Wellington
Veterans of the Arctic Convoys 1941-1945
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Russian Convoy Club of New
Zealand Wellington Veterans of the Arctic Convoys 1941-1945 |
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Newsletter September/October 2008 Greetings Shipmates and all, It was a brilliantly fine day for our meeting in Levin on 21st August 2008 – 66 years after the Battle of Stalingrad (23 August 1942). Andre Kornyukhin, at present in charge at the Russian Embassy, pointed out that whenever the Russian Convoy Club meets the weather is always good and instanced the fact that all our 9 May waterfront ceremonies have been held in fine weather. Perhaps a good omen ? Sadly though I have to record that Pen Moore’s wife Esme passed away on 11th September. Esme had been one of the oh-so-friendly ladies who support the Club. I’m sure we have all enjoyed sharing their friendship over the years and Esme will be sadly missed, not only by her family but by Club members and friends. I gave our condolences to Pen and his family. Derek and Rita Whitwam, Syd Wells and myself attended the funeral. It has been a difficult and stressful time for Pen but he has assured me he will be back on deck for our 27 November meeting at Levin. There were a number of apologies received for the August meeting, all perfectly understandable. A good turnout nevertheless with thirty-two present including Andrey Kornyukhin and Hon. Darren Hughes, Labour MP for Otaki and Deputy Leader of the House. Darren spoke of his recent journey to the UK and Europe and in particular of an emotional visit to Pachendale. Andrey also spoke about the recent serious contretemps between Russia and Georgia and made available a paper dealing with the situation. To those of us who have known war and its dreadful consequences it seems terrible that there has to be any fighting or loss of life or wounding amongst any peoples of the world. We in New Zealand have much to be grateful for, that by and large we have a peaceful existence without rioting or wholesale killing. The younger generation’s promising future has been hopefully assured unlike so many of those children in other countries, seen on our television screens, staring blankly at the cameras and waiting for just some morsel of food or waiting for parents who will never come. It is all so sad and could perhaps be prevented if money spent on armaments and war, 690 billion dollars by America alone, could be spent on improving conditions needed for a better life for all those who, after all, are individuals just like ourselves, inhabiting the same world as we do. There are solutions, fighting and killing is not one of them. LAUNCH OF HMNZS TAUPO One apology I received for the Levin meeting came from our good shipmate Willy J. Brokenshaw. Bill had been invited to the naming ceremony for the new inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Taupo, the fourth of the four such vessels built entirely in New Zealand for Project Protector. I’ll let Bill’s words say it all: "The Ceremony was attended by The Governor General and 'lady sponsor' Her Excellency Susan Satyanand, Mr Jim McDowell Chief of BAE Systems Australia, Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM Chief of Navy, The Hon Phil Goff MP Minister of Defence, and various members of the Armed Forces. Music was provided by the New Zealand Navy Band. On a personal level I found the ceremony very moving and impressive and, typical Navy, very well conducted. Something to be proud of. Afterwards there was a reception which was a very happy and informal occasion. While chatting with ex Naval personnel, Admiral Ledson came over and invited me to meet the Governor General. This made my day as I felt it was an honour to be introduced to our Queen’s Representative. The Governor General noticing my medals, asked me about my wartime service. Among other things I told him about the North Russian Convoys and my 16 month stay in Murmansk. Being Bill, I said to the Governor General, “So what did you do for a crust before you got this job.” He smiled and said “I was a lawyer and then a High Court judge. He mentioned he’d been to Whangarei before and we found we both knew another very prominent lawyer, Duncan Ross, now deceased, but who had been in his day a very well known character. After several minutes of enjoyable chit chat this very kind and interesting man was called away to attend other matters and I was left with a very warm glow and a feeling of pride at the opportunity to meet such a man. All in all, chatting with other Naval personnel, I felt the Navy is in very good hands and the new inshore Patrol Vessel will be serving our country with professional integrity and pride. Well done Bill. You did us proud ! MEMBERS, BADGES AND EVENTS It was good to welcome Bill Gallie and his wife from Napier at our last meeting and also new member Daisy Maria Forbes of Lower Hutt whose late husband Douglas served on the destroyer HMS Echo. I sent Daisy a brief precis of the Echo’s part in the convoy campaign and she told me her husband was on board when in extremely rough seas (were there any others?) two crew members of the Echo were swept off the forecastle and drowned. Derek has