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Location
At Sea - Wellington (NZ) - Liverpool
Age
17 Years

29th June 1940

My watch this morning, from 12-6am, proved to be quite exciting, and so did subsequent watches during the day. First of all a distress message was sent out from the “EMPIRE TOUCAN”. She was in the same place as we were about 5 or 6 hours beforehand. This is the first distress under the new procedure that I have yet received. Most of my watch was taken up in taking down different messages concerning it.

The “Coptic” (one of this company’s ships – similar to the ”Waiwera”) broadcast the distress, but did it incorrectly, so for some unknown reason, the skipper thinks she has been sunk as well, but I’m certain she hasn’t. The second incident occurred when I was relieving Mr Salway for breakfast. I was sitting there quite calmly, when all of a sudden they sent out the auto alarm signal again. I thought maybe another ship had been sunk, but it was the code word meaning “Air raid imminent”. One of the Sunderland flying boats circled over us once or twice during the early hours of the morning. Msgs. have been coming through so frequently that if we’re not careful we all get writer’s cramp. Especially as everything has to be duplicated! Latest report at 11.30 tonight is that I was woken up by the auto alarm going off, and another “Imminent air raid” was sent out. Latest rumour we are going to turn back and go to London!!! Sighted conf of 30 odd ships about 3 naval ships protecting!