SEAMAN GRANT

Evening Star, Issue 23451, 16 December 1939, Page 12

SEAMAN GRANT

DUNEDIN'S FIRST WAR VICTIM A LAD OF 18 YEARS Word was received this morning that Ordinary Seaman lan Willian Grant* of 44 Cavell street, Taiuui, was killed during the engagement- Mrs R. T. Thomas, the mother of Seaman Grant, received the sad news this morning by telegraph from the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones), who expressed to her the Government’s sympathy. Ordinary Seaman Grant was always keen to join the Navy, his sorrowing mother said, when interviewed. He was only 18 years of age on November 25 last. She finally gave her consent to his joining the Navy, and he left Dunedin to link up on June 13 last, returning to Dunedin on final leave on August 15. A particularly touching feature is the fact that yesterday, after the news of the engagement had been reported, and before there was any definite news of the Achilles, the lad’s grandfather came up to the ‘ Star ’ Office seeking any information that might be available regarding the Achilles. He was reassured as to the safety of the ship, and all the information .available was given him, but there was little to add to what was already known, Mrs Thomas, he said, had been extremely agitated from the time she had first heard the news of the battle, and the reports as to the comparative safety of the ship had not reassured her.