Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

S.S. WIMMERA MINED,
SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE.
Details of the sinking of the Wimmera reached Sydney on July 8 by the steamer Manuka. Several of the Wimmera passengers and 50 of the crew came to Sydney by the Manuka.
The Wimmera left Auckland for Sydney at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25, having on board about 76 passengers and a crew of 75 all told. Early on the following morning there were two explosions, at intervals of a few seconds. The social hall was smashed to pieces, and the main mast was carried away, taking with it the wireless apparatus, thus cutting off all chance of calling for help. The operator, however, persevered in his endeavours to send out an S.O.S. message, and lost his life. Two minutes after the explosion the ship was in complete darkness. For some time she rode on an even keel, and then listed to port.
The heavy seas almost immediately righted her, and then, pausing momentarily, she made a plunge stern first into the depths. With her went her commander, Captain Kell (who had told those in the last boat to get away and pick up all you can")., the first officer, the chief steward, and others.
There was not the slightest panic when the explosion awoke the sleeping passengers. They and the crew are reported to have acted quickly but quietly and with out confusion. Five boats got away safely.
Four of them landed several hours later at Tom Bowling Bay, and the passengers, after climbing a mountain, walked 15 miles to Mr. Murdoch Munro's homestead. A Maori reported the party to Mr. Munro as invading Germans. Naval trawlers had in the meantime been signalled by Mr. Wilson, the second officer, but they arrived shortly after the large party, who were barefooted and lightly clad, had started for Mr Munro's home. The fifth boat reached land near Wanganui at 3 p.m. next day, 34 hours after the explosion. Maories gave much help to this party.
The behaviour of the women was excellent. There was not a single instance of a wife being separated from her husband, nor are there amongst the survivors any fathers or mothers who were bereft of their children. All the survivors agree that a great factor was the devotion to duty of the stewards and stewardesses. When passengers were being taken off Mrs. Gould, who is nearly 70 years of ,age, offered to stay on board so that some of the younger women might be saved. "I have lived my life," she said. She was taken on board No. 3 boat and landed. On the rough journey along the track to Wachuahua, without boots and with very little clothing, she bore up wonderfully, and her spirits helped to keep up those of the party.  When the Wimmera heeled over to port before the final plunge, No. 4 lifeboat was lying alongside, about midships, and a number of' people were working desperately to get it clear. The story of their efforts was related by D. Backstedt, the donkeyman.
"With other members of the crew I assisted in lowering No. 4 boat, under the supervision of the captain," said Backstedt. "I recollect noticing in the boat before shewas lowered three stewardesses, two women passengers, and two little children, the rest being male passengers and members of the Crew. The boat reached the water without mishap, and the captain then ordered me to board the boat. I slid down the falls into the boat, and found that they were having trouble in releasing it from the falls. We were on the weather side, and the waves and wind caused the boat to bump heavily against the ship. At last the ropes were released from the stern, but in spite of the most desperate efforts the bolt could not be drawn to release the forward block.
I commenced to cut away the fall with an axe and had succeeded in cutting two of the four ropes when the cry was raised that the heavy bumping against the side of the ship had stove in the boat. At this moment I was knocked off my feet, and fell into the sea. I found myself right underneath the boat, and, striking out, reached the surface a few  yards away. I noticed that the boat was then swamped, its sides being awash. It was pounding heavily against the side of the ship. The cries of the women and children were heartrending, but we were all helpless."
Backstedt was picked up by No. 2 life boat.
Huddart, Parker, Ltd. received, on July 4 a letter which was despatched from their Wellington office on June 27, the day after the Wimmera had met with disaster. It stated that on June 24 instructions were received from the authorities that the Wimmera was to tow an American steamer into Auckland. The sailing therefore, postponed till the following morning, but after this had been done the authorities cancelled their original instructions to the company, and sent another Steamer to tow the American craft. It almost invariably occurs when a Steamer's departure is postponed that some of the passengers either defer their passage or fail to reach the vessel in time, and the opinion "was expressed that this might explain the discrepancy between the first totals of the ship's complement cabled by the Auckland office of Huddart, Parker Ltd., and the figures issued later.