Age of navy

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 50

Age of navy

Sir, — An article on November 24 on New Zealand naval officer training in the United Kingdom wrongly asserted that the Royal New Zealand Navy is the youngest of New Zealand’s armed services. This is only true in the narrow sense that the navy has been operating under its present title since 1941. The true origin of our navy, however, goes back to 1913 with the passing into law of the (N.Z.) Naval Defence Act, and the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy (1921) was a direct result of this. Despite the impression left with most people, this division was, in fact, paid for and under the control of the New Zealand Government (via the New Zealand Naval Board, created in March, 1921). Because all the important ships and all the officers were on loan from the Royal Navy (until the 1950 s in* some instances), most people have been left with the impression that the New Zealand Division (and to a certain extent the early Royal New Zealand Navy), was an appendage of the Royal Navy. This impression certainly had substance to it, but the fact remains that the New Zealand Division prior to October, 1941, and the Royal New Zealand Navy after that date was the same service in every way, apart' from the name itself. Of course H.M.S. became H.M.N.Z.S., but this was a mere formality. “The Press” of September 11, 1941,

records the extent of the change. Despite the similar assertions in many recent books, I maintain that the (Royal) N.Z. Navy is 16 years older than the air force as a separate service in this country. — Yours, etc.,

D. J. DUXBURY. November 26, 1987.