REFIT OF CRUISER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 251, 4 August 1933, Page 2

REFIT OF CRUISER

DIOMEDE READY TO RESUME. NEW OFFICERS AND RATINGS. (Special to the :< Guardian.") AUCKLAND, August 2. Overhauled and repainted from stem to stern, H.M.S. Diomede, which has completed her biennial refit at Devonport Naval Base, will be commanded by new officers from Wednesday onward, when she will complete to her full complement. Captain V. A. C. Crutehley, V.C., will hand over command or the cruiser probably tomorrow evening to Captain Cosmo Graham, who, with other officers and a number of imperial ratings, will arrive at Auckland by the liangitane. Other officers who are arriving on the liangitane are: Lieutenant M. A. C. H. Hardcastle, who will replace 'Lieutenant-Commander 11. Airey; Lieutenant P. Bethell, who will relieve Lieutenant It. J. 11. By an; Lieutenant 0. R. Havergal, who will relieve Lieutenant 0. \V. Jones; and Sub-Lieutenant H. B. A. Kidston and Lieutenant M. Archdall, of the Royal 'Marines. Sub-Lieutenant R. E. Washburn, who is a New Zealander, arrived some weeks ago. In addition to the officers about 150 Imperial ratings are arriving on the Rangitane to replace, those who returned to England when the Diomede withdrew for relit. Most of the cruiser's complement, consists now of New Zealand ratings. The relit of the Diomede, which has been carried out under the supervision of Engine-Commander C. Marchant, engineer officer in charge of Devonport Naval Base, has been highly successful. It is stated that the work could not have been done better in English naval dockyards.