MINING ENEMY SEAS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11767, 14 October 1932, Page 2

MINING ENEMY SEAS

WAHINE’S WAR CAREER.

PERILOUS DAYS AND NIGHTS

Nights of utter blackness when H.M.S. Wajiino stole furtively across the North Sea, pierced the enemy patrol and scattered death off a hostile coast, wore vividly described by Mr, R. F. Wholdale, who was a member of tho Wahine’s crew throughout t]io vessel's war-service. In striking contrast are the peace-time activities of this well-known ferry steamer, and to only a few people in New Zealand docs she conjure up memories of courageous exploits, when the nerves of, all; aboard were taut as tho stays singing overhead. “I stowed away on the Wahinc in July, 1915,” said Mr. Wheldale. “At the time slie was lying at Port Chalmers where I had arrived as a member of tho crew of an English ship. J saw she was painted grey, which indicated war service, so. I left my own ship and stowed away. Once at sea I gave myself up and was signed on as a baker. We were sailing for England under Admiralty orders, and every available space was filled with coal. Thero.was no room for cargo.

UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN. ‘‘We coaled, at Albany, Colombo and' Aden, and at the Suez th© bridge was fitted with sandbags as a protection against Turkish snipers while going through the canal. Eventually we steamed up th 0 Thames to Millwall, where guns were mounted fore and aft. The crew was paid off, but a number of us sigued on again as members of the Mercantile Marine Reserve. On October 13, 1915, wo left Millwall for the Mediterranean, sailing under t]ie White Ensign. Tor eight months w e acted as fleet messenger between Malta and Mudros. “I remember well the first time we ■loft Mudros for Malta. The harbour at Mudros was packed with ships, from huge warships and troopships down to the wonderful little trawlers. In the pitch dark night, with the ship in darkness, we cleared the boom and threaded our way through the minefield. Next morning a submarine appeared on the surface and chased us. We opened fire with our after gun at 1700 yards range. The third sfrot was thought to hit her. At any rate, she submerged. We had a King’s messenger on board and could not stop to investigate. <

TORPEDO UNDER THE STERN. “That was the first of my encounters. As a rule submarines lay in wait for us, sometimes in pairs. One morning I -was on deck talking to the bosun when the vessel gave a violent lurch and swung round. Just then a (Streak of foam passed under the stern. It was a torpedo, but luckily it had been seen from t]ie bridge and the helm put hard over. We dropped two depth charges in the hope of catching the submarine. “About the middle of 1916 we returned to Millwall, and the Wajiine was fitted as a minelayer. Two antiaircraft guns and two quick-firing guns were added to the armament Our commander, Captain A. M. Edwin, left us, his place being taken by Captain Smythe. We went to Portsmouth for trials and then proceeded to Sheerness, where we were stationed for about six months while laying the Dover barrage. “Three of us minelayers put down 'tjie barrage across the Straits of Dover, the Princess Margaret, Paris and Waliine. Four days would he spent in coaling and mining ships then, protected by destroyers, we would steam out for dear life, drop our mines and return. Then the same performance would be repeated. "When our work at Dover as finished we went to linmiiighani, on the Ilumber, which was being used as a naval base and mine depot. We were based on Inimingham until the end of the war. Captain Thynue now took over command of the tVahine. He addressed the assembled crew and threatened dire punishment to anyone eaught without a lifebelt while at sea. Our pet goat impressed the matter on the sergeant of marines by butting iiim behind the knees.

“AM UNKNOWN- DESTINATION.” “Early next morning the three of us minelayers, escorted by six destroyers, glided downstream and away for an unknown destination, which we afterwards heard was the Heligoland Bight. An airship sailed overhead to look out for submarines. For a time we were in tbe war channel and passing all manner of craft, for in those desperate times anything that would float was pressed -into service. The sun rose higher and visibility improved. Away astern England was fast fading from sight. “Our maximum speed v-as 112 knots, although we steamed only at 18. One of the destroyers thought she saw a periscope and dashed across to investigate. Such was her sudden burst of speed that, although the sea was calm, the water surged white up to her bridge. It was a false alarm. This incident occurred during the daily issue of the riim ration, and when we turned front watching the destroyer we found the goat drinking our rum.

ALONE IN THE NIGHT. “At last we found ourselves off the beaten track and no other ships were to bp seen. Wle bad passed an enemy mine-field and were proceeding cautiously. Dusk fell.and the destroyers left us. Then it became night, as black as pitch. The other minelayers left to take their stations and we steamed on alone. Anxiously we watched the funnels and prayed that no sparks; would show. “At midnight the order fmining stations’- was passed round the ship. No bugle or pipes were sounded and not -a. light showed. Down on the mining deck everyone had his place. Then came the ‘stand-by*’ followed by the order to drop'mines. One by one tbe heavy, mines. rcfiled;' | dbwii the. ■fcrollcjPv way . out through the stern, and fell to the water with a splash. . “We rnadd 13 of these trips,” said

Mr. Wbeidale, “and had the good fortune never onco to encounter the enemy patrol. In the intervals wo laid, mines in other areas. After the Armistice the Wajiiho returned to Millwall, where the mine-laying gear was stripped from her. She was then taken to the Clyde.- and refitted for her return to New Zealand. Throughoht her mine-laying career she laid more than 11,000 mines.” The principal dates and facts concerning the Wahinc’s war service arc recorded upon a brass tablet fastened to the wall of her main saloon stairway.