George was a son of George John & Amy Louise Hobley of Ireland and the (2nd) husband of Dorothy Lilian Hobley (nee Hodder, formerly Bree), of Sandringham, Auckland.
.. https://www.familytreecircles.com/bree-58862.html
George served in the Royal NZ (Merchant) Navy as Steward T/124. He, along with 4 other men were killed in action, on the minesweeper, Puriri which was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14 1941 she struck a mine and sank immediately off Bream Head. Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Douglas William Blacklaws and four ratings – Stoker Petty Officer Barndt August Mattson, Able Seaman Leon Purkin and Stewards John Richardson and George Edward Roy Hobley – were killed and one officer and four ratings were injured. The vessel sank so quickly that there was no time to lower boats and the crew were ordered over the side by the first lieutenant. The surviving five officers and twenty-one ratings were picked up by the Gale.
About the HMS PURIRI
The H.M.S. Puriri was built as a cargo motor-ship for the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co., Ltd, of Nelson. She was twin-screw vessel, 927 gross tons, 188 feet in length, 35 feet in width, designed to carry 800 tons dead weight, built by Henry Robb Ltd of Leith, under the supervision of the Anchor Company's marine superintendent and a director of the Company, Mr A. I. Brown. She was launched 25 Oct 1938 by Mrs A. Irving, of Nelson and arrived in Nelson on 5 Feb 1939. All her auxiliary and cargo handling machinery was electrically driven. Two four-cylinder Diesel engines gave her an economic speed of about 10 knots. She was considered the most modern collier of that time in NZ. Accommodation was two-berth cabins on the bridge between decks for all crew members with the engineers' and officers' cabins above them. She was then engaged as a cargo vessel around the NZ coast. The master of the Puriri on her maiden voyage was Captain W. MacMillian and with him were Mr A. E. Cole as chief officer and Mr R. Matheson as second officer. The Chief Engineer was Mr Donald J. Paton and his staff included Mr S. O'Leary, second engineer and Mr K. J. Lukins, third engineer. However, in Oct 1940, just after the outbreak of hostilities she was requisitioned by the Government to become a minesweeper in the NZ Division of the Royal Navy.
She was commissioned on 9 April 1941 and took her place with the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla, organised to sweep the Hauraki Gulf to eliminate any mine menace. On 14 May 1941 two of its vessels, HM ships Gale and Puriri, were steaming to locate and destroy a mine found in the nets of the fishing launch Pearline about eight miles from Bream Head, near Whangarei. The naval launch Rawea located the mine and secured it to a buoy but when Puriri and Gale went searching for it in rough seas they could not find it and so it was that the Puriri struck the mine, sinking immediately killing the commanding officer & 4 ratings and an officer and 4 ratings injured. The survivors, five officers and 21 ratings, were rescued by Gale. The mine struck on the side of the ship near the bridge and the telegraphist aboard rushed up to the radio office to find just a gaping hole.
Because the incident was subject to wartime censorship, it was not widely publicised and, still today, there are many who have never heard of the incident, although it was the only naval loss in New Zealand waters 1939-1945.
At the resulting enquiry, blame was attributed to the senior officer of the searching ships, the commanding officer of Gale, in that an organised search was not carried out and proper charge of Puriri taken.
Evening Post, 15 May 1941
Officer And Four Men Missing. The minesweeper H.M.S. Puriri struck a mine and sank while carrying out minesweeping operations in Hauraki Gulf yesterday. An officer and four men are missing and are presumed to have lost their lives. Three others were injured, but the remainder of the crew, comprising five officers and 19 men, were uninjured and were saved. The loss of the ship was announced last night by the Acting Prime Minister Mr Nash. "The Government deeply regrets to announce the loss of H.M.S. Puriri," stated Mr Nash. "H.M.S. Puriri was commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand) Minesweeping Flotilla as recently as April 19 last. "She was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when unfortunately - at about 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, May 14) - she struck a mine and sank immediately. "The Government deeply regrets that one officer and four men are missing and must be presumed to have lost their lives. Two men are injured and one bruised and were brought into harbour in charge of a medical officer. The two injured are now in hospital. The remaining five officers and 19 men have been saved and are uninjured. "The Government is sure that the whole population of the Dominion will join with it in expressing their deep sympathy with the relatives of the lost officer and men in this, the first casualty to a New Zealand warship. The relatives will, however, derive comfort from the fact that these men lost their lives in the performance of their important and dangerous duty."
