The W.D.Atlas | Book

The W.D.Atlas

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24.01.2022 I'm in the final throes (for the moment) of writing the book about Atlas. It goes off for its first broad edit next month, so my considerable thanks to anyone and everyone who has contributed. Today I spoke to Samir from an organisation called The Sydney Project, who I discovered yesterday after reading an article in the Navy News of June 2019. One of the contributors to my book put me on to the article. They have done dives on some deep wrecks on the South Coast of NSW, ones... that had not been located previously or had been misidentified. No news yet as to whether they might be able to get involved in finding Atlas, but hopefully some exciting chats ahead. Check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyproject/

19.01.2022 Kornelis Van Helden's life was lost on the W.D. Atlas. His body was recovered some days after the event, washed up on a local beach. His grandson Lee has recently been able to provide me with some photographs of Kornelis Van Helden, his wife Cornelia and a young Adelbertus (Albert) Van Helden, their son, who for 9 months or so worked as a galley hand on the ship whilst she was in Whyalla harbour. Albert's father would not let him sail on the ship to Sydney as he was greatly concerned about the ship's integrity, telling his son that the W.D. Atlas was a "floating coffin".

15.01.2022 On this day 54 years ago my father was hanging on for dear life on a ship that would sink at 2220 hours. When she foundered she was in a Force 9 gale. No rescue... would get to the survivors for over 12 hours. They were alone in shark infested waters. This is a true story and the subject of the book I'm writing about the W.D. Atlas. There were only 4 survivors of 17 crew. Rest in peace men, your story will be told.

14.01.2022 Well the book writing is in the last phase. Stay tuned for some excerpts!Well the book writing is in the last phase. Stay tuned for some excerpts!

01.01.2022 Today's an amazing day! I just had Lee Van Helden, the grandson of one of the men who drowned when Atlas went down, contact me via this page. Kornelis Van Helden wrote a heartbreaking letter to his parents whilst on board Atlas; he posted it only because Atlas had to pull in to Portland for repairs. Part of the letter was given as evidence in the Maritime Inquiry and is part of my book; Here is a short letter for you from the ‘Atlas’, which is now at sea with your son aboar...d of course. We are at the moment near the coast of Victoria and in approximately four hours we will put into the port of Portland for water, oil and repair to the steering gear. This dredge may be good for dredging, but as a sea-going vessel it is not worth a penny. We have now been at sea for four days and we are bobbing merrily with the old wreck. There is something wrong everywhere and with my mate I occupy the only dry cabin. The others float from their beds and we have been able to repair this a bit, but now then the money is excellent, so we have to put up with these inconveniences. As you know, we are on our way to Sydney with this floating coffin and after repairs there, I will make a further trip to New Zealand of approximately one more day’s sailing. Thanks Lee Van Helden for reaching out, I hope I can discover more about your grandfather!