H.—s

33. In respect of the action, His Majesty the King bestowed the following honours upon officers and men of H.M.S. " Achilles " Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the BathCaptain W. E. Parry, R.N. Companions of the Distinguished Service Order— Commander D. M. L. Neame, R.N. Lieutenant R. E. Washbourn, R.N. Distinguished Service Cross— Lieutenant G. G. Cowburn, R.N. Surgeon Lieutenant C. G. Hunter, R.N. Mr. H. T. Burchell, Gunner, R.N. Mr. E. J. Watts, Gunner, R.N. Conspicuous Gallantry Medal— Po/22169, S. J. Trimble, Sergeant, R.M. Distinguished Service Medal — W. G. Boniface, Chief Petty Officer, P/J.71495 W. R. Headon, Petty Officer, C/J.107927 A. Maycock, Petty Officer, D/J.88113 H. H. Gould, Able Seaman, N.Z.D.473 E. V. Sherley, Able Seaman, N.Z.D.1163 I. T. L. Rodgers, Ordinary Seaman, N.Z.D.1518 A. M. Dorset, Boy Ist Class, N.Z.D.1529 W. L. Brewer, Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist, N.Z.1).(>74 L. C. Martinson, Chief Yeoman of Signals, N.Z.D.34Q L. Hood, Chief Mechanicain, N.Z.D.572 W. J. Wain, Chief Stoker, N.Z.D.477 G. H. Sampson, Chief Ordnance Artificer, C/M.37574 A. G. Young, Cook, N.Z.D.1570 Ply./22053, F. T. Saunders, Sergeant, R.M. 34. Subsequently, H.M.S. " Achilles " sailed for Auckland and arrived on 23rd February, 1940. to undergo refit and grant leave to the ship's personnel, and to resume service on the New Zealand Station. H.M.S. " Leander." 35. On Ist April, 1939, H.M.S. " Leander " sailed for Sydney, arriving on sth April. Strategical and other exercises were carried out with the Royal Australian Navy from 16th to 27th April. Returning to Auckland on 6th May, leave was granted subsequent to carrying out partial repair trials and high-angle firings. The ship sailed for Suva, Nukualofa, Rarotonga, Bora Bora, and Papeete, returning to Auckland on 10th August, 1939. 36. Exercises were carried out in Hauraki Gulf from 21st to 25th August, 1939. 37. Shortly before the outbreak of war, H.M.S. " Leander " left Auckland to convey the first reinforcements to Pacific Islands garrisons. 38. Since the outbreak of war, H.M.S. " Leander " has been employed on the New Zealand Station on patrol and escort duties. Section VII. —Proceedings op the Escort Vessels and H.M.S. " Endeavour." 39. H.M. Ships " Wellington " and " Leith " returned to Now Zealand on 6th April, 1939, after combined exercises with "the Royal Australian Navy. From 15th to 22nd April combined minesweeping exercises were carried out in Hauraki Gulf for the purpose of training Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel. Both ships were docked between 26th April and 9th May. 40. On 16th May, H.M.S. " Wellington sailed from Auckland for a visit to various ports in New Hebrides, New Caledonia, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and the Fiji Islands. His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific was on board for the majority of this cruise. The ship returned to Auckland on 30th August. 41. On 17th May, H.M.S. " Leith " sailed from Auckland for a visit to the Kermadecs, Tonga Islands, Fiji Group, and New Caledonia, and returned on 7th July. 42. H.M.S. " Endeavour" continued surveying the New Zealand coast until prior to the outbreak of hostilities, and was, until sth June, 1939, working in the vicinity of the Bay of Islands. On that date she returned to Auckland to refit and to draw fair charts of the coast surveyed to date. The proposal to replace H.M.S. " Endeavour ' by a more modern ship was postponed due to the outbreak of hostilities. Section VIIL—H.M.S. " Philomel." 43. H.M.S. " Philomel " continues to act as training-ship at Devonport, Auckland. It had been decided to reconstruct that ship for further service as an accommodation ship and for recruit-training, and to equip a post-recruit training school at Devonport, staffed from the depot ship. The reconstruction of H.M.S. " Philomel " could not be commenced until certain new buildings had been erected.

4