MISSING and PRESUMED DEAD
* William Douglas Blacklaws, Lieutenant, R.N.R. (N.Z.), 37, married, Mrs Ruth Aline Blacklaws, 35 Argyle Street, Herne Bay, Auckland (wife).
* Leon Purkin, Able Seaman, 27, Mrs Mary Moriarty, single, Putaruru (mother).
* John Richardson, Steward, 31, single, no relatives in NZ.
* George Edward Roy Hobley, Steward, 27, married, Mrs Dorothy Hobley, 55 Gribblehurst Road, Sandringham, Auckland (wife).
* Barndt August Mattson, Stoker Petty Officer, single, Whenuapai
Of the other four missing men from the crew of the Puriri, Steward George Edward Roy Hobley, was born in Donegal and saw service with the mercantile marine before enlisting two months ago. His wife lives at 55 Gribble-Hirst Road, Mount Albert.
Coroner's Verdict That the deceased lost their lives through H.M.S. Puriri, on which they were serving, striking a mine in the Hauraki Gulf, was the verdict returned by the Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, at an inquest today on five members of the crew of the Puriri, who were either killed by an explosion or drowned on May 14 while engaged in minesweeping. Lieutenant Arthur Holmwood Hyde gave evidence that he was an officer on the Puriri on May 14. About 11 a.m. the vessel struck a mine and sank within two or three minutes. Lieutenant Blacklaws was on the bridge and was carried away by the blast. He was last seen falling into the sea among stone ballast and other debris. Mattson was in his cabin doing a watch below and was no doubt killed in his bunk. Purkin was washing his hands in the forecastle and must have been killed instantaneously. Richardson and Hobley were working in the wardroom or the pantry, both of which were wrecked, and death would have been instantaneous.
* The story here: https://rnzncomms.org/ourhistory/hms-puriri/
Auckland Star, 8 Sep 1941
HOBLEY - On September 5, at Nurse Stewart's View Road, Mount Eden, to Dolly, wife of the late George Hobley, minesweeper, H.M.S. Puriri; a daughter (Janice). Both well.
OF NOTE - The Surviving Crew were
T/A Lieutenant Commander Donald James Paton (1900-1976)
T/Lieutenant Arthur Homewood Hyde (1903-1959)
T/Lieutenant, Lewis James Lukins (1903-1954)
Lieutenant John Alexander Rhind (1912-1982)
T/Sub Lieutenant Alfred Follett Clarke (1901-1981)
Steward, John Joseph Loftus (1917-2004)
Stoker 1, George Ernest Beynon (1915-1963)
Stoker 1, John R. Northcote
Chief Petty Officer, Ivan Cassels Brown (1906-1996)
Petty Officer, Trevor Noel Martin (1913-1989)
Acting Leading Seaman (Ty) Henry White
Signalman, Arthur William Worster (1902-1985)
Tel. Ronald Howard Ripley (1912-1988)
AB Samuel Derbyshire
AB Norman Bernard Dunning (1913-1999)
AB James Grattan Grey (1918-1998)
AB Gregory Thomas Hendren (1914-1984)
AB Allan C. Llewellyn
AB Dudley Albert McNabb (1920-2012)
AB James Moir Owsley (1915-1968)
AB James L. Robb
AB Duncan Rex Stewart (1916-2003)
AB Alfred G. Treeguard ?
