HEROIC CAPTAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21842, 20 December 1940, Page 7

HEROIC CAPTAIN

Went Down With Ship By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, December 18. Survivors from the torpedoed liner, Western Prince, pay tribute to the heroism of the captain and his steward. Captain Reid was urged to get into one of the ship's boats, but refused because it was already full. He went to the bridge, sounded three blasts on the siren as a farewell to passengers and crew and of defiance to the U-boat as the ship went down. Seventy-two passengers and 99 members of the crew from the Western Prince landed at a west-coast port, including Mr C. D. Howe, Canadian Minister of Munitions, who declared that the ship was torpedoed at 5.50 a.m. on Saturday. Five lifeboats were safely cleared but the sixth capsized, resulting in casualties which were light because of Captain Reid’s magnificent seamanship in getting the lifeboats away in dangerous seas, also the skill of the captain of the rescue crew. The crews of both ships were marvellous. There was no panic among the passengers. Mr Gordon Scott, financial adviser to Mr Howe's department, was drowned. Three babies were hoisted aboard the rescue ship during the gale. A honeymooning couple were drowned when they returned to their cabin to collect their wedding presents. The U-boat commander showed no interest in the survivors, and busied himself with taking flashlight photographs of the stricken liner.