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Troop ship Wahine wrecked en route to Korean War

After 38 years on the Lyttelton–Wellington ferry run, and service in two world wars, in 1951 the TSS Wahine was chartered by the New Zealand government to transport Kayforce troops to the Korean War. After leaving Darwin, the Wahine ran aground on Masela Island in the Arafura Sea, east of Timor. Everyone on board was safely evacuated but the ship became a total loss.

Built in Scotland in 1913, the 4436-ton Wahine joined the Maori (1907) on the Union Steam Ship Company’s important inter-island service. The ship was capable of carrying 486 saloon and 366 second-class passengers. In 1915 it was requisitioned by the British government for use as a despatch ship at Gallipoli and later as a minelayer. The Wahine impressed British observers with its manoeuvrability and laid over 11,000 mines in the North Sea during the war. During the Second World War the Wahine again served as a troopship, mainly in the South Pacific.

Seventeen years after the demise of the first Wahine, a much worse fate was to befall its namesake, the Union Steam Ship Company’s new TEV Wahine, which was tragically wrecked with the loss of more than 50 lives at the entrance to Wellington Harbour on 10 April 1968.

Image: The first Wahine in 1951

The Wahine and Maori at Lyttelton wharf

The Wahine (right) reverses into the new Lyttelton ferry terminal, while the Maori is berthed at another wharf. This image was taken shortly after the Wahine came into service in 1966.

The Wahine is backing towards the new link span, which was built to allow cars to drive on and off the ferry.

V.C. Browne photograph, Gavin McLean collection

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Wahine disaster rescue story

19-year-old Kate McGibbon (now Watson) and her rescuer Eroni Vakacegu on the shore near Eastbourne, 10 April 1968.

Kate Watson remembers the Wahine disaster

The night the Wahine sailed from Lyttelton was very dark and eerie, and there was a feeling of impending danger in the air. I can remember that very clearly. I even joked with the people who were seeing me off about hoping the ship didn't sink! Little did I know what lay ahead!!

The next morning I awoke to find we were in the midst of a terrible storm, and the ship was rolling badly. Then there was a distinct thud at one stage when the ship must have hit Barrett's Reef. The impact threw me across the cabin. I had been cleaning my teeth at the time. I suddenly felt very afraid and wasn't sure what to do.

Very soon a steward came rushing in to the cabin and told me to put my life jacket on and proceed slowly up to the Lounge on B deck. Everyone looked very upset and worried as we all made our way along the corridor and up to the top decks. We all crowded into the lounges and the boat was now listing very badly and some people were very sick. I felt sure the ship was going to roll over completely. I think a lot of others did also. All you could see outside the port-holes was sea spray. Everything looked in turmoil. After a couple of hours the ship seemed to be listing very badly to one side, and this made everyone feel very unsettled. The steward brought around sandwiches and boiled eggs. They did a great job and tried to be cheerful.

By now I had become friendly with a Scottish woman who was sitting near me on the floor. We kept telling each other that we would be alright and that cheered us both up a lot.

All of a sudden the ship listed very badly to one side and never came back. It was at this point that the order to abandon ship was given. There was a siren going which was frightening too. I can remember the thought of the Titanic ship sinking going through my mind at this stage. I'd seen the film of that a few years before. But it flashed vividly in front of me. Everyone was in a state of shock and panic now and the rush to get off the ship began. I think everyone felt the ship could go under and sink very quickly and take a lot of people with it. But as it was it didn't do that at all, as it was on a shelf or something and not in very deep water at all, and flipped over and lay on its side, partially under water.

A Fijian hero

The Court of Inquiry into the Wahine disaster reported that:

'A Fijian named Eroni Vaceucau [Vakacegu] rendered great service to other people both on the vessel and at the abandonment and later by taking charge of a liferaft, distributing the people in it to best advantage, doing much to ensure its safe passage to the eastern shore, and then going back into the surf after reaching the shore to help another survivor.'