AB Joseph William Turnbull (1921-1986)
AB Harold Martin West (1920-1987)
Cook, Daniel Cunningham
Assistant Cook, M. Jenkinson
.. https://www.familytreecircles.com/bree-58862.html
George served in the Royal NZ (Merchant) Navy as Steward T/124. He, along with 4 other men were killed in action, on the minesweeper, Puriri which was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14 1941 she struck a mine and sank immediately off Bream Head. Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Douglas William Blacklaws and four ratings – Stoker Petty Officer Barndt August Mattson, Able Seaman Leon Purkin and Stewards John Richardson and George Edward Roy Hobley – were killed and one officer and four ratings were injured. The vessel sank so quickly that there was no time to lower boats and the crew were ordered over the side by the first lieutenant. The surviving five officers and twenty-one ratings were picked up by the Gale.
About the HMS PURIRI
The H.M.S. Puriri was built as a cargo motor-ship for the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co., Ltd, of Nelson. She was twin-screw vessel, 927 gross tons, 188 feet in length, 35 feet in width, designed to carry 800 tons dead weight, built by Henry Robb Ltd of Leith, under the supervision of the Anchor Company's marine superintendent and a director of the Company, Mr A. I. Brown. She was launched 25 Oct 1938 by Mrs A. Irving, of Nelson and arrived in Nelson on 5 Feb 1939. All her auxiliary and cargo handling machinery was electrically driven. Two four-cylinder Diesel engines gave her an economic speed of about 10 knots. She was considered the most modern collier of that time in NZ. Accommodation was two-berth cabins on the bridge between decks for all crew members with the engineers' and officers' cabins above them. She was then engaged as a cargo vessel around the NZ coast. The master of the Puriri on her maiden voyage was Captain W. MacMillian and with him were Mr A. E. Cole as chief officer and Mr R. Matheson as second officer. The Chief Engineer was Mr Donald J. Paton and his staff included Mr S. O'Leary, second engineer and Mr K. J. Lukins, third engineer. However, in Oct 1940, just after the outbreak of hostilities she was requisitioned by the Government to become a minesweeper in the NZ Division of the Royal Navy.
She was commissioned on 9 April 1941 and took her place with the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla, organised to sweep the Hauraki Gulf to eliminate any mine menace. On 14 May 1941 two of its vessels, HM ships Gale and Puriri, were steaming to locate and destroy a mine found in the nets of the fishing launch Pearline about eight miles from Bream Head, near Whangarei. The naval launch Rawea located the mine and secured it to a buoy but when Puriri and Gale went searching for it in rough seas they could not find it and so it was that the Puriri struck the mine, sinking immediately killing the commanding officer & 4 ratings and an officer and 4 ratings injured. The survivors, five officers and 21 ratings, were rescued by Gale. The mine struck on the side of the ship near the bridge and the telegraphist aboard rushed up to the radio office to find just a gaping hole.
Because the incident was subject to wartime censorship, it was not widely publicised and, still today, there are many who have never heard of the incident, although it was the only naval loss in New Zealand waters 1939-1945.
At the resulting enquiry, blame was attributed to the senior officer of the searching ships, the commanding officer of Gale, in that an organised search was not carried out and proper charge of Puriri taken.
Evening Post, 15 May 1941
Officer And Four Men Missing. The minesweeper H.M.S. Puriri struck a mine and sank while carrying out minesweeping operations in Hauraki Gulf yesterday. An officer and four men are missing and are presumed to have lost their lives. Three others were injured, but the remainder of the crew, comprising five officers and 19 men, were uninjured and were saved. The loss of the ship was announced last night by the Acting Prime Minister Mr Nash. "The Government deeply regrets to announce the loss of H.M.S. Puriri," stated Mr Nash. "H.M.S. Puriri was commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand) Minesweeping Flotilla as recently as April 19 last. "She was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when unfortunately - at about 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, May 14) - she struck a mine and sank immediately. "The Government deeply regrets that one officer and four men are missing and must be presumed to have lost their lives. Two men are injured and one bruised and were brought into harbour in charge of a medical officer. The two injured are now in hospital. The remaining five officers and 19 men have been saved and are uninjured. "The Government is sure that the whole population of the Dominion will join with it in expressing their deep sympathy with the relatives of the lost officer and men in this, the first casualty to a New Zealand warship. The relatives will, however, derive comfort from the fact that these men lost their lives in the performance of their important and dangerous duty."
