Torpedoed in the Atlantic

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 5 March 1941, Page 7

Torpedoed in the Atlantic

WARKWORTH LAD'S FIRST VOYAGE AS OFFICER

Mrs K. A. Simpson, of Wark worth, lias'jufit received a letter. from her aou, Mr Gordon Simpson, who was ■serving as a junior officer on the Shaw Savill and Albion liner VVaiotira " when the vessel was torpedoed in the Atlantic as she was nearing ihe English coast. It was the young man's first voyage as an officer, having been promoted from the lower deck" just before the vessel sailed from New Zealand about last November. The following extracts from his letter dated London, December 30th. reveal that another exciting chapter has been added to the story of his service in the merchant marine: — "It is difficult to give you any idea of the experiences I have managed to survive during the past week. It ameso suddenly in the middle of a fine voyage I was on watch on the bridge when the first torpedo hit us just forward of the bridge on the same side as I was standing. It was pitch dark and on the eve of my birthday. I went to look after uiy boat and managed to get a lot; in, and then gave the order to lower. At the time there was a heavy sea running and the cold was terrible. Through misfortune the fall jammed and the boat went in end on and filled with water. I had to climb down the ladder and swim for the boat and bring it alongside. You cau■jiot imagine what the next half hour was like before my boat got away from the ship. I had one woman in jny boat who was on her honeymoon. She was fine and I shall never forget thiM experience. This girl bailed With one of my sea boots for half Aii'ltour and rowed for an hour. To make things worse, 'Jerry' came bade and. fired more torpedoes and one man was killed by shrapnel while endeavouring to pull someone from the water. There was no panic and everything went as well as could be expected under the circumstances. We were about three hours in the -Jxmts before we were rescued by a destroyer. It is hard for me to describe the gallant way in which those naval men worked and one will never forget what they did for us. The way these men Work without sleep is unbelievable. Except for what I bad .on, which included your big scarf, my watch and oilskin, I lost /every-. thin, but thaulfGod 1 was saved and unscathed.

I arrived in London in time to experience one of the biggest raids in progress in which an attempt was made to burn the city. It was wiciied, and I can only describe it as hell magnified. There is never a moan from the people—their morale is marvellous —crowding through the Streets in the morning over hoses, ruin and craters with the firemen still working hard. I will never forget that voyage and jfc has taught me such a lot. It would have made anyone cry to have seen such a beautiful ship sinking: It seemed just like a death. While jdu the destroyer I found out that out gunner had joined in New Zealand nnd had gone to school at Wark worth -—his teacher being Tommy Blair."