Post by NZBC on Feb 13, 2011 20:55:51 GMT 12
The three ships by which the company is so well known today, the Tanda, Nellore and Nankin, were purchased bj the E. and A. Company in 1924, 1929 and 1931, respectively, and it was during their careers that thc; company had to meet its fiercest competi- tion. This came during the depres- sion from the heavily subsidised Japanese Unes, supported by their Government policy of preferential shipping of Japanese goods in Japanese bottoms. That they were able to meet this competition successfully speaks volumes, not only for the efficient manner in widen the ships have been run, but also for ,the far sighted administration the line has enjoyed.
The three ships continued running to Japan during those trouble some days' of 1940-1941, when our relationships with that country were daily approaching an open breach. It had by this been very obvions that the Japanese attitude was becoming more antagonistic, and it was indeed fortunate that none of the company's ships was in Japanese waters on December 7 1941. The nearest, the Nellore, was in Hong Kong and, embarking passengers well above her usual numbers, she sailed for Australia and managed to get throug unscathed.
ALL THREE LOST
The ships were now transf erred to the Australia - India run to augment a shipping service the requirements of which had grown considerably with the progress of the war, and it was whilst employed on this rim that an three ships were lost by enemy action.
Although she had successfully eluded the Japanese earlier, the Nankin's life was short, and on May 10, 1942, she was captured in the Indian Ocean by a German raider. Although a slower ship and hopelessly outgunned by the raider, the Nankin engaged her with one small gun, and it was only after all her shots were seen to fall short of the German's, who had commenced obtaining hits on the Nankin, that, to prevent needess loss of life amongst the women and children passengers, the captain decided to abandon ship, and an attempt was made to scuttle her. All the passengers and crew were taken prisoner on the raider and later interned in Japan. The Nankin herself was taken to Japan, and whilst fitting out alongside the raider in a Japanese port both ships caught fire and blew up.
The Nellore and Tanda continued in the trade until June 29, 1944, when the Nellore, en route from Bombay to Australia, was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean. The torpedoing took place at night without warning, and the Nellore was finished off by shelling from tho submarine. Some of the survivors were picked up by aircraft after nine days afloat, and other boats made Diego Garcia and Madagascar.
Just 17 days later, and while en route from Colombo to Bombay, the Tanda, the last of the three, was torpedoed. Again the sinking occurred at night without any warning or sign of the submarine. Struck amidships, the Tanda settled in 15 minutes, just giving sufficient time to clear away the boats. The wireless equipment had been rendered useless by the explosion, and the three operators were ordered to the boats with the idea of sending distress messages with the lifeboat equipment. They worked frantically, however, and succeeded in making the emergency transmitter work. Although warned that the ship was sinking, they remained at their post and went down with the ship, sacrificing themselves to get the distress message out.
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld Wednesday 24 April 1946
The three ships continued running to Japan during those trouble some days' of 1940-1941, when our relationships with that country were daily approaching an open breach. It had by this been very obvions that the Japanese attitude was becoming more antagonistic, and it was indeed fortunate that none of the company's ships was in Japanese waters on December 7 1941. The nearest, the Nellore, was in Hong Kong and, embarking passengers well above her usual numbers, she sailed for Australia and managed to get throug unscathed.
ALL THREE LOST
The ships were now transf erred to the Australia - India run to augment a shipping service the requirements of which had grown considerably with the progress of the war, and it was whilst employed on this rim that an three ships were lost by enemy action.
Although she had successfully eluded the Japanese earlier, the Nankin's life was short, and on May 10, 1942, she was captured in the Indian Ocean by a German raider. Although a slower ship and hopelessly outgunned by the raider, the Nankin engaged her with one small gun, and it was only after all her shots were seen to fall short of the German's, who had commenced obtaining hits on the Nankin, that, to prevent needess loss of life amongst the women and children passengers, the captain decided to abandon ship, and an attempt was made to scuttle her. All the passengers and crew were taken prisoner on the raider and later interned in Japan. The Nankin herself was taken to Japan, and whilst fitting out alongside the raider in a Japanese port both ships caught fire and blew up.
The Nellore and Tanda continued in the trade until June 29, 1944, when the Nellore, en route from Bombay to Australia, was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean. The torpedoing took place at night without warning, and the Nellore was finished off by shelling from tho submarine. Some of the survivors were picked up by aircraft after nine days afloat, and other boats made Diego Garcia and Madagascar.
Just 17 days later, and while en route from Colombo to Bombay, the Tanda, the last of the three, was torpedoed. Again the sinking occurred at night without any warning or sign of the submarine. Struck amidships, the Tanda settled in 15 minutes, just giving sufficient time to clear away the boats. The wireless equipment had been rendered useless by the explosion, and the three operators were ordered to the boats with the idea of sending distress messages with the lifeboat equipment. They worked frantically, however, and succeeded in making the emergency transmitter work. Although warned that the ship was sinking, they remained at their post and went down with the ship, sacrificing themselves to get the distress message out.
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld Wednesday 24 April 1946