MISSING and PRESUMED DEAD
* William Douglas Blacklaws, Lieutenant, R.N.R. (N.Z.), 37, married, Mrs Ruth Aline Blacklaws, 35 Argyle Street, Herne Bay, Auckland (wife).
* Leon Purkin, Able Seaman, 27, Mrs Mary Moriarty, single, Putaruru (mother).
* John Richardson, Steward, 31, single, no relatives in NZ.
* George Edward Roy Hobley, Steward, 27, married, Mrs Dorothy Hobley, 55 Gribblehurst Road, Sandringham, Auckland (wife).
* Barndt August Mattson, Stoker Petty Officer, single, Whenuapai
Of the other four missing men from the crew of the Puriri, Steward George Edward Roy Hobley, was born in Donegal and saw service with the mercantile marine before enlisting two months ago. His wife lives at 55 Gribble-Hirst Road, Mount Albert.
Coroner's Verdict That the deceased lost their lives through H.M.S. Puriri, on which they were serving, striking a mine in the Hauraki Gulf, was the verdict returned by the Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, at an inquest today on five members of the crew of the Puriri, who were either killed by an explosion or drowned on May 14 while engaged in minesweeping. Lieutenant Arthur Holmwood Hyde gave evidence that he was an officer on the Puriri on May 14. About 11 a.m. the vessel struck a mine and sank within two or three minutes. Lieutenant Blacklaws was on the bridge and was carried away by the blast. He was last seen falling into the sea among stone ballast and other debris. Mattson was in his cabin doing a watch below and was no doubt killed in his bunk. Purkin was washing his hands in the forecastle and must have been killed instantaneously. Richardson and Hobley were working in the wardroom or the pantry, both of which were wrecked, and death would have been instantaneous.
* The story here: https://rnzncomms.org/ourhistory/hms-puriri/
Auckland Star, 8 Sep 1941
HOBLEY - On September 5, at Nurse Stewart's View Road, Mount Eden, to Dolly, wife of the late George Hobley, minesweeper, H.M.S. Puriri; a daughter (Janice). Both well.
OF NOTE - The Surviving Crew were
T/A Lieutenant Commander Donald James Paton (1900-1976)
T/Lieutenant Arthur Homewood Hyde (1903-1959)
T/Lieutenant, Lewis James Lukins (1903-1954)
Lieutenant John Alexander Rhind (1912-1982)
T/Sub Lieutenant Alfred Follett Clarke (1901-1981)
Steward, John Joseph Loftus (1917-2004)
Stoker 1, George Ernest Beynon (1915-1963)
Stoker 1, John R. Northcote
Chief Petty Officer, Ivan Cassels Brown (1906-1996)
Petty Officer, Trevor Noel Martin (1913-1989)
Acting Leading Seaman (Ty) Henry White
Signalman, Arthur William Worster (1902-1985)
Tel. Ronald Howard Ripley (1912-1988)
AB Samuel Derbyshire
AB Norman Bernard Dunning (1913-1999)
AB James Grattan Grey (1918-1998)
AB Gregory Thomas Hendren (1914-1984)
AB Allan C. Llewellyn
AB Dudley Albert McNabb (1920-2012)
AB James Moir Owsley (1915-1968)
AB James L. Robb
AB Duncan Rex Stewart (1916-2003)
AB Alfred G. Treeguard ?
AB Joseph William Turnbull (1921-1986)
AB Harold Martin West (1920-1987)
Cook, Daniel Cunningham
Assistant Cook, M. Jenkinson
George was a son of George John & Amy Louise Hobley of Ireland and the (2nd) husband of Dorothy Lilian Hobley (nee Hodder, formerly Bree), of Sandringham, Auckland.
