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CANBERRA’S CAPTAIN

Praise For Gallantry

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, August 22. Official recognition of the gallantry of Captain F. E. Getting, captain of H.M.A.S. Canberra; who died in the Solomons Islands action, will be made by the Federal Government. In indicating this the Prime Minister, Mr John Curtin, said he had been deeply stirred by the story of Captain Getting’s heroism in remaining at his post although mortally wounded. He was struck by a shell fragment from the first enemy broadside which hit the Canberra’s bridge. Captain Getting sat on a stool and directed final operations as the cruiser was abandoned. He refused medical aid, insisting that the wounded ratings should be attended to first.

The survivors of the action unanimously pay high tribute to the dead captain’s heroism and said that he protested even as the men carried him below. The full story of Captain Getting’s bravery and devotion to duty has not yet been released. “One of the most heroic personal episodes of this war is the story of the last fight of Captain Getting of the Canberra,” says The Daily Telegraph in a leader. “For courage and fortitude it equals any episode in naval history. This is the kind of story that should be trumpeted to the world. A violent death is never pretty, but the kind of fortitude, will, self-denial and gallantry Captain Getting showed transcends the ugliness of a modern mechanical battle.” The paper says the release of the story would be a great help in national morale and would offer no comfort to the enemy who would not be very confident if he knew there was a Getting in every British ship.

SYMPATHY FROM NEW ZEALAND

WELLINGTON, August 23.

New Zealand's sympathy with the relations of those who lost their lives in H.MA..S. Canberra is expressed in the following message sent by the Deputy Prime Minister (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) to the Australian Prime Minister (Mr John Curtin): “The announcement of the loss of H.M.A.S. Canberra in the Battle of the Solomon Islands has caused profound regret throughout the Dominion and on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I ask you to convey their sincerest sympathy to the people of Australia and, in particular, to the relations of those who so nobly lost their lives in the course of duty. We share with you the knowledge that their sacrfice will not be in vain, but will be fully redeemed by the final triumph of our cause in defence of which the armed forces of the Commonwealth are playing so gallant a part.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19420824.2.45

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Southland Times, Issue 24830, 24 August 1942, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
433

CANBERRA’S CAPTAIN Southland Times, Issue 24830, 24 August 1942, Page 5

CANBERRA’S CAPTAIN Southland Times, Issue 24830, 24 August 1942, Page 5

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