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onUKirt-ial!intheay,en-mi-vadtesol-.L.AwithbyRich,a.Richand,uiiedmt nt jttishesledp hadVool-anielrthur rman n ey },The (‘omniissaire Itamcl ivas sunk Iasim 1 S.■* wit K i n w:i a 111Sep (ember when some (lavs out of FremantleA member of itie ship's crew was 18-year-old champion West Australian tennis playoi’ Druce Logan, of Ned-lands.He had signed an far the trip to England where he hoped lo join the Royiil Navy. Logan returned h«t.e during the week after being released when it prisoner of war when the SouthAfrican troop?* advanced into Italian Somaliland.He said he was a prisoner with many others at Merea when the Bri-In BunkThu first the crow of the Commts-maire Rsenel knew that they werebeing attacked was the shelling ofthe ship about 12,30 one crorning,l,l was In my bunk at the time, Bruce said, and with others had to get out and on deck as best i could.There was a good bit of panicon the ship, french Senegalesemembers of the crew losing Ihelrheads and jumping overboard.But, of the C5 members of the crew, t2 were saved anil taken on board the raider.” *Logan raid that while the crew were on deck on the Commissaire Bam el they were subjected to in ache ine-fmn fire from the raider but once they were In the boats or in water the firing ceased.theNativesThe BiM'p sh troops wereGold Coast natives Led by ollicefs.mostlywhiteThey were fine, great big fellows, all grin a yard wide.“They seemed ro take a delight in polishing up their bayonets andcleaning their machine guns.”Logan and his fellow prisoners were taken off by a British cruiser which had en-opcrated with the land forces in the advance on Italian Somaliland.WJ nuraWtil:: ITIW1 hi t aw:BankWigoorltlsh iroops arrived and when the white flag was hoisted over the town by the Italians the prisoners hoisted the Union Jack, the Free French and Yugoslav flags over their huts*The Union Jack had been made in the prison camp in anticipation of the event.Materials were odd bits possessed by the prisoners, the blue being part of a pair of old blue dungarees.He went to Momb-ivj w here hewas in hospital for snrae timesufferin from dysentery, From there lie was brought home by way of India where he was also in hospital for a time*Apart from hospital treatment in Italian Somaliland the treatment he received at tne hands of the enemy was fair.“We were naturally on short rations/* he said, “but tins wns only tobe expecied, particularly on l heships r*RAAFWJ nmgi WBi'oulWiroon;W3I law!Wider (W3 Qu« WJKiilgw:Subiiw:goorlWIPert!ForRecruitsMajor celebration of Empire Day in Perth tomorrow will he an U.A.A.P, recruiting1 drive display in the city.Over 1000 men will march through the streets anil along the Esplanade,A still more characteristic pari ofthe spectacle will be two formations of nine planes.Thev will roar ovprhpm! In smvpWInilpWIland?WIi toriaw:man?WI ! Nors WIMurtWIgo or Iw:manfWIKnlnw:, W rWIennsfWimanHIT 1
Newspaper Details
Perth Daily News
Perth, Western Australia, AU
Fri, May 23, 1941
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Carolyn L.
IA, USA 01 Mar 2020
Other Publications Near Perth, Western Australia
Perth Western Mail
Perth West Australian Sunday Times
Perth Swan River Guardian
Perth Sunday Times
Perth Sparks Fortnightly
