LAUNCH SUNK BY SHELL FIRE

Southland Times, Issue 23947, 13 October 1939, Page 6

LAUNCH SUNK BY SHELL FIRE

Lyttelton Harbour Accident OWNER GOES DOWN WITH BOAT VESSEL FAILS TO RESPOND TO SIGNALS (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, October 12. Struck by a shot intended by the coastal defence battery in Lyttelton Harbour to go across her bows, the fishing launch Dolphin sank this afternoon, carrying with her the master and owner, Mr James Brasell. When the shell exploded Mr Brasell was severely injured, one leg being shot off and he was unconscious when the launch sank.

The other occupant of the launch, Mr William Willman, sen., of Exeter street, Lyttelton, narrowly Escaped drowning. Slightly injured in one leg and a poor swimmer, he clung to a lifebuoy when the Dolphin sunk. He was picked up later by the examination steamer.

Declaring that no warning of gunfire was given from the battery point, Mr Willman when interviewed at his home where he was in bed suffering from shock, told a tragic story. The official statement by the military authorities was that the launch failed to stop when signalled. “The facts are simply these: The vessel came in and was signalled, with both lamp and flag, to stop, from the entrance to within 700 yards of the battery,” said Colonel P. H. Bell, Of- . ficer Commanding the Southern Military District. “In accordance with instructions, a shot, intended to go across her bows, was fired. One man was unfortunately killed and the other occupant of the launch was rescued.” “SAW NO SIGNAL” “We saw no signal whatever.” Mr Willman reiterated when the official report was referred to him in the evening. Mr Brasell was one of the best-known fishermen on the coast. He leaves a wife, two sons and two daughters. One of his sons is Mr George Brasell who won the Sanders Cup for Canterbury on several occasions. “Mr Brasell saved my life,” said Mr Willman in praising the courage of his shipmate. “One of his legs was blown off and while I was trying to stop the flow of blood he told me to take off my own gumboots before I got into the water. “We had been fishing outside the heads and were coming up the harbour at about eight knots between 2 and 3 o’clock,” he continued. “We could see no sign of the examination steamer and concluded that she had gone into port. Mr Brasell was in charge of the launch and I was steering. He was always very apprehensive of being fired upon and would take no risks. He told me to steer for the shore battery and said he would hail them and ask if we could go in. If the men at the battery refused permission he said we would have to wait until the examination steamer came out again. “As we made towards the battery we both watched carefully. I was using field glasses and could clearly see some men grouped around a gun and others running down to the beach. We saw no signal of any kind. TERRIFIC EXPLOSION “We were quite close to the shore when a terrific explosion occurred on board,” said Mr Willman. “For a moment I thought that the engine had exploded, but Mr Brasell called: ‘Both my legs are broken.’ A shell had apparently struck between the two of us. “I started to cut away the gumboots from Jim’s legs, which were bleeding terribly. I worked at this for some time when Mr Brasell pointed out to me that the boat was sinking by the bow. He said I had better take my own gumboots off. I did this and when I next looked he was unconscious. I could do nothing then and the launch was sinking under Us. I can swim very little. I called to the soldiers on the shore for help and waved to them, but there was no response. “As the launch sank,” he continued, “the inrush of water carried Mr Brasell into the wheelhouse and the engine room. I stood by him until the launch sank under me and I climbed the rigging as she went down.” Mr Willman said that after the launch sank he saw one of the lifebuoys floating a few feet to leeward. There was a good jobble on the water and he had a terrible struggle to reach the buoy. He has no idea how long he clung to it until he saw the examination steamer alongside and was picked up. IMMEDIATE INQUIRY TO BE HELD (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 12. The Lyttelton harbour accident was reported in Wellington this evening by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who said an immediate inquiry would be held into the whole of the circumstances.

Mr Jones expressed his personal sympathy with'the relations of Mr Brasell and the regret of the Government and himself at the incident. To assist at the inquiry, LieutenantColonel O. H. Mead, -D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., Captain J. P. Joyce, D.C.M., R.N.Z.A., and Lieutenant-Commander E. K. H. Staubyn, D.S.C., R.N., left for Lyttelton by this evening’s steamer express.