Fourth Engineer Officer Gilbert James NEED
Born: London, England
Merchant Navy
S.S. Turakina (Plymouth)
Died 20-8-1940 at Sea (South Pacific) , aged 28years
Son of Reginald Percy & Kate Evelyn Need, Lane Cove, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Born: London, England
Merchant Navy
S.S. Turakina (Plymouth)
Died 20-8-1940 at Sea (South Pacific) , aged 28years
Son of Reginald Percy & Kate Evelyn Need, Lane Cove, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
From the early morning of 20 August the German Armed Merchant Cruiser ORION steered along the route Cook Strait—Sydney, and late in the afternoon a steamer was sighted on the starboard bow as it came out of a rain squall. This ship was the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Turakina, 9691 tons, commanded by Captain J. B. Laird, on passage from Sydney to . She was carrying some 4000 tons of lead, wheat, and dried fruit loaded at Australian ports and was to have filled her insulated space at Wellington with frozen meat for England.
The ORION signalled the Turakina to stop instantly and not use her wireless. Captain Laird at once ordered maximum full speed, turned his ship stern on to the enemy, and instructed the radio office to broadcast the ‘raider signal’. The Orion then opened fire at a range of about 5250 yards with the object of destroying the Turakina’s radio office and aerials. Nevertheless, the Turakina was able to make her signal several times, and it was received by stations in Australia and New Zealand in spite of the raider’s efforts to jam it. She gave her position as approximately 260 miles west by north from Cape Egmont and some 400 miles from Wellington.
The Turakina at once replied to the enemy’s fire with her single 4.7-inch gun, and, in the gathering dusk, there began the first action ever fought in the Tasman Sea. It was an unequal contest, but Captain Laird had vowed that he would fight his ship to the last if ever he was attacked. At the close range of two and a half miles, the ORION’s fire quickly wrought havoc on board the Turakina. The first salvoes brought down the fore topmast and the lookout, partly wrecked the bridge, destroyed the range-finder, and put most of the telephones out of action. The galley and the engineers’ quarters were hit by shells which set the vessel badly on fire amidships. In little more than a quarter of hour she was reduced to a battered, blazing wreck and was settling aft; more than half her crew had been killed and others were wounded. At least one of her shells had burst on board the ORION and wounded a number of Germans. To hasten her destruction, the ORION discharged a torpedo at a range of about a mile, but ‘due to the swell it broke surface and hit the steamer on the stern. No visible damage results. The vessel burns like a blazing torch,’ wrote Captain Weyher.
Meanwhile, Captain Laird had given the order to abandon ship. The two port lifeboats had been wrecked, but one of the starboard boats got away from the ship with three officers and eleven hands, seven of whom were wounded. A number of wounded were put into the remaining boat, but when it was lowered a sea swept it away from the ship’s side and it was some time before it could be worked back again. When the lifeboat came alongside, the badly wounded chief radio officer was put into it and the others were told by Captain Laird to ‘jump for it’. At that moment a second torpedo struck the Turakina, which sank two minutes later. The only survivors of the explosion were the third officer, the seventh engineer, an apprentice, two able seamen, a fireman, and a steward. They were picked up by the ORION, as were the fourteen men in the other boat. An able seaman, who had been badly hurt when the Turakina’s foremast was shot down, died on board the Orion and was buried next day. Captain Laird and thirty-three of his officers and men had died in the Turakina.73 survivors were taken aboard ORION, some of whom were landed at Emirau Island in the Solomons [together with 200 survivors from the RANGITANE, also sunk by ORION]They were ‘rescued’ on Christmas Day and taken to Australia.
Twenty survivors were prisoners in German hands-they were disembarked at Bordeaux eight months later and interned in Germany for the duration of the war.
In refusing to stop when challenged and in ordering wireless messages to be transmitted, Captain Laird had carried out an obligation that was accepted by thousands of British and Allied shipmasters. The Turakina and her ship’s company paid a great price, but the ORION was compelled to leave the Tasman Sea and did not sink another ship for two months. - Geoffrey Gillon
The ORION signalled the Turakina to stop instantly and not use her wireless. Captain Laird at once ordered maximum full speed, turned his ship stern on to the enemy, and instructed the radio office to broadcast the ‘raider signal’. The Orion then opened fire at a range of about 5250 yards with the object of destroying the Turakina’s radio office and aerials. Nevertheless, the Turakina was able to make her signal several times, and it was received by stations in Australia and New Zealand in spite of the raider’s efforts to jam it. She gave her position as approximately 260 miles west by north from Cape Egmont and some 400 miles from Wellington.
