TRAGIC ERROR

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 7

TRAGIC ERROR

TWENTY LIVES LOST THROWN INTO THE SEA RUSH ON BRITISH SHIP (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 1 A tragic misunderstanding on board a British ship, the Sagaing, in the Atlantic cost 20 lives after the ship had escaped from several Üboat attacks. It was believed, following the explosion of a depth charge near the ship, that it had been torpedoed. In the rush to abandon ship the people in two lifeboats were thrown into the sea and 20 were drowned.

The story was told by Mr Alan Brigstoke Osbiston, aged 25, a photographer from Sydney, who was coming to England to seek work. The Sagaing, of 7968 tons and owned by the British and Burmese Steam Navigation Company, was one of a convoy, the flagship of which, the Yorkshire, was sunk. “We were escorted in the early stages,” said Mr Osbiston, “but the escort departed on October 15 in mid-Atlantic, declaring that all was clear. However, early on October 17 the Imperial Star, which was in the rear of the convoy, wirelessed that a submarine was pursuing her. The Imperial Star put on speed and escaped. Escape From I T -boat “Later, the Imperial Star again encountered a U-boat. She changed course, crowded on speed, leaving the convoy far behind, and again escaped. The Yorkshire signalled to the convoy at 3.29 p.m. to change course and was herself sunk before executing the manoeuvre. After the sinking of the Yorkshire the convoy scattered.

“That night at 10 o’clock th< Sagaing passed within 20 yards of i U-boat which had come to the surface to recharge its batteries. Ar apprentice said he could have throwr a quoit on the conning tower. A second U-boat was immediately sighted 500 yards distant and wc speeded up. The rough weathei prevented an attack. “We began zig-zagging at dawr and a U-boat signalled to us tc stop,” Mr Osbiston continued. “Oui second officer, playing for time, replied: ‘Repeat your message,’ anc continued sending’ out a signal foi help. “A French destroyer appeared anc her fourth shot struck the first U* boat, which sank. The Sagaing also signalled the whereabouts of the second U-boat, which the destroyei attacked with depth charges. Violent Explosion “Later, a British escort picked up the convoy, which headed for England. On October 19 a British destroyer dropped a depth charge at 7 p.m. and the violent explosion seemed to lift the Sagaing a foot out of the water. “Crew and passengers believed that the ship had been torpedoed and hurried to the lifeboats. Nurse Violet Kemp found an abandoned infant on the deck and carried it to a lifeboat. “While a boat was being lowered panicky Lascars cut the ropes at ort end, spilling into the sea all its occupants, except a six-year-old boy, who clung to a seat. “The boat swung awash from its painter, and my friend, Jack Clarke, an English dental mechanic, climbed down a rope ladder to rescue the boy, but he was crushed against the ship’s side and washed under the propellers. He was not seen again. “A second rescuer, Rex Sutherland, reached the boat and tied a rope to the boy, who was then hauled to safety. “Meanwhile, a second lifeboat was swung out and the occupants crowded to one side, causing it to capsize, flinging them into the sea. I shall never forget the sight of the despairing faces disappearing in the darkness. “Nurse Kemp was rescued by a destroyer after she had been in the water for several hours, but she weepingly disclosed that she had lost the infant.”