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Appendix 5 Rangitane and Emirau Island

The sinking of the Rangitane and release of prisoners on Emirau Island was an event

in New Zealand’s war history which is worth further research.

A young Fleet Air Arm pilot, Tom Hooper was on the Rangitane and on his way

to war when the vessel was sunk. (See Appendix 3.)

The following pages contain various versions of the event. Also included are records

made close to the time of the event, eye-witness accounts, a clarification of names of

vessels, numbers of prisoners and the circumstances in which they were released.

The Wikipedia account

“On her final voyage, which had been delayed by labour disputes, she carried 14,000

tons of cargo, including foodstuffs and silver bullion, valued at over £2 million at

1940 prices. She carried 111 passengers, including CORB nurses, Polish sailors,

servicemen and Radar technicians. The Captain was Lionel Upton, a naval reservist

who had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his "services in action

with enemy submarines" during his command of auxiliary boats based at Scapa Flow

during World War I.

Rangitane left Auckland harbour in the early afternoon of Sunday 24 November 1940,

en route to Britain via the Panama Canal. She was intercepted early on the morning of

27 November, 300 miles east of New Zealand, by the German surface raiders Komet

and Orion and their support ship Kulmerland. Another ship, the SS Holmwood, had

been stopped and sunk by the German raiders on 24 November, but warning of the

danger had not been passed on to the Rangitane. This was later held to have been a

factor in her sinking.

The Germans signalled Rangitane to stop and not to transmit anything. Following

standard Admiralty instructions, however, Captain Upton ordered "QQQ" ('suspicious

vessel') to be broadcast, which prompted signals jamming and shelling by the

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Germans. The main transmitter was quickly disabled and the emergency set was used

to send "RRR" ('raider attack'), which was received and relayed. There followed a

brief period of confusion. One German raider, suffering steering problems, sailed

directly at Rangitane, which in turn, with steering damaged by the shelling, also

steered directly at a German ship before circling. The helmsman reported loss of

steering.

The interception had been made in the dark and the German ships were unsure of

what they had found, believing that it was probably a cruiser-sized warship. Their

attack was made on the basis it was the tactic most likely to allow their own escape.

Once he knew that the distress signals had been received in New Zealand, Upton

ordered the ship's surrender. The shelling had caused widespread fires and some

casualties, and, with her steering damaged, the Rangitane's escape would be unlikely.

Once hove to, sensitive documents such as code books were destroyed, and the crew

instructed to destroy key engine components, to prevent Rangitane being taken as a

prize. Despite the surrender, shelling continued and the furious Upton ordered full

speed and return fire from the ship's guns, but this was prevented by destruction of

telephones. The German shelling ceased and Upton gave the order to abandon ship.”

Sixteen people, eight passengers and eight crew, died as a result of the action,

including those who died later of their injuries. Elizabeth Plumb, a 59-year-old

stewardess, ship's cook William Francis and deck mechanic John Walker were

awarded British Empire Medals for their selflessness in rescuing and caring for

survivors. Prize crews took control of Rangitane at dawn and supervised an orderly

and rapid evacuation. The survivors, 296 passengers and crew, were taken across to

the German ships by lifeboats or German boats and sent below.”

The Rangitane's broadcast warnings required that the Germans clear the area quickly,

before allied aircraft arrived. Although she was clearly afire and sinking, Komet fired

a single torpedo and Rangitane listed quickly to port and sank at 6:30 am. The Short

Empire class flying boat Aotearoa, civil registration ZK-AMA, was the first Allied

aircraft on the scene at about 2:30 pm, but found only an oil slick and debris. A

subsequent air search missed the raiders, although they themselves saw one of the

search aircraft.

German treatment of their prisoners was humane and as good as could be expected in

the crowded conditions, and those who died were given proper funerals. The number

of prisoners aboard the German ships caused concern to the German commanders and

they decided to release most of them. After an intended release at Nauru had been

thwarted by poor weather, and further actions had led to the capture of more

prisoners, the survivors were released on the tiny island of Emirau, off New Guinea.

The remainder, mostly of military age, were transported back to German-occupied

Bordeaux and eventually to prisoner-of-war camps in Germany.”

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A small group of the nearly 500 prisoners released on Emirau.

Origins of photograph unknown.

The Rangitane interception was no picnic, and its aftermath invoked some

controversy.

Some idea of the conditions may be gained from reports by CORB escorts, women

who were on board Rangitane and taken prisoner along with the others.

