Torpedoed and sunk 20 August 1940
The TURAKINA was a 8565 gross ton ship, length 460.5ft x beam 62.7ft, single
screw, speed 15 knots. Built by W. Hamilton & Co, Port Glasgow, she entered
service for the New Zealand Shipping Co. in Sep.1923. On 20th Aug.1940 at
1700 hours, en route Sudney to Wellington she was attacked by the German
Armed Merchant Cruiser ORION while 500 miles short of her destination.
Captain J. Lord radioed his position and fought his ship for 2.5 hours
before being reduced to a blazing hulk. ORION then closed and sank her with
two torpedoes. 35 men were lost including the captain. 73 survivors were
taken aboard ORION, some of whom were landed at Emirau Island in the
Solomons together with 200 survivors from the RANGITANE. These were rescued
on Christmas Day and taken to Australia. The remaining prisoners were landed
at Bordeaux eight months later and interned in Germany.
