“PORT BRISBANE”

Grey River Argus, 4 December 1940, Page 5

“PORT BRISBANE”

OFFICER’S ACCOUNT Of Her Sinking [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 4, 1.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 3. In the course of a national broadcast, to-night on the experiences of the 26 survivors of the “Port Brisbane,” which was sunk by enemy action, the Chief Officer (Mr Dingle) said that he and his fellow occupants who escaped in a lifeboat, remained in the vicinity of the ship overnight. They had hopes that the “Port Brisbane” would not sink after all. despite fire aboard and a heavy list., but about seven in the morning she suddenly went down by the bow. He took the lifeboat back to the scene and gathered up floating rations. He recovered two empty lifeboats, in which he placed some comrades Then came the problem of which' direction to head, —Australia or Mauritius. Both were a very gieat distance, and Australia seemingly the farthest. Consequently he decided to take a chance and make for Mauritius. Whether he or his comrades were able to say whether the (wireless operator McKee, had been able to get his ’distress signal away before the raider bombed and set fire to his «abin, but they presumed he had after which he was probably taken prisoner. All doubts on this score were set at rest, when, about four o’clock that afternoon, the welcome sight of an Australian cruiser hove in sight, and by seven in the evening he and his comrades were all safely aboard, enjoying the comforts and hospitality of typical British Naval men.