Graphic Account Of Merchantman Sinking

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 2

Graphic Account Of Merchantman Sinking

Commending the sailors of H.M.S. Wren for the rescue they had effected when his ship was sunk by a German submarine, Captain W. G. Higgs, 0.8. E.. an English merchant navy captain, speaking in the Parochial Hall last night, said that the tenderness with which the British sailors handled the injured survivors was indicative of the traditional kindness of the British Navy. Captain Higgs visited Whangerei m January of this year, and recently completed a voyage from England. Since his last visit to New Zealand, a ship which he commanded was sunk by enemy action, and 17 of its personnel and passengers were killed and many injured. Travelling from Buenos Aires with a cargo of 10.000 tons of beef, required urgently by the British people, the ship carried in addition, 58 passengers, the majority of whom were young English men and women, domiciled in Argentina, and going to England to join the armed forces. After calling at Mcnte Video, the ship proceeded on the journey to England, the first two weeks' of the journey being ideal, with perfect weather conditions prevailing. In pitch darkness at 10 p.m., while crossing the route of Biscay-based enemy U-boats, the ship was torpedoed on the port side.

One junior engineer-officer, who at that time was on watch, was killed, the engines stopped immediately, but, as the water rushed into the engineroom through the gaping hole in the side, stokers managed to clamber up above to safety. Lights and all electrical communications failed and the ship listed about 35 degrees to port, but soon righted itself. Luckily, passengers and crew had been well drilled, and scenes such as then transpired had been rehearsed many times. Panic was absent, everyone proceeding to the lifeboats in a calm, orderly manner. A little girl called for her “daddy” but she was scon pacified. The weather was calm, with a long swell and a light wind. A wireless message for help on the emergency radio was acknowledged by the Admiralty, and passengers and crew were fortified with the assurance that help was coming.

Lifeboat Torpedoed Number two lifeboat had reached the water after the order for lowering had been given, when, five minutes after the first, the second torpedo struck’ the ship near it, upsetting the boat, killing four of its occupants and injuring others slightly. Among those killed were two elderly women. A third torpedo hit the ship underneath number eight lifeboat, in which there were 11 people and an officer. The officer was the only survivor and was picked up, badly shocked, an hour later. . Seeing that, in its haste to sink the ship, the German submarine was not giving time to launch the boats, the captain gave the order, “Abandon ship!” It is his opinion that if the German had allowed five minutes more before firing the second torpedo all could have got away. As the submarine was on the port side of the ship, lifeboats on the starboard side were all safely way, and, throwing himself from the deck, Captain Higgs swam to the nearest lifeboat, number three, which then spent two hours picking up survivors. The submarine surfaced, and on to its deck came a German officer protected by a sailor with a sub-machine-gun. The officer asked for the name of the ship, her tonnage and cargo. Evidently pleased with the answers to his questions, the German, who spoke perfect English, conversed with the captain of the submarine, and then asked survivors to reveal the whereabouts of the captain. They replied that he was still on board the ship. Conversation With German

“When the German heard women’s voices, he asked: “Have you got women on board there?” said Captain Higgs. After he received the answer, the German seemed very surprised and asked the survivors if they knew there was a war on. He said he was very sorry he could take no one on board. He fired another torpedo into the ship, and, as it slowly rolled over, a lanyard attached to two rockets came adrift and the rockets soared into the sky, exploding above the parties of survivors. “It seemed most symbolic.” said Captain Higgs. “It was her good-bye.” Dawn revealed a pitiful sight. Wreckage was scattered over a sea covered with a coat of oil, and here and there a raft or lifeboat filled with survivors dotted the surface. Breakfast, shared amongst the members of the captain’s lifeboat, consisted of a biscuit, a dipper of water, malted milk tablets and rum. Boats and rafts were gathered and roped together and shortly after 8 a.m. a Liberator bomber flew over. Alter throwing out smoke floats to attract notice, the survivors saw the Liberator bank and turn and sight them. They were greatly excited. Some prayed, laughed or cribd or behaved as their emotions took them, and others sang: “There’ll Always be an England.” The plane swooped several times over the parties and then maintained a shuttle service between the oncoming rescue ship, H.M.S. Wren, and the sui'vivors. At 2 p.m. a buoyant pack containing rum and provisions was dropped, and on opening it a note written in pencil on a sheet torn from the signal log was discovered. It indicated that the rescue ship would arrive at 5.50 p.m. and asked that, on completion of the voyage, the survivors “drop a line” to the eight members of the plane’s crew. H.M.S. Wren arrived before the specified time and survivors were taken aboard, arriving in Liverpool three days later.