also kindly organised the forms for Daisy to apply for the Arctic emblem and veteran’s badge. Hopefully our own lapel badge is now underway and I hope to have them available at our meeting on 27th November. The cost may be slightly more than the $8 first suggested because of the artwork and style chosen. But I think we should have something worthwhile. The original proposal was to produce a badge just for the ladies but, I believe justifiably, there has been a collective request for a badge for all who want one. There was an argument put up against a badge for all and the question what was it supposed to commemorate. The simple answer is of course that it is not intended to commemorate but is for recognition of who we are. There has been solid demand for the badge and I hope it will come to fruition and serve its purpose. I appreciated Bill Gallie’s suggestion that perhaps we should have more than the fifty badges ordered, but it seems quite easy to increase the number once ‘the die is cast’ and so we will see how the initial demand is. [Footnote: I’ve just checked with Ian the Badgemaker about badge progress. Unfortunately I find he has been off work with a severely strained back. Disappointing for us and hard luck for him ! But I’m still hopeful of getting the badges by the 27th. He has promised to try and make our job a priority. ‘Badgers’ are said to be very active at night. Perhaps that’s when he strained his back !] On quite a different and personal note I have, thanks to my good Doctor, been given a clean bill of health – for my 86th birthday – which means I can drive on for two more years. A great sense of relief, I can keep up my journeys all over the place but will try and leave the car at home whenever possible. Three days stoppage of rum that person who said Yeah Right ! Our pre-Christmas meeting will be held on Thursday 27 November 2008 at Levin RSA commencing 11 am. Lunch as usual. Andrey is planning to bring the new Ambassador up to Levin to meet us. Admiral Ledson, Chief of Navy, will be in Auckland at that time but hopefully our good and loyal supporter Ian Hunter, who has been working hard lately in connection with the Law Commission’s discussion paper on a new War Pensions Act, will be able to join us. Although Ian has quite rightly stressed the importance of making submissions I think it is more for more recent veterans (Vietnam, Korea) than for our ‘aged’ selves. The RNZRSA will be working on behalf of RSA members, much more information is available for anyone who feels they have a point to make but I understand there is a deadline of 28 November 2008 for submissions. My Club workload is full enough but contact me if you are a concerned war pensioner, for supply of more information. The Merchant Navy Association (Wellington Branch) held the traditional Memorial Service on 7th September at Taita RSA Lower Hutt, in the memorial garden. It was good to meet so many friends and join in the service organised by MN President Ian Dymock. In Australia on 4 July last, Alan Griffin, Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, announced that 3 September each year has been legislated to be officially commemorated in Australia as Merchant Navy Day, to observe and remember the service and sacrifice of Australia’s Master Mariners. Mr Griffin said this would give the Merchant Service members the prominence in Australia’s wartime history that they deserved. The Royal New Zealand Navy, in association with the Merchant Navy, celebrated its 67th anniversary at a Church Service in Old St Paul’s Cathedral, Wellington, on Sunday 28 September 2008. Derek Whitwam, Ron Sanderson, Daisy Forbes, David Christison and Pat, Toby Tobin, and myself attended. Ian Dymock, Merchant Navy President, gave a very sincere and thoughtful Address. Binyon’s Ode was also recited with an additional Maori version for the first time. ‘We will remember them’ – Ka maumahara tonu matou ki a ratou. And as a further innovation the Last Post was played with the New Zealand Navy Band rendering a really beautiful background musical accompaniment. The whole service, with a packed congregation, was well organised in true Navy style and we were honoured by being referred to by Admiral Ledson in his opening, welcoming remarks. The colours, the White Ensign and the New Zealand Merchant Navy’s Red Ensign were paraded and laid on the altar during the Service. On the following Monday, 29 September, there was a reception celebrating the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 67th anniversary, the theme being ‘The contribution of the Sea Services, the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Merchant Navy being recognised this year.’ Peter McAffie was there and sent his good wishes to convoy club members. He was the predecessor to the present Navy Chief, Admiral Ledson. It was on 1st October 1941 that, by Royal Decree, the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy became The Royal New Zealand Navy. On 20th June 1968 Royal Assent was given for the wearing of the New Zealand White Ensign in ships and shore establishments. The Royal New Zealand Navy is rightly proud of its history. I was privileged to be invited to represent our Club at the Reception, it is all part of the recognition the present Chief of Navy gives to our members for their wartime service and I will always be grateful to Admiral Ledson for this. Incidentally, after our lunch on Thursday 27 November, I have arranged with Bill Pitt (Maritime Friends President) to give another of his presentations, this time on the ‘History of Boats’, a fairly light-hearted, illustrated talk. He spoke to us some months ago on the subject of ‘Joining Nelson’s Navy’. Please keep an hour free after lunch for what I can guarantee will be an interesting experience. On or around Labour weekend Doug Gooday is arranging a lunch meeting in Christchurch for our members from ‘over the water’, probably to be held at the Papanui RSA. I shall be in Christchurch at that time for my eldest son’s 60th birthday and I’m looking forward to meeting the Christchurch lads – and lassies. Hopefully we should also be able to finalise their inclusion in our membership list. For those familiar with the Hikitia, the large crane lift ship, tied alongside the Wellington, Taranaki St wharf, I have been told it is to be towed down to Lyttleton in June next – a journey of about thirty hours – for survey and renovations. It will be quite a sight to watch it sail through the Heads both here and in Lyttleton. This historic vessel, probably the only working vessel of its type still afloat world wide, has a marine laboratory on board and creates a lot of interest from Wellington waterfront users. A keen team of volunteers keeps the vessel shipshape, but more volunteers are always welcome. Our website remains very well patronised and is kept under the skilful touch of webmaster David Whitwam in Hong Kong and his editor father, Derek. We are hoping to have a new set of interesting statistics available shortly. Thanks to the efforts of good Geordie shipmate, Syd Simpson, we have now heard again from the lady in South Shields, UK, who said she had a photograph of the Bluebell’s crew, taken in 1942. I hope that soon I shall get a copy of this historic picture. But many thanks to Syd for making the contact. Also a Russian Film Company has seen our website and wished to include some info on the Club and its members in a documentary being made about the Arctic convoys. The deadline was very tight but Ian Carson and his brother Don made time to organise interviews with Derek, Syd Wells and myself and added some ‘arctic items’. The Russians have acknowledged the electronic information submitted and I hope we shall somehow be able to see the result. We are still awaiting information on the Arctic conference held in Iceland in July. MYTILUS EDULIS and CRASSOSTEA GIGAS In January’s newsletter we learnt something about kelp – seaweed – all very topical and sea connected. As a follow-up to this we were to be enlightened on problems with Mytilus edulis and Crassostrea gigas ! I said they were not mermaids although considered by some to be just as delicious, they are in fact the mussel and the oyster. An explanation – Antifouling paints have been used since about 415 BC (honest!) to prevent the growth of encrusting organisms (always have to be careful in the spelling of that word) on man-made structures permanently immersed in the sea, normally ships or boats but also oil rigs and navigational buoys. Such paint prevents structural stress, excessive weight and even sinking. Antifouling paints work by releasing a toxin into the water which kills the larvae of marine organisms at or just before the time of settlement. Copper is an effective marine biocide but there are several provisos in advantageous use of toxins. TBT (tributyl tin) used as an antifouling toxin was most effective in use on corrosion prone surfaces and because it does not oxidise structures painted with it can be left out of the water for up to six weeks whereas copper coating paint must be immersed within one week. TBT can be used on boats in almost any colour, unlike copper based paints which are restricted to dark colours. But what about the oysters and mussels I hear you say – or have you already fallen asleep ? Well, after much research and analysis carried out in various waters and on collected marine shell species, it was found that – particularly around boating marinas where TBT antifouling paint is present, shell calcification mechanisms function abnormally and cavities form in one or both valves of the oyster species. In fact so bad was the damage found to have been caused by TBT resulting in malfunction and loss of the marine shell species that in 1982 France banned the use of paint containing TBT on all vessels under 25 m in length and there has been a steady improvement in water quality and oyster conditions in affected areas since then. The UK imposed a total ban on the use of TBT antifouling paint in mid 1987. In New Zealand the magnitude and range of the TBT problem and resultant distortions and gross deformities caused to oyster and marine shell species was finally found, by meticulous analysis and using sophisticated apparatus, to be so serious that legislation in the late 1980s imposed a ban on the use of TBT in antifouling paints (warships were exempted but TBT is no longer used on Navy vessels). The New Zealand research was complex and covered