THE WHITERoyal New ZealandENSIGN Navy Museum Heritage Journal issue 01 Autumn 2007 THE WHITE ENSIGN www.navymuseum.mil.nzISSUE 01 AUTUMN 2007 Director’s Message CONTENTS Page 16 THE Te Waka Taonga o Te Taua Moana o Aotearoa WHITE ENSIGN Welcome Royal New Zealand Navy Museum Heritage Journal The White Ensign is the official Navy Museum issue 01 Heritage Journal. This publication at present to the first edition of The White Ensign, Autumn comes out three times per year. the Royal New Zealand Navy Museum’s Heritage Journal. 2007 Views expressed in The White Ensign are not necessarily those of the RNZN. Contributions, Dits, Feedback and Enquiries: Contributions and feedback are welcomed. As a nation we readily identify with the gallantry and sacrifice of 02 Director’s Message Submit copy of letters for publication in Microsoft New Zealand’s military personnel at Gallipoli, the Somme and Word, on diskette or email. Articles between 300 04 Feature Article - An Overview of the Navy’s Involvement in Antarctica - 1000 words, digital photos at least 200 dpi. Crete. Few of us however, share the same knowledge of the Reprinting of items are encouraged if the Navy immense contribution New Zealanders have made to our nation Museum is acknowledged. All copy and enquiries through service at sea, in firstly the Royal Navy, then the New 08 From the Collection - Fry’s Pure Concentrated Cocoa Tin to be directed to the Editor. Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and then from 1941, the Royal 10 Photos from the Archives White Ensign Editorial Advisers: New Zealand Navy. Similarly, the Royal Navy itself played an integral CDR David Wright part in the founding of the nation in the 19th century. Mr Cliff Heywood 12 Staff Profile - Kelly-Ana Morey LT CDR Barbara Cassin The purpose of this journal is to tell the story of New Zealand’s 12 The Oral History Project Editor: naval heritage and New Zealand’s sea warriors. It will articulate the Terry Manson contribution the men and women of the Navy, their families and Public Programmes Manager communities have made and continue to make to the security and 13 Our Sailors Speak Navy Museum prosperity of this nation. HMNZ Naval Base 15 Exhibition - Our Nation’s Gift Private Bag 32901 Auckland, New Zealand The theme of the first edition of this journal is Antarctica, in Tel: (09) 446 1826 recognition and celebration of the 50th anniversary of New 16 HMS New Zealand’s Crossing the Line Certificate Fax: (09) 445 5046 Zealand’s involvement in that continent. This edition focuses on Email: [email protected] some of the people and events and the part the Navy has played 18 What’s in a Name? Production: in Antarctica over the past 50 years. I am sure you will be surprised Design, Artwork and Photography: just how much involvement the Navy has had in Antarctica; 18 Tangaroa - The Navy Museum’s Icon Nicola (Nikki) Payne including playing a significant role in the Commonwealth Trans Graphic Artist 19 Community Contact Navy Museum Antarctic Expedition,which included Sir Edmund Hillary’s “race” to Tel: (09) 446 1820 the South Pole in 1958. Email: [email protected] 19 Friends of the Museum The Navy Museum is proud of its role in telling the Navy’s heritage Printer: 19 Future Exhibitions APN Print NZ Ltd. story of service and courage, of the hardship and suffering of not Tel: (09) 472 3659 only our naval personnel, past and present, but of their families and the communities from which they came. We trust that this Mailing List: journal will assist in bringing the Navy’s story to a wider audience To join or leave our mailing list, please contact: Front Cover Photo: and that through the journal you too will learn more about New Pam Pearson, Events Administrator 1, Events HMNZS ENDEAVOUR, formerly the John Biscoe. Office, Naval Support Command, Private Bag 32 Zealand’s sea warriors and the contribution they have proudly “A large school of killer whales entered our 901, PHILOMEL, Auckland made to our nation. channel and surfaced and sported around the Tel: (09) 445 5565 ship from midnight to 0100. It was a rare Email: [email protected] Commander David Wright - Director opportunity for close-up photographs and soon a battery of cameras were competing to get Next Issue: that bit closer to the subject.” Winter 6 January 1957, HMNZS ENDEAVOUR Report Mid 2007 of Proceedings to the NZ Naval Board (NZNB). December 1956 - March 1957 David, a long time member of both the Devonport and Navy communities, has a deep passion for the Navy and the Navy’s culture and heritage. In his Back Cover Photo: spare time David likes to fish, play golf and enjoy “Parties of the ship’s company took advantage of all the brilliant opportunities the North Shore and the good weather and hiked over the ice to Hut Point and Scott Base. Leave was given until 1900.” Devonport has to offer. 