[2] The Westmoreland departed Wellington, New Zealand on 26 April 1942, under the command of Captain Ernst Arthur Burton with a cargo of mail, foodstuffs, and wool.

On the morning of 1 June, under a bright gibbous moon 510 nautical miles (940 km; 590 mi) south of Halifax, Westmoreland was zig-zagging her way north in heavy seas.

Though none of the lookouts reported sighting a submarine it was clear they had been torpedoed; confidential materials were destroyed as a precaution and an emergency transmission with their position sent.

Following a tour of his ship, Captain Burton noted significant damage to the port boat deck and broken beams on the hatch for hold #3.

Burton kept the trio of lifeboats together at first, hoping rescue craft had been dispatched in response to Westmoreland's distress signal, but when help did not arrive by 1PM the following day he ordered they make for land, rowing to the northwest, despite rough conditions and a 25-knot (46 km/h; 29 mph) wind.