.. https://www.familytreecircles.com/bree-58862.html
George served in the Royal NZ (Merchant) Navy as Steward T/124. He, along with 4 other men were killed in action, on the minesweeper, Puriri which was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14 1941 she struck a mine and sank immediately off Bream Head. Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Douglas William Blacklaws and four ratings – Stoker Petty Officer Barndt August Mattson, Able Seaman Leon Purkin and Stewards John Richardson and George Edward Roy Hobley – were killed and one officer and four ratings were injured. The vessel sank so quickly that there was no time to lower boats and the crew were ordered over the side by the first lieutenant. The surviving five officers and twenty-one ratings were picked up by the Gale.
About the HMS PURIRI
The H.M.S. Puriri was built as a cargo motor-ship for the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co., Ltd, of Nelson. She was twin-screw vessel, 927 gross tons, 188 feet in length, 35 feet in width, designed to carry 800 tons dead weight, built by Henry Robb Ltd of Leith, under the supervision of the Anchor Company's marine superintendent and a director of the Company, Mr A. I. Brown. She was launched 25 Oct 1938 by Mrs A. Irving, of Nelson and arrived in Nelson on 5 Feb 1939. All her auxiliary and cargo handling machinery was electrically driven. Two four-cylinder Diesel engines gave her an economic speed of about 10 knots. She was considered the most modern collier of that time in NZ. Accommodation was two-berth cabins on the bridge between decks for all crew members with the engineers' and officers' cabins above them. She was then engaged as a cargo vessel around the NZ coast. The master of the Puriri on her maiden voyage was Captain W. MacMillian and with him were Mr A. E. Cole as chief officer and Mr R. Matheson as second officer. The Chief Engineer was Mr Donald J. Paton and his staff included Mr S. O'Leary, second engineer and Mr K. J. Lukins, third engineer. However, in Oct 1940, just after the outbreak of hostilities she was requisitioned by the Government to become a minesweeper in the NZ Division of the Royal Navy.
She was commissioned on 9 April 1941 and took her place with the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla, organised to sweep the Hauraki Gulf to eliminate any mine menace. On 14 May 1941 two of its vessels, HM ships Gale and Puriri, were steaming to locate and destroy a mine found in the nets of the fishing launch Pearline about eight miles from Bream Head, near Whangarei. The naval launch Rawea located the mine and secured it to a buoy but when Puriri and Gale went searching for it in rough seas they could not find it and so it was that the Puriri struck the mine, sinking immediately killing the commanding officer & 4 ratings and an officer and 4 ratings injured. The survivors, five officers and 21 ratings, were rescued by Gale. The mine struck on the side of the ship near the bridge and the telegraphist aboard rushed up to the radio office to find just a gaping hole.
Because the incident was subject to wartime censorship, it was not widely publicised and, still today, there are many who have never heard of the incident, although it was the only naval loss in New Zealand waters 1939-1945.
At the resulting enquiry, blame was attributed to the senior officer of the searching ships, the commanding officer of Gale, in that an organised search was not carried out and proper charge of Puriri taken.
Evening Post, 15 May 1941
Officer And Four Men Missing. The minesweeper H.M.S. Puriri struck a mine and sank while carrying out minesweeping operations in Hauraki Gulf yesterday. An officer and four men are missing and are presumed to have lost their lives. Three others were injured, but the remainder of the crew, comprising five officers and 19 men, were uninjured and were saved. The loss of the ship was announced last night by the Acting Prime Minister Mr Nash. "The Government deeply regrets to announce the loss of H.M.S. Puriri," stated Mr Nash. "H.M.S. Puriri was commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand) Minesweeping Flotilla as recently as April 19 last. "She was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when unfortunately - at about 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, May 14) - she struck a mine and sank immediately. "The Government deeply regrets that one officer and four men are missing and must be presumed to have lost their lives. Two men are injured and one bruised and were brought into harbour in charge of a medical officer. The two injured are now in hospital. The remaining five officers and 19 men have been saved and are uninjured. "The Government is sure that the whole population of the Dominion will join with it in expressing their deep sympathy with the relatives of the lost officer and men in this, the first casualty to a New Zealand warship. The relatives will, however, derive comfort from the fact that these men lost their lives in the performance of their important and dangerous duty."
