THE GREAT WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 92, 18 April 1940, Page 7

THE GREAT WAR

EPISODE RECALLED

SEA CAPTAIN'S DEATH

(By Telegraph—Press i Association.)

"AUCKLAND, JApril 17.

The officer who commanded the cable ship Iris, now the Recorder, when she recaptured yon Luckner and his party, who escaped from Motuihi Island in 1917, Captain William Robert Holmes, died at his home at Bucklands Beach, aged 78 years. Captain Holmes, who held the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, R.D.R.N.R., retired about 1923, after a long career at sea. Born in Cornwall Captain Holmes went to sea in sail before coming to New Zealand as second officer of the Iris nearly 40 years ago. He vas associated with the Eastern Telegraph Company and was later cable engineer to the Italian Government in the Mediterranean Sea. He was also associated with the famous yacht Elettra, belonging to the Italian pioneer of wireless, Signor Marconi. Captain Holmes was in the Iris for more than 20 years. He took command of the ship about 1916 and in the following year the Iris was dispatched from Auckland to search for yon Luckner and other escaped prisoners, who were then in possession of the scow Moa.. Two six-pounder' guns had been mounted on the Iris, which also carried two gun crews, in addition to Her ordinary crew. After a stormy passage, the Ins^ reached the Kermadecs and cruised in the vicinity, finally sighting a scow answering to the description of the Moa off Curtis Island. The Iris at full speed chased the scow, which hoisted all sail and fled before the wind. It was rapidly overhauled, however, and Captain Holmes hoisted a signal for the Moa to heave to. The scow merely hoisted the German flag and held her course, but a shot fired across her bows from the Iris produced imrriediate result and the Germans were recaptured. Captain Holmes retained command of the Iris till his retirement about 1923, when he was succeeded-by Captain Hughes, of Auckland. Since then Captain Holmes had lived at Bucklands Beach. He was a member of the Royal (N.Z.) Yacht Squadron.