In 1940 Britain had a programme for evacuating children to countries such as New

Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada and the US.

The children were escorted by women and non-combatents referred to as CORB

escorts. (CORB stands for Childrens’ Overseas Reception Board).

Escorts had accompanied a party of children to New Zealand, and were returning to

Britain on board the Rangitane when whe was struck. The following accounts from

the “CORB” viewpoint is a “cut and paste” of fragments from a book called:

“Who Will Take Our Children” by Carlton Jackson.

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The book “How We Saw the War: 1939-1945 Through New Zealand Eyes”

by Ron Palenski, explains that survivors were shifted from one ship to another during

the period of captivity.

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It can be clarified here that the name for Komet, in her disguise as a neutral Japanese

merchant ship, was Manyo Maru.

The German support vessel Kulmerland, masqueraded under the name Tokyo Maru,

Orion took the name Maebasi Maru. (Ref. “Hitler's Secret Pirate Fleet” by James P. Duffy )

Here is an eye-witness account of the sinking of the Rangitane, by her Captain, as

reported in the Courier Mail (Brisbane) Saturday 4th January 1941

This article is very helpful because, despite the repeated statements that prisoners

were treated well (on other ships) it explains and confirms the “hell ship” claim

regarding the Tokyo Maru, and gives some idea of the conditions Tom Hooper went

through while interned on that ship.

It is also interesting to read later of the massive reception they received in Brisbane

upon their rescue from the island.

RAIDER SAW SEARCHING

N.Z. PLANES

Rangitane Captain Tells Story

By Our Special Reporter

ONE German raider in the Pacific sighted New Zealand planes which had gone out to

look for it, according to Captain H. L. Upton, R.N.R., the commander of the sunken

Rangitane, who is one of the 496 people rescued from Emirau Island, where they had

been marooned by the raider. The New Zealand planes failed to detect the Nazi ship.

This happened, he said, on the day on which the Rangitane was sunk. When the liner

was attacked it had sent out a message giving its location. Some of the rescued men

told of hell-ship conditions in the hold of the raider, Tokyo Maru.

Captain Upton told of the heroism and devotion to duty of his officers and crew, and

the efforts to send out a warning that raiding vessels had been sighted. He praised also

the bravery of the women passengers under fire. 'When I sighted the vessels before

dawn on November 27 I ordered the wireless officer to send out a message: 'Sighted

suspicious vessels,' "' he said. 'They fired on us as soon as we sent the message. Then

I told the chief officer to prepare the stern gun for action and when we opened fire to

take the raider on the port quarter — they had searchlights trained on us from either

side. 'Their first shots put the wireless out of action as the wireless operator, F.

Norman, was sending out a report that we had sighted the raiders. 'Then I ordered

chief operator, N. Hallett, and his assistant, G. Ward, to radio that we were being fired

on by the raider and to give our position. They put the emergency set into action and,

with the greatest calmness, began to send out the message while the raiders fired on us

in an effort to stop them. In the meantime Norman remained at his post, trying to

repair the main set. The chief officer rang to say that the gun was ready for action;

but, fearing that we would be torpedoed, and knowing that we had got the message

away, I told him to hold his fire. I told him that if they continued shelling we would

go into action and fight until we sank. By this time the ship was badly battered. The

telegraph from the bridge had been blown away, and she was on fire below. The

behaviour of the ship's complement and passengers was wonderful. All the engineer

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officers were standing at their posts in the engine room and the doctor, aided by

stewards and nurses, was dealing with the wounded. Shelling from the raiders began

at 3.47 a.m. At 3.59 a.m.. when my operators had sent out our position, I ordered the

engines to be stopped. The shelling continued for three more minutes and in that time

I decided that we would have to go into action if it continued. It seemed that we

would have no alternative but to fight to the death. The bridge was wrecked and the

glare of searchlights made range-finding almost hopeless. Their shells stopped hitting

us, and I gave the order to abandon ship. The behaviour of everybody was

magnificent and they might have been going to a church parade. Never in my life

have I seen women behave more valiantly. Some of them were helping to bind up the

wounded and others displayed no panic, although the ship was burning. It was dark,

and they had been ordered, within a few minutes of an unexpected attack, into open

boats. Then a motor launch raced along side with a boarding officer shouting: 'Hurry,

hurry; abandon ship before the planes come.' He knew that we had got our message

away and they were using frantic haste. We destroyed all code books and records

which might have been of value, and as soon as we left they began to fire on the

burning Rangitane. She did not sink immediately, so they launched a torpedo and she

capsized and went to the bottom.’Captain Upton said that during his imprisonment he

heard gunfire on several days. About a week after he had been captured he heard the

raider fire on the Triona, the next day on the Vinni, and the following morning on the

Komata, all of which were sunk.

Hell-Ship Conditions

Men who suffered for their imprisonment emphasised yesterday that captives in the

raider which used the name of Manyo Maru might not realise what others had gone

through in the other prison ships. Approximately 209 men and 15 women went

through the ordeal. On behalf of the men, the Rev. Father Denis Kelly, of Liverpool,

chaplain to the seamen, who was with those in No. 6 hold of the raider named Tokyo

Maru, issued the following statement last night: 'Conditions in the hold of the Tokyo

Maru, where 130 men were finally confined, were hard. The discomfort was terrible,

but the men bore it magnificently. Because they were in such a fine spirit we did not

realise that it was as bad as it was. We had to sleep on the iron decks with a bit of

dirty matting as bedding. The sanitation was shocking. There was only the one

convenience, and the men had to wash their plates from the sanitary pipes. Prisoners

in other ships have no conception of what it was like; but men from our ship who

went to the Manyo Maru afterwards know the difference. They had toothbrushes and

beds there. There was terrific heat all the time, because we were between iron decks,

catching the tropical heat. The men stampeded to get in a queue to get their share of a

basin of leavings from the German crew. Nobody had enough food. We all lost

weight. At first we had to eat out of empty tin cans with our fingers and wooden

spoons. Later most of us got plates. Towards the end some were beginning to get skin

eruptions. Our captors were never harsh, and possibly on other ships they were able to

accord better treatment.’ The men in this hold lived for up to 26 days in conditions

which could not be worse. In the circumstances they bore up so well that the Germans

themselves expressed amazement at their courage and sense of discipline. There were

79 Filipinos and Chinese in No. 1 hold of the ship. Father Kelly and the seamen said

that their conditions were slightly worse. Other seamen's statements included: C.

Connolly. — The food could not have been worse on the Altmark. Cidiens. — If any

one says our conditions were good on the Tokyo Maru he does not know what he is

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talking about. E. H. Ward, Wireless operator, who was taken aboard the Tokyo Maru

after being left alone in the abandoned Komata: When I looked down the hold it was

so packed that I thought there was only standing room. I sat in the hot, stifling heat for

about two hours, wondering what I had struck. Then the older prisoners showed me

how to make a wooden spoon, and with that I ate my meals out of a jam tin. Felix

Fagan: The natives in the forward hold seemed cowed by their conditions, and were

not covered by a machine gun as we were. This was pointing down the hold all the

time. Captain Upton, of the Rangitane: Conditions in the Tokyo Maru were terrible

and the food was bad, but we do not blame the raider's people for them. These were

circumstances of war. The officers were courteous. In the main prison ship the women

were treated much better than the men, who were jammed in the forward hold in

appalling conditions. They suffered from bad food, which was served uniformly to all

captives. Sister R. Golding, an Australian trained nurse, who was on her way to

London for A.R.P. work, told of the effort which she and others made to persuade the

captives to eat. 'I told my companions on the first day that they must eat the food to

keep up their strength,' she said. 'We had little fresh air, so we had to have food. Often

afterwards they said that they could not eat because it was so nauseating, but we

insisted.'

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

One of a number of ships sunk after the Rangitane, whose crew and passengers

swelled the ranks of those already interned is the German vessels, was a Norwegian

ship called Vinni.

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The following is the story of the Vinni:

(Taken from website http://www.warsailors.com/raidervictims/vinni.html )

Vinni had departed Dunedin, New Zealand in ballast on Nov. 21-1940, arriving Nauru

on Saturday the 30th, but it was too late in the day to start taking on board phosphate

cargo, and due to strong winds the next day she was ordered to head out again

(apparently, there was no harbour at Nauru). She went back to the signal station on

the island every morning and evening to see if there were any further orders, but the

weather continued to be unfavourable for loading. By the afternoon of Saturday Dec.

