TRADITIONS OF NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 154, 27 December 1935, Page 14

TRADITIONS OF NAVY

OLD CUSTOMS OBSERVED

Christmas was observed in the traditional manner at the Devonport naval base on Wednesday, states the "New Zealand Herald." As many officers and men as possible on the flagship, H.M.S. Dunedin, the sloops H.M.S. Leith and H.M.S Wellington, and on the training ship H.M.S. Philomel were granted leave and were thus able to spend the day with their families and friends, but an excellent Christmas dinner was provided for those who remained on board1. Early on Wednesday morning bunches of pohutukawa and a species of sine, which were used to replace the traditional holly, were attached to the mastheads, yardarms, and Ensign staff of the warships. At 10 o'clock Commodore the Hon. E. R. Drummond, commodore of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, officers, and men attended a special Christmas carol service conducted by the Rev. G. T. Robson in the naval base chapel. On Wednesday morning the commodore visited the four.warships and exchanged seasonal greetings with those on board. Senior officers attired. as junior officers, and junior officers dressed in the uniform of their seniors, and others in fancy dress, made up concert parties and went from ship to ship; For Christmas dinner the mess decks of the various warships were specially decorated. The dinner served to the men included turkey, green peas and new potatoes, plum pudding and cUstard, as well as the customary rum ration Muscatels.. and almonds, boxes of chocolates, nuts, oranges, and apples were also placed on the tables.