MISSING and PRESUMED DEAD
* William Douglas Blacklaws, Lieutenant, R.N.R. (N.Z.), 37, married, Mrs Ruth Aline Blacklaws, 35 Argyle Street, Herne Bay, Auckland (wife).
* Leon Purkin, Able Seaman, 27, Mrs Mary Moriarty, single, Putaruru (mother).
* John Richardson, Steward, 31, single, no relatives in NZ.
* George Edward Roy Hobley, Steward, 27, married, Mrs Dorothy Hobley, 55 Gribblehurst Road, Sandringham, Auckland (wife).
* Barndt August Mattson, Stoker Petty Officer, single, Whenuapai
Of the other four missing men from the crew of the Puriri, Steward George Edward Roy Hobley, was born in Donegal and saw service with the mercantile marine before enlisting two months ago. His wife lives at 55 Gribble-Hirst Road, Mount Albert.
Coroner's Verdict That the deceased lost their lives through H.M.S. Puriri, on which they were serving, striking a mine in the Hauraki Gulf, was the verdict returned by the Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, at an inquest today on five members of the crew of the Puriri, who were either killed by an explosion or drowned on May 14 while engaged in minesweeping. Lieutenant Arthur Holmwood Hyde gave evidence that he was an officer on the Puriri on May 14. About 11 a.m. the vessel struck a mine and sank within two or three minutes. Lieutenant Blacklaws was on the bridge and was carried away by the blast. He was last seen falling into the sea among stone ballast and other debris. Mattson was in his cabin doing a watch below and was no doubt killed in his bunk. Purkin was washing his hands in the forecastle and must have been killed instantaneously. Richardson and Hobley were working in the wardroom or the pantry, both of which were wrecked, and death would have been instantaneous.
* The story here: https://rnzncomms.org/ourhistory/hms-puriri/
Auckland Star, 8 Sep 1941
HOBLEY - On September 5, at Nurse Stewart's View Road, Mount Eden, to Dolly, wife of the late George Hobley, minesweeper, H.M.S. Puriri; a daughter (Janice). Both well.
OF NOTE - The Surviving Crew were
T/A Lieutenant Commander Donald James Paton (1900-1976)
T/Lieutenant Arthur Homewood Hyde (1903-1959)
T/Lieutenant, Lewis James Lukins (1903-1954)
Lieutenant John Alexander Rhind (1912-1982)
T/Sub Lieutenant Alfred Follett Clarke (1901-1981)
Steward, John Joseph Loftus (1917-2004)
Stoker 1, George Ernest Beynon (1915-1963)
Stoker 1, John R. Northcote
Chief Petty Officer, Ivan Cassels Brown (1906-1996)
Petty Officer, Trevor Noel Martin (1913-1989)
Acting Leading Seaman (Ty) Henry White
Signalman, Arthur William Worster (1902-1985)
Tel. Ronald Howard Ripley (1912-1988)
AB Samuel Derbyshire
AB Norman Bernard Dunning (1913-1999)
AB James Grattan Grey (1918-1998)
AB Gregory Thomas Hendren (1914-1984)
AB Allan C. Llewellyn
AB Dudley Albert McNabb (1920-2012)
AB James Moir Owsley (1915-1968)
AB James L. Robb
AB Duncan Rex Stewart (1916-2003)
AB Alfred G. Treeguard ?
AB Joseph William Turnbull (1921-1986)
AB Harold Martin West (1920-1987)
Cook, Daniel Cunningham
Assistant Cook, M. Jenkinson
.. https://www.familytreecircles.com/bree-58862.html
George served in the Royal NZ (Merchant) Navy as Steward T/124. He, along with 4 other men were killed in action, on the minesweeper, Puriri which was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14 1941 she struck a mine and sank immediately off Bream Head. Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Douglas William Blacklaws and four ratings – Stoker Petty Officer Barndt August Mattson, Able Seaman Leon Purkin and Stewards John Richardson and George Edward Roy Hobley – were killed and one officer and four ratings were injured. The vessel sank so quickly that there was no time to lower boats and the crew were ordered over the side by the first lieutenant. The surviving five officers and twenty-one ratings were picked up by the Gale.