testing in many harbours particularly around the Auckland area. Monitoring of long term effects continues today to try and prevent any future problems. There have been many papers written worldwide dealing with the TBT problem, more than fifty by 1988 – “Decline of the gastropod around SW England” : “High mortality of the larvae of the common mussel”: “More trouble with TBT”: “An environmental dilemna”: “Sublethal effects of TBT oxide on Crassostrea gigas”. All my information comes from picking through my youngest son’s 93 page thesis submitted for his degree of Master of Science and Zoology in 1988. As for Mermaids, remembering that antifouling paints were in use in 415 BC, well there is a legend, so far unresearched, that in about the year 500 BC a bevy of nubile Greek maidens visited the waters of the Aegean Sea and disported themselves in paddling au natural, waist deep in the water. They really stayed too long, splashing and cavorting together and it was feared that the toxicity in the antifouling paint MER (Marine Extrudance Restrictor) then used proved too powerful so that when the maidens came to leave the water, watched with interest by many young Greek Gods who were holding their annual convention on the beach at the time, all the young ladies slithered on to the beach having lost their limbs and had them replaced by a scaly fish like tail. Hence the well established name of MERmaids ! There has only been one unconfirmed sighting of such a creature to my knowledge. This was by a drunken matelot who, staggering back off shore leave and apparently seeing such a vision, missed the edge of the jetty and plunged into the waters of the Clyde at Greenock. However, it has been pointed out that these waters were too cold for most matelots let alone a tress-combing young lady without a wet suit – or any suit at all ! Don’t try checking the website www.mermaids@Aegean.com, as this has been disbanded owing to the explicit details which might offend. FINALLY, THOUGHTS ... Now perhaps more sobering thoughts in a poem sent in by loyal shipmate Stan Douglas, Tamatea, Napier. Sailors - What did we do on Sundays son, the day of rest each week ? We pottered around in little boats and many a tidal creek. The waters clear we turned to mud, “You’re nuisances” they said. You should be resting back at home, or going to church instead.” But then the oceans turned to blood, and terror roamed the deep, In arctic waters, icy cold we found eternal sleep. “Sail yet again” the elders cried, “sail out from creek and fen” And we were only boys my son, but over night made men. Thanks Stan. With those sobering thoughts we will close this newsletter and look forward to our next meeting on Thursday 27th November, 11 am at Levin RSA. To all those in not such good health, take care, and don’t forget that ever-to-be-remembered call on the Bosun’s pipe – ‘Up Spirits’. Yours aye, Chris K. June/July 2008
Our next meeting will be on
THURSDAY 21 AUGUST 2008 at Levin RSA Clubrooms, Devon Street, commencing
11 am, with lunch as usual. We may have the Otaki MP, Hon Darren Hughes,
Minister of Statistics – I hope you filled in your census form George !
Also hopefully Andrey Kornyukhin will be able to come and join us,
representing the Russian Embassy. We will also discuss the ladies’
badges again and hopefully come to a final resolution. I understand the
new Ambassador will not arrive until October.
Derek Whitwam has also sent me the ‘H.O.s Song of Joy’. For those unaware of nautical wartime acronyms, H.O. stood for ‘Hostilities Only’, which meant that you were only in the Andrew for the war and, with a bit of luck, left it when the war finished.
We are still looking for ‘your story’ to go on the website – (typed
rather than handwritten, for preference) or e-mailed to our website
editor, Derek W. We only have five so far so come on, give us a story.
Interesting that in my own case I mentioned the Bluebell doing an
extensive refit in South Shields (UK) in 1942. We got a message from
Karina Hesketh who said her late grandfather was in charge of the Middle
Docks canteen in South Shields, and in his old attache case she found a
photograph of her grandfather with the crew of the Bluebell ! I am very
keen – maybe desperate is the word – to get a copy of the photograph,
but in spite of responding three times to Karina’s e-mail address, I
have heard nothing more. Unfortunately there is no contact apart from
the e-mail address. I live in hope.
It seems hard now, as we sit in
our comfortable lounge, or lie in our comfortable bed, to think that we
could ever have experienced that situation. No wonder we were paid
‘hard-layers’! |
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This website is owned by the Russian Convoy Club of New Zealand. Copyright [c] 2007-2008. Updated October 2008. |
Incidentally,
at the 30th May medal presentation, at the Russian Embassy, we made a
gift presentation to the Ambassador marking the conclusion of his tour
of duty in New Zealand. Derek Whitwam presented a New Zealand wood
carving, done by his son, to the Ambassador and wished him and Mrs
Lysenko every success in whatever their future might hold. I am hoping
to have some photos, taken by Ian Carson, ready for our next meeting.