MEN OF ACHILLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 296, 13 December 1940, Page 8

MEN OF ACHILLES.

CITY'S MEMORIAL.

OPENING CEREMONY TO-DAY.

"The corporation and citizens of Auckland are proud to be associated with the dedication of this memorial to the gallant performance of H.M.S. Achillea manned, as it was, by a large numl>er of New Zealand's own sons,'' -tated the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, at the official opening ceremony of the Achilles Point reserve this afternoon. The memorial takes the form of a tri-augiilar-sha|H'd look-out on a ixinimatiding headland near St. Heller's Hay. 10-day was the anniversary of the action at the River Plate.

The speakers included the Mayor, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, who dedicated and named the memorial, and Commander H. T. Palmer, president of the Xuvy League. Invitations had IM-en extended to all next-of-kin of oflicers and men who fought in the engagement, and in addition to these there was a largv attendance of the public. Commodore \V". K. I'arrv, C.8., K.N., Chief of the Naval Staff,' who commanded the Achillea in the action, and Mrs. Parry, a,'so Mrs. 11. ]•;. Koran, wife of Commodore ii. E. lioran, D.5.0., were present.

It was the privilege of Auckland citv, "here the home waters of Achilles Ne to liavo dedicated to that gallant perlorma nee tlie attractive reserve that was to be opened 12 months after the action, said Sir Ernest. Situated on a eonvnanding position overlooking the entrances to the Waiteniata, it "stood as a sentinel. Without any attempt at over-emphasi s the design had been executed t<» conform with the physical leaftiios of the headland and i t sou-lit, at the same time, to arc-cut a permanent impression of naval background. "Evergreen Memory." Auckland will never for<»et the association of 11.M.5. Achilles and its captain, officers and ship's company in that historic battle in the South Atlantic, ho said, "nor will it allow time to erase any measure of its gratitude to those members of the ship's company who made the supreme sacrifice Ihese men a* Seaman I. W. Grant, Telegraphist M. J. Mill,urn, Seaman A. 11. .Shaw and Telegraphist F Stennett."

The Mayor expressed sympathy with the next-of-kin of these fine men. He also referred to the presence of Chief ierynan of Signals Martinson, who is stil suffering from war wounds. He spoke also of the good news of victorv from tlie Middle Ea«t. in which Xew Zealanders had participated.

(Proceeding.)