It is one hundred and seven years today since the s.s. Waratah a passenger cargo ship vanished with 211 persons on board in 1909, leaving no trace of her last position on the face of the Earth. As an individual I have chosen two poems of remembrance, one for the passengers and one for the crew.
For the passengers.
IN OUR HEARTS.
We thought of you with love today.
But that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday.
And the day before that too.
We think of you in silence.
We often speak your names.
Now all we have is memories.
And your all your pictures in frames.
Your memory is our keepsake.
With which we will never part.
God has you in his keeping.
We have you in our heart.
Author unknown.
For the crew adapted from the Lords Prayer.
The Pilots Psalm.
The Lord is my pilot, I shall not drift, He guides me across the dark waters. He steers
me in deep channels, He keeps my log. He pilots me by the star of Holiness for his names sake. Yea, though I sail mid the fender and tempests of life I shall dread no danger for He is near me. His Love and care shelter me. He prepares a harbour before me in the Holiness of Eternity. He anoints the waves with oil, my ship rides calmly.
Surely sunlight and starlight shall favour me in my voyages and I will rest in the Port of our Lord Forever.
Waratah at berth A Albert Docks London March 9th 1909,
Long ago but not forgotten.
N.S.W Emblem the Waratah flower which the ship was named after.
s.s Waratah last seen off the South African Coast July 27th 1909.
