ILL-FATED VESSEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26748, 17 April 1948, Page 6

ILL-FATED VESSEL

MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD LIBERTY SHIP SAMKEY P.A. WELLINGTON, Apl. 16. The flags on the Wellington Ship-, ping Company's offices were flown at half-mast to-day in commemoration of the crew of the missing Liberty ship Samkey and for whom a memorial service was held in London to-day. The New Zealand Shipping Company sels in port, the Ruahine, Orari, and Paparoa, also carried their ensigns at half-mast. The general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company (agents for the vessel), Mr F. W. Spite, said the company’s offices and vessels at all New Zealand ports carried their flags at half-mast. The Samkey left London on January 24 for Cuba with 4500 tons of solid ballast, fuel and water on board. Mr Spite said that on January 31 she spoke

to Horta radio station in the Azores giving a weather report ancl her posttion. The weather at the time was very bad. Since then nothing has been heard of her. The Samkey, which had a complement of 43, was commanded by Captain C. A. Cremin. The only New Zealander in her crew, as far as the company was aware, was G. N. R. Henderson, aged 16, son of Mrs J. McAUan of Company Bay, a junior ordinary seaman. Ships in the vicinity were warned to keep a constant lookout, and on February 16 the company instituted a wireless search. The British Ministry of Transport, charterers of the vessel, arranged with the Portuguese Government for an air search. This was done, but without result. The Cornwall, Rakaia, Papanui, and Northumberland, on different courses from Panama, were also diverted to carry out a search. On March 24 the vessel was posted missing at Lloyd’s.