EVACUATION SHIP TORPEDOED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24411, 24 September 1940, Page 7

EVACUATION SHIP TORPEDOED

NAZI FRIGHTFULNESS APPALLING TRAGEDY THREE HUNDRED VICTIMS HEAVY TOLL OF CHILDREN (Unhid Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 22. ~;•::. (Received Sept. 22, at 11 p.m.) As the result of one of the most appalling sea tragedies since the outbreak of war 89 children who were being evacuated found a grave in the storm-swept Atlantic. The ship which was taking them to Canada from Britain was torpedoed on September 17 and sank in 20 minutes in midAtlantic. Two hundred and ninety-four of the total complement of 406 perished, including Colonel J. Baldwin Webb, With this new act of frightfulness the Nazis sent 300 adults and children to their deaths, and the wave of horror It created has spread through all civilised countries. British warships speeding to the scene rescued 113 survivors and brought them back to England. There was a high sea running at the time of this coldblooded mass murder. The attack was made without warning. Only 13 of the 102 children who were going to Canada to start new lives were saved. The captain, the doctor and the chief nurse went down with the vessel, as did seven of the nine adults acting as official escorts to the children. Since the evacuation of ■■:.'~ : " children overseas some 2714 have been safely transported from England. Mr G. H. Shakespeare, MP., chairman of the Children's Reception Committee, has despatched a moving letter of condolence to the bereaved parents. MANY CHILDREN KILLED OUTRIGHT The attack occurred about 10.30 p.m., when most of the children were in bed. The torpedo struck the ship in the part allotted to them, killing many outright. The remainder were bundled to the deck scantily clothed, for an ordeal of many hours on rafts and lifeboats, some of which were waterlogged, with high seas raging. Many, separated from their parents and escorts, slipped to death from the arms of strangers who vainly sought to shield them from the storm. Only 13 of 102 children survived the ordeal. , The'ship carried, besides the children, 101 passengers and a. crew of- 209/-and of these:3oo perished. The last woman. to : . leave ' the sinking ship actually stepped off. <hedeck Into, the sea, where \ fellow passengers helped her to a raft. - : SURVIVORS* TRIBUTE TO NAVY V . All'the survivors paid a tribute to the navy. "When we were taken on board they took off our shoes and gave us their own warm spcks: We were given a hot bath, brandy,; and -sailors' clothes while ours were dried." A little boy whose heroism was praised by all in the boat from which he was rescued was Colin Richardson, from Monmouthshire. His cheery voice-was always audible above the moaning of those suffering from exposure. A passenger said: " That boy had to watch women-arid babies die, and was obliged to drop bodies overboard. He stood with water to his waist, and did not once complain.' A Londoner, Mr W. B. Forsyth, referring to the deaths in his "boat," said: " Idid my utmost as each body was dropped overboard to. give a Christian burial by conducting a short committal service over the water. .. ""■ '.' , • : A lifeboat in,which 32 occupants left the ship had only eight alive when picked up. Another had only 14 survivors out of 38. 'Coionel Webb, M.P., who was going to Canada in connection With the. Red Cross ambulance services, went down with the ship. CAPTAIN LAST SEEN ON BRIDGE ; The commander of the ship was last seen on the bridge.shout-' lng to everybody to take to the lifeboats; He also went down with / the ship. ~','; ''-.' Roderick-Maher, of Dublin, said he was on an upturned boat . from 10.30 p.m. till he was picked up about 4.30 p.m. next day. The children who were being evacuated all came from England and Wales. ' ' ~ .„. _ The survivors included a New Zealander, Mrs Lillian Rose Towns, who was an official escort. She was a schoolmistress in New Zealand, where she married Mr F. G. Towns, of Clapham, an optician, who came to England three years ago. They arranged to evacuate their daughter to New Zealand.