A “ NAVAL OCCASION”

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1929, Page 6

A “ NAVAL OCCASION”

THE AIARY ROSE’S RECORD

PORTSAI OUTH, Nov. 14

Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, the Com-mander-in-Ohief, Admirals of the Fieet Earl Jeliicoe, Sir Henry Oliver, and Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe and between 60 and 70 other admirals and many military officers of high rank attended a unique service at Portsmouth cathedral to-day. Survivors of the destroyer Alary Rose*, which was lost in the North Sea in lui7, and Airs Fox, the widow of the ship s commanding officer, were among the congregation. The service was predominantly a “Naval Occasion,” being concerned with the reception and placing in the cathedral of a model of the 17th-century warship Mary Rose. FROM 1546 TO 1929. Built mainly of Australian wood, the model has inserted in it a piece of the wood of the first Alary Rose, which sank oif Southsea Castle with the loss of nearly all hands in 1545 on her way to encounter a French squadron at Spithead. After the bishops and clergy had taken their places -in the cathedral to-day the doors were closed and the service began. Then came a pans , and bugles were heard sounding a summons outside the west door. Being directed to ascertain what the .summons was, the lay canons proceeded to the door and announced that there stood at it Master John Kenipthorne, the youngest descendant of Admiral Sir John Kenipthorne, and others, who asked that a model of Sir John Kemfpthortie’s ship Alary Rose should be received as a gift and retained in the cathedral as a memorial to all those officers and men of his Afajesty’s Navy who through many centuries have at times worshipped in this cathedral, and who have upon the High Seas served the King with faithfulness and at the cost of their lives, to commemorate more especially Sir John Kempthorne’s Alary Rose and those who perished in the destroyer Alary Rose in the North Sea on October 17, 1917.

Thereupon, the model, carried by two sailors, was brought inside in a procession. Kipling’s “Recessional” was sung and Sir Roger Keyes, accompanied by the Admirals of the Fleet, crossed the cathedral and raised the miniature warship into position.

Lord Jeliicoe hoisted above it the tattered white ensign which the destroyer Alary Rose carried through the Battle of Jutland. A salute blown by naval buglers marked the ceremony s termination.

Dr. Kenipthorne, Bishop of Lichfield and a descendant of Admiral Sir John Kempthorne, preached the sermon.