HMS Lord Plender

[Dave Homewood]

Here is a nice little Kiwi connectiuon

TIKI ON TRAWLER

PARCELS FROM NEW ZEALAND

(Received April 18, noon) LONDON. April 17

The escort trawler H.M.S. Lord Plender, operating off the east coast of Britain, never puts to sea without a tiki which was carved by a 16-year-old Maori boy. It was sent to the ship by 20 Dannevirke girls, who unofficially adopted her. The arrival of parcels is always a great event, the crew clustering round while they are opened.

WAIKATO TIMES, 18 APRIL 1944

[Dave Homewood]

And here is an IWM photo of the carving



Officers of the trawler LORD PLENDER, with the lucky tiki mascot sent from New Zealand. Left to right: Skipper G R Taylor, RNR, Skipper Lieut G T Lilley, DSC, RNR, Skipper G W Wilson, RNR, and Skipper S Whitelman, RNR (First Lieutenant).

[Dave Homewood]

And here is the ship, HMS Lord Plender