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. TRIADIC (London)
WW2
WW2
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld) 3-1-1941
Black Raider Has Sunk 5 Ships
Triadic's Capatian Describes Attack
BY OUR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
Painted completely black and bearing no markings what-soever, a German ship which has become known as the Black Raider, has been responsible for' sinking five ships in the Pacific Ocean.
This was revealed by Captain Joseph Callender, of East Brighton, Melbourne, who was skipper of the British Phosphate Commission's Triadic which was sunk at dawn on December 8.
Pressmen visiting an Australian port to interview survivors of seven of the 10 ships sunk in the Pacific in recent months were surprised to learn that they had been eating in the same dining room as Captain Callender without being aware of his identity.
Describing the shelling of his vessel Captain Callender said: 'It all came without warning. Bad westerly weather caused us to drift off Nauru, waiting a chance to berth, and while it was still dark on December 8 an enemy vessel, which turned out to be the Black Raider, opened fire, and soon the Triadic was an inferno. 'The first shell fell short, but the second, third and fourth hit her amidships and she soon sank. The first hit
put the wireless loom out of action and we were unable to establish contacts.'
The Triadic had a crew of 60 and a few passengers. The only casualty was a Filipino, Simeon Jiminez, and the only passenger who was injured was young Jimmy Langar, who was returning home with his mother and brother to join their father on his plantation. The personnel of the vessel was taken aboard the supply ship which has featured in all the raids. Continuing. Captain Callender said that one raider and the mother ship,bore Japanese markings, but the other raider which had contributed to sinking five vessels including three of his own line, was painted completely black and bore no markings.
Captain Callender was aboard the raider from December 8 to December 21 and said that the treatment' was as good as could be expected under the circumstances.
'The raider commander apologised to me for sinking our ships saying 'Our fight is not 'against you but with those higher up. We must take your ships.'
Although practically all the survivors admit the fairness of the enemy in their treatment aboard the raiders and supply ships, Mrs. Langar, of Nauru, is embittered because one of her sons, James aged 10 had his left leg badly shattered by shell splinters during the Black Raider's attack on the Triadic.
'I don't care what anyone says, there is no justification for the attack on defenceless women and children, and all I can say is that the Germans are as ruthless as ever they were reputed to be,' she said.
Black Raider Has Sunk 5 Ships
Triadic's Capatian Describes Attack
BY OUR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
Painted completely black and bearing no markings what-soever, a German ship which has become known as the Black Raider, has been responsible for' sinking five ships in the Pacific Ocean.
This was revealed by Captain Joseph Callender, of East Brighton, Melbourne, who was skipper of the British Phosphate Commission's Triadic which was sunk at dawn on December 8.
Pressmen visiting an Australian port to interview survivors of seven of the 10 ships sunk in the Pacific in recent months were surprised to learn that they had been eating in the same dining room as Captain Callender without being aware of his identity.
Describing the shelling of his vessel Captain Callender said: 'It all came without warning. Bad westerly weather caused us to drift off Nauru, waiting a chance to berth, and while it was still dark on December 8 an enemy vessel, which turned out to be the Black Raider, opened fire, and soon the Triadic was an inferno. 'The first shell fell short, but the second, third and fourth hit her amidships and she soon sank. The first hit
put the wireless loom out of action and we were unable to establish contacts.'
The Triadic had a crew of 60 and a few passengers. The only casualty was a Filipino, Simeon Jiminez, and the only passenger who was injured was young Jimmy Langar, who was returning home with his mother and brother to join their father on his plantation. The personnel of the vessel was taken aboard the supply ship which has featured in all the raids. Continuing. Captain Callender said that one raider and the mother ship,bore Japanese markings, but the other raider which had contributed to sinking five vessels including three of his own line, was painted completely black and bore no markings.
Captain Callender was aboard the raider from December 8 to December 21 and said that the treatment' was as good as could be expected under the circumstances.
'The raider commander apologised to me for sinking our ships saying 'Our fight is not 'against you but with those higher up. We must take your ships.'
Although practically all the survivors admit the fairness of the enemy in their treatment aboard the raiders and supply ships, Mrs. Langar, of Nauru, is embittered because one of her sons, James aged 10 had his left leg badly shattered by shell splinters during the Black Raider's attack on the Triadic.
'I don't care what anyone says, there is no justification for the attack on defenceless women and children, and all I can say is that the Germans are as ruthless as ever they were reputed to be,' she said.