NAVALESE BITS & BYTES
Quakes, flooding and now snow. At least we won't get bush fires but we are now into August so weather should (being the operative word???) be on the improve.
Lets hope so anyway.
Once again a quiet month Naval wise. We have decided on the new title for our new combined organisation and new title will be (wait for it) Papanui Christchurch Branch RNZNA. Wow I don't know how we are going to cope!!!!!!!!.
Its done and dusted anyway and the amalgamation process is well underway.
An upcoming event of note is the RNZN 70th annivesary celebrations to take place on 1st October. On that date in 1941 the "New Zealand Naval Forces" became the "Royal New Zealand Navy" after King George VI granted our Naval Forces his royal recognition.
The main event will take place in Wellington over the period of 29th September to 3rd October with a Fleet Review, parades, the Navy Band and other related activities.
This promises to be quite a spectacular event so please bear those dates in mind and you will be advised of further details when they come to hand.
CTB. We farwelled one of our shipmates, Bill Adamson, last Wednesday, 27th July. It was rather ironic as the funeral was scheduled to take place on the 25th July and that was the day of the big snowfall in Christchurch. Myself and Dennis Geoghegan turned up at the RSA for the service and lo and behold we were the only attendees surrounded by snow!!!. First time I have ever heard of a funeral being postponed (I was going to say'cancelled' but that would'nt work really?
). Perhaps I/we should have made a few inquiries before braving the storm. However we did give Bill a good send off and may he have smooth seas on his final voyage.
Once again on reading RNZN ships schedules I can see no upcoming visits to Lyttelton.
'Up spirits'
Yours aye
Ron Mayell
President Papanui Branch RNZNA
1st August 2011
HMNZS LEANDER C75
LEANDER became our 6th cruiser when she became part of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy in April 1937 and, from October 1941, was one of the ships of the newly formed Royal New Zealand Navy. While the records show she was in New Zealand service until the 8th May 1944, she was effectively 'off the books' after the ships company were drafted to other ships or stations after berthing at Boston for major repairs in late 1943.
The ship had served with distinction in many areas in the early years of the war, including the Mediterranean, but suffered severe damage when hit by a Japanese torpedo during the 'Battle of Kalombanggara' in July 1943.
On November 1st 1943 a memorial tablet was placed in St Christophers chapel at HMNZS Philomel to commerorate the thirty three officers and ratings who had been killed or who had died in the ship since September 1939.
A special Royal New Zealand Navy memorial was later erected at the base and this shows the names of all who lost their lives during thier wartime service.
(Ex Navy Times June 2000)
See you next month
