LIFE IN NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 200, 24 August 1937, Page 9

LIFE IN NAVY.

R.N.V.R. RATING'S TRIP. i _____ CORONATION CONTINGENT. i AMBITION REALISED. #By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent,) CHRISTCHUKCH, this day.# Blnce he left Christchurch to attend the Coronation as one of New Zealand's four Eoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve representatives, Mr. Frank Tayler has epent six eventful months. He marched ia the Coronation procession, was preaented with a medal by the Queen, and took part in training with the British Fleet as a member of the crew of H.M.S. Leander. Mr. Tayler, who is a leading seaman in the Canterbury division of the ILN.V.R., arrived home this morning »fter travelling from England in the Leander. After his arrival in England Mr. Tayler spent ten days sightseeing and then started intensive training for the Coronation with other naval men at the Whale Island gunnery school. "Believe me, that is the swiftest place in the world" was his comment on his stay on the island. With 46 seamen from H.M.S. Dunedin and the other three R.N.V.R. men from the Dominion, Mr. Tayler worked hard in training, marching being one of the main items on the curriculum. A Shower of Food. During the Coronation procession the 50 New Zealand naval men marched behind the Dominion's military contingent. Mr. Tayler explained that on the route from Buckingham Palace there was a stop of three-quarters of an hour in Regent Street, and during that time a shower of oranges, bananas and sandwiches rained down on them. "Before leaving London we went to Buckingham Palace to receive cur medals. Mine was presented by the Queen. The two small Princesses were just behind her." Leaving London, Mr. Tayler went to Plymouth to prepare for the naval review, and following the review a week was spent at Devonport in the Leander.i Later the Leander joined the Home Fleet at Portland and several days were spent in gunnery practice. The warships' fired at the Queen Bee electrically controlled seaplanes. One of these was brought down by the Rodney, and another fell as a result of a direct hit "by the Leander. With the Cruiser Squadron. The Leander then sailed for Rosyth, Scotland, to -join the Second Cruiser Squadron, which included .the two new ships, Southampton and Newcastle. Both vessels, Mr. Tayler declared, and the last word in naval design. After his experience with the Home Fleet and the cruiser squadron Mr. Tayler has returned much impressed by the strength of the British Navy, and he did not think that any nation in the world could say it "had anything on Britain." Speaking of his life in the Navy, Mr. T_yler said that on joining the Leander he ceased to be a New Zealander, becoming one of the crew. Strict discipline was observed, and there was plenty of work to do, but there was a good spirit existing. The men were of a fine type and soon settled down to the routine. Aβ a New Zealander, Mr. Tayler said that he was very well treated at Home, and had thoroughly enjoyed the trip, which had realised one of his life's ambitions.