"Awatea's" End

Well-known Pacific Liner Lost Off Algiers

THE Union Steamship Company’s “Awatea” was well-known to Pacific travellers before the war—but now, like many of our other Pacific friends, she is no more.

The following account of how she met her end off Algiers during the Allied landing in North Africa in November, 1942, is a condensation of an interview by the Auckland “Star” with Alan Farn worth, who was serving on the “Awatea” at the time she was lost.

“All equipment except our battledress was American,” said Mr. Farnworth, “and we were carrying British Commandos and American Rangers. We didn’t know where we were going until the second day in the Mediterranean. We had a wonder ful escort of battleships and aircraft carriers, and there was little bombing by the enemy for three days.

“The fourth day we steamed up the west coast of Africa, and at 11 p.m. re ceived the ordpr to dock. Some Com mandos were ordered to Algiers and others to forts. Artillery troops were to follow up. Organisation was perfect. There were a few explosions ashore and some fighting at Algiers between the French Navy and the Allies. Two days later we moved to the Bay of Algiers, and from then on Jerry didn’t leave us alone. By the time our ship was sunk, later on, some fine vessels had been lost. However, we hit back.”

At Boujie, which is about 120 miles from Algiers, they discharged two-thirds of their troops, their equipment, gasolene and in vasion barges, and were given orders to proceed to Gibraltar. On the way there, off Algiers, the “Awatea” was sunk.

“I was on the after-deck when a bomb went down the No. 2 hatch,” continued Farnworth. “There was a terrific ex plosion and a barrage of smoke went up, made worse by the draught that was blow ing, because the ship was half empty. Our guns and rockets were blazing away, and the water service was disorganised, but we got a hose down the hatch.

“As usual, a torpedo-plane came in at the kill, and Jerry machine-gunned us all the while. It was amazing that out of 150 men on board, there were only three seri ous casualties and no one killed.”

The captain and crew were taken on board a Dutch ship, which had been to New Zealand in pre-war days, and were well looked after.

Officers of the “Awatea” were honoured for distinguished service, notably: Cap tain G. B. Morgan (who won the DSC in the last war), DSO; Chief Officer McGarry, Chief Engineer Simmonds, Oil burner W. S. Muir, awarded DSC; while eight officers and men were mentioned in despatches.