THE WAHINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1920, Page 3

THE WAHINE.

WHAT SHE DID IN THE WAR

DUNEDIN, Keh. 13

The career of the Union Company *s turbine steamer Waliine tinting the war makes interesting reading. On arrival in England site was placed in dock in London, and gnns were mounted, and the ship was adapted lor servile under the Vice-Admiral ol the Eastern Mediterranean (

The New Zealand crew, with the exception of some members of the pint idore stall', were returned to the Dominion, and the Union Company s master, Captain A. M. Edwin, and the oflicers and engineers who went to England in the ship, were given commissions in tin l Royal Naval Reserve, and their services retained. A naval crew then joined, and the Waliine was coinmissioned as one of His Majesty s ships. Under the White Ensign the ship

left London and proceeded to Mudros via Gibraltar and Malta. After arriving at Mudros, it was decided to employ the ship running between that base and Malta to carry naval passengers, all ranks and ratings, despatches, mails, stores, etc. In a remarkably short space of time the. Wahine became the ■ best-known I ship in those parts, and was renowned for her speedy and regular passages. After several months of this work the Wahine was recalled to England, and there fitted for the strenuous work of a mine-layer. At this stage of her career a naval captain experienced m mine-laying, took command of the ship and he brought with him his own staff of naval officers and crew. The ship took part in 7(> mining operations, _and laid 11,378 mines without mishap. The scene of action was all round the English coast, and the North Sea and across to Heliogoland Eight. At the time of the signing of the armistice the Wahine was in the 1’ irth of Forth. She was then laid up, and a little later was sent to the Clyde to be reconditioned by the builders. (Captain A. M. Edwin, who took the Wahine to England, and who was in command of her during the early part of her war service, brought her hack to New Zealand. Her chief engineer is Mr Ernest E. Low, formerly second engineer, who, as an Engineer-Com-mander, 1t.N.11., served in her throughout the ; whole of the war, and was awarded the D. 5.0.)