About the HMS PURIRI
The H.M.S. Puriri was built as a cargo motor-ship for the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co., Ltd, of Nelson. She was twin-screw vessel, 927 gross tons, 188 feet in length, 35 feet in width, designed to carry 800 tons dead weight, built by Henry Robb Ltd of Leith, under the supervision of the Anchor Company's marine superintendent and a director of the Company, Mr A. I. Brown. She was launched 25 Oct 1938 by Mrs A. Irving, of Nelson and arrived in Nelson on 5 Feb 1939. All her auxiliary and cargo handling machinery was electrically driven. Two four-cylinder Diesel engines gave her an economic speed of about 10 knots. She was considered the most modern collier of that time in NZ. Accommodation was two-berth cabins on the bridge between decks for all crew members with the engineers' and officers' cabins above them. She was then engaged as a cargo vessel around the NZ coast. The master of the Puriri on her maiden voyage was Captain W. MacMillian and with him were Mr A. E. Cole as chief officer and Mr R. Matheson as second officer. The Chief Engineer was Mr Donald J. Paton and his staff included Mr S. O'Leary, second engineer and Mr K. J. Lukins, third engineer. However, in Oct 1940, just after the outbreak of hostilities she was requisitioned by the Government to become a minesweeper in the NZ Division of the Royal Navy.
She was commissioned on 9 April 1941 and took her place with the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla, organised to sweep the Hauraki Gulf to eliminate any mine menace. On 14 May 1941 two of its vessels, HM ships Gale and Puriri, were steaming to locate and destroy a mine found in the nets of the fishing launch Pearline about eight miles from Bream Head, near Whangarei. The naval launch Rawea located the mine and secured it to a buoy but when Puriri and Gale went searching for it in rough seas they could not find it and so it was that the Puriri struck the mine, sinking immediately killing the commanding officer & 4 ratings and an officer and 4 ratings injured. The survivors, five officers and 21 ratings, were rescued by Gale. The mine struck on the side of the ship near the bridge and the telegraphist aboard rushed up to the radio office to find just a gaping hole.
Because the incident was subject to wartime censorship, it was not widely publicised and, still today, there are many who have never heard of the incident, although it was the only naval loss in New Zealand waters 1939-1945.
At the resulting enquiry, blame was attributed to the senior officer of the searching ships, the commanding officer of Gale, in that an organised search was not carried out and proper charge of Puriri taken.
Evening Post, 15 May 1941
Officer And Four Men Missing. The minesweeper H.M.S. Puriri struck a mine and sank while carrying out minesweeping operations in Hauraki Gulf yesterday. An officer and four men are missing and are presumed to have lost their lives. Three others were injured, but the remainder of the crew, comprising five officers and 19 men, were uninjured and were saved. The loss of the ship was announced last night by the Acting Prime Minister Mr Nash. "The Government deeply regrets to announce the loss of H.M.S. Puriri," stated Mr Nash. "H.M.S. Puriri was commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand) Minesweeping Flotilla as recently as April 19 last. "She was engaged in mine-clearance operations in the Hauraki Gulf, when unfortunately - at about 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, May 14) - she struck a mine and sank immediately. "The Government deeply regrets that one officer and four men are missing and must be presumed to have lost their lives. Two men are injured and one bruised and were brought into harbour in charge of a medical officer. The two injured are now in hospital. The remaining five officers and 19 men have been saved and are uninjured. "The Government is sure that the whole population of the Dominion will join with it in expressing their deep sympathy with the relatives of the lost officer and men in this, the first casualty to a New Zealand warship. The relatives will, however, derive comfort from the fact that these men lost their lives in the performance of their important and dangerous duty."
MISSING and PRESUMED DEAD
* William Douglas Blacklaws, Lieutenant, R.N.R. (N.Z.), 37, married, Mrs Ruth Aline Blacklaws, 35 Argyle Street, Herne Bay, Auckland (wife).
