ESCAPE FROM SOUTH OF FRANCE

Southland Times, Issue 24236, 20 September 1940, Page 6

ESCAPE FROM SOUTH OF FRANCE

LADY WILFORD ARRIVES AT AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND, September 19.

By a grubby collier on which six “fifth columnists” aimed to do their utmost for the enemy and by a troopship, Lady Wilford, widow of Sir Thomas Wilford, former High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, managed to escape from southern France a few days before the German invasion and has now arrived at Auckland. She was advised by the British consul at Cannes on June 17 to leave within 12 hours.

Lady Wilford, with 700 evacuees, left the following day for Gibraltar in a small collier. Developing engine trouble, the collier put into port at Vendres and thus lost the convoy.. After leaving Vendres the collier was attacked by a submarine which had received torch signals from six “fifth columnists” on board and it was only through the captain’s skill that they were saved from a torpedo, which missed, and shells which fell wide. When the collier’s gun was manned the submarine dived and was seen no more.

Desperate, the six enemy agents then attempted to seize the ship, but were overpowered and placed in irons. Lady Wilford was in the aft hold during the trouble.

On reaching Gibraltar the evacuees were transferred to a troopship, which, with 1400 evacuees and 450 troops, arrived safely in England. An Englishwoman who also fled from southern France said that five of six Italian planes which harassed them on the road to Cannes were shot down.

Lady Wilford said she was very glad to be back in New Zealand. She left by the Limited express for Wellington.