TOUR OF DUTY IN PACIFIC

Southland Times, Issue 25737, 30 July 1945, Page 4

TOUR OF DUTY IN PACIFIC

RETURN OF FAIRMILE LAUNCHES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 29. After a tour of duty in the Pacific, .which lasted for nearly 18 months, 12 Fairmile motor launches of the Royal New Zealand Navy returned recently to Auckland. The tour of duty began on February 7, 1944, when, the first five Fairmiles left for the Solomon Islands, the other seven departing on March 25, 1944. Since then the flotilla has been engaged in patrols and escort and antisubmarine work and has provided screens for vessels engaged in loading war materials at various places. The officer in command of the base, H.M.N.Z.S. Kahu, from which the Fairmiles worked, was Lieutenant-Com-mander H. E. Cave, R.N., of Gisborne, the senior officer of the flotilla was Lieutenant-Commander H. J. Bull, D.S.C., R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Auckland, and the commanders of the 12 ships at the close of the tour of duty were Lieutenants P. C. Stennard (Wellington), J. W. Ballinger (Rangiora), J. W. Mills (Invercargill), A. R. Jouglin (Auckland), K. H. Mackenzie (Christchurch), G. M. Parker (Dunedin), J. C. Frankham (Auckland), L. E. Newell, D.S.C. (Wellington), E. T. F. Millett (Auckland), D. C. Algie (Auckland), R. P. W. Mills (Auckland) and K. C. Gerard (Wellington). Each of the Fairmiles carried two officers, two petty officers and 12 ratings. At base in the Solomons there were 10 officers and 53 ratings. MONOTONOUS WORK

On his return to the Dominion Lieu-tenant-Commander Cave was enthusiastic in his praise of the work of the officers and men under his command. He expressed gratitude for the cooperation and assistance received from the United States Navy. He said that since the Fairmiles left New Zealand they had travelled a total distance of 380,000 miles. Although their work in the main had been monotonous, with no action by or against the enemy, it had been important, and American naval authorities had been very appreciative of the manner in which it had been carried out. “The Fairmiles stood up to the work very well, and I must congratulate the New Zealand builders of these little ships on their excellent workmanship,” said Lieutenant-Commander Cave. He added that the ships had been intended for short coastal patrols, but during the Pacific tour had taken part in convoys of hundreds of miles. Ratings in one of the Fairmiles expressed gladness at being back in the Dominion after a tour of duty which had been partly interesting and partly monotonous. They said the food and conditions on small ships had been very good, but they were pleased to taste fresh milk again. Asked if they had any complaints they gave a unanimous “no.”