NAVY OLD BOYS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

NAVY OLD BOYS

Chatham and Philomel

THE annual reunion of H.M.S. Chatham and Philomel Old Boys will be held in 11, Albert Buildings, corner of Albert Street and Swanson Street, Auckland, on Saturday, October 1, at 7.43 p.m.

The Chatham and Philomel Old Bovs was formed in J92S to ha\e an annual reunion, and on finding there were various other naval ratings here it was decided to change the name to the White Ensign Club. £o a* to incorporate anyone who had served under the White Ensign and was eligible to join.

''f depression the membership dropped, but a few member* stuck together, and kept going for a time but ultimately tlie White Ensign Club was wound vip and later became the Ex-Xaval Men's Association. A good working executive was got together and '.lie association went forward with leaps and bounds, and now its own rooms, furnished wit.* piano, loud speaker, billiards table, indoor bowling green and various other gar.ies.

H.M.S. Chatham was commissioned at Chatham on October 1. 1020. to form the nucleus of the present Xew Zealand Division of the Koyal Xavy. This year's will be the 18th anniversary. Many of the ratings are settled down in various part* of Xew Zealand, but it was decided last year to hold the reunion once again. The original ship's company are all war service men and nearly all belong to the Ex-Xaval .Men's Association.