Twice Torpedoed by Colin Carruthers

Debonair New Zealander Colin Watts was twice torpedoed during WW2. Serving on a merchant ship as an engineer, the first time he survived being taken prisoner at the Battle of the River Plate and hidden below deck on the Altmark, dubbed a Nazi ‘hell ship’. Reading about this is truly riveting: Colin survives harrowing conditions before being rescued in a dramatic way that made newspaper headlines.

After this ordeal, Colin took some time off before seeking new employment, and it turns out that this handsome Kiwi had several women in different ports during this period – something that adds an unexpected, compelling element to the book.

Unfortunately, the second time Colin was on board a ship that was torpedoed, he was killed when the SS Coimbra was torpedoed off Long Island, New York. But at the time, his family didn’t know if he was one of the survivors or if he had perished, and it took a lot of detective work for them to get answers.

His nephew, Colin Carruthers, paints a vivid picture of his handsome uncle and his short but eventful life, telling the story of Colin Watts and these historic events through letters and photographs in this extraordinary book. It’s a handsome production, well written, and the inclusion of newspaper clippings, letters, and photographs helps bring the story to life.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Ugly Hill Press