CHRISTMAS DAY ON FRIGATE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28161, 27 December 1956, Page 2

CHRISTMAS DAY ON FRIGATE

Padre Visits Ship By Jackstay [From DENIS WEDERELL, of “The, Press" reporting staff, with the, Royal New ' Zealand Navy frigates I escorting the New Zealand Antarctic expedition ship Endeavour.} ABOARD H.M.N.Z.S. HAWEA (Latitude 60 deg. South), Dec. 25 Chaplain Roy McKenzie swung across from the Pukaki by jackstay this morning to bring the Christmas message of peace and goodwill to the men of Hawea. As the escorting frigates plunged and rolled in the swell, the greybearded padre' stepped into the stirrup and was pulled smartly across the sparkling blue water on to the heaving foredeck. Christ had been bqrn into a troubled world, said Chaplain McKenzie, and His message of “Peace on earth, goodwill to all. men’’ was as relative today as it was nearly 2000 years ago. I After the quarterdeck service attended by the' ship’s company, Chaplain McKenzie returned to the Pukaki by jackstay and Lieutenant - Commander William Brown, captain of the Hawea, began his Christmas Day rounds of the mess decks accompanied by 16-year-old William Coker, the youngest junior seaman. Lieutenant - Commander Brown called on each mess in turn to wish them a merry Christmas. T’he swell was too heavy for Chaplain McKenzie to transfer to the Endeavour which rolled and pitched nearby and the Antarctic men have delayed their celebrations until they reach the pack ice and calmer waters. Farewell Service The padre will swing across to the Endeavour for a farewell service before the frigates turn' back to New Zealand. One of the busiest men aboard the Hawea today was the chief cook, Petty Officer Thomas Cockburn, who with Cooks Terry Daley, of Christchurch, and Bill Hayward, of Ashburton, spent the morning cooking a Christmas dinner which opened with giblei soup and ranged through roast turkey and stuffing, cold ham. cauliflower, green peas, roast potatoes and kumeras to Christmas pudding. All the messes were decorated with streamers, bells and flags and on the bulkheads were cards from home. When the plates were cleared away there were cigars and cigarettes.