Naval Reservists To Take Part In Big Naval Exercises

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 July 1949, Page 6

Naval Reservists To Take Part In Big Naval Exercises

AUCKLAND, (PA).— The enthusiasm of civilian sailors for their voluntary defence service an< i the co-operation of employers in providing up to two month’s leave of absence will enable over 30 ratings of the Auckland Division of the Naval Volunteer Reserve to take part in combined exercises by the Australian and New Zealand navies. The reservists will serve as a special division in the cruiser Bellona while the manoeuvres are held in Australian waters from the end of September to late November.

Men of the reserve responded eagerly to the opportunity of joining Bellona for the exercises. In view of the time that would be involved, they were told that their employers’ sanction must be given freely and in most cases this was almost immediately forthcoming. Many ratings will also sacrifice their annual holidays to gain the extra weeks at sea and, in a few instances, where the full two months’ leave cannot be granted by the firms they have volunteered to serve in the cruiser [ova limited period and pay the cost of their return by air from Sydney to Auckland.

Exercises will provide the first sea training for the ratings since the division was formed in October. They will be accompanied by two reserve officers, Lieutenant Commander J. Lennox King and Lieutenant (L) R. A. Gooch, the division’s electrical officer.. Another 20 reservists and two officers. Lieutenant Commander C. H. Hilliard and Lieutenant W. Armstrong, will also serve in Bellona while lhe cruiser carries out working-up trials in Ilauraki Gulf from August 2 to August 16.