Surrounded by some of his crew, Captain G.B. Morgan (centre left) of the Awatea offers thanks to the master of the Dutch vessel that evacuated them from the Mediterranean after the New Zealand liner was sunk during Operation Torch in November 1942. The following June, Morgan took command of the Monowai, another famous Tasman liner operating as a wartime troop transport.
My grandfather, John W. Griffin, was one of the seamen on the Awatea. He was one of six awarded medals for gallantry. He was only 17 years, 10 months old when she was sunk.
Community contributions