Graphic Stories Of Last Hours Aboard Canberra

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 3

Graphic Stories Of Last Hours Aboard Canberra

Surgeons amputated limos by torchlight. Sydney, Aug. 22. Survivors of the Austrlaian cruiser Canberra, lost in a night action in ! Solomon Island waters, told , graphic stories of their experiences when; they ^rrived at a home port this week. Commissioned Gunner H. Hardiman said: "The main attack began at 1.45 a.m. in a pitch black night, I saw a torpedo and the captain altered course. ;As the Canberra swung round, star shells went up from the enemy, turning the night into day. ' "We were then about 3000 yards from the ship that attacked us. When the 1 star shell showed up our outline . two hroadsides were fired at us. I saw acts of heroism that will stand for ever in my niempry. Engineer-Commander O. F. McMahpn. Surgeon-Commainder C. Downward, Surgeon-Lieutertant Dudley Ward and Surgeon-Lieutenant Morris were among those who stood out as heroes. Two Seaworthy Boats, "Only two of the ship's boats were left seaworthy, and even they had been peppered with shrapnel. There were many rafts, and in the darkness it was a case of getting off the wounded and the dying, who seemed to be lying everywhere. "Engineer-Commander McMahon and the surgeon commanders and lieutenants risked, their lives to try and save others. The surgeons were everywhere, adminis-

tering drugs to ease the pain of the wounded, and making amputations of limbs. They worked in the light of hand electric torches any where their services were needed. "Operations were performed in this way under the dim light of the hand torches until we were able to improvo the lighting with a lamp. We got all the wounded and dying off on to another warship just as dawn was breaking." Captain" Mortally Wounded. Petty- Officer L. Legge said there was no panic. "There were many splendid acts of heroism," said Legge, "but that of Captain Frank E. Getting, the commanding officer, was outstanding. Although mortally wounded he refused any medical attention until all necessary care had been given to wounded ratings." "I was below deck when the alarm went," said one young officer. "I ran up to the deck just in time to be in the middle of the first bursts. On the way the blast from a shell blew me into the charthouse. I wasn't hurt; all. I got was some skin off my shin. Just before- I reached my action station on the bridge it was hit by a shell." Wearing his naval epaulettes on the shoulders of the United States Army uniform in which he came ashore. Lieutenant Victor Smith, D.S.C., said that his experiences during the shelling of ^ the Canberra were just as "unpleasant" ^ as when he was rescued after the sinking of H.M.S. Ark Royal. Midshipman W. G. Farquhar said that two destroyers came alongside to take off survivors. One of the destroyers took off some of the wounded, and the remainder were passed across on ropes to the second ship. Other survivors left the ship by means of ropes slung between the a,bartdoned ship and the rescue ships. Seaman B. Barnes said the first explosion killed two and wounded four of the crew of his gun. He saw the tracks of several torpedoes, the first of which seemed to go right under the cruiser. "I was blown right off the ship into the water." he said. "I swam around for half an hour and then I found a raft and climbed on to it. It was pitch dark. I sang out to find out if there was anyone ! else about, but no one answered. In Water Four Hours. "I had not been on the raft long when ships began firing all around me, so I slipped off the raft into the water and floated. holding on to the raft. I could I see the Canberra, and I saw a destroyer I go alongside to take off the wounded. I was in the water for four hours before the light carne and an American ship picked me up. I didn't try to get to land because I didn't want to land on an island the Japanese were still occupying." Engineer-Commander McMahon said: "It was just bad luck. We had been bombed for three or four days before the I final attack from shells at close range, ' and right until the last everyone behaved splendidly. The morale of a warship crew could not have been better. I saw innumerable acts of heroism." Winter J. B. Nutting had only praise for the Allied transports which supplied the survivors with food and clothing and attended to all their needs. "Everything hit us but the kitchen stove." he said.