LOSS OF DESTROYER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1939, Page 5

LOSS OF DESTROYER

ANNOUNCED BY BRITISH ADMIRALTY SHIP STRIKES GERMAN MINE. DETAILS OF CASUALTIES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY. November 14. The Secretary to the Admiralty regrets to announce the loss of one of his Majesty’s destroyers, through striking a German mine. The next of kin ol all the personnel killed or missing have now been informed. The list of casualties includes three officers injured; ratings, one dead, six missing and twelve injured. Unofficial reports state that about 70 survivors wore landed at a town yesterday afternoon. RESCUE EFFORTS FISHERMEN TELL STORY OF DISASTER. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON. November 14. Two fishermen in a motor boat were startled by an explosion, and saw the destroyer sinking ttyo miles away. They dashed to the rescue of men diving overboard from the decks. The fishermen said: "Seamen were clinging to debris and spars on tfie oilcovered sea. Some were actually singing. Many were exhausted when wo pulled them in. Several refused assistance until we had picked up weaker swimmers. We saved 60, including the captain and two officers, but had to watch some drown. We took the survivors to a tug.” The engineer of a trawler, which landed six survivors said: “We heard an explosion in the dark. Later, as it grew lighter, we saw the destroyer, a tug and several small boats. We rescued six men. four of whom wore on a raft. All were perishing with cold.” Ambulances and private cars.met the survivors on shore. Some were sent to hospital.