7 she had drifted about 15 n. miles away from the island, and had started to head back

when the people on board noticed a cargo ship with the Japanese flag on the side

approaching from the west side of Nauru. Vinni was at that time about 3 miles

northeast of the island and had stopped her engines again, preparing to stay there

through the night. When it became clear that the ship with the Japanese neutrality

markings was not on a friendly errand, Vinni attempted to get away at full speed, but

to no avail, the "Japanese" vessel eventually caught up with them. A prize crew was

placed on board (at about 19:15) and Vinni's men were ordered to gather up their

belongings as quickly as possible, abandon ship and row towards Komet which for the

occasion carried the name Manyo Maru, where they were locked up and placed under

guard. Vinni was sunk by explosives at 10 o'clock that evening, about 6 n. miles

northeast (northwest?) of Nauru (another source, "The World's Merchant Fleets",

Roger W. Jordan says 5 miles south of Nauru, while "Nortaships flåte" gives the

position as 00 41S 16 55E).

No shots had been fired, so all 32 had survived and were prisoners on board Komet

for 2 weeks, until they were left on Emirau Island on Dec. 21, along with almost 500

other prisoners from 6 ships, women and children included. The other ships were the

British Rangitane (sunk by Komet and Orion Nov. 27, the largest ship to be sunk by a

German raider), Komata (by Komet, Dec. 7), Triaster (Orion, Dec. 8), Triadic (Orion,

Dec. 8), Triona (by Komet and Orion Dec. 8?), and Holmwood (Komet, Nov. 25).

When the mainland was made aware of the incident it quickly became widespread

news. Mr. Fraser, New Zealand's Prime Minister at the time reported it himself as

early as Jan. 1-1941, soon after Vinni's 1st Mate A. Jensen, and some officers from

the other ships had managed to get in touch with the mainland (more on this further

down on this page). Even Oslo newspapers carried the news on Jan. 2. The Australian

Naval authorities sent the passenger ship S/S Nellore to their rescue. They arrived in

Townsville on Jan. 1-1941.

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Conditions on the Kulmerland (alias Tokyo Maru) have been described above.

She was described as a “hell ship.”

The Captain of the Vinni gives an eye-witness account of conditions faced by the

prisoners on board the Komet (alias Manyo Maru):

(translated from Norwegian, info from "19 Oslo-skips historie under verdenskrigen,

fra April 1940 til krigens slutt i 1945" (The Story of 19 Oslo ships during the World

War, from April 1940 until the End of the War in 1945").

"There were 165 of us beneath No. 1 hatch on the raider which was 7500 dwt and was

a combined passenger/cargo ship. The 'tweendeck was divided into 3 rooms, while the

lower one was divided into only 2 rooms. One of the rooms in the 'tweendeck was

referred to as the "ladies' cabin", and was as far as we could see meant for ladies. It

was separated from the other rooms and had its own toilet and two washbasins. The

room was 10 X 14 ft and had 2 double beds, and 2 cupboards for food, so there wasn't

much floor space left. However, the "cabin" had a table and 2 benches, all of which

could be folded and stored under the ceiling when not in use. In this cabin there were

13 men altogether, 5 captains, 1 doctor, who was 67 years old, 2 mates and 5

engineers. 8 slept in the double beds, 3 lengthwise on the floor, a 4th across by the

feet of those 3, while the 13th had to place himself diagonally, out through the door.

"Navigating" through all these bodies wasn't easy if someone needed to get up during

the night.

The other 4 rooms held the deck and engine people, as well as numerous passengers

from a large passenger vessel, mainly pilots and pilot apprentices, as well as some

Polish refugees. There were only men on the raider we were on, all the women on

ships that had been sunk earlier had been transferred to another, larger raider, where

they were allowed to live amidships and had daylight, which we didn't have. From the

deck we entered our "cabin" by way of a narrow, steep stairway. 2 fairly fat people

couldn't pass each other on the stairs. On the deck side it was equipped with a strong

steel door which was kept closed with the help of 3 or 4 strong steel bars with

padlocks on them. There were no guards in the room, but on deck there were armed

guards. We had no portholes, so that we saw no daylight. The air was circulated with

the help of fans, and once we got used to it we found it to be fairly good, but those

who had been prisoners the longest were starting to get a prison color in their faces,

that is, on what could be seen of them, as most had quite long beards towards the end.