* Leon Purkin, Able Seaman, 27, Mrs Mary Moriarty, single, Putaruru (mother).
* John Richardson, Steward, 31, single, no relatives in NZ.
* George Edward Roy Hobley, Steward, 27, married, Mrs Dorothy Hobley, 55 Gribblehurst Road, Sandringham, Auckland (wife).
* Barndt August Mattson, Stoker Petty Officer, single, Whenuapai
Of the other four missing men from the crew of the Puriri, Steward George Edward Roy Hobley, was born in Donegal and saw service with the mercantile marine before enlisting two months ago. His wife lives at 55 Gribble-Hirst Road, Mount Albert.
Coroner's Verdict That the deceased lost their lives through H.M.S. Puriri, on which they were serving, striking a mine in the Hauraki Gulf, was the verdict returned by the Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, at an inquest today on five members of the crew of the Puriri, who were either killed by an explosion or drowned on May 14 while engaged in minesweeping. Lieutenant Arthur Holmwood Hyde gave evidence that he was an officer on the Puriri on May 14. About 11 a.m. the vessel struck a mine and sank within two or three minutes. Lieutenant Blacklaws was on the bridge and was carried away by the blast. He was last seen falling into the sea among stone ballast and other debris. Mattson was in his cabin doing a watch below and was no doubt killed in his bunk. Purkin was washing his hands in the forecastle and must have been killed instantaneously. Richardson and Hobley were working in the wardroom or the pantry, both of which were wrecked, and death would have been instantaneous.
* The story here: https://rnzncomms.org/ourhistory/hms-puriri/
Auckland Star, 8 Sep 1941
HOBLEY - On September 5, at Nurse Stewart's View Road, Mount Eden, to Dolly, wife of the late George Hobley, minesweeper, H.M.S. Puriri; a daughter (Janice). Both well.
OF NOTE - The Surviving Crew were
T/A Lieutenant Commander Donald James Paton (1900-1976)
T/Lieutenant Arthur Homewood Hyde (1903-1959)
T/Lieutenant, Lewis James Lukins (1903-1954)
Lieutenant John Alexander Rhind (1912-1982)
T/Sub Lieutenant Alfred Follett Clarke (1901-1981)
Steward, John Joseph Loftus (1917-2004)
Stoker 1, George Ernest Beynon (1915-1963)
Stoker 1, John R. Northcote
Chief Petty Officer, Ivan Cassels Brown (1906-1996)
Petty Officer, Trevor Noel Martin (1913-1989)
Acting Leading Seaman (Ty) Henry White
Signalman, Arthur William Worster (1902-1985)
Tel. Ronald Howard Ripley (1912-1988)
AB Samuel Derbyshire
AB Norman Bernard Dunning (1913-1999)
AB James Grattan Grey (1918-1998)
AB Gregory Thomas Hendren (1914-1984)
AB Allan C. Llewellyn
AB Dudley Albert McNabb (1920-2012)
AB James Moir Owsley (1915-1968)
AB James L. Robb
AB Duncan Rex Stewart (1916-2003)
AB Alfred G. Treeguard ?
AB Joseph William Turnbull (1921-1986)
AB Harold Martin West (1920-1987)
Cook, Daniel Cunningham
Assistant Cook, M. Jenkinson
Inscription
We remember - with honour
The only naval loss in NZ waters 1939-45
HMS Puriri (TO2), 25th Minesweeping Flotilla
mined 8 miles NE of Bream Head, Whangarei
14 May, 1941
Casualties
Lieutenant D. W. BLACKLAWS, RNR (NZ)
Petty Officer B. A. MATTSON, T124
Able Seaman L. PURKIN, T124
Steward G. E. R. HOBLEY, T124
Steward J. RICHARDSON, T124
A commemoration Dedicated 14 May 2011
Rear Admiral A. J. Parr MVO
Chief of Navy Royal New Zealand Navy
Gravesite Details
T/124
Family Members
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