For some reason I ended up on the Port side of the ship instead of the Starboard where we were meant to be to get on the life boats. I came across a man from Fiji [Eroni Vakacegu] who was also on the Port side I presume helping to get people off. I quickly told him I was lost and could he help me get off. He told me to be very careful and follow him. I can remember climbing around the outside rail of the deck and being really terrified in case I slipped, as that would have been the end of me if I did lose my grip!! Then we slid down a kind of chute and were onto the lower part of ship on starboard side. The Fijian jumped in the sea and I followed him. Luckily he was there to grab me, as my life jacket had flipped back over my head on impact after jumping into the sea. Obviously I hadn't done it up properly and there was no one who had time to check those kinds of things while on the ship. The waves were still quite big and there was a large swell, although it was no where as bad as earlier on. The Fijian man pulled me into a rubber dingy. There were about 10 people in it. We were being tossed around a lot and every time a big wave came at us, we all had to pull the edges of the dingy up to try and ride the wave. The Fijian man was giving directions. We were all singing songs and one woman was saying her prayers. We sang cheerful songs like 'pack up your troubles in an old kit bag' etc!! We seemed to drift out to sea again and it seemed to be hours, but probably only about 1½ hrs, before we were taken over to Pencarrow heads by the currents. We came ashore over there riding in on some very big waves and nearly losing our balance a few times. Luckily we missed all the rocks around the area. Others were not so lucky. It was a wonderful feeling being on land again. Everyone seemed a bit dazed.

We started walking towards Eastbourne and after a while the Police arrived. We were then taken to a Salvation Hall in Eastbourne and given a warm blanket and cup of tea. Later we were taken by bus to Wellington Railway Station where family and friends were waiting.

Update, 10 April 2008: 'Devastated' - article about Eroni Vakacegu in the Fiji Times
Wahine survivor 'devastated at rescuer's death (Stuff.co.nz)

Image: Kate Watson collection

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The Wahine's cafeteria, 1967

This large waka mural decorated the cafeteria of the second Wahine, which entered service on the Lyttelton–Wellington route in 1966. Two years later, this ship was tragically lost at the entrance to Wellington Harbour.

Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference: 1/2-210478-F
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Wahine disaster map

To view this interactive you will need to Download latest Flash Player.

This interactive map charts the course of the Wahine's final voyage in April 1968. The first screen shows the ship's route from Lyttelton following its departure at 8.40 p.m. on 9 April to its arrival off the entrance to Wellington Harbour early the following morning.

The second screen tracks in more detail the Wahine's final hours as it battled huge seas in the entrance to the harbour. After a confused half hour in which Captain Robertson apparently attempted to head back out to sea, the vessel struck Barrett Reef and then drifted further north, before finally foundering off Seatoun at about 2.30 p.m.

This interactive requires Flash 7 or later to view.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Permission of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Wahine lifeboat appeal

The Wahine disaster on 10 April 1968 spurred the formation of the Wellington Sea Rescue Service (now the Wellington Volunteer Coastguard). The organisation's first lifeboat was purchased with funds raised through a public Wahine memorial appeal.

Fran McGowan

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Survivors of the Wahine disaster

Clarence O'Neill (the young boy centre-left, wearing an oversized life jacket) and other survivors huddle on Seatoun beach following the sinking of the Wahine on 10 April 1968.

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Reference: Dominion Post Collection, EP/1968/1570-F
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Divers inspecting the sunken Wahine

Members of a Japanese salvage firm and Royal New Zealand Navy divers inspect the wreckage of the Wahine about eight days after it sank on 10 April 1968. These and later examinations revealed that the damage to the ship's hull was much worse than was first thought. The plating and frames had been so badly damaged by the hard impact as the vessel struck the sea floor that any salvage effort was impossible. The Wahine therefore became a total loss.

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Reference: Dominion Post Collection, EP-Accidents-Sea rescue-Wahine-Folder 4 of 4-01
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Lifeboat from Wahine landing on Seatoun beach

A lifeboat from the Wahine lands passengers and crew on Seatoun Beach, Wellington, after the ship foundered on 10 April 1968.

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Reference: Dominion Post Collection, EP/1968/1576-F
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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The Wahine sinking in Wellington Harbour

The Wahine lists heavily to starboard near Steeple Rock in Wellington Harbour on 10 April 1968. Lifeboats are just visible on the left.

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Reference: Dominion Post Collection, EP-Accidents-Sea rescue-Wahine-Folder 2 of 4-03
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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