The Turakina at once replied to the enemy’s fire with her single 4.7-inch gun, and, in the gathering dusk, there began the first action ever fought in the Tasman Sea. It was an unequal contest, but Captain Laird had vowed that he would fight his ship to the last if ever he was attacked. At the close range of two and a half miles, the ORION’s fire quickly wrought havoc on board the Turakina. The first salvoes brought down the fore topmast and the lookout, partly wrecked the bridge, destroyed the range-finder, and put most of the telephones out of action. The galley and the engineers’ quarters were hit by shells which set the vessel badly on fire amidships. In little more than a quarter of hour she was reduced to a battered, blazing wreck and was settling aft; more than half her crew had been killed and others were wounded. At least one of her shells had burst on board the ORION and wounded a number of Germans. To hasten her destruction, the ORION discharged a torpedo at a range of about a mile, but ‘due to the swell it broke surface and hit the steamer on the stern. No visible damage results. The vessel burns like a blazing torch,’ wrote Captain Weyher.
Meanwhile, Captain Laird had given the order to abandon ship. The two port lifeboats had been wrecked, but one of the starboard boats got away from the ship with three officers and eleven hands, seven of whom were wounded. A number of wounded were put into the remaining boat, but when it was lowered a sea swept it away from the ship’s side and it was some time before it could be worked back again. When the lifeboat came alongside, the badly wounded chief radio officer was put into it and the others were told by Captain Laird to ‘jump for it’. At that moment a second torpedo struck the Turakina, which sank two minutes later. The only survivors of the explosion were the third officer, the seventh engineer, an apprentice, two able seamen, a fireman, and a steward. They were picked up by the ORION, as were the fourteen men in the other boat. An able seaman, who had been badly hurt when the Turakina’s foremast was shot down, died on board the Orion and was buried next day. Captain Laird and thirty-three of his officers and men had died in the Turakina.73 survivors were taken aboard ORION, some of whom were landed at Emirau Island in the Solomons [together with 200 survivors from the RANGITANE, also sunk by ORION]They were ‘rescued’ on Christmas Day and taken to Australia.
Twenty survivors were prisoners in German hands-they were disembarked at Bordeaux eight months later and interned in Germany for the duration of the war.
In refusing to stop when challenged and in ordering wireless messages to be transmitted, Captain Laird had carried out an obligation that was accepted by thousands of British and Allied shipmasters. The Turakina and her ship’s company paid a great price, but the ORION was compelled to leave the Tasman Sea and did not sink another ship for two months. - Geoffrey Gillon
On 29th June 1944, about 400 miles E. of the Chagos Archipelago. the Japanese submarine I-8 floatplane spotted the 6,942-ton Eastern and Australia Line´s freighter NELLORE. She was en route from Bombay to Sydney with a cargo of 2,720 tons.
HMS LOSSIE rescued 112 crewmen.
Of her 209 passengers and crew, 79 were lost and eleven taken prisoner by I-8.
Almost one month later and 2500 miles from the site of sinking, ten crewmen landed at Sambavany, Madagascar.
HMS LOSSIE rescued 112 crewmen.
Of her 209 passengers and crew, 79 were lost and eleven taken prisoner by I-8.
Almost one month later and 2500 miles from the site of sinking, ten crewmen landed at Sambavany, Madagascar.
Third Officer John O'DONNELL
Merchant Navy
S.S. Kanbe (Glasgow)
Died 8-5-1943 aged 24years
Son of Charles Joseph & Hylda M. S. A. O'Donnell (nee Addskold), of South Yarra, Victoria,
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Kanbe (Glasgow)
Died 8-5-1943 aged 24years
Son of Charles Joseph & Hylda M. S. A. O'Donnell (nee Addskold), of South Yarra, Victoria,
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Master Frederick James OGILVIE
Merchant Navy
M.V. Zealandic (Southampton)
Died 17-1-1941 aged 62years
Husband of Lena Mena Ogilivie, East Fremantle, Western Australia
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
M.V. Zealandic (Southampton)
Died 17-1-1941 aged 62years
Husband of Lena Mena Ogilivie, East Fremantle, Western Australia
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Fireman Martin O'TOOLE
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-1942
North Atlantic Ocean (MV Spreewald)
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-1942
North Atlantic Ocean (MV Spreewald)
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Cook James Thomas PACEY
Merchant Navy
Fishing Vessel Fernbank (Aberdeen)
Died: 16-11-1941 aged 50years
Son of James and Alice Pacey
Husband of Margaret Pacey, of Bodangora, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
FV Fernbank was a British trawler was bombed and sunk in the Skaggerak off Myggenäs, Västra Götaland County, Sweden by Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of five crew on the 16th November 1941.
Merchant Navy
Fishing Vessel Fernbank (Aberdeen)
Died: 16-11-1941 aged 50years
Son of James and Alice Pacey
Husband of Margaret Pacey, of Bodangora, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
FV Fernbank was a British trawler was bombed and sunk in the Skaggerak off Myggenäs, Västra Götaland County, Sweden by Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of five crew on the 16th November 1941.
