NEW COMMODORE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1934, Page 11

NEW COMMODORE

HONOUR OF GREAT FLEET. HOLDER OF ' VICTORIA CROSS. One of the best-known figures in the mercantile marine, whose ancestors for generations have been sea-going captains and who hirpself .is a Q-ship V.C., has become commander of the Empress of Britain and Commodore of, the Canadian Pacific Railway fleet. He id Captain Ronald Neil Stuart, captain of the Duchess of York since she was launched in 1929. He made, his last trip in this ship in June from Montreal to Liverpool, the city to which, his family, belongs. Although only 48, Captain Stuart has had a .long and distinguished record at sea. Thousands of ocean travellers Know the new commodore for his un-

assuming manner and infectious smile. As a boy he went to sea in a sailing ship, and once was shipwrecked, the vessel striking a rock and sinking in five minutes. A few years later he was nearly wrecked in a typhoon off Florida. Besides the V-C., he has the D. 5.0.,. and the United States NavalCross for extreme bravery. How Captain Stuart won the V.C. was kept secret till after the. war. In June, 1917, his -ship, the Q-boat Pargust, disguised as a merchant vessel, wap torpedoed by the German submarine UC29. A “panic” party took to a. boat, apparently abandoning ship. The U-boat rose and approached .to within 50 yards of the Pargust, which then opened fire and hit the enemy craft, whose crew crowded the epnning- tower and apparently surrendered. Whpn the. Pargust ceased fire-the submarine moved away. Fire was reopened, and the U-boat sank with all hands except two, who were rescued. Captain Stuart.is.the son. of the late Captain Neil Stuart, of Prince Edward Island, Can-

ada, where he was bom, but his family belongs to Liverpool. His new appointment follows the retirement of Captain R. G. 'Latta, who has commanded the Empress of Britain since her. first trip in 1931 and has reached the age -limit.