City Girl Made Flag Lieutenant

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 2

City Girl Made Flag Lieutenant

Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 26. Third Officer Helen Davis, of the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service, was recently appointed secre- ! tary and flag lientenant to the Chief of the Naval Staff (Rear Admiral- R. E. ■ Washbourn). The position of secretary has in the past been held at different times by a woman, but this is the first time the office has been com-

bined with the appointment of flag lieutenant. Third Officer Davis comes from Christchurch and was educated at Christchurch Girls’ High School. She went overseas at the age of 21 after, having worked as a stenographer, both in a Christchurch solicitor’s office and for the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Service In U.K. In England, after a year’s holiday, she joined the W.R.N.S.. After her training at Reading she was posted first to Yorkshire and then to Portsmouth, Plymouth and Fleet Air’ Arm stations at Lee-on-Solent and Culdrose. Cornwall. Later she returned to the Reading training depot where she trained new entrants.

“1 loved the work—meet ing people and getting to know them—and there was ! great satisfaction in seeing the result of my work with the girls,” said Third Officer Davis.

“Some girls have a fear 'of discipline and it was one jof my jobs to help them I overcome that.” Third Officer Davis re- ■ turned to New Zealand for (family reasons three years ago and after about six months joined the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval (Service. She attended an j Officer’s training course and. i after gaining the rank of [third officer, was appointed .to her present post. During the last eight years she has moved often from place to place and is happy now that her appointment keeps her in Wellington.