LOST MINESWEEPER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23966, 16 May 1941, Page 8

LOST MINESWEEPER

MISS!NG LIEUTENANT SERVICE IN THE NAVY Thirtv-scvon years of ago. Lieutenant "Douglas William Blacklaws. Boyal Naval Reserve, who was in command of the minesweeper Puriri when she struck a mine in the, Hauraki Gulf on Wednesday, and who is missing, was born in Scotland and trained as a. naval cadet in England, He came to New Zealand while serving in the mercantile marine, and for four years was navigating officer in the Aorangi. On the outbreak of war he was called up for service with the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and served for a time as navigating officer in H.M.S. Monowai. Later lie was first officer and flotilla navigator in a minesweeper.

Lieutenant Blacklaws married an Auckland girl four years ago, and is survived by ins wife and two-year-old daughter. His mother lives in Aberdeen. One of his brothers was in the Dunkirk evacuation.

Of the other four missing men from the crew of the Puriri, Able-Seaman Leon Purkin was born in Auckland 27 years ago and had done six months' service in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. His mother, Mrs. M. Moriarty, lives at 12 Burnley Terrace, Sandringham. Another of the crew, Steward George Edward Roy Hobley, was born in Donegal and saw service with the mercantile marine before enlisting two months ago. His wife lives at 55 Gribble-Hirst Road, Mount Albert.