Returning To Royal Navy

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 14

Returning To Royal Navy

As confrontation in Malaysia is now at an end, the New Zealand Navy minesweepers Santon and Hickleton are being withdrawn from the Far East and returning to the United Kingdom, where they will be handed back to the Royal Navy. The Santon and Hickleton were commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy in April last year. Manned by New Zealanders and under New Zealand colours they joined the Royal Navy’s 11th Minesweeping Squadron, increasing New Zealand’s contribution to the defence of Malaysia. Almost immediately they joined the barrier of patrols built by the Royal Navy around the coast of Malaysia to keep out Indonesian infiltrators.

la the last 18 months the two New Zealand minesweepers and their crews of four officers and 28 ratings have steamed thousands of miles and sought out, stopped and searched numerous small craft off the Malaysian coast. In the majority of cases when the Santon and Hickleton intercepted small boats they found only innocent fishermen and traders, but both ships have had their share of action and have caught Indonesians attempting to slip through the patrols to the coast. On these occasions both the suspects and their craft have been handed over to the Malaysian authorities. It was not “all work and no play,” however, for the officers and men on board the two minesweepers found a variety of activities and amusements

to break the monotony of patrol duties. Both the Santon and Hickleton visited Hong Kong where they spent several days resting from patrols. The Hickleton added a dog to her ship’s company. The Santon’s ship’s company on one occasion found time to take a course in jungle survival. The officers and men on board the two ships competed in local sporting events and the Hickleton won the Squadron sports competition in which five ships of the 11th Minesweeping squadron took part.

WAIMAIRI BEACH LADIES.— Stroke—Silver division: Mrs H. Cuttance, 97. 17—80. Bronze A: Mrs F. Adams, 98, 23—75: Mrs R. Moses, 96. 20—76. Bronze B: Mrs D. Turner. 111, 36—75; Mrs H. Hancock. 108, 31—77. C grade button: Mrs A. Moore.