Intercolonial Liner Was War Hospital Ship
Comparable with the case of a serviceman who lights his way through many campaigns unharmed cnly to be knocked down by a motor car when he returns to his home town, is the mishap to the Wanganella — for this —9576-ton HuddartParker liner has a notable war record and she had some narrow escapes. Built by Harland and Wolff, Limited, of' Belfast, in 1932, the Wanganella was for many years on the Sydney-New Zealand service, before her lounges and passenger aceommodation were converted to operating theatres, wards and surgeries in 1941, the work being done in Melbourne. Later that year the vessel made her first trip as a hospital ship from Australia to Singap^re. Her next voyage was to Suez to erabarlc wouaided Australians. During this trip she encountered her first bombing raid -at Port Tewfik. After another two trips to tlie Middle East, the Wanganella carried Australians wouiided in the New Gninea fig'hting from Port Moresby to Sydney. New Zealand wounded were brong'ht from Port Tevrink to Wellington on tlie following trip and then American casualties were transported from Townsville to Sydney. _ Serving two battlefronts, the Wanganella travelled alternatively to the Middle East and to New G-uinea, visiting Wellington and Lyttelton from time to time with- New Zealand wounded from the Middle East. A sensational escape marked the Wanganella's thirteenth trip, when an explosion occurred in April, 1944, in Bombay Harbour. The blowing- up of an ammunition ship resulted in 17 ships being sunk and others damaged, while 2000 lives were lost. Although the Wanganella was only two miles from the ship which exploded she escaped damage and for some days was used as an emefgency hospital. N.Z. Wounded Carried 'Tlie Wanganella's next two assignments were to Taranto to colleet New Zealand wounded and bring them home. Then followed a trip to Darwin to return a hospital unit. Several voyages to Pacific islands were made next, the vessel travelling farther and farther north as the Allies advanced. .
She was one of the first ships into Balik Papan after the harbour was cleared, and with the end of the wai' she was detailed to embark padsoners of war and internees at Labuan and Kuching for Sydney. After three more trips to Morotai, La'buan and ( Ijae, the Wanganella's war service ended, and she returned to Melbourne to refit.
Under the control of the Australian Government, the Wanganella made her first post-war overseas trip with civilian passengers towards the end of last year. Collision Off N-S.W. Coast On one of her last trips to Auckland before she was converted into a hospital . ship, the Wanganella stood by the Niagara after she had struck a mine off the northern coast. Another pre-iservice incident was the collision with the 271-ton trawler Duraween on December 28, 1937, during a voyage between Sydney and , Melbourne. Both vessels were damaged.
The bows of tlie trawler were buekled and twisted for about six feet and two members of tTie crew were injpred by being thrown violently against part1^ of the ship when the collision occurred. A few -plates were sprungin the Wanganella, but the damage was not serious^ and the liner's sailing- for Auckland was del'ayed only a few days. The accident occurred at >1!.40 a.m., 18 mile.s from Montague Island, off the south coast of New South Wales, and at the time the Wanganella- had 108 passengei's ahoard, including 55 from New Z§aland. .
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Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5307, 21 January 1947, Page 5
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571Intercolonial Liner Was War Hospital Ship Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5307, 21 January 1947, Page 5
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