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
M.V. NIMBIN (Sydney)
WW2
WW2
M.V. Nimbin sunk about 8 miles off Norah Head, New South Wales (10 miles east of Bird Island) after hitting a German Mine at 3:20pm on the 5 December 1940 with the loss of 7 lives. It is believed that this mine had been laid by the German Commerce Raider "Pinguin". "MV Nimbin" had left Coff's Harbour jetty on 4 December 1940 on its way to Sydney.
The Sydney Morning Herald (N.S.W.) 6-12-1940
SURVIVOR'S DRAMATIC STORY.
The survivors were landed in Sydney late last night.
The following list was issued by the
Navy Department :--
SURVIVORS IN SYDNEY HOSPITAL
ARTHUR NICKLEN, able seaman, 3 Resthaven Road, Hurstville, fractured right arm. - EMIL ANDERSEN, able seaman, 131 Old Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, injuries to back and head.
CHARLES CARTWRIGHT, able seaman, 95 Garrett Street, Maroubra, spinal injuries. - JOHN REYNOLDS, boatswain, 12a Greenacre Road, Hurstville, fractured kneecap.
UNINJURED.
STUART KENNEDY, first engineer, 17 Withers Street, Arncliffe. - THOMAS HUMPHREY, second mate, 11 Bridgeview Avenue, Crow's Nest. - FREDERICK WHELAN, second engineer, 3 Vernon Street, Balmain.
EDWARD GREEN, fourth engineer, North Sydney. - WILLIAM PRY, able seaman, 5a Riverside Crescent, Marrickville.- WALTER NICHOLSON, able seaman, 7 Ida Street, Hurlstone Park.
CHRIS BANKS, able seaman, 27 Balmain Road, Leichhardt. - DAVID POWEL, cook, 5 Windsor Road, Merrylands. - FREDERICK GOUGH, steward, 11 Margate Street, Ramsgate.
MISSING.
CAPTAIN W. BYSANTSON, master, 20 Cecil Street, Manly.
CHARLES CHAPMAN, first mate, 96 Denison Road, Petersham.
A. McALLISTER, third engineer, 33 Grosvenor Road, Lindfield.
E. CARLSON, greaser, 85 Cowper Street, Glebe.
N. HULTON, greaser, 777 George Street,Sydney.
E. HALLETT, greaser, 36 Harrow Road,Stanmore.
L. GORRY, able seaman, 10 Bowral Street,Kensington.
ENGINEER'S STORY.
The chief engineer, Mr. Kennedy, said last night :--
"The explosion occurred about 3.25 p.m. It was deafening — terrific. I shall never forget it. "Apparently it blew about a third of the ship into small parts. 'We sank in three minutes. There was no warning and no time to give orders — it was just every man for himself.
"The captain was in his cabin and the third mate was on the bridge. One of the engineers and a greaser were probably blown to bits. I was in the mess room, but before I knew what had happened I found myself floundering in the water. Most of us were clad only in singlet and trousers, but the water was not cold.
"CLUNG TO WRECKAGE."
Fortunately a smooth sea was running, and we clung to wreckage. The vessel was carrying a full cargo, including many tons of three-ply, made up in bundles, and these made excellent rafts. "We had a large number of pigs on board and they swam round our rafts squealing with terror. Some of them tried to get on the rafts, but overbalanced and slipped off. "I did not see any of the missing men.
Poor chaps, they must have all been so seriously hurt that they could not make any effort to save themselves." "We kept an eye on one another while we floated on the rafts, but each man seemed to be comfortable while awaiting rescue," he said. "We knew that it was only just a matter of time when a vessel would be sent out to rescue us." Shortly after the explosion we were sighted by a land plane and a little later by a seaplane. The pilot of the seaplane landed on the water and signalled to us. He then flew off towards the land. "We remained on the rafts about two and a half hours, when we were sighted by a vessel which made towards us. She came within 100 feet of us. She lowered boats, and took us on board. She brought us on to Sydney.
Mr. Kennedy added that he had been at sea for 21 years. He was a member of the crew of a ship which caught fire in the English Channel some years ago, and he also served in the Navy in the last war.
When the rescue ship arrived at the wharf ambulances were waiting to rush the injured men to hospital. The uninjured men were sent to their homes in motor cars. They were dressed in clothes which they had borrowed from members of the rescue ship, some of them having cast off parts of their clothing while clinging to tie rafts. Most of the members of the crew were old employees of the owners.
Captain Bysantson had been with the company for about 30 years. The first mate, Mr. Chapman, had been with the company for about 20 years, and the third engineer, Mr. A. McAllister, had been in the company's employ on and off for a number of years.
SURVIVOR'S DRAMATIC STORY.
The survivors were landed in Sydney late last night.
The following list was issued by the
Navy Department :--
SURVIVORS IN SYDNEY HOSPITAL
ARTHUR NICKLEN, able seaman, 3 Resthaven Road, Hurstville, fractured right arm. - EMIL ANDERSEN, able seaman, 131 Old Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, injuries to back and head.
CHARLES CARTWRIGHT, able seaman, 95 Garrett Street, Maroubra, spinal injuries. - JOHN REYNOLDS, boatswain, 12a Greenacre Road, Hurstville, fractured kneecap.
