NAVALESE BITS & BYTES
Welcome aboard for our April contribution to the 'Tattler'. We have had a bit of and 'Indian' summer with some pretty good weather all round although it is getting a bit cooler as the weeks roll by. No doubt it will change dramatically with Daylight Saving finishing next Saturday. At least it will be a bit lighter in the mornings.
We had our golf day on 14th March and we were blessed with brilliant weather, fine and warm, along with a good number of players.
Although there were no trophys involved we did manage to muster a few few prizes for longest drive and closeest to the pin etc. The overall winner was one of our visitors, Riwai Grace and I was the winner of the non handicap section. God knows how they worked that out but that was in the hands of of our 'expert' Calloway man, Bob Kelly, who once again did a good job. We had a few 'wets' at Everglades and then adjourned to the RSA for a few more 'wets' some scran and the informal prize giving. All in all another successful golf day.
Also on the 7th March we had our trip out on the tug 'Lyttelton'. It was a bit of a 'Tiki' tour to get to Lyttelton and some of our passengers wondered if we were going to Lyttelton or Akaroa as we headed out through Motukarara but we turned left a bit further down the track and over Gebbis Pass to our first stop at the Wheatsheaf tavern at Teddington where we enjoyed a few ales. Next stop Governors Bay hostelry (Lovely view down the Harbour - even better with a few browns under the belt), fish and chips at Lyttelton and then onto the wharf, onboard the 'Lyttelton' and out for a harbour cruise for an hour so. Unfortunately the Sumner RSA was closed when we called in on our way home so it was back to the Papanui RSA. All in all a very enjoyable day out with a bit of 'sea time' included and we were once again blessed with great warm, sunny weather.
Anzac day is just around the corner once more and I am sure if its anything like the last few years we will get a good muster.
I can't help but be impressed with the resurgence by the general public in respect of ANZAC day, more especially by the younger generation and their families after some negativity by our anti Veitnam protesters. It makes me feel proud to see such large numbers in attendance on our special day. Anyone who is available to partake in selling Poppy's on poppy day would you please see Wendy and she will be able to slot you in at a time and venue to suit you.
We have our ship visit to HMNZS Canterbury coming up this Saturday 3rd April and the numbers are looking good so that will fill in the forenoon of Easter Saturday quiet nicely more especially so if our honourable driver, Roy, does his usual deviation to celebrate the occassion.
Thats all for this month folks, enjoy the Easter break and ANZAC day
Yours aye
Ron Mayell
President Papanui Branch RNZNA
29th April 2010
THE LITTLE SHIPS
Fairmiles and SDML's featured prominently during th war years and post war years in the RNZN. There were 11 Fairmiles built in Auckland between September 1942 and December 1943. The class saw war service in the Solomons in 1944-45 and at the end of the war were paid off pending disposal. In 1946-47 all but one were sold to private buyers, Q411 reverted to the RNZN in 1949 as P3571 and as we all know was put into service on the TAMAKI liberty service, was named KAHU in 1954 and PHILOMEL in 1956. Sold privately in 1965. Q409 repurchased by RNZN in 1953 and used as ferry IRIS MOANA P3570 also on Tamaki duties.
SDML's were built for NZ on th West Coast USA between 1942 and 1943, totalling 16.
They were originally classified as HDML's and reclassified as SDML's in 1948.
After their wartime service they were used over successive years as Survey ML's, Fishery Protection ML's and each of Volunteer Reserve division's were allocated one for training purposes. It is rather ironic that in the lastest edition of the 'Ditty Box' is a photee of ML, HMNZS Koura alongside Pearoa Stream, so there are still a few of these hardy vessels afloat. I recall seeing one alongside at Picton and also seeing one moored just past Hobsonville, Auckland. The following is a dit from WW2.
TO WAR IN A MOTOR LAUNCH
One of the New Zealanders closely involved in the landings on D-Day was Lt L.C. Nisbett who was to earn a Mention in Dispatches for his efforts.
After various postings he was made CO of ML1409. On D-Day Lt Nisbetts task was to mark the channel for American landing craft off Omaha Beach. They sailed from Falmouth on the 4th June and despite the initial recall following the decision to delay the invasion by 24 hours, the flotilla remained at sea. The night before the landings was spent about 4 miles off the coast and at 0400 ML1409 closed and marked the safe channel by laying dan bouys and also some sonar bouys. The remainder of that day and the next was spent guiding landing craft through the channel to the beaches. Another New Zealander, Lt J. Forgie was in the same flotilla.
Following a short break in England ML1409 again crossed the channel, this time to undertake work off the British Mulberry Harbour being constructed at Arromanches. The vessel esentially remained there until September with Lt Nisbett effectively being the Harbour Master. Having completed operations off Normandy, ML1409 then took an active part in the landings at Walcheren, on the Dutch coast on 1st November 1944. The work of ML1409 during these landings was similar to that of D-day.
Source: RNZN Tales From the Beach.
