NEW COMMODORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21875, 10 August 1934, Page 11

NEW COMMODORE

HONOUR OF GREAT FLEET HOLDER OF VICTORIA CROSS One of the best-known figures in the mercantile marine, whose ancestors for generations have been sea-going captains, and who himself is a Q-ship V.C., has become commander of the Empress of Britain and commodore of tho Canadian Pacific Railway fleet. He is' Captain Ronald Neil Stuart, captain of tho Duchess of York since she was launched in 1929. He made his last trip in this ship in June from Montreal to Liverpool, the city to which his family belongs. Although only 48, Captain Stuart has had a long and distinguished record at sea. Thousands of ocean travellers know tho new commodore for his unassuming manner and infectious smile. As a boy he went to sea in a sailing ship, and once was shipwrecked, the vessel striking a rock and sinking in five minutes. A few years later he was nearly wrecked in a typhoon off Florida. Besides the V.G., ho has the D.5.0., and tho United States Naval Cross for extreme bravery. How Captain Stuart won tho V.C. was kept secret till after the war. In June, 1917, his ship, the Q-boat Pargust, disguised as a merchant vessel, was torpedoed by tho German submarine UC29. A "panic" party took to a boat, apparently abandoning ship, rhe U-boat rose and approached to within 50 yards of tho Pargust, which then opened firo and hit the enemy craft, whoso crew crowded the eon-ning-towcr and apparently surrendered. When tho Pargust ceased fire the submarine moved away. Fire was reopened, and tho U-boat sank with all hands except two, who were rescued. Captain Stuart is the son of the late Captain Neil Stuart, of Prince Edward Island, Canada, where ho was born, but his family belongs to Liverpool. His new appointment follows tho retirement of Captain R. G. Latta, who has commanded the Empress of Britain since her first trip in 1931 and has reached the age-limit.