|
|
Post by meo4 on Oct 1, 2012 15:06:45 GMT 12
On 1 October 1941 an order-in-council changed the name of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy to Royal New Zealand Navy. This change had not been sought or favoured by the prime minister, Peter Fraser, who believed it was not the right time for such a step. In reality, the change made little difference, though New Zealand vessels now became His Majesty’s New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) rather than His Majesty’s Ship (HMS).
|
|
|
|
Post by ngatimozart on Oct 1, 2012 19:17:35 GMT 12
Fraser probably didn't want to have to pay for a navy ;D So 71 years. Four years until the 75th. I wonder if all of us old salts lined up would we get a tot of squirt? ;D ;D Actually two tots each because the order would be "Splice the mainbrace" and we'd get a double tot ;D ;D ;D ;D
Squirt yum yum. Miss it soooooooo
|
|
|
|
Post by kiwipathfinder89 on Oct 1, 2012 19:37:57 GMT 12
An interesting piece of info that I never knew about the RNZN  |
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Oct 3, 2012 17:57:13 GMT 12
I don't think the introduction of the new title for our Navy in 1941 would involve the NZ Government in any more expenditure (apart from getting new cap tallies for the ratings with "HMNZS" instead of "HMS" on them!); I just think it was that Peter Fraser was always a bit grumpy (often he had good reason - he had to put up with the antics of Walter Nash!), and no doubt he figured that changing names in the middle of a World War would just confuse everybody (and particularly the Allies more than the enemy!) Remember that the NZ Division was in effect the RNZ Navy anyway, despite fact that all the large ships were leased from the Admiralty, and still were manned by a large proportion of RN officers, and, to a lesser extent, RN ratings. There were also a considerable number of senior RN officers running the NZ Division, but is was still New Zealand's only Navy, and paid for as such.
David D
|
|