Steward Peter PAGE
Merchant Navy
S.S. Queen Elizabeth
Killed in Action 7-12-1942 aged 19years (North Atlantic Ocean / S.S. Ceramic)
Son of William Page, and of Ina Frances Page, Clovelly, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Queen Elizabeth
Killed in Action 7-12-1942 aged 19years (North Atlantic Ocean / S.S. Ceramic)
Son of William Page, and of Ina Frances Page, Clovelly, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Chief Engineer Officer James Albert Ernest PARK
Merchant Navy
S.S. Lilian Moller (Shanghai)
Killed in Action 18-11-1940 aged 56years
Son of James and Sophia Park
Husband of Rebecca Moreland Park, of St. Kilda, Melbourne,
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Lilian Moller (Shanghai)
Killed in Action 18-11-1940 aged 56years
Son of James and Sophia Park
Husband of Rebecca Moreland Park, of St. Kilda, Melbourne,
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Ordinary Seaman Gordon James PATERSON
Merchant Navy
S.S. Port Hunter (London)
Died 11-7-1942 at Sea aged 17years
Son of William Robert Harold and Myrtle Emily Paterson, of Magill, South Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Port Hunter (London)
Died 11-7-1942 at Sea aged 17years
Son of William Robert Harold and Myrtle Emily Paterson, of Magill, South Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Assistant Steward Georg Alfred PETTERSEN
Merchant Navy
M.V. Panama (Liverpool)
Died 11-4-1945 aged 18years
Son of George Gabriel and Ivy Francis Isobel Pettersen, of Paddington, Sydney, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
M.V. Panama (Liverpool)
Died 11-4-1945 aged 18years
Son of George Gabriel and Ivy Francis Isobel Pettersen, of Paddington, Sydney, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
First Radio Officer Leonard Frank REED
Merchant Navy
M.V. Darkdale (Glasgow
Died 22-10-1941 aged 31years
Son of Henry and Edith Reed
Husband of Kathleen Reed, of Peppermint Grove, Western Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
M.V. Darkdale (Glasgow
Died 22-10-1941 aged 31years
Son of Henry and Edith Reed
Husband of Kathleen Reed, of Peppermint Grove, Western Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Fireman & Trimmer William REID
Merchant Navy S.S. Samala (Liverpool) Killed in Action 30-9-1940, North Atlantic Ocean, aged 40years Sunk by a torpedo & gunfire from a German Submarine Son of John and Annie Reid Husband of Hilda Reid, of Balmain, New South Wales Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll |
Photo: benjidog.co.uk
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Sailor Maxwell Francis ROCHFORT
Merchant Navy
S.S. Aviemore (Liverpool)
Died 16-9-1939 aged 20years
Son of Frank & Janet Martha Rochfort, of Palmyra, Western Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Aviemore (Liverpool)
Died 16-9-1939 aged 20years
Son of Frank & Janet Martha Rochfort, of Palmyra, Western Australia.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Second Officer Murray Maclean RODGERS
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Steam cargo ship that was damaged on 26 June 1941 by gunfire from German raider Kormoran
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-1942 aged 28years - North Atlantic Ocean (MV Spreewald)
Son of Arthur Edward & Euphemia Maclean Rodgers
Husband of Hazel May Rodgers, Double Bay, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Australian Merchant Navy
S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne)
Steam cargo ship that was damaged on 26 June 1941 by gunfire from German raider Kormoran
Killed in Action (Prisoner of War) 31-1-1942 aged 28years - North Atlantic Ocean (MV Spreewald)
Son of Arthur Edward & Euphemia Maclean Rodgers
Husband of Hazel May Rodgers, Double Bay, N.S.W.
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Second Refrigerator Engineer Arthur John ROOFF
Merchant Navy
M.V. Waimarama (Southampton)
Motor refrigerated cargo ship that was sunk on 13 August 1942 by aircraft bombing.
Died 13-8-1942, aged 25years
Son of John and May Rooff, of Canterbury, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
M.V. Waimarama (Southampton)
Motor refrigerated cargo ship that was sunk on 13 August 1942 by aircraft bombing.
Died 13-8-1942, aged 25years
Son of John and May Rooff, of Canterbury, New South Wales
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Fourth Engineer Officer Charles RUDD
Merchant Navy
M.V. Port Victor (London)
Motor Passenger/ refrigerated cargo ship that was sunk on 30 April 1943
by torpedoes fired by German submarine U-107
Died 30-4-1943, aged 25years
Son of Stuart Algernon Harrison & Florence Rudd, of Auburn, New South Wales
Merchant Navy
M.V. Port Victor (London)
Motor Passenger/ refrigerated cargo ship that was sunk on 30 April 1943
by torpedoes fired by German submarine U-107
Died 30-4-1943, aged 25years
Son of Stuart Algernon Harrison & Florence Rudd, of Auburn, New South Wales
Second Officer Alf Oldfield RUSK
Merchant Navy
S.S. Widestone (London)
Steam cargo ship that was sunk on 17 November 1942 by torpedoes fired by German submarine U-184
Died: 17/18 -11-1942, aged 31years
Son of Mary Hannah Rusk, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire;
Husband of E. F. Rusk, of Wonthaggi, Victoria,
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Merchant Navy
S.S. Widestone (London)
Steam cargo ship that was sunk on 17 November 1942 by torpedoes fired by German submarine U-184
Died: 17/18 -11-1942, aged 31years
Son of Mary Hannah Rusk, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire;
Husband of E. F. Rusk, of Wonthaggi, Victoria,
Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll