PHILOMEL ENDS COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25086, 18 January 1947, Page 2

PHILOMEL ENDS COMMISSION

ENSIGN HAULED DOWN FOR LAST TIME FAREWELL SIGNAL FROM NAVY BOARD (P.A.) AUCKLAND,* January 17. H.M.N.Z.S. Philomel finished her commission of 56 years last evening at sunset. A silent ship’s company from the base establishment that will perpetuate the old cruiser’s name watched her colours hauled down tor the last time. The simple traditional evening ceremony of the Navy began in a ship and ended a minute later on a hulk as the Philomel is no longer a naval unit. Once a crack cruiser, then a training ship, and now a squat, unwieldy shell, she has passed into the hands of a private shipping company. At daybreak to-day she was towed from the berth which she has occupied since 1921 and taken to Coromandel for stripping. When her decks and fittings have been removed she will be towed to- sea and sunk. Five minutes before sunset last night a duty watch of ratings in the base paraded on the training jetty alongside the ship. As the blue and white preparative flag above the signal tower of the base was hauled down and a yeoman of signals stationed at the ensign halyards formally reported "Sunset, sir.” a bugle sounded. The ship’s company moved to •’ttention and a group of officers on the quarterdeck of the Philomel came to the salute. With other ships at the base, from cruiser to motor launch, the White Ensign at the stern and the New Zealand flag flying from the jackstaff at the stem were slowly lowered for a minute until the bugle ordered “Carry on.” Workers Doff Their Hats The whole base was stilled. A party of dockyard workers, one of whom had sailed as a naval rating in the Philomel on her last voyage from Wellington to Auckland in 1921. doffed their hats. On the quarterdeck of the Philomel for the last sunset ceremony were her commanding officer (Commander P. Phipps, D.S.C., R.N.Z.N), Naval Officer in Charge at Auckland (Captain C. R. V. Pugh. C.8.E., R.N.). and the captain of the cruiser Bellona (Captain M. B. Laing, C.8.E.. R.N.) Shortly before the cruiser ended her long naval career, the following signal was received from the New Zealand Naval Board yesterday: “The Naval Board wishes to record its regret at the passing from service of the first of His Majesty’s New Zealand ships, which has meant so much to all who have served in her. She goes, as many good ships have cone down before her. but when the Philomel’s colours are hauled down for the last time at sunset this evening the tradition which she has established during her long career will live on in the depot to which she has given her name.” The Philomel, with a towboat ahead and a light tug assisting on her quarter,'is expected to make between three and four knots, proceeding by way of Motuihi Channel. She was due to reach Coromandel between 3 and 4 o’clock this afternoon