MINING ENEMY SEAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21292, 20 September 1932, Page 6

MINING ENEMY SEAS

iWAHINE'S WAR CAREER PERILOUS DAYS AND NIGHTS • NORTH SEA AND MEDITERRANEAN Nights of utter blackness when H.M.S. Wahine stole furtively across the North Sea, pierced the enemy patrol and scattered death off a hostile coast, were vividly described yesterday by Mr. R. F. Wheldale, who was a member of the Wahine's crew throughout the 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 does she conjure up memories of courageous exploits, when ths nerves of all aboard were taut as the stays singing overhead. "I stowed away on the Wahine in July, 1915," said Mr. Wheldale, when seen in Auckland yesterday. "At the time she was lying at Port Chalmers, where I | had arrived as a member of the crew of an English ship I 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. There ■was no room for cargo. Under the White Ensign '"We coaled at Albany, Colombo and 'Aden, and at Suez the bridge was fitted with sandbags as a protection against Turkish snipers while going through, the canal. Eventually we steamed up the Thames to Millwall, where guns were mounted fore and aft. The crew was paid off, but a number of us signed on again members of the Mercantile Marine Beserve. On October 13, 1915, we left Millwall for the Mediterranean, sailing under tho White Ensign. For eight months we acted as fleet messenger between Malta and Mudros. "I remember well the first time we left Mudros for -Malta. The harbour at Mudros was packed with ships, from huge warBhips 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 tlie 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 shot 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 many encounters. r As a rule the submarines lay in wait for us, sometimes in pairs. One morning 1 wan 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 the ' bridge and -the helm put hard over. We dropped two depth charges in the* hop® of catching the submarine. "'About the middle of 1916 we returned _ to Millwall, where the Wahine was fitted as a minelayer. Two anti-aircraft 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 the barrage across the Straits of Dover, the Princess Margaret, Paris and Wahine. Four days would be 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 was finished we went to Immingham, on the Humber. which was being used as a naval base and mine depot. We were based on Immingham until the end of the war. Captain Thynne now took' over command of the Wahine. He kddressed the assembled crew and threatened dire punishment to anyone caught without a lifebelt while at sea, Our pet goat impressed the matter on the sergeant of 'marines by butting him behind the knees. "An Unknown Destination" "Early next morning the three of ua, 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 the 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 was 22 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 rum ration, and when we turned from 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 be seen. We had passed an enemy 'ninefield 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 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 standby,' followed by the order to drop mines. One by one the heavy mines rolled down the trolley-way, out through the stern, and fell to the water with a splash. "We made 13 of these trips," said Mr Wheldale, "and had the good fortune never onre td encounter the enemy patrol. In the intervals we laid mines in other areas. After the Armistice the Wahine returned to Millwall, where the mine-laying gear was stripped from her. She w'as then takpn to the Clyde and refitted for her return to New Zealand. Throughout her minelaying career she laid more than 11.000 mines." The principal dates and facts concerning the Wahine s war service are recorded apon a brass tablet fastened to the wall of her main saloon stairway.