A NAVAL CHRISTENING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23330, 23 October 1937, Page 11

A NAVAL CHRISTENING

RARE CEREMONY ON FLAGSHIP INFANT SON OF AN OFFICER (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Oct. 22. A rare ceremony is to be held on board the flagship of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, H.M.S. Achilles, on Sunday morning. For a few minutes the quarter-deck of the warship is to be used for the christening of infant son of Lieutenant-commander Robertson and Mrs Robertson. The baby was born last month, and is to be named lan Antony. Unfortunately, the padre of the division, the Rev. G. T. Robson, M.C., of H.M.S. Philomel, is ill, and will not be able to take the christening. His place, however, is to be taken by the Rev. H. K. Vickery, port chaplain, of the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen, who has always taken considerable interest in the activities of the New Zealand division. For the ceremony a special christening font is to be provided on the quarter-deck of the Achilles, near the cabin of the commodore, Rearadmiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond. A canvas screen will probably be erected, and the baby will be christened from a font provided by the ship's bell. The ceremony will be held about 11 o'clock, soon after the conclusion of the ordinary Sunday service in the naval base chapel. Exceptional interest is being taken at the base in the ceremony, because not only is it the first of its kind to be held during the ship's present commission, but the baby is the first to be born to any of the officers since they have been in New Zealand. The christening will be the second to have been held on board the Achilles since her completion in 1933. During her first commission, before she was attached to the New Zealand station, she paid a visit to the Azores, and while she was there the baby of the British Consul in the group was christened on the quarter-deck.