17 February 1957, HMNZS ENDEAVOUR Report of Proceedings to the NZNB. December 1956 - March 1957 THE WHITE ENSIGN THE WHITE ENSIGN 02 ISSUE 01 AUTUMN 2007 ISSUE 01 AUTUMN 2007 03 FEATURE ABOVE: Revealing the past - ENDEAVOUR crew members E.A. Wilson and D.C. George shovel snow from the inside of the hut built by Captain Scott’s Antarctic Expedition in 1910. They were part of the repair and restoration effort by the crew of HMNZS ENDEAVOUR in 1958. RIGHT: Contemplating a glorious iceberg on an early trip to Antarctica in the 50’s. Approximately 2 million tonnes of ice break off (“calve “ or “berg”) from the Antarctic ice sheet along the coastline every year. with LTCDR Smith as First Lieutenant, Her Majesty’s New In particular the government agreed to the purchase Zealand Ship (HMNZS) ENDEAVOUR carried personnel, of an ice-strengthened support ship to be manned dogs, aircraft and stores to the Antarctic to set up Scott Base and operated by the RNZN. After delivery from the and assist the Ross Sea Support Party of the CTAE. Army United Kingdom, HMNZS ENDEAVOUR(i) transported and Navy personnel were part of the team that helped to erect personnel, dogs, aircraft and stores to the Antarctic the first huts at Scott Base, which was officially opened on 20 to set up Scott Base and support the CTAE; the ship January 1957. subsequently returned to Antarctic waters for the next four summers. The and the The (southern) summer of 1956/57 was the start of the NAVY International Geophysical Year 1957-58. New Zealand’s ENDEAVOUR goes South government was determined to play a part in the IGY, as well as Commanded by CPT Kirkwood RN (an experienced play a major role in support of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition. ice navigator) who had been contracted to the RNZN, The establishment of Scott Base by the New Zealand party ENDEAVOUR’s task was to land the NZ section of the ANTARCTIC would also facilitate our country’s own national commitment expedition (under the leadership of Sir Edmund Hillary) By Richard Jackson to scientific research in Antarctica. There was strong popular and assist with the construction of Scott Base. The Ross support for these plans and the (largely NZ) Ross Sea Party Sea Party’s two aircraft – packed aboard ENDEAVOUR The Antarctic is mankind’s last frontier. With its harsh The far more ambitious expedition organised by of the Expedition was assisted financially by a wide range of - were accompanied by three Royal New Zealand Air climate, high altitudes and forbidding terrain, it retains Shackleton in 1914, to cross the Antarctic overland from public fund-raising events. (The Royal Navy loaned LTCDR F Force (RNZAF) staff. a unique hold on the public imagination. The recent the Atlantic to the Pacific, set a goal that was to be not R Brooke as the Ross Sea Party’s Surveyor and he was also success of two movies – March of the Penguins and the to be achieved until the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic one of the dog drivers.) Inevitably, the NZ government also ENDEAVOUR was escorted to the edge of the ice by contrasting animated feature Happy Feet – illustrate Expedition (CTAE) of 1956-58. After WWI, three American turned to the armed forces to assist with the project. HMNZ Ships PUKAKI and HAWEA. ENDEAVOUR that public interest in ‘the Ice’ continues. It is hard to expeditions under Admiral Richard E Byrd, went south recall in 2007 that only 50 years ago Antarctica was from New Zealand in 1928-30, 1933-34 and 1939-41. still an almost totally unknown continent. The opening Immediately following WWII, the United States Navy’s up of Antarctica to sustained scientific exploration Operation Highjump achieved a large scale aerial survey began only in 1955 and New Zealand’s Navy has played of much of Antarctica’s uncharted coast. But overall, the an important part since that time. impact of two world wars meant that by the 1950s most of the Antarctic remained largely unexplored. To many people the Antarctic is symbolised by the tale of Captain (CPT) Robert Falcon Scott Royal Navy (RN) and his The Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) involvement with last fatal expedition. Scott’s trek to the South Pole in 1911- the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean goes back to 1955, 12, only to discover that Roald Amundsen - better equipped, when Operation Deep Freeze I, the first of the US Navy’s more experienced and better organised – had beaten him, annual forays to the ice, took place. Our Navy sent (then) Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) DISCOVERY ended with the death of Scott and his companions.