AUCKLANDER MISSING

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 9

AUCKLANDER MISSING

TORPEDOED SECOND TIME NO TRACE OF CREW (By Telegrapii.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Thursday After being torpedoed for a second time within a month, a young Auckland engineer, Mr D. W. Thompson, well known as part-owner with his brother of the champion I class yacht Tamarika, has been reported as missing. According to advice received by his parents, Mr and Mrs A. Thompson, of Sentinel Road, Herne Bay, their son left England as a member of the engine-room staff of a vessel trading to Australia about the middle of January and, although it was known that the vessel was attacked and torpedoed, no further trace has been found of the vessel or any survivors among the crew. Mr Thompson, who was under 22 .years of age, was educated at the Bayfield School and at King’s College and later served his apprenticeship as an engineer at the workshops of the Auckland Harbour Board. He completed his training toward the end of last year and within a few weeks joined a motorship as 10th engineer, sailing from New Zealand in November. The vessel was torpedoed, but all except one of the crew were rescued. Three Days in Boat • Mr Thompson was one of a party which spent three days in one of the ship’s boats before being picked up by a destroyer. He reached shore with only a sou’-wester hat and a singlet as the remains of his once complete equipment. Mr Thompson later made his way to London and signed on another ship which made a successful voyage to New Zealand, but before her departure from England he was offered the post of second refrigerating engineer on another vessel of.the same company which was on the point of sailing, and this he accepted. This vessel left an English port, but was torpedoed a few days later. Although the latest advice is that the authorities have been unable to find any trace of the ship or members of the ship or members of her company, hope is held that some of them may yet be found alive.