Each man was given a singlet, a pair of shorts, a small towel, a piece of soap, a

toothbrush and toothpaste. The singlet wasn't used as it was hot in the room. We were

very close to the Equator, and everyone walked around bare-chested. On the

'tweendeck there were a dozen washbasins, meaning that several of us used the same

basin, but we weren't too particular, and besides we had to be careful with the water

which was given to us 3 times a day. Some of that had to be set aside for drinking

water. The food was simple, but as far as I could see very nourishing. In the beginning

there was a lack of utensils. 13 of us had to share 4 coffee mugs, and we couldn't be

too particular about that either. There was never a question of discarding anything

even though the "coffee" was more like water. Also, several men had to use the same

forks, knives and spoons at each meal. The "mess superintendent" was the luckiest, he

got to eat from the ladle. The doctor, our fellow passenger declared everything very

sanitary and that made us feel better, and we didn't come down with any diseases.

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Breakfast was at 7 in the morning and consisted of dark bread, on which we used

margarine one day, unsalted lard the next. This lasted us all day as it got stuck in our

mouths. Every now and again we got syrup for our bread and that tasted good,

because we never got any sugar, nor did we see any milk, salt, pepper, potatoes or

vegetables of any kind. Dinner at 12:30 consisted of some kind of soup with

preserved potatoes and some kind of meat, mostly lamb. Everything was willingly

consumed, and nobody complained about the food; there was simply nobody to

complain to.

From 1 o'clock until 1:30 we were allowed on deck, but only on and around No. 1

hatch, and at that time the stairway down to our "cabin" was crowded with people

wanting to get on deck as quickly as possible. The entrances to the middle of the ship

were watched by armed guards on both sides, but everything took place in good order,

and we never saw anything to complain about as far as behaviour of the guards or the

German officers.

Tea was at 6 o'clock, and at that time we got a little extra, either something canned, or

a piece of sausage. The food was fetched in the galley by crew, as none of the

imprisoned officers were allowed on the foredeck, so they could not go and get the

food. But the fellows who went to get the food were told to pay particular attention to

where the sun came up, which direction the wind was coming from, and to guess what

speed the ship was doing. Based on these reports we navigators tried to figure out

where we were, as some of us had rescued our watches, which had not been set since

we left our own ships, but the bad part was that the Germans didn't seem too

particular about giving us our meals at the same times, so many a different position

was calculated in the "ladies' cabin".

During meals the Germans played music over the loudspeakers, mostly marches, most

probably to chew by so that the food would taste better. There were 4 loudspeakers

down in the room, which also sent news in English. It was claimed they were true

news, in other words not news from BBC. Also, in the evenings we got a paper called

"Radio News for prisoners". At about 8 in the evening one of the passengers would

give a bible sermon in one of the rooms, which started with one of the well known

English psalms, which everyone knew. After that some chapter or other from the bible

was read and elaborated on, then a prayer was said, and finally another psalm which

everyone knew was sung. Nothing was ever said about enemies or anything like that

during these sessions, but the prayer was basically geared towards asking that the

thoughts of the ruling powers would be turned in a better direction, so that one could

hopefully meet loved ones at home again soon. The speaker used to stand on a pile of

hammocks, barefoot and in shorts, nothing else. Additionally he would be dirty and

unshaven, and the same goes for the congregation, so you automatically got the

impression of being back in one of the areas described so often during the missionary

times in the old days. Without a doubt we would have made a good photo for one of

those articles.

We were also allowed on deck for a while between 5:30 and 6, but after that we had

to be downstairs until 1 o'clock the next day. The air in the room was accordingly,

rather thick. And it was terribly hot down there, we were pouring with sweat, even

when being quite still. From one of the sunken ships the Germans had taken a lot of

books, which were sent down to us. They went from hand to hand. Other than that we

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spent our time playing cards and telling stories; there was always someone with a

story to tell. The "galley telegraph" provided a nice change and that started early on.

The most incredible rumours were sent out about where we were and where we were

going. Someone had spoken to one of the guards and heard this and that, another had

heard from the cook that this is how it was; many rumours had to be sorted out. But

what we feared the most was meeting an allied war ship; that would have meant

drowning like rats in a trap. One night the alarm went 4 times, and we all got up, that's

the only thing we could do.

While we were on board we attacked 2 other vessels. Every time the gun was fired we

were almost knocked down, and we all stood there and waited for the reply from the

other vessel, but luckily for us none came. Unfortunately it didn't always take place

without loss of life, and many were wounded as well. One of the officers taken

prisoner died and he was buried after dark one night. The captain of the sunken ship

was ordered to perform the burial ceremony, and when he and 4 of his crew went to

do this, he was clad in a torn and bloody shirt and pants that were in no better shape,

with nothing on his feet. His 4 helpers weren't much better off.

