Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2021 22:05:10 GMT 12
Experiences of a couple of Kiwis caught in the Japanese attack on Sydney Harbour:
VIVID STORIES
NEW ZEALANDERS ESCAPE
TORPEDOING OF SHIP
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, June 2
Vivid descriptions of the torpedoing of the Naval depot ship were given today by men on the sunken vessel. Two New Zealanders, L. A. Linton and A. P. Bradley, who were asleep on the vessel when the torpedo struck, say they owe their lives to the presence of a vessel near at hand.
They said that when awakened by the terrific noise of the explosion and the rushing of water which followed it, they looked out of the window near where the hammocks were swung and saw a vessel close by rising in the water.
Bradley said: “When I saw the other ship going up I knew that could not be right. I woke up that it was us going down, not the other vessel going up. I jumped from the hammock and landed among broken glass. I tried to help others and we were fortunate to get out.”
Linton said when he realised what was happening he dived through the window against the rush of water and came to the surface and swam ashore amid a great mass of wreckage.
Eye-witness’ Story
An eye-witness who saw the explosion said he saw the depot vessel lift, as though on top of an enormous wave and then settle down, sinking at the stern.
“I saw pieces of wood flying in the air. The side of a building behind the ship caved in and there were blue flashes from inside the building.”
Another torpedo, which exploded against the foreshore, threw up a column of water 150 ft high. Wooden piles, 50ft long and 12ft in circumference, were torn from the harbour bed and flung 60ft on to the shore. Ferry boats on the harbour at the time stopped in midstream. Passengers on one ferry claim they had seen a submarine periscope in the beams of several searchlights. This submarine is presumed to have been sunk by gunfire. Windows in some residences close by the torpedoed boat, were broken by the force of the explosions and articles on shelves were thrown on to the floor. Today the wreckage of the damaged vessel was being cleared away. Onlookers say she appeared to break in half.
WAIKATO TIMES, 3 JUNE 1942
VIVID STORIES
NEW ZEALANDERS ESCAPE
TORPEDOING OF SHIP
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, June 2
Vivid descriptions of the torpedoing of the Naval depot ship were given today by men on the sunken vessel. Two New Zealanders, L. A. Linton and A. P. Bradley, who were asleep on the vessel when the torpedo struck, say they owe their lives to the presence of a vessel near at hand.
They said that when awakened by the terrific noise of the explosion and the rushing of water which followed it, they looked out of the window near where the hammocks were swung and saw a vessel close by rising in the water.
Bradley said: “When I saw the other ship going up I knew that could not be right. I woke up that it was us going down, not the other vessel going up. I jumped from the hammock and landed among broken glass. I tried to help others and we were fortunate to get out.”
Linton said when he realised what was happening he dived through the window against the rush of water and came to the surface and swam ashore amid a great mass of wreckage.
Eye-witness’ Story
An eye-witness who saw the explosion said he saw the depot vessel lift, as though on top of an enormous wave and then settle down, sinking at the stern.
“I saw pieces of wood flying in the air. The side of a building behind the ship caved in and there were blue flashes from inside the building.”
Another torpedo, which exploded against the foreshore, threw up a column of water 150 ft high. Wooden piles, 50ft long and 12ft in circumference, were torn from the harbour bed and flung 60ft on to the shore. Ferry boats on the harbour at the time stopped in midstream. Passengers on one ferry claim they had seen a submarine periscope in the beams of several searchlights. This submarine is presumed to have been sunk by gunfire. Windows in some residences close by the torpedoed boat, were broken by the force of the explosions and articles on shelves were thrown on to the floor. Today the wreckage of the damaged vessel was being cleared away. Onlookers say she appeared to break in half.
WAIKATO TIMES, 3 JUNE 1942
