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. TURAKINA (Plymouth)
WW2
WW2
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, N.S.W.) 26-1-1941
Two Australians killed by raider
Two Australians and an American were killed when the British freighter Turakina (8706 tons) was shelled by a German raider in the Tasman on August 20, last year. This Information has been received by the Australian Red Cross.
The Australians killed were: --
Gilbert James Need, 29, fourth engineer of Dart-brook Road. Auburn, John Moloney, 34, whose family lives at Dapto (N.S.W.). The American was J. S. Alistair Taylor, who signed on at Baltimore (U.S.A.).
The Red Cross notified Birt and Co., Sydney agents for the Turakina, of the deaths of Need and Maloney, Birt and Co. informed the relatives. The Turakina. although armed with only one stern gun. fought the raider for two and a half hours. It Is officially believed that of her crew of 58, who were signed on in England, 35 were killed. The remaining 23 are believed to be prisoners on board the raider Narvik.
None of the Turakina survivors was among the raiders' prisoners who were landed at Emira Island on December 21 last.
Mother Still Hopes
Need's mother, Mrs. Evelyn Need, said last night: — "I am not -yet convinced that my son is dead. I am hoping that a mistake has been made. "I don't think the Turakina should have fought the raider under such hopeless odds. "The fight she put up was a very gallant one, but she would not have been disgraced had she surrendered in the circumstances. "At least many valuable lives may have been saved."
Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, N.S.W.) 27-1-1941
TURAKINA DISASTER
TWO AUSTRALIANS KILLED
SYDNEY, Sunday.
Two Australians were included among the 35 members of the crew of the British freighter Turakina, who were killed in action with a German raider in the Tasman Sea on August 20 last. They were Gilbert Need, aged 29 years, fourth engineer, of Auburn, and John Maloney, aged 34 years, of Dapto, N.S.W. An American, J. Alistair, who joined the ship at Baltimore, was also killed.
Two Australians killed by raider
Two Australians and an American were killed when the British freighter Turakina (8706 tons) was shelled by a German raider in the Tasman on August 20, last year. This Information has been received by the Australian Red Cross.
The Australians killed were: --
Gilbert James Need, 29, fourth engineer of Dart-brook Road. Auburn, John Moloney, 34, whose family lives at Dapto (N.S.W.). The American was J. S. Alistair Taylor, who signed on at Baltimore (U.S.A.).
The Red Cross notified Birt and Co., Sydney agents for the Turakina, of the deaths of Need and Maloney, Birt and Co. informed the relatives. The Turakina. although armed with only one stern gun. fought the raider for two and a half hours. It Is officially believed that of her crew of 58, who were signed on in England, 35 were killed. The remaining 23 are believed to be prisoners on board the raider Narvik.
None of the Turakina survivors was among the raiders' prisoners who were landed at Emira Island on December 21 last.
Mother Still Hopes
Need's mother, Mrs. Evelyn Need, said last night: — "I am not -yet convinced that my son is dead. I am hoping that a mistake has been made. "I don't think the Turakina should have fought the raider under such hopeless odds. "The fight she put up was a very gallant one, but she would not have been disgraced had she surrendered in the circumstances. "At least many valuable lives may have been saved."
Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, N.S.W.) 27-1-1941
TURAKINA DISASTER
TWO AUSTRALIANS KILLED
SYDNEY, Sunday.
Two Australians were included among the 35 members of the crew of the British freighter Turakina, who were killed in action with a German raider in the Tasman Sea on August 20 last. They were Gilbert Need, aged 29 years, fourth engineer, of Auburn, and John Maloney, aged 34 years, of Dapto, N.S.W. An American, J. Alistair, who joined the ship at Baltimore, was also killed.
Fourth Engineer Officer Gilbert James Harry NEED
Born: London, England Merchant Navy Died 20-8-1940 at Sea (South Pacific) aged 28years Son of Reginald Percy and Kate Evelyn Need, of Lane Cove, N.S.W. Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England, United Kingdom - Panel 112 Honoured Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll |