SHIP TORPEDOED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1940, Page 9

SHIP TORPEDOED

NEW ZEALAND SEAMEN ABOARD. TWO U-BOATS ENCOUNTERED. Two New Zealanders recently reached Liverpool with other survivors of a 5000-ton ship, which was torpedoed in the Atlantic while en route from Britain to America. They were Messrs John Frank McCarthy, of Wellington, and Henry C. Wood, of Eltham, who were working as able seamen. Both had previously served in packet boats at the time of the Dunkirk evacuation.

“The torpedoes, there were two of them, hit our ship early in the afternoon,” said Mr McCarthy. “I had just gone on look-out in the crow’s nest, when I hoard two terrific bangs. The ship heeled over and began to take in water, and I came down from that nest quicker than I have ever moved before.

“One of the boats was out of action, so we lowered the other into the water, and then the 33 of the crew, including one stowaway, got into her. I suddenly remembered that I had left a perfectly good suit behind, so I picked that up. Then I went back again to get some of Wood’s clothing for him. I had to slide down a lifeline to the boat. “We pulled away' from the ship for about a mile and a-quarter. Then we saw a submarine come to the surface, while another cruised round us, her periscope just showing. 1 think the 'Jerries' must have gone aboard our ship, because they were out of sight on the offside for quite a time. “Before it submerged the submarine fired nine 5.7 shells at the ship. They hit her amidships and started a big blaze. That was fortunate for us because it attracted the attention of a couple of ships some distance away, who signalled to a destroyer to investigate. "We were picked up some hours later by this destroyer. On the way back io Liverpool the destroyer sunk n couple of other submarines with depth charges and that cheered us all up quite a lot.”