WAIKATO SAILORS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 6

WAIKATO SAILORS

FIRST NAVAL FIGHT IN CREW OF ACHILLES BIG BATTLE WITH GERMANS The Waikato can share largely the honour that the New Zealand cruiser H.M.S. Achilles has brought to the Dominion by a splendid performance in its first major naval engagement. Numbers of sailors in the crew were from the Waikato. Several former Hamilton men are serving on the Achilles, among them being Mr V. Varney, son of Mr H. Varney, of Hamilton, and Mr C. Searell, whose parents are now living in Wellington; Gunners M. and R. Larsen, sons of Mr and Mrs H. R. Larsen, of Frankton; ActingStoker Petty Officer A. Sweeney, son of Mrs O. Sweeney, of Clifton Road, Whitiora; Mr B. Taylor; Mr C. Graham

Six of the crew were from Cambridge. They were Seaman-Gunnei C. W. Care, son of Mr and Mrs W. C. Care, of Leamington; Telephonist Arthur Speight, son of Mr and Mrs H. H. Speight; Stoker Max Wallace, son of Mr and Mrs J. A. Wallace, of Maungatautari; Stoker Stanley Lorimer, son of Mrs C. Lorimer; Signalman Stanley Keeley, son of Mr and Mrs Jas. Keeley; Seaman Arthur Shaw, son of Mr and Mrs C. Shaw.

HEROIC PART

COUNTRY’S CONGRATULATIONS TRADITION MAINTAINED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday The Governor-General, Lord Galway, has sent the following message to the Secretary of State for the Dominions, in connection with the naval battle off Rio de la Plata:

“Kindly ask the Admiralty to convey to Captain Parry and all ranks and ratings of the Achilles the most cordial congratulations of the Government and people of New Zealand on the heroic part which they played in the defeat of the Admiral Graf Von Spee. The bravery and tenacity which they displayed in fighting a ship armed with heavier guns are worthy of the highest traditions of the British Navy.” NEW ZEALAND OFFICERS 321 DOMINION RATINGS NO NEWS OF CASUALTIES (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday Among the New Zealanders on the Achilles are Lieutenant R. E. Washbourn, Sub-Lieutenants E. P. Chalman and H. V. B. Williams, SurgeonLieutenants C. G. Hunters and C. A. Pittar, Gunner G. R. Davis-Goff. Of the 547 men on board, 321 are New Zealand ratings. Up till noon today the Navy Department had no official news of the engagement, or of whether the Acniiles suffered any damage or casualties.