DEATHS OF NAVAL RATINGS

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 13

DEATHS OF NAVAL RATINGS

CAPSIZE OF BOAT IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR

CORONER PRAISES RESCUE OF SURVIVORS

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, December 9. “There is little doubt that if any more of these races are held quite early in the season a better look-out will be kept,” observed the Coroner (Mr F. K. Hunt) at an inquest which was held in H.M.S. Leander into the deaths of three naval ratings who were drowned when a galley from the Leander, which was competing in the annual Diomede Cup Race, capsized m Waitemata harbour on September 30. A verdict was returned of accidental death. , ... The victims of the tragedy, which occurred off Karaka Bay, were Leading Seaman William Forbes, aged 23, Able Seaman Alexander Montgomery Patersen, aged 21, and Ordinary Seaman Neville Clutha Tasker, aged 19. At the inquest Senior Sergeant Dun.ford represented the police, Mr V. N. Hubble appeared for the naval authorities and Mr Jenkins for the relatives of Tcisker. Lieutenant Scott, of the Leander, who was in charge of the galley which capsized, described the mishap. Answering Mr Jenkins, he said that neither life-belts nor life-buoys were in the galley and the regulations did not require them to be carried. They were taken only in very bad weather. To h(s knowledge it was not customary for a launch to accompany sailing boats taking part in a race. A man in a launch with a telescope could have seen the capsized galley at no greater range than 50 yards. Mr Jenkins: A man at the tiller of a launch could have moved about continuously and have kept the boats under observation. Witness: It would have been a big job for one launch, although he could have sighted them from time to time. Answering the Coroner, Lieutenant Scott said it was not usual to take lifebelts in boats that floated when they were swamped. He thought he was in the water for about an hour and ahalf before being saved and had it not been for the timely arrival of the dinghy the loss of life would most certairily have been greater. LAUNCHING OF DINGHY Similar evidence was given by the other members of the galley’s crew and the steps taken to rescue the surviving members of the galley’s crew by the launching of a dinghy from St. Helier’s were described by Charles Edward Tilby, of Ellerslie, and Harold Henry Partridge of St. Heliers. Partridge said his wife, when she saw the galley had overturned, telephoned the Auckland Harbour Board office and asked them to send a boat.

The Coroner: Has anyone heard anything about this? Mr Jenkins: The launch did go down, but very much later.

Mr Hubble: The first intimation received by the naval authorities was very much later. Apparently some confusion was caused by the fact that another boat had capsized near the Tamaki Yacht Club’s premises. Lieutenant-Commander Lloyd said a leading signalman had been stationed at Mount Victoria throughout the day to keep an eye on the boats and a power boat was held in readiness for any emergency. The signalman had reported a capsize off the Tamaki Yacht Club’s premises and two emergency boats were immediately sent down there, but the fatal mishap he had not reported. The Coroner: He could not see it. Witness said he would not like to say that. However, after glancing at the chart, he said he could see no reason why he should not have seen the mishap. The Coroner commended the efforts of the members of the crew to assist their comrades following the capsize, also complimenting Mr Tilby and Mr Partridge on the bravery and spirit they had shown. Their courage, he said, had already been publicly recognized.