One day we noticed that the Germans did some strange things. We also felt a bump in

the starboard side of the ship. When we came up on deck for our "airing" we found

we were next to a raider that was twice as big, being replenished with oil. On our port

side we had 12 small islands, on our starboard side a little further away 6 islands, and

about 6 miles behind us a large island. The other raider appeared to have twice as

many prisoners as we did, and there were also women on board. On our ship there

were many who knew the women on the other raider, and a continuous waving

between the vessels ensued. It would be a lie to say that the women were dressed in

the latest fashions, and it was obvious that many hadn't been able to take as good care

of themselves as they may have liked to.

Everything has an end, so also our imprisonment on the German raider. One day I and

495 other prisoners were landed on a small island, like a bunch of Robinson's; on

Emirau Island in the Bismark group. Before we were landed we all had to sign a

document that said: "We the undersigned do hereby give our word of honour and

declare solemnly that on our release we will bear neither arms nor undertake military

actions against Germany and her allies during the present hostilities. By breach of

this promise we realize we are liable to capital punishment". Underneath this

declaration was the title, names, date and year of birth and address, then the signatures

of everyone from Vinni. At the end it said 'Im Auftrage des Kommandes, Eggert

Oberleutnant S.'"

This report is signed Helmer Henriksen.

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Below is an extract from “Hitler's Secret Pirate Fleet:

The Deadliest Ships of World War II” By James P. Duffy :

(Eyssen was captain of the Komet, which had just arrived in the Pacific after a

remarkable voyage through the NW passage, disguised as a freighter from Russia.)

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Confirmation of the alias names of the German raiders:

“In early November, Komet resupplied and refueled in Japan, was disguised as the

Japanese merchantman Manio Maru. She operated with the Orion, disguised as

Mayebashi Maru and the supply ship Kulmerland, posing as the Tokio Maru.”

(Wikipedia. Source not given.)

However, an interesting book called “Shooting the War: The Memoir and

Photographs of a U-Boat Officer in World War II”

(by Otto Giese, James E. Wise, Jr.) states that the Komet’s alias was written slightly

illegibly, and was “Ryoku Maru.”

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This statement about the alias being illegibly written (see below) is in direct

contradiction with all other accounts, and furthermore, however illegibly written, it

would be difficult to confuse “Ryoku” with “Manyo.”

(Unless the confusion is between Japanese characters?)

Also, there is no mention of the sinking of the Rangitane in this memoir.

Surprising, since the Rangitane was one of the largest ships sunk in the Pacific during

that stage of the war, and in addition to her passengers she carried a valuable cargo of

goods and bullion.

Photograph above, and following text from

“Shooting the War:

The Memoir and Photographs of a U-Boat Officer in World War II”

by Otto Giese, James E. Wise, Jr.

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Here is an eye-witness account from the European inhabitant of Emirau when the

survivors were released. This gives an idea of conditions on the island.

6.45am December 20 1940 Emirau Island originally a German Copra Plantation now

owned by WR Carpenter and managed by Charles Cook.

This is his story to the Sunday Sun 21st December 1940.

Collett's had a saw mill on the other side of the island. By the time we linked up the

three German ships anchored and were landing prisoners in force.

Two German Officers stepped forward and said: "We are taking this Island in the

name of the Reich." They asked for food, they ordered me to run the cattle into the

yard, and slaughtered some for fresh meat. They then informed us they were landing

500 prisoners on Emirau Island.

The three ships were anchored off the wharf and I drove between two files of German

Marines. My wife and I then waited while the prisoners were landed. Two Officers

approached us: one a Doctor, the other we learned later was a Gestapo man for

questioning.

The Germans landed the first prisoners, women and wounded. We took some to my

home. German escorts rode with us all the time. They divided into two parties, one

looking for radio transmitters. The others killed five of my working bullocks. Back at

the wharf I met the German Commander wearing two Iron Crosses

The raiders sailed from Emirau Sunday 21 December. We had plenty of food and

cattle to slaughter, the Kanaka labour stripped their gardens to provide vegetables, the

women slept on the floor of our bungalow, we bedded the wounded in the guest

bungalow, the men split up into two parties some made bush houses, others camped in

the copra sheds and kilns. We gave the wounded our private stores and everything

from the refrigerator. We got natives to help the women prisoners with the cooking.

