A NAVAL OCCASION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 6

A NAVAL OCCASION

H.M.S. Leith Recommissions NEW CREW FROM ENGLAND H.M.S. Leith, Imperial escort vessel, was recommissioned yesterday by Commander G. Ro Waymouth for a further period of service on the New Zealand Station. . When the ship arrived at Wellington early on Monday morning she was flying, in accordance with naval custom, a paying-off pendant measuring some 266 feet in length. The vessel was last recommissioned in Wellington on December 17, 1936, so that by the time the ranks and ratings relieved yesterday arrive in England they will have completed just on three years’ service. The new crew, comprising three officers and SS ratings, arrived at Wellington yesterday afternoon in the Rangitata, having been delayed during the last week by stormy weather. W Homeward-bouud draft of <o rffuu o s, under the command of Lieutenant-Com-mander A. C. A. C. Duckworth, will leave Wellington early this morning in the Rangitiki for London. Another draft under Lieutenant J. A. late navigating officer of the Leith, will leave shortly for England, via Suez. AU are looking forward eagerly to their return home. One man said he badly wanted to see his little girl, who. was born a fortnight after he left England 111 After’the Rangitata had berthed at Queen’s Wharf, the new crew of H.M.S. Leith laden with their kits, disembarked and formed up in two lines. A tew of the men were accompanied by their wives and children. The draft was then formed into fours and marched to the other side of the wharf where H.M.S. Leith was lying. Each man was then given a card bearing his nome an'd, in the words of the petty officer who distributed them, “the number of vour mess, .the number of your gasmask locker, and the number of your kit locker.” The men then filed on board, each saluting the quarter-deek a« he stepped off the gangway, and went to their allotted quarters. During the afternoon the specialist ratings were made acquainted with their particular stations on board by the men they were relieving. It was noticeable that the men ot the new draft carried a variety of names on their cap-ribbons. Most of them came from H.M.S. Pembroke (Chatham Dockyard). Others were from H.M.S. Excellent, the gunnery school at Portsmouth, one from H.M.S. Caledonia (formerly the "White Star liner Majestic), the boys’ training ship at Rosyth, one from H.M.S. Hermes, aircraft-car-rier, and others from H.M.S. Duncan, destroyer flotilla leader, and H.M. destrovers Valorous and Vimy. As from todav all will wear cap bands bearing the name of H.M.S. Leith, which is to depart on a ‘‘shake-clown" cruise to the Marlborough Sounds.

The new officers who joinexi the Leith vesterday are Lieutenant W. E. C. Lowndes (who was in command of the draft), Lieutenant R. D., W. Moore, navigating officer and Sub-Lieutenant W. G. Grabble.

(Pictures on page 7.)