FAREWELL TO COMMODORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19389, 26 July 1926, Page 11

FAREWELL TO COMMODORE.

NAVAL RESERVE PARADE. VALUE OF SEA EXPERIENCE. Members of the Royal Naval Reserve held a parade at Devonport yesterday for the purpose of bidding farewell to Commodore A. F. Beal, C.8., C.M.G., commander of the New Zealand station, ■who is leaving shortly for England. The ceremony was also attended by a detachment of Sea Scouts, as well as men from H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Philomel. The parade was held in the Calliope dockyard. Aftor a short religious service, Commodore Beal inspected the reservists and the Sea Scouts. In saying farewell to those on parade he said he would always remember with pride that the Royal Naval Reserve was established in the course of his term in command of the New Zealand station. He was anxious that all men in the reserve should obtain sea experience if possible, and they should volunteer for a cruise. The reservists should always consider themselves part of the naval service and not a body outside it. Close co-operation with the navy was necessary, and the closer the co-operation the better the service would be. He trusted that many of the scouts would join the navy and that those unable to do bo -would join the reserve. The proceedings closed with cheers for the commodore.