UNINJURED.
STUART KENNEDY, first engineer, 17 Withers Street, Arncliffe. - THOMAS HUMPHREY, second mate, 11 Bridgeview Avenue, Crow's Nest. - FREDERICK WHELAN, second engineer, 3 Vernon Street, Balmain.
EDWARD GREEN, fourth engineer, North Sydney. - WILLIAM PRY, able seaman, 5a Riverside Crescent, Marrickville.- WALTER NICHOLSON, able seaman, 7 Ida Street, Hurlstone Park.
CHRIS BANKS, able seaman, 27 Balmain Road, Leichhardt. - DAVID POWEL, cook, 5 Windsor Road, Merrylands. - FREDERICK GOUGH, steward, 11 Margate Street, Ramsgate.
MISSING.
CAPTAIN W. BYSANTSON, master, 20 Cecil Street, Manly.
CHARLES CHAPMAN, first mate, 96 Denison Road, Petersham.
A. McALLISTER, third engineer, 33 Grosvenor Road, Lindfield.
E. CARLSON, greaser, 85 Cowper Street, Glebe.
N. HULTON, greaser, 777 George Street,Sydney.
E. HALLETT, greaser, 36 Harrow Road,Stanmore.
L. GORRY, able seaman, 10 Bowral Street,Kensington.
ENGINEER'S STORY.
The chief engineer, Mr. Kennedy, said last night :--
"The explosion occurred about 3.25 p.m. It was deafening — terrific. I shall never forget it. "Apparently it blew about a third of the ship into small parts. 'We sank in three minutes. There was no warning and no time to give orders — it was just every man for himself.
"The captain was in his cabin and the third mate was on the bridge. One of the engineers and a greaser were probably blown to bits. I was in the mess room, but before I knew what had happened I found myself floundering in the water. Most of us were clad only in singlet and trousers, but the water was not cold.
"CLUNG TO WRECKAGE."
Fortunately a smooth sea was running, and we clung to wreckage. The vessel was carrying a full cargo, including many tons of three-ply, made up in bundles, and these made excellent rafts. "We had a large number of pigs on board and they swam round our rafts squealing with terror. Some of them tried to get on the rafts, but overbalanced and slipped off. "I did not see any of the missing men.
Poor chaps, they must have all been so seriously hurt that they could not make any effort to save themselves." "We kept an eye on one another while we floated on the rafts, but each man seemed to be comfortable while awaiting rescue," he said. "We knew that it was only just a matter of time when a vessel would be sent out to rescue us." Shortly after the explosion we were sighted by a land plane and a little later by a seaplane. The pilot of the seaplane landed on the water and signalled to us. He then flew off towards the land. "We remained on the rafts about two and a half hours, when we were sighted by a vessel which made towards us. She came within 100 feet of us. She lowered boats, and took us on board. She brought us on to Sydney.
Mr. Kennedy added that he had been at sea for 21 years. He was a member of the crew of a ship which caught fire in the English Channel some years ago, and he also served in the Navy in the last war.
When the rescue ship arrived at the wharf ambulances were waiting to rush the injured men to hospital. The uninjured men were sent to their homes in motor cars. They were dressed in clothes which they had borrowed from members of the rescue ship, some of them having cast off parts of their clothing while clinging to tie rafts. Most of the members of the crew were old employees of the owners.
Captain Bysantson had been with the company for about 30 years. The first mate, Mr. Chapman, had been with the company for about 20 years, and the third engineer, Mr. A. McAllister, had been in the company's employ on and off for a number of years.
Master William James BYSANTSON
Born: Auckland, New Zealand Australian Merchant Navy Date of Engagement 15-8-1938 - Sydney, N.S.W. Died 5-12-1940 at Sea, aged 57years Son of James Alfred and Priscilla Bysantson Husband of Alice Winifred Bysantson, of Manly, New South Wales. Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - 8 Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll |
Donkeyman Ernest Wilfred CARLSON
Born: Sweden Australian Merchant Navy Date of Engagement 9-3-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W. Died 5-12-1940 at Sea, aged 56years Son of John and Sarah Carlson Husband of Pearl Elizabeth Carlson, of Glebe, New South Wales. Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - 10 Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll |
Chief Officer Charles George CHAPMAN
Australian Merchant Navy Date of Engagement 1-4-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W. Died 5-12-1940 at Sea, aged 56years Son of Walter James Chapman and Rachel Chapman Husband of Florence Elizabeth Chapman, of Petersham, New South Wales. Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - 8 Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll |
Wiper Ernest Walter HALLETT
Born: Napier, New Zealand Awarded Military Medal WW1 Australian Merchant Navy Date of Engagement 19-5-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W. Died 5-12-1940, aged 60years Son of Walter and Elizabeth Hallett Husband of Carlotta Olga Hallett, of Redfern, New South Wales. Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - 10 Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll |
3rd Officer Archibald McALLISTER
Born: Melbourne, Victoria Australian Merchant Navy Date of Engagement 7-9-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W. Died 5-12-1940 at sea N.S.W., aged 47years Son of Charles and Margaret McAllister Husband of Eileen McAllister, of Chatswood, New South Wales. Honoured Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales - 8 Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll |