MINESWEEPER STRIKES MINE AND SINKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 15 May 1941, Page 6

MINESWEEPER STRIKES MINE AND SINKS

FORMERLY ANCHOR COY. SHIP PURIRI Five men Lose Lives in Hauraki Gulf THREE OTHER MEMBERS OF CREW INJURED [United Press Association] Wellington, This Day. The loss of five lives, one officer and four men, when a minesweeper engaged yesterday in minesweeping operations in the Hauraki Gulf struck a mine and sank, was announced last night by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash. Three others were injured. The remaining members of the crew, comprising five officers and 1 9 men, were saved and were uninjured. The following statement was issued by Mr Nash: “The Government deeply regrets to announce the loss of H.M.S. Puriri. H.M.S. Puriri was commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand) Minesweeping Flotilla as recently as 19th April last. “She was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when unfortunately— at about 1 I a.m. to-day (Wednesday, 14th May) she struck a mine and sank immediately. “The Government deeply regrets that one officer and four men are missing and must be presumed to have lost their lives. Two men are injured and one bruised, and were brought into harbour in charge of a medical officer. The two injured are now in hospital. The remaining five officers and 1 9 men have been saved and are uninjured. “The Government is sure that the whole population of the Dominion will join with it in expressing their deep sympathy with the relatives of the lost officer and men in this, the first, casualty to a New Zealand warship. The relatives will, however, derive comfort from the fact that these men lost their lives in the performance of their important and dangerous duty.”

The following is a list of the casualties: — MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD William Douglas Blacklaws, Lieutenant. R.N.R. (N.Z.) Next-of-kin: Mrs Ruth Aline Blacklaws, 35 Argyle street, Herne Bay. Auckland (wife). Leon Burkin, Able Seamen. Next-of-kin: Mrs Mary Marioty, Te Hoe, Putaruru (mother). John Richardson. Steward. None. George Edward Roy Hobley, Steward. Next-of-kin: Mrs Dorothy Hobley, 55 Gribblehurst road, Sandringham, Auckland (wife). Barndt August Matson, Stoker Petty Officer. Next-of-kin: Mr Benjamin Matson, Whenuapai. Auckland (father). INJURED Norman Bernard Dunning. Able Seaman, R.N.V.R. Next-of-kin: Mrs Arabella A. Dunning, 4 Konini road, Hataitai. Wellington (mother). Duncan Rex Stewart, Able Seaman. Next-of-kin: Mrs Beatrice Stewart. 247 Haven road. Nelson (mother). Harold Martin West, Able Seaman. Next-of-kin: Mr Noel Hartley West. 11 Fitzroy road, Napier (father). Dunning is suffering from bruises •and has left for his home. Stewart is injured and in hospital. West is seriously injured and in hospital. The survivors were taken to Auckland by the coastal steamship Gael, which was met on arrival by an ambulance. Of the two injured men sent to hospital, one was deeply unconscious and the other, though obviously in pain, joking with the ambulance men. Lieutenant Blacklaws had been given command of the Puriri for this one sweep, the regular commanding officer being on sick leave. Lieutenant Blacklaws was formerly an officer in the service of the Union Steam Ship Company of N.Z., Ltd.