Honouring the Men who gave their lives whilst serving in the Merchant Navy
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
S.S. APARIMA (London)
WW1
WW1
S.S. Aparima was sunk on 19 November 1917 by torpedo fired by German submarine UB-40 at position 50° 29' N, 01° 58' W - approximately 6 nautical miles from Anvil Point. She was sailing in ballast from London to Barry where she was due to take on coal. This was one of New Zealand's worse shipping losses in the war and 17 of 30 cadets on board were amongst those lost.
The Argus (Melbourne) 30-11-1917
APARIMA TORPEDOED.
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE.
No Troops or Passengers Aboard.
SYDNEY, .Thursday.-Another British ship well known in Australian waters, the Aparima, 5,704 tons, owned by The Union Steamship Company, has, according to information received in Sydney, being torpedoed and sunk. At the time she was lost the Aparima was proceeding from London to New York in ballast. The loss of life is believed to have been heavy, although the vessel did not carry troops or passengers at the time. The Aparima had latterly been used by the Union Company as a training ship, and there were 30 cadets aboard her when she was sunk. Fourteen officers and members of the crew and 11 cadets only were saved. In addition, 31 lascars were rescued. The heavy loss of life is attributed to a great explosion which followed the torpedoing of the vessel.
Two Victorians on Board.
There were two boys from Victoria on board the Aparima when she was torpedoed, Sydney Newton, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Newton, and Aubrey B. N. Stacey, son of Mr. T. G. Stacey, of Carlton. Newton was
educated at Scotch College, and Stacey at Brunswick Grammar School and the Technical College. They joined together at the age of 15, and had had five trips in the vessel. Each was 17 years of age When
the Aparima commenced doing duty as a troopship they had the opportunity of transferring to another steamer, but resolutely refused to desert their ship, and said that they would stick to their duty so that
no one could call them slackers.
APARIMA TORPEDOED.
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE.
No Troops or Passengers Aboard.
SYDNEY, .Thursday.-Another British ship well known in Australian waters, the Aparima, 5,704 tons, owned by The Union Steamship Company, has, according to information received in Sydney, being torpedoed and sunk. At the time she was lost the Aparima was proceeding from London to New York in ballast. The loss of life is believed to have been heavy, although the vessel did not carry troops or passengers at the time. The Aparima had latterly been used by the Union Company as a training ship, and there were 30 cadets aboard her when she was sunk. Fourteen officers and members of the crew and 11 cadets only were saved. In addition, 31 lascars were rescued. The heavy loss of life is attributed to a great explosion which followed the torpedoing of the vessel.
Two Victorians on Board.
There were two boys from Victoria on board the Aparima when she was torpedoed, Sydney Newton, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Newton, and Aubrey B. N. Stacey, son of Mr. T. G. Stacey, of Carlton. Newton was
educated at Scotch College, and Stacey at Brunswick Grammar School and the Technical College. They joined together at the age of 15, and had had five trips in the vessel. Each was 17 years of age When
the Aparima commenced doing duty as a troopship they had the opportunity of transferring to another steamer, but resolutely refused to desert their ship, and said that they would stick to their duty so that
no one could call them slackers.
First Officer Harry Archibald DANIEL
Born: Kiataumara, New Zealand
Killed in Action 19-11-1917 aged 29years
Son of the late Samuel George and Elizabeth Daniel;
Husband of Alice Maud Daniel, of Brigerton House, Newcastle, New South Wales
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Born: Kiataumara, New Zealand
Killed in Action 19-11-1917 aged 29years
Son of the late Samuel George and Elizabeth Daniel;
Husband of Alice Maud Daniel, of Brigerton House, Newcastle, New South Wales
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll
Cadet Sydney Allison NEWTON
Mercantile Marine Killed in Action 19-11-1917 aged 17years Son of J. A. Newton, of 370, Bowke St., Melbourne. Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll The Argus (Melbourne) 8-12-1917 NEWTON.- On the 22nd November, Sydney Allison (Syd), the dearly loved son of J. A. and Frances Newton, of Melbourne, aged 17. He was a cadet on the "Apirima," which was torpedoed without warning, and sunk in five minutes. He died doing his duty to his country; done to death along with 17 of his cadet mates. |
Cadet Aubrey STACEY
Mercantile Marine Killed in Action 19-11-1917 Son of Mrs. L. A. Stacey, of 64, Neill St., Carlton, Melbourne. Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll The Argus (Melbourne) 15-12-1917
STACEY.- On the 22nd November, Aubrey Beckingham Neill Stacey, the loved only son of T. G. Stacey and L. A. Stacey, of Melbourne, aged 17 years. He was a cadet on the Aparima training ship for officers, which was torpedoed without warning at 1 p.m., sinking in five minutes. He died doing his duty to his country for shirkers' liberty, and was done to death with17 of his cadet mates, without a chance to fight for his life. Eligibles, avenge his death. |
Cadet Midshipman Philip Mervyn Maunsell TOWNSEND
Born: 2-9-1901, Victoria Merchant Navy Killed in Action 19-11-1917, English Channel aged 16years Son of Samuel Philip & Isabella Blanche Townsend Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll The Argus (Melbourne) 15-12-1917
TOWNSEND - On the 22nd November, Cadet Philip Mervyn Maunsell Townsend, aged 16, beloved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S.P. Townsend, of Mornington. He was lost with his ship the S.S. Aparima, torpedoed by a German submarine. |
Photos of Cadets The Leader (Melbourne, Vic) 8-12-1917