R.N.V.R. COMMANDER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 137, 7 December 1938, Page 11

R.N.V.R. COMMANDER

LATE CAPT. OLPHERT

MEMORIAL UNVEILED

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

The unveiling and dedication of a memorial tablet to the late Captain Wybrants Olphert, D.5.0., D.S.C., R.D., R.N.V.R., former commanding officer of the Wellington Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, took place at the headquarters of the division last evening. The division paraded in full strength, and there was a large attendance of visitors and many ex-members of the division. Among those present were .the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), Mrs. W. Olphert, Miss N. Olphert, Miss Betty Olphert, Miss Barbara Olphert, Mr. J. Olphert, Lieutenant W. Olphert, Major A. Tennant, Mrs. Horrax, Miss H. Horrax, Mrs. F. E. Taylor, the Misses Taylor, Miss P. Morris, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Turrell, Captain Holland (R.M.S. Rangitata), Captain and Mrs: V. G. Webb, Lieutenant-Colonel E. M. Stace, E.D., Lieutenant-Com-mander Lever-Naylor, R.N.V.R. (Rtd.), Lieutenant-Commander. Bothamley, R.N.V.R. (Rtd.), Engineer-Lieutenant-Commander Lidgett, R.N. (Rtd.), Pay-master-Lieutenant Biss, R.N.V.R (Rtd.), the Rev. 8./ J. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Sinel, Captain K. Tether, Messrs. L. Skeet, W. Tweedie, C. Harbottle. Captain P. S. Peterson (harbourmaster), Captain A. Mclntosh (S.S. and A. Co.), Messrs. Clegg and Whittaker (R.M.S. Rangitata), "A REVERED LEADER." The division was addressed by the commanding officer (Commander "?. E. Taylor, R.N.V.R.), who paid a tribute to the work of the late Captain Olphert. On the formation of the division in 1928, he said, the late Captain Olphert Was appointed its first commanding officer, a position which he held till his death almost a year ago. "His passing was a great shock," jaid the commander. "He had become a revered leader and a true friend." It was fitting that their appreciation of the late commander's efforts should find some tangible form in the room, though it was not necessary that they should have something to remind them of him; the memorial rather would be an inspiration to the greater" fulfilment of their duty and would give them the urge to carry on the work their late commander had started. A year ago the late Captain Olphert had attended the final parade of the year, and that effort had called for the greatest courage and determination: that was typical of the man. The division had suffered a loss, but it had gained something in the determination to carry on the work their late commander had wished them to do. Commander Taylor, on behalf of the division, thanked Mrs. Olphert for the gift of the bell of H.M. yacht Pioneer 11, on which the late Captain Olphert had served on anti-submarine duty in the English Channel. The bell, he said, would have a personal value to the division, as well as possessing historical associations. DIRECTOR'S TRIBUTE. The Director of Naval Reserves (Captain E. G. Morris, R.N., Rtd.) reviewed the late Captain Olphert's career; and emphasised his devotion to duty when engaged in anti-. submarine work during the war. The late Captain Olphert left the service of the New Zealand Shipping Company on the outbreak of war, and first commanded the armed yacht Scaddun, which was employed on special duty off the coast of Ireland. He later commanded the armed yacht Pioneer 11, and in 1916 was appointed to H.M.S. Qls, one of the "mystery" ships. His next command was H.M.S. Salvia, which was sunk by the German submarine U62, and the late Captain Olphert was taken prisoner and remained in Germany till the end of the war. For his war services he was awarded the D.S.C., and the D.S.O. with bar. One authority had described the late Captain Olphert as an "ideal Q-ship captain." After the war he rejoined the New Zealand Shipping Company, and was marine superintendent, for New Zealand at the time of his death.

During the war, men of the merchant navy created the loftiest ideals of national service which had been handed down to their successors as a rich heritage.;-. During the ten years he was in command of the division he had practised those ideals and had created the ..well-being and efficiency that now obtained in the division. The memorial tablet would be an inspiration to the members of the division to foster those ideals and to emulate the example set by their late commander.

Captain Morris then unveiled the tablet.

The dedication was carried out by the Rev. Gordon McKeAzie (Divisional Chaplain), and the ceremony concluded with "God Save the King."

The tablet, which occupies a conspicuous place on the wall, bears the wbx'ds,. "Gentle in all things, valiant in . action1, steadfast, in adversity." It is surmounted by the naval crown, underneath which is a photograph of the late commander, flanked by the White Ensign and the Blue Ensign.