Q-BOAT MASTER

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1938, Page 3

Q-BOAT MASTER

Capt. H. Auten VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND.

Best known as a commander of “mystery ships” in the Great War, and now a leading figure in the American and British film world, Captain Harold Auten, V.C., of New York, will arrive at Auckland to-day by the Monterey from San Francisco.

Born in England in 1891, aptain Auten began his sea career as an apprentice and later became a junior officer in the P. and O. Company. Ho received a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve in 1910 and .served in the Navy throughout the Great War When the first “mystery ships” were fitted out in .1915, he was posted to one of them as first lieutenant. In 1917 he was given command of another, H.M.S. Heather, and in the following year commanded successively H.M.S. Stock Force and H.M.S. Suffolk Coast, in the same service. The Victoria Cross was awarded him for conspicuous bravery when the Stock Force was torpedoed and sunk in an encounter with a German submarine in July, 1918. When Captain Auten received the Cross at an investiture outside Buckingham Palace, the usual citation was not read, in the interests of secrecy, but by chance, or design, as he tooki his place before the King,' the band struck up, “Hush, hush. Here comes the Bogey Man”. This caused hearty general laughter, in which the King joined, remarking, “Well, that’s all we are allowed to say about you.” After the war Captain Auten was appointed a Younger Brother of Trinity House, and commanded ships in the Australian and South African trades. Leaving the sea, he became associa'ted with Sir Gordon Craig bn the production staff of a British film company.' In 1928 he went to New York to represent it and other foreign film concerns, and later managed a number of large theatres. For five years past Captain Auten has been foreign manager for British Empire Films, Limited, and an Australian company, Cinesound Productions, Limited. On his present visit to New Zealand and Australia he is also representing two American studios.

In New York, Captain Auten has taken a leading part in the activities of British organisations, including the British Club and the British Great War Veterans of America. In 1934 he organised a most successful benefit performance in the Metropolitan Opera House for British charities in America. He is the author of a book. "Q-boat Adventures,” describing his war-time experiences.