the ship’s company in another boat thought the captain had gone down with the ship, for they saw him on the bridge as she heeled over, so was the captain of the U-boat informed when he surfaced and made inquiries for the master. Management of Ihe overcrowded boat was exceedingly difficult, for the seas were genuine North Atlantic rollers and great skill was called for in keeping the boat head on to them ; as it was plenty of water came aboard, drenching everybody. The boats were afloat for four days before they were picked up, and all on board were exhausted. One man in Captain Andrews’s boat died. The rescued were taken to New York.

Mr. Hickling, who was chief officer with Captain Andrews, subsequently went into another British vessel which was also attacked by a U-boat, and is believed to have gone down with all hands, some 700 in all. The Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Bea was also awarded to Mr. Hickling, but posthumously.

Wet weather and a shortage, of suitable labour have hindered work on the first stage of the Auckland City Council’s Lower Nihotupu water supply extension scheme, which is being undertaken at a cost of approximately £30.000. However, it is expected that the additional water, from 1,000,000 to 2,502,000 gallons a day, will be available before the end of the year.