NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
THE SINKING OF THE SS WIMMERA
WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE 1918

Thanks so much to Graham Bould for his work on the SS Wimmera and allowing me to use this.

At 5.15am, on Wednesday 26 June 1918, eighteen miles North of Cape Maria Van Dieman, a mine placed by the German raider Wolf exploded under the stern of the Huddart Parker steamer SS Wimmera. Within 30 minutes the Wimmera went down, taking 26 lives including the Captain, the Chief Officer, and the Chief Steward. The remaining 125 crew and passengers managed to get away in the lifeboats, which landed at Tom Bowling Bay, Taemaro (East of Mangonui), and Kaiamou Beach, on the afternoon of the next day.

The following article appeared in The Evening Post on 1 July 1918:

CALM COURAGE
____

HEROISM DISPLAYED BY THE
WOMEN
___

AUCKLAND, 29th June

The calm courage and heroism of the women made deep impressions on Mr. D. Bradney, of Auckland, an officer on leave from the Union Steam Ship Company, who was on his way to Sydney in the Wimmera. Mr Bradney said that as far as he could make out the explosion occurred at 5.10 a.m. His bunk was directly over the explosion. He was wakeful, and was reaching into the top bunk for a blanket when he heard the explosion and felt the shock. The ship seemed to stop dead as later information showed she did. In the darkness he groped about for his gear, but failed to find it and hurried on deck, passing along the alley-way to the saloon companionway, where he met several of the ladies coming out in perfect calmness. They were "bricks" he said. He could talk for a month about them, so heroic were they then - surpassing even the men. He changed his mind at this stage and decided to return to his cabin to find an overcoat, but he was turned from this object through fumes, which threatened to suffocate him. He assisted in getting No 5 lifeboat out, which was accomplished after great difficulty. A heavy sea was running, and when the boat left the steamer's side with her complement of twenty-five the water was just beginning to lap the main deck of the Wimmera, which was settling down heavily at the stern.

They got safely away from the ship's side and stood off about a quarter of a mile, to be safe from the suction. All the time they were making further away from the ship. At about 5.30 they saw her silhouetted against the moon. It was a beautiful sight. She was lying right down, her yellow funnel showing out against the moon. She seemed to right herself some few minutes later, and then took a heave by the stern, and the bow stood right on end out of the water, and then went down in showers of sparks, presumably from the fires. They hoisted their sail then, and with a fair wind headed towards Cape Maria. It was about six, or a little later, when day broke, and they had women and children on the boat, all very scantily clothed, some of the children having practically nothing on them but their night dresses. Seas were coming over them, and they did what they could to make them comfortable. Shortly after he got into the boat he was practically overcome with the combined fumes he had encountered and with the cold and movement of the boat.

LANDING ON TOM BOWLINE BEACH

They eventually landed on Tom Bowline beach about 12.30 p. m., and carried the women and children ashore and rigged up a tent with sails, and gave them biscuits and water. Another boat came in two or three hours later. Between that time and 5 p.m. there were four boats on the beach, the last arriving just about sunset. The second officer left for assistance, and also a number of men went out scouting. After two Maoris had arrived on the scene the party set out for Munro's homestead. Just as they got off the beach night fell, and they had to go up what was practically the face of a cliff, through bush and scrub, the children and women being bare-footed. Here he interjected with the remark that the women and children were absolute heroes. They eventually got them to the top of the cliff. Some of the men, he said, were worthy of the greatest praise for carrying the children. They lost their way on the top of the hill, and as it was coming on to rain, they built a fire and got the women and children into the scrub. About a quarter of an hour later they heard Maoris and Mr. Munro (constituting a search party) calling out. The party had red flares from the ship, and these they burnt while others lower down the track did likewise, and the party was located. They then set out on the walk to Munro's in single file. The women experienced great hardship all the way.



