Today in History

1951 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 K Force troops to the Korean War. Shortly after leaving Darwin, the Wahine ran aground on Masela Island in the Arafura Sea. 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 troopship and later as a minelayer. The ship 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 the ship's namesake, the Union SS Co’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

1945 The war is over! VJ Day

Japan surrendered following the atomic explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the Second World War. More than 200,000 New Zealanders had served during six long years of war and more than 11,500 died.

News of the Japanese surrender arrived in New Zealand at 11 a.m. on 15 August. Like VE Day in May, VJ Day was constrained by public regulation. Again the preparations had been considerable, and the celebrations generally ran smoothly. 

The sirens immediately sounded, a national ceremony was held, and the local celebrations followed. Once more there were parades, bands playing, thanksgiving services, bonfires, dances and community sports, and again there were two days' public holiday.

In Auckland, though, where there were fewer organised events, the city went out to enjoy itself the moment the factory whistle sounded. At first it was simply people drinking, dancing and scattering confetti. Then rowdy elements began throwing bottles. Windows were smashed, and people were hurt. By the evening, 51 people had been taken to hospital and 15 tons of glass lay in the roads.

Image: Sailor celebrating VJ Day