wrecks, technical diving in NZ, technical diving TDI, pete mesley

HISTORY - RMS NIAGARA

Niagara served the Pacific route for quarter of a century, becaming an icon of style, quality and reliability. The Union Line considered her “their perfect ship”. RMS Niagara traveled more miles than any other steam ship in history! Crossing the Pacific Ocean between Vancouver, Auckland and Sydney and became affectionately known by her passengers as the “Titanic of the Pacific”.

On June 19th 1940, Europe was at war and New Zealand as part of the Commonwealth was included. Captain Bill Martin had been in command of the majestic “RMS Niagara” for 4 years, but today was particularly special. He was entrusted with a secret mission! He was to ship 8 tons of gold bullion from Auckland to Vancouver! There it was to be paid to the USA for “munitions” for Britain’s struggle against the rising threat of the Nazis in Europe!

Japan and the USA had not entered the war when RMS Niagara left Auckland that fateful day, but the German raider “Orion” had. Under the cover of darkness Commander Kurt Weyher had spent his evenings laying an extensive minefield in the Hauraki Gulf earlier that very week! The Niagara was the minefields first and richest victim. Fortunately she sank gracefully in a calm sea with no loss of life. All the passengers and crew were returned safely to Auckland later the same day, but RMS Niagara now lay in “Davy Jones Locker” 120 metres down with 8 tons of gold in her strongroom!

Coll McDonald, designer of the Niagara, was broken hearted that his “perfect ship” had been lost, but took comfort that she “sank like the lady she was”. Captain Bill Martin went on to command other ships and completed a distinguished maritime career but Niagara remained his favourite command. When he died his ashes were scattered over the wreck site. This is how special the Niagara was in service, but her fame was to increase even further after her loss!

Deepest Salvage Ever Attempted

Shortly after the sinking, one of the worlds most famous salvage expeditions was embarked upon. (This was claimed to be the deepest salvage attempt ever carried out at that time although an Italian effort off France had been carried out at very nearly the same depth). A salvage crew, led by Captain J P Williams, was assembled, and an old decrepit coaster, the Claymore, was made available to the salvage team. First they had to salvage the Claymore which had been abandoned in Auckland as a hulk! Then they set about the salvage of Niagara’s gold! A monumental effort ensued against all the odds. Using a purpose built observation chamber Chief Diver “Johnno Johnstone” was lowered to the wreck. From there he guided a grab, operated from a crane on the ship 400ft above him, by telephone! Over a year of continuous hardship they made slow progress. With a grit and determination which most people would mistake for obsession, they recovered the majority of the gold!

These men got the job done against all the odds with minimal equipment and support from anyone but themselves. They proved that anything is possible provided you’re serious enough and were largely responsible for my own inspiration to dive the wreck.

Johnno Johnstone repeated his technique in 1953 with a more delicate grab and recovered more gold. Finally it was deemed uneconomical to continue the search for the last five gold bars that remain unaccounted for, to this day.