Passengers and Crew of the S S Wimmera
at the time of Sinking, 26 June 1918

Surname

Given Name

Sex

Position

Fate

Landed at

Comments

Balkschedt D M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Barnett Mrs E M V F Passenger     Aged 87 of Auckland
Bennett A M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Bennett P M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Benson B M Able Seaman      
Blackborough J M Steward Saved  Mangonui  
Bomont A M Wireless Officer     Glasgow 
Bond F C M Passenger Saved Mangonui 32 Hamilton
Bowering J M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland
Boyd Miss  F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Bradney Douglas Eric M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland
Brewis W M Stoker Saved Mangonui  
Brookes A M Third Officer     Auckland
Browning Miss   F Passenger Saved Mangonui Melbourne 
Browning Mrs   F Passenger  Saved Mangonui 52 Melbourne
Burt Mrs   F Passenger Saved    54
Butler H M Steward Saved     
Campion M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Chapman H B  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay NZ soldier on furlough, going to Australia to marry 
Charlesworth M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland, gardener 
Collier S M Second Engineer      
Corner M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay Broken collarbone
Croft Mrs + 6 children   F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Cross F M Nightwatchman      
Cummings M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Curtis M Second Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Davidson John  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Davidson Mrs   F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Davidson John  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 17 
Davidson Frank M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 15
Davidson Violet F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 13
Davidson Hugh M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 11
Davidson Robert M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 9
Davidson Sheila F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 7 twin
Davidson Alister M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 7 twin
De Beause J M Stoker Saved     
Donaghy Joseph M Able Seaman Saved Mangonui  
Dunn Miss Alice F Passenger Saved Mangonui New Zealand
Dunn Mrs E R F Passenger     58 Melbourne
Edwards M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Edwards Miss J M F Passenger Saved     
Edwards Miss T M F Passenger Saved    
Elliott R J M Passenger  Saved Mangonui 36 Australia
Evans Miss   F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Fair O R  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Hairdresser Auckland 
Fannings J M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Forsyth J M Steward  Saved Mangonui  
Frankham M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Frankham M Butcher Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Frankland R M Crew Saved    
Gallagher H M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Gallagher W M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Gamble E M Pantryman Saved Mangonui  
Geary A M Able Seaman Saved     
Giblin W J M Passenger Saved Mangonui 48 Wellington
Giblin Mrs   F   Saved Mangonui 33 Wellington
Giblin   ?   Saved Mangonui 9 Wellington
Giblin   ?   Saved Mangonui 3 Wellington
Glencoe Mrs   F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Rotorua 
Gordon S S  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Gorrie Kenneth M Assistant Purser Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland
Gould Mrs   F Passenger Saved    
Graham Tom G M Greaser Saved Mangonui  
Greaves E M Steward      
Grimshaw T M Second Cook Saved Mangonui  
Hawes C M Stoker Saved     
Hawkswood Norman M Assistant Purser Saved   Auckland
Henningsen L M Trimmer Saved Mangonui  
Hewson A J  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland 
Hodder M Charles M Passenger  Saved Mangonui 31 
Jenkins H R  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland 
Jenkins Mrs   F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland 
Johannsen M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Jones O M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Jones Sydney M Passenger  Saved Mangonui  
Jones Miss   F Passenger       
Jones Mrs H E  F Passenger  Saved Mangonui  Auckland 
Jones Mrs   F Passenger       
Kells Herbert J G M Captain     43 Auckland, born England
Kenman Miss F Passenger  Saved Tom Bowling Bay Auckland
Kennedy H B M Passenger  Saved Mangonui 24
Kiernan A F  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay USA 
Koeck M Carpenter Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Liddle M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Wanganui
Longbottom J A  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Martin E M Ordinary Seaman Saved   Auckland
McCartney John M Trimmer Saved Mangonui  
McCreeve F M Trimmer Saved     
McDonald M Third Engineer Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
McDonald Mrs   F Passenger      34
McDonald   ? Passenger     11
McEdwards Janet  F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Maid to Davidson family (Steerage?)
McEdwards Mary F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  Maid to Davidson family (Steerage?)
McFarlane John  M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
McKenzie M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
McLean M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
McMillan C F Stewardess      
Mole F W M Passenger  Saved Mangonui  
Mowatt D M Fourth Engineer     Wellington
Mulvenna J M Able Seaman      
Murdoch R M Stoker  Saved Mangonui  
Neal C M Stoker Saved    
Newton E F Stewardess      
Nichol A M First Officer     Sydney
Nicholas Mrs   F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Nicholas   ? Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Child
Paxton M First Engineer Saved Tom Bowling Bay Melbourne 
Peter   M Passenger      46 Waikino
Peter Mrs   F Passenger      Waikino 
Pointer M Chief Cook Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Richardson Mrs B F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Richardson   ? Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Child 
Richardson   ? Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Child
Riddell M Boatswain Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Robertson J F Stewardess      
Robinson M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Roper W M Trimmer Saved Mangonui  
San Pedro Jose M Passenger Saved   38 Spain
Sanudo Manuel M Passenger Saved   35 Spain
Saville R M Saloon Waiter Saved Mangonui  
Sayegh Miss Ada F Passenger Saved Mangonui 38 Lebanon
Schuberg Mrs T O F Passenger     35 Australia
Schuberg   ? Passenger      Child Australia 
Sedgebeer W F  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Sydney
Smeed W M Steward Saved     
Smith M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Stapleton M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Street Miss   F Passenger  Saved Mangonui  
Thomas M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Thompson Alf  M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Tildsley F M Stoker      
Tomasson M Able Seaman Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Tucker Mrs   F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Melbourne 
Tucker HC (OBE)  M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay Melbourne
Turner H H  F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Verge H M Chief Steward     Sydney 
Whyte Miss F Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay 22 Melbourne 
Williams Thomas  M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Wilson C M Second Officer Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Wood M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Woods M Scullion Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Woodward C T M Steward     Sydney
Wensley John  M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Yates S V M Baker Saved Mangonui  



Other people mentioned in newspapers
but not mentioned in the final tally

Surname

Given Name

Sex

Position

Fate

Landed at

Comments

Bruce   M Passenger Saved Mangonui  
Carguse   M Passenger Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Crews P M M   Saved Mangonui  
Greenwood Miss   F Passenger     35
Howell   M Able Seaman Saved Mangonui  
Hugo   M Stoker Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
Lee   M Steward Saved Tom Bowling Bay  
McLea   M Passenger Saved Mangonui  
Mude W J M Passenger     58
Watson Miss   F Passenger     30

 





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