OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 232, 28 June 1944, Page 6

OBITUARY

Captain L. C. H. \\ or rail The death of Captain Lionel Campbell Hugh Worrall, one of the best-knowu retired masters of the Union Steam Ship Company of N.Z.. Ltd., occurred yesterday morning in Wellington after a long illness. Captain Worrall was widely known io the travelling public during the years be was engaged in lhe intercolonial and transpacific passenger services. He bad JO years’ set-vice with the company. 29 of them in command of vessels. None of the vessels entrusted to his care was involved in a serious accident, which, in view of the m:i«iy and varied trades in which lie was employed, was a record of which be was justifiably proud. Born at Clonmel. County Tipperary. Ireland, in 1860. Captain Worrall went to sea in sail as a boy. and it was while be was serving in lhe ship Hyderabad that she was wrecked on Olnki beach on June 24. 1878. He was a,cadet in 11.-M.S. Worcester, and one of his contemporaries in that training ship was Admiral Togo, commander-in-chief of the Japanese fleet in the scries of brilliant operations during the Russo-Japanese War that culminated in the annihilation of tins Russian (11-01 at the 'Buttle of the Sea o' Jjinnn

Captain Worra’l transferred to steam and finally on June 28.. 18S6. he joined the servic” of the Union Company a* second officer of the Moa. In November. 1888. he was promoted to chief officer ot the Oreti. and after serving in various steamers received his first command, th? Mawhera. on May 18. 1897. Subsequently he had charge of the Upolu. first Wainui. Mapourika. first Rotorua. Penguin. Waikare, first Monowai. Moerakt, first Talune. Aparima and Moana. Early in 1911 he was sent to the United Kingdom to stand by a new passenger steamer then being completed on the Clyde. This was the Maunganui. of which be assumed command in November, 1911. remaining in her continuously till August. l.)19. Hil* period covered the Great War years of 1914-1918, during which time the Maunganui was utilized as a transport and carried many thousands of New Zealand troops to England. On the Mnunganui withdrawing from service Captain Worrall transferred to the Mokoia. and later commanded the Manuka. Moeraki, Mnraroa, Moana. Arnhura. Maori and Maheno. Following this he had charge of the Mamma. Maunganui and Makura in the San Francisco Royal Mail Service and retired from the Makura the company’s service, in May, 1920 Such was the high reputation enjoyed by Captain Worrall that, his services were frequently sought as nautical assessor at magisterial inquiries into marine disasters and casualties, the best known being the inquiries into the losses of the Manuka off Long Point, South Island. iu 1929: Tahiti at sea in 1930; Progress, off Oliiro Bay. Wellington, iu 1931; and Kaponga. on the Grey Bar in 1932. Captain Worrall was an old member of the Kelburn Bowling Club. He is survived by one son, who resides in Te Kuiti, and a daughter, who lives in Wellington. His wife and two of his sons pre-dc-ceased him some years ago. Mr. D. C. Fraser A former superintendent of police in Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch and Dunedin, Mr. D. C. Fraser, died bn Sunday, says a Press Association telegram from Auckland. Mr. Fraser retired from the police force early in 1939, after having been superintendent in charge of the Auckland police district for about six months. Mr. Fraser was a son of Air. Charles Fraser, former editor of the “Otago Witness.” and joined the police force in 1897. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Mr. E. M. Williams The death has occurred of the newlyelected Mayor of Picton, Air. Edward Morgan Williams. Air. Williams, who was 51 years of age, was taken seriously ill about a fortnight ago while extending a welcome home to a large party of Marlborough men returning from the Pacific. He had presided at only one meeting of his council, to which some years ago he had occupied the position of engineer. He hud resigned from this position to take up general contracting on his own account, and lately he conducted a fruit and confectionery business in Picton.