All Hands Lost

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1057, 22 August 1930, Page 9

All Hands Lost

YACHT WRECKED IN CHANNEL Women’s Screams Heard SIX SOULS BELIEVED TO BE ABOARD SIX lives are believed to have been lost in the wreck of the small yacht, Islander, which was broken up in a fierce gale in the English Channel, with Commodore 11. D. King, a noted Navy figure, aboard. The screams of women trapped in the cabin were heard by coastguardsmen who failed in rescue attempts, and a man was seen to dive overboard and disappear into the

raging sea. Later reports conflict as to the number aboard the yacht

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10.35 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. In the worst. Channel gale since November, the eight-ton auxiliary yacht Islander broke up in furious seas off St. Austell. The Islander was chartered by Commodore the Rt. Hon. H. D. King. M.P.. who is thought to be aboard with two passengers and three of a crew. No bodies have been recovered. The lifeboat Fowey went to the rescue, but was unable to approach the distressed boat. Increasingly heavy seas drove the yacht toward the cliff-face, where coastguards descended and endeavoured vainly to get a rocket life-line aboard. They heard screams from women who were trapped in the cabin, and saw a man come on deck and dive off. He was swallowed up immediately in the raging sea. The yacht rapidly became a total LIFELINE CAUGHT A British Offical Wireless Message says Commodore King chartered the yacht Islander for a holiday cruise and aboard with him were one of his daughters, Commander Searle of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves, Sur-geon-Captain Brailey, medical officer on His Majesty’s Ship President, Captain Glazebrook, the skipper, and two deck hands. A gale was raging and night was falling when the yacht was driven on the rocks in Lanlivet Bay. A lifeboat which went out could not approach the vessel. A lifeline was fired over the yacht and two men aboard were seen desperately hanging on to it. But it gave way in the terrific seas, and a tidal wave caught the vessel and altered its position, flinging it against the rocks. One man was seen to dive from the yacht and begin to swim to the shore,

but he disappeared under the water.

The lifeboat strove for two hours to get near the yacht, but the heavy seas and dangerous rocks proved too formidable. The yacht was pounded to destruction, and all aboard were drowned. Commodore King was one of the most versatile men in the Conservative Party and regarded as destined to hold a high place in some future conservative administration. He was 53 years of age and still young as politicians go. He had been Junior Lord of the Treasury, Financial Secretary to the War Office, and in the last Conservative Administration was in charge of the Mines Department. Before he entered upon his Parliamentary career he took part in the defence of Antwerp, served in the Gallipoli campaign, and was with the Royal Naval siege guns in Flanders. REPORT DENIED Mrs. King denies that her daughter was aboard the yacht. Comodore the Rt. Hon. H. D. King was elected unopposed as member for the House of Commons for South Paddington at the last General Election. He has a renowned war record and many decorations, including the D.S.O. and the Croix de Guerre, and has enjoyed a distinguished career at sea and in the British Navy. He was private secretary to Sir Hamar Greenwood, Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1920-21: was at the Gallipoli landing and served there until the evacuation, and was thrice mentioned in dispatches. Later he served on the R.N. siege guns in Flanders. Commodore King was a whip in the Conservative Party. Lord Commissioner of the Treasury 1922-24, Financial Secretary to the War Office 192428, and Secretary for Mines 1928-29. He was 53 years of age. In 1900 he married Miss Margaret Swan, daughter of the late W. R. Swan, of South Australia.