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Here is the remainder of the report in the Courier Mail (Brisbane) Saturday 4th

January 1941, which carried the story (above) from Captain Upton of the Rangitane.

It describes the reception received by the survivors.

Fruit In Demand

Indicating their eagerness to eat good food, particularly fruit, the passengers travelling

in the rescue train descended on refreshments rooms and station kiosks like locusts.

They avidly bought everything available. Their appearance caused sensations.

Townspeople gaped in wonder as scores of bearded, variously clad men, and women

dressed in slacks and other in- formal garments, sprang from the special train at each

stop. The arrangements for the train, which was in two sections, tended to give them

all the comfort possible. Cigarettes, drinks, and sweets were distributed in the day

time, while in the special dining cars ample meals were provided. All the women and

children were provided with sleeping berths.

In Brisbane To-day

Three hundred and thirty-three of the victims of the Nazi raiders in the Pacific will

arrive in Brisbane by two special trains this morning on their way to Sydney. The

journey will be continued this afternoon. While in Brisbane they will be the guests of

the Queensland Government. They will be given meals, and where necessary, medical

attention. Doctors and nurses will meet each train and ambulance transport will be

available. Of the 496 rescued people, 163 are Chinese, or coloured people, including

Filipinos and New Caledonians. They will be returned to their countries direct from

the port of arrival. Each batch of passengers will de-train at No. 1 platform, Central

Station—the first at 9 a.m., the second at 11.30 — and each will be met and

welcomed by the Acting Premier and Minister for Health and Home Affairs (Mr.

Hanlon), who will tell them of the arrangements for their care in Brisbane. The two

parties will travel South by the one train, which will leave South Brisbane inter-State

station at 1.50 p.m. Many prominent citizens, including the Lord Mayor (Aid.

Chandler), will be at Central station. Assistance will be given also by the

Commissioner for Railways (Mr. C. A. Murton), the Commissioner of Police (Mr. C.

J. Carroll), and other Commonwealth and State officials. The public will not be

admitted to the platform, but relatives and close friends of the visitors can use tickets

of admission, obtainable from the senior clerk of the Chief Secretary's Department

(Mr. G. D. Lee), in the main front vestibule of Central station. Help and advice will be

given by patriotic and other organisations, including the Red Cross Society, the

Patriotic Fund of Queensland, Australian Comforts Fund, Missions to Seamen, the

New Settlers' League, the National Council of Women, the Girl Guides' Association

(Allied Refugee Children's Fund), and Polish Red Cross and Patriotic Fund. Gifts will

include handkerchiefs, toys, and sweets for the children, sweets, cigarettes, powder,

and handkerchiefs for the women, socks, tobacco, and cigarette papers for the men,

and reading matter for all. Representatives of the Patriotic Fund will meet the train

before it reaches Brisbane to distribute fruit and cigarettes. The fund's welfare branch

has placed its rooms at the disposal of the authorities for visitors.

The rescued people will have their meals at the Hotel Canberra, which will be their

headquarters in Brisbane. Guides will be provided for those who wish to do shopping.

For others a short tour of the city will be provided in City Council buses. In the first

train are 58 women and six children, and nine wounded. Attached to one train is a

fully equipped medical car, under Dr. Crawford, of the Rangitane. At 1.15 p.m.,

vehicles will leave the hotel for the South Brisbane station. They will form a

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procession along Ann Creek and Queen streets, and over Victoria Bridge. The Under

Secretary of the Chief Secretary's Department (Mr. G. W. Watson) received the

visitors when they landed and is travelling withthem. The Assistant Under Secretary

(Mr. R. B. McAllister) has the Brisbane arrangements in hand.

The evacuation of the prisoners from

Emirau Island.

On board Nellore. The prisoners from Emirau are rescued and taken to Australia.

Tom Hooper, sporting a beard, is in the white shirt, back row, far right.

Australia War Memorial Collection 00563

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Returning from Emirau Australian War memorial Collection 005062

Tom Hooper is on the left, sitting on the deck.

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On Board Nellore returning from Emirau.

The photograph is entitled: “Members of the Fleet Air Arm trainees, NZ, survivors of

the Rangitane”

From a collection held by the State Library of Victoria

Accession number H98 2051/2804

Tom Hooper is top left in the white shirt.