Post by Dave Homewood on May 10, 2010 9:12:33 GMT 12
Family fights for mine victims
Lindy Laird | 25th April 2010
Relatives of a World War II naval officer killed when his ship struck a mine near Whangarei Harbour want a memorial to mark the tragic event.
In May 1941, five New Zealand Navy men "died in action" off Bream Head - the only WWII servicemen killed in New Zealand waters by the enemy.
They were on the minesweeper HMS Puriri, blown up by a German mine eight nautical miles offshore.
The dead were the ship's stand-in commander Lieutenant Douglas Blacklaws, Able Seaman Leon Purkin, Steward John Richardson, Steward George Hobley and Petty Officer Barndt Mattson.
Nearly 69 years later, a local group is hoping that with help from Royal New Zealand Navy and the Whangarei District Council, there will be some sort of memorial at Ocean Beach.
That memorial could be an information plaque at Ocean Beach, in sight of where the sinking occurred, says One Tree Point resident Robyn Scott.
Lieutenant Blacklaws was married to Ruth, a cousin of Ms Scott's father, but Ms Scott says her motivation is to raise awareness about the extraordinary wartime event that was subject to a degree of censorship at the time, and few people know about today.
"I've taken an interest in it ever since I was a child.
I found it hard to believe that this had happened just out there and no one seemed to know about it.
"You mention it today and people still look at you sceptically. I think we need to acknowledge it."
The New Zealand Maritime Index lists the Puriri as "destroyed by enemy action". It was the first of this country's Navy vessels to fall victim to the war and the only one in New Zealand waters - but the event has never been officially acknowledged by monument or memorial.
Waipu Returned and Services' Association vice-president and former career naval man, Dave Wistrand said Northland RSAs and the Navy Museum are backing the request for a commemoration of some kind.
"It was a significant wartime event, and it happened here," Mr Wistrand said.
"We are hoping that the RNZN and the WDC will help in providing a memorial, not only to those who lost their lives but as a record of a piece of New Zealand history that has all but gone unnoticed."
The request for an information plaque or commemoration event is being reviewed by the Chief of Navy, Navy media officer Lieutenant Sarah Campbell said.
"We do take requests from the community seriously. This is definitely something we will consider," she said.
The Chief of Navy received the request earlier this month.
www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/family-fights-for-mine-victims/3913021/
Lindy Laird | 25th April 2010
Relatives of a World War II naval officer killed when his ship struck a mine near Whangarei Harbour want a memorial to mark the tragic event.
In May 1941, five New Zealand Navy men "died in action" off Bream Head - the only WWII servicemen killed in New Zealand waters by the enemy.
They were on the minesweeper HMS Puriri, blown up by a German mine eight nautical miles offshore.
The dead were the ship's stand-in commander Lieutenant Douglas Blacklaws, Able Seaman Leon Purkin, Steward John Richardson, Steward George Hobley and Petty Officer Barndt Mattson.
Nearly 69 years later, a local group is hoping that with help from Royal New Zealand Navy and the Whangarei District Council, there will be some sort of memorial at Ocean Beach.
That memorial could be an information plaque at Ocean Beach, in sight of where the sinking occurred, says One Tree Point resident Robyn Scott.
Lieutenant Blacklaws was married to Ruth, a cousin of Ms Scott's father, but Ms Scott says her motivation is to raise awareness about the extraordinary wartime event that was subject to a degree of censorship at the time, and few people know about today.
"I've taken an interest in it ever since I was a child.
I found it hard to believe that this had happened just out there and no one seemed to know about it.
"You mention it today and people still look at you sceptically. I think we need to acknowledge it."
The New Zealand Maritime Index lists the Puriri as "destroyed by enemy action". It was the first of this country's Navy vessels to fall victim to the war and the only one in New Zealand waters - but the event has never been officially acknowledged by monument or memorial.
Waipu Returned and Services' Association vice-president and former career naval man, Dave Wistrand said Northland RSAs and the Navy Museum are backing the request for a commemoration of some kind.
"It was a significant wartime event, and it happened here," Mr Wistrand said.
"We are hoping that the RNZN and the WDC will help in providing a memorial, not only to those who lost their lives but as a record of a piece of New Zealand history that has all but gone unnoticed."
The request for an information plaque or commemoration event is being reviewed by the Chief of Navy, Navy media officer Lieutenant Sarah Campbell said.
"We do take requests from the community seriously. This is definitely something we will consider," she said.
The Chief of Navy received the request earlier this month.
www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/family-fights-for-mine-victims/3913021/