Among Those Captured
pp. 53-54 · Read in the full issue
By W.C.G.
ALL the Ocean Island and Nauru Europeans who were victims of the raiders are well known.
Captain A. Rhodes, master of the MV Triaster, the chief passenger-carrying vessel of the British Phosphate Commis sion’s pre-war fleet of four ships (of which three were destroyed by the raid ers) is the senior captain of the BPC fleet. A quiet, conscientious, pleasant speaking man, little more than five feet in height, he had been many years in the service of the BPC, starting as a junior mate on the old Nauru Chief.
The Triaster was always regarded as the family ship of the BPC fleet, having comfortable accommodation for about 40 passengers. She carried a Filipino crew.
The fate of Capt. Rhodes is not yet definitely known. His home is at Elstern wick, Melbourne.
Chief Engineer S. Kersey, also of Tri aster, is equally well known. A big, bluff Australian, living at St. Kilda, Melbourne, he spent much of his spare time on board amusing the children and carving coconut shells into ornaments. His nephew, of Ballarat, a junior engineer on one of the other BPC vessels which were destroyed, is not included in the list of those rescued.
Captain J. Callender, of Brighton Melbourne, master of the Triadic, had also seen years of service as an officer with the BPC fleet, having fairly recently been promoted to a command.
Fourth-Engineer Keith Godridge, of Glenferrie, Melbourne, had been asso
ciated with Chief Kersey on the Triaster for some years, and was a popular figure amongst the younger Europeans, as was Electrician “Jimmy” Armstrong, a Bel fast man, of the Triaster. “Robby” (W.
P. Robinson) had been the chief stew ard of the Triaster, with Captain Rhodes, for some years. Well known to all the Europeans of the two islands, “Robby” was most popular with the children. An Englishman by birth, his home is at Brighton, Melbourne.
Gordon R. Ferguson, known to all at Nauru as “Fergy”, who was on board the Triadic with his wife, had been six years
at Nauru, latterly as senior clerk in the BPC office. He was married in Nauru fast June to Nerna, sister of Mr. Jack Reddin, of the BPC staff at Ocean Island ' Mr. George Dillon, one of the old hands of Nauru, came from England and joined the BPC service 20 years ago.
Mrs. Mabel MacPherson is the wife of “Molly” MacPherson, who has charge of the locomotive branch of the BPC at Nauru. They have spent over 20 years on Nauru and are both generally liked. , .
Mrs. J. T. Langar, who was captured with her two little boys, Jim and Brian, on the Triadic, and who appears to have had a nerve-wracking experience, is the wife of Mr. Jim Langar, BPC stevedore at Nauru, who has spent most of his life on the island, where his father also was employed in the phosphate industry. The two children have spent their lives at Nauru. Mrs. Langar had come to Australia for medical attention for Jimmy, who had broken his leg with a scooter at Nauru. It is a coincidence that Jimmy was wounded in the leg by shrapnel fmm tbp rairipr’c «bpll<? from the raiders shells.
Mrs. W. Allan is the wife of the Assistant Civil Engineer at Nauru. Bill Allan has spent about 15 years with the BPC at both Ocean Island and Nauru. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Allan was on the office staff of the BPC at Nauru, Mrs. F. F. Harmer, who was captured with her schoolboy son, Keith, is the wife of the power-house foreman at Nauru. Mr. Harmer, an Englishman. came to Nauru ten years ago, on the installation of special electrical machinery.
Mrs. Stringer, wife of Captain Harry Stringer, harbour-master at Ocean Island, and formerly assistant harbourmaster, with Captain “Pop” Preece, at Nauru, was captured aboard the Triona.
She is one of the most popular ladies of the islands Mrs. C. Adams, who was aboard the Triona, is the wife of one of the mechanical and electrical engineers at Ocean Island, and was previously stationed at Nauru. A University graduate in engineering, and a good sport, Charles Adams joined the BPC technical staff about four years ago.