H—s

Zealand and the Pacific in H.M.N.Z. ships. The foregoing applies in the main to officers of the Executive Branch, but no less valuable were the trained Medical and SupplyBranch officers of the peacetime Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve. Decorations awarded to Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve officers are : D.5.0., 2 ; Bar to D.5.0., 1 ; 0.8. E., 1 ; M.8.E., 2 ; D.S.C., 9 ; Bar to D.S.C., 3 ; Mention in Despatches, 10 ; United States Navy Cross, 2. They cover English Channel and North Russian convoys, operations in Diego Suarez and Sicily, Kolombangara Gulf, destruction of a Japanese submarine in the Pacific, and minesweeping in the Mediterranean and Adriatic. Temporary Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve Officers (e) By far the greatest numerical contribution to the Royal Navy has been the officers granted temporary commissions in the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve for the duration of hostilities. The greater number of these were ratings entered specially for service on loan in the Royal Navy and with a view to early promotion to commissioned rank. They were entered under five different categories : (i) Scheme "A " : Men with, yachtmasters' or higher Merchant Navy qualifications granted temporary commissions in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the first instance, and later transferred to Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve as from date of entry. There were 33 officers in the Executive Branch of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve in this category, all entered direct as Probationary Temporary Sub-Lieutenants. Five of these officers with Merchant Navy qualifications were later transferred to temporary commissions in the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve {Executive Branch). The first batch left New Zealand for the United Kingdom on 9th August, 1940, the last batch on 18th December, 1940. The greater number commanded auxiliary vessels such as corvettes and minesweepers in the Royal Navy, whilst one officer commanded coastal force craft in the English Channel. Six were awarded Distinguished Service Crosses. (ii) Scheme "B" : Men entered as ordinary seaman who were candidates for temporary commissioned rank in the Executive Branch of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve. On 9th August, 1940, the first draft of ordinary seamen under Scheme " B " left New Zealand, and since that date up to VE Day a continuous stream has left these shores. On Ist June, 1945—that is, shortly after VE Day—when the Royal New Zealand Navy was at its greatest expansion as regards personnel, there were 710 officers who left New Zealand under this scheme (3 Acting-Lieutenant-Commanders, 276 Lieutenants, 273 Sub-Lieutenants, 89 Acting-Sub-Lieutenants, and 69 Special Branch officers). They have served in every sphere of operations, in all types of ships from battleships and Fleet carriers down to motor gun-boats and midget submarines. They were also found in various Royal Navy shore establishments throughout the world. Scheme "B " officers'awards were : D.5.0., 1 ; D.S.C., 24 ; Bar to D.S.C., 1 ; Mention in Despatches, 49 ; and Croix de Guerre, 2. Indicative of their übiquitous service, these awards were gained in operations in Atlantic, Channel, North Russia, and Malta convoys; landings in North Africa ; attacks on Sicily and Salerno ; Gulf of Venice ; in the Aegean and Adriatic ; in the Gulf of Corinth ; Greek islands ; various operations in the Mediterranean; Normandy and South of France invasions ; destruction of the enemy "U " boats in the Atlantic, enemy light forces in the Channel, enemy destroyers ; for minelaying; and sinking a Japanese cruiser in Johore Straits. (iii) Scheme "F " : Men entered as naval airmen with a view to qualification as Pilot or Observer in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy with temporary commissions in the Air Branch of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve.

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