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

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

Surname

Given Name

Sex

Position

Fate

Landed at

Comments