N.Z. VICTIMS OF FIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20123, 18 December 1939, Page 5

N.Z. VICTIMS OF FIGHT

MOTHER’S DEEP GRIEF LOSS OF ONLY SON (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Chief Yeoman of Signals Martinson, of H.M.S. Achilles, who was seriously wounded in the naval engagement with the Graf von Spee, is one of the very few New Zealanders still in he service who entered the Navy through the old training ship Amokura. He joined in Wellington as a boy almost 20 years ago and later served in the Chatham when she was sent to the Dominion after the Great War. Later he served in many ships, including the Hood, Nelson, Queen Elizabeth, Barham, and Cumberland. The last time he was in New Zealand, before joining H.M.S. Achilles, was in 1935, when he left for England and later served at Malta for two and a half years as instructor of signals.

Martinson is one of the most popular petty officers in the New Zealand Division and has taken a very active interest in the sporting activities of the lower deck. He is well known as a junior member of the Auckland Rugby Football Referees’ Association and for many years played as lock in the Navy teams, including those of the Philomel and Achilles. Martinson’s wife learned of his wound by telegram from the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, on Saturday morning. The telegram stated that Martinson had been seriously wounded, suffering a compound fracture of the lower bones of the leg, and conveyed the New Zealand Naval Board’s regret.

Feelings of Wife

Mrs. Martinson is inclined to think the wound was caused by a shell splinter.

“All I could see when I looked at the telegram,” she said, “was that he had been seriously wounded. It might have been much worse,” -she said, ‘and I am terribly sorry for those relatives whose boys have gone. The worst shock to me was the other when the Admiralty denied that the ship had been sunk. We wondered what on earth had happened. I had a letter from my husband last week, 'out of course, that did not say where they were and I had no thought of the Graf von Spee and such an action. However, v.c must all be proud of our boys.”

Only Son Lost

, “I am trying to go about my work as usual, to keep my mind off the shock of losing my son so suddenly, said Mrs. H. Gaily, Oturoa, Ngongotaha, Rotorua, the mother of the late Able Seaman A. C. H. Shaw. The news of her son’s death had been a greater shock, she added, because the previous radio reports indicated H.M.S. Achilles had survived the engagement unscathed.

“It is very hard when a mothei loses her only son,” Mrs. Gaily continued, “but I suppose that is war, and I will not be the only mother to suffer such a loss.”

It was only about two weeks ago that she had hoard irom her son in a letter dated October 15.

Seaman Sherley, Te Awamutu, was aged 23, and was born and. educated at Morrinsville. Finishing his schooling at.Kihikihi, he worked for two years with the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company at Te Awamuhi and joined the Navy eight years ago. He was unmarried.