N.Z. NAVAL DIVISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1935, Page 2

N.Z. NAVAL DIVISION

NEW COMMANDER TAKES OVER. [PEE PEEBS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, April 26. With naval ceremonial appropriate to the occasion the new Commodore of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Captain the Hon. E. R. Drummond, virtually took over command to-day from Rear-Admiral F. Burges Watson, whose term of three years on the station has now expired. Captain Drummond vjill take over full command of the Division as Commodore to-morrow. As the new Commodore stepped on board the flagship Dunedin, he was given the Commodore’s salute in addition to being piped on board. The broad pennant of Rear-Admiral Bur g es -Watson was struck at sunset, ending officially his association with the Division. At eight o’clock tomorrow morning, Captain Drummond’s broad pennant will be broken at the masthead of the Dunedin, and he will officially take over as Commodore. A salute of eleven guns will be tired from H.M.S. Diomede, and will be answered by a salnte of seven guns from the shore battery at the base.

In a farewell signal, Rear-Admiral Burges-Watson thanked the Division for its keenness and loyalty during his period of command. “My last three years in the Navy,” he added, 'have been the happiest in my thirtyfive years’ service. Good-bye and good luck.’’ Rear-Admiral Burges-Watson will sail from Auckland by the Wanganella on Monday. The Dunedin, which has now completed her biennial refit and has extended to' full complement, will remain in port until May 7, when she will sail for Hauraki Gulf, for a period, to enable the new ship’s company to “shake down.” She will return to port on May 18. Both the Dunedin and Diomede will make Island cruises during the winter, but the full programmes have yet to be announced.