Girls Join Navy In Family Tradition

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30332, 7 January 1964, Page 2

Girls Join Navy In Family Tradition

It’s an old and a proud custom in the Navy for a son to follow his father into the service, or for one brother to choose the same career as another.

In New Zealand this trend is continuing, but with a new twist—the girls have decided to adopt the custom too.

At present 10 girls in the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service have brothers serving in the Navy, and three girls have followed their sisters into the W.R.N.Z.N.S.

To make the Navy a true family affair two Wrens have uncles in the service, and one has followed the pattern set by her father, a former Royal Marine. Statistics show that one in every four girls in the W.R.N.Z.N.S. have one or more male relatives serving ashore or afloat. The trend does not seem to be confined to any one district, and families from all parts of New Zealand have strong ties with the Navy. The Kirkwood family from Onehunga, Auckland, is an example. Carmen and Kathleen. sisters, are both in the signals branch of the W.R.N.Z.N.S.. while their brother. Ordinary Seaman T. H. Kirkwood, is serving in H.M.N.Z.S. Pukaki.

members of the staff of H.M.N.Z.S, PhUomel’s port communications centre.

Pat Turnbull, from Takaka. Nelson, is riot quite so lucky. She works as a writer in the Commodore’s office. Her brother is a sick berth attendant in the cruiser H.M.N.Z.S. Royalist. Some girls can claim more than one relative in the service. Chief Wren Margaret King, of Wellington, has a brother serving in Navy Office. Wellington. She also has two first cousins connected with the service. One jis Sub-Lieutenant C. Anson, of Nelson, who is an officer in the frigate. H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti. and the other is Lieutenant J. G. ' A'Court, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of the Levin Sea Cadet Unit.

Perhaps it is only natural that the sisters in the W.R.N.ZNS. should choose the same branch. Besides the Kirkwood sisters. Heather and Lynette Jarvis, from Timaru. are both writers. From Thames, Rawinia and Linda Welsh have chosen to • be stewards. Wrens do not serve at sea, and it is not common, therefore, to find brother and sister working side by side The Buckinghams, from Gisborne, are an exception Judith, with her brother. Leading Tactical Operator R. L Buckingham, are both

Roslyn Duncan, a leading sick berth attendant at the Naval Hospital in Devonport. followed her father, Second Lieutenant C. D. R, Duncan, R.M., into the Navy. He was at one time bandmaster of the New Zealand Station Royal Marine Band, but now lives in Fiji where he has charge of the Fiji Police Band. Miss Duncan also has a cousin. Christine Mitchell, in the W.R.N.Z.N.S. The list is a long one, but most of the girls give the same reason for joining the service—they “come from naval families.”