MEDICS IN PNG - Royal New Zealand Navy

FAMILY & FRIENDS
OUR NAVAL HERITAGE
THE NAVY’S AUTHOR - GRANT HOWARD
BY CHRISTINE HODGSON,
THE NAVY MUSEUM
GRANT HOWARD was just 10 when he ‘fell
in love with the Navy’, as he went on board
HMS ACHILLES in New Plymouth (just before
WWII). He did not, however, join the
Navy straight off - Grant began a career in
journalism at the New Zealand Herald in
1946, after completing his secondary education
at Mount Albert Grammar.
Yet it is his writing that has allowed him
to continue his interest in, and involvement
with, the sea and the Navy in particular.
From 1948 Grant spent three years as a
member of HMNZS NGAPONA, the Auckland
Division of the RNZNVR and from
1951-54 was the naval reporter for the
Herald before he moved into radio and later
television news. In 1962 he stepped back
into uniform, joining the RNZN in 1962 as a
naval information officer.
He says his 8-year short service commission
was one of the happiest times of his life,
as outside his normal duties he was able to
devote much of his spare time to studying
New Zealand’s rich naval history. After leaving
the Navy and returning to journalism,
Grant also spent 13 years with the Sea Cadet
Corps, nine of them as Commanding Officer
of TS LEANDER.
His first book, The Navy in New Zealand
was published in 1981 and was followed
by his history of the Women’s Royal New
Grant Howard
WN 06-0115-54
Zealand Naval Service in 1988. Portrait of a
Navy, written to mark the 50th anniversary of
the royal recognition of the RNZN in October
1941, was his third major work.
Grant has continued to contribute to the
NZ Herald with articles on maritime themes,
but his other interest is motorcycling, and in
2002 Grant published the story of champion
racer Len Perry. He has also edited a history
of Otahuhu, published by the Tamaki Historical
Society.
His latest book on William Sanders has
been four years in preparation and is likely
to be regarded as one of Grant’s best. He
soon discovered that Sander’s trail was
not always easy to follow, mainly because
MC 07-0378-01
The book cover
Sanders’ wartime activities were classified
as ‘secret’. However, through dogged determination,
Grant has found much information
to illuminate Sander’s life and establish him
as a truly remarkable New Zealander, a man
deserving far greater public recognition than
he has received to date.
Grant’s work in researching and publishing
the history of our nation’s Navy has been
important for the Navy, and for the wider
awareness of our Navy’s achievements. The
Navy has been very fortunate that Grant Howard
has dedicated his writing talents to the
service and his latest effort will promote an
awareness of a New Zealand naval hero who
until now was known to too few.
THE EXHIBITION
The Gunner Billy exhibition breaks new ground
for the Navy Museum, with a large graphic
story used to tell the story of Sanders’ actions.
The exhibition curator is Cliff Heywood
and it was designed by Jason Saunders from
Scenario Communications. The exquisitely
detailed model of HMS PRIZE was made by
LTCDR Rod Davies RNZN (Rtd).
The cover for Grant Howard’s book is taken
from an original painting by M E R Tripe, c1920,
which is held in Archives NZ collection of National
War Art. They kindly gave permission for
the image to be used both on the book cover
and in the exhibition.
MC 07-0368-01
BY CDR LOUIS SCHMITT VRD*,RNZNVR (RET’D), FORMER CO HMNZS OLPHERT
REMEMBERING CAPTAIN
WYBRANTS OLPHERT
DSO*, DSC, RD, RNR
ON TUESDAY 21 August, the family of CAPT
Wybrants Olphert presented his WWI medals,
including a DSO and Bar, DSC, and his
(post-war) Reserve Decoration, to the Navy
Museum. The RNZNVR establishment in
Wellington is named HMNZS OLPHERT and
is still the only naval establishment named
after a Naval Officer in NZ. When the family
gave his medals to the Navy, they also presented
a watch that had been presented to
CAPT Olphert, and his own personal scrap
book with some great historical newspaper
cuttings.
Wybrants Olphert commanded Q ships in
WWI, and was responsible for sinking five
German submarines. He first went to sea
as a Merchant Navy Cadet at age 14 then
served in the NZ Shipping Co. on the run
between UK and Lyttleton. In 1902 he was
commissioned into the Royal Navy (RNVR)
and in 1914 was ‘called up by proclamation’
and placed in command of HM armed yacht
SCADAUN. As a Lieutenant he next commanded
HM Yacht PIONEER II before appointments
to other ships. His command of
the Q ship HMS SALVIA led to the sinking of
three U-boats before SALVIA was torpedoed
and sunk in June 1917. LTCDR Olphert was
CDR Roger Havell
RNZNVR accepts
the medals from
Tim Olphert, CAPT
Olphert’s grandson
taken prisoner and spent eighteen months
as a prisoner of war.
After ‘the Great War’ the British Government
was aware of the need for a continuing
and effective Naval Reserve across the
Empire. Here in NZ, former RN and RNR
officers were called to volunteer to lead
the new Reserves. In 1926 the first RNVR
Division was commissioned in Auckland.
Wybrants Olphert was offered the rank of
OH 07-0579-01
OH 07-0579-04
Commander and appointed to command the
Wellington Division RNVR when it formed
in March 1928. During these pre war years
sea training was aboard the veteran mine
sweeper HMS WAKAKURA.
CAPT Olphert died in 1938; subsequently
it was agreed that the Division be named
after him. Understandably, it was decided to
design a badge based on the original family
crest. The College of Heralds in London produced
a design showing a bird’s claw holding
an arrow as it rises from the sea. There was
some criticism of this, but when the naval
career and seafaring record of their first CO
was recalled, the badge was considered appropriate
and accepted.
With the Olphert family was Major Denis
Hayden, CAPT Olphert’s grandson. He said
of the evening presentation:
‘It was a very moving and proud time for
all to share - my family and the ships company
both – and being there for Chief Boyd’s
award for 45 years service was very appropriate
too. For my family, we were proud to
be part of such a great occasion, where my
grandfathers decorations are placed on long
term loan to the RNZN for care and protection
along with the cherished print of HMS
WORCESTER and my grandfather’s 100 yearold
scrap book.
I was most moved by Admiral Ledson’s
words and his great sense of merging two
quite different occasions into one, where all
present felt part of the occasion and very
much part of a common team. My Aunt Betty
at 93 years gave stirring speech to the ship’s
company and RNZN generally; we were all
very proud of her.’
UNIQUE
LS&GCM
During the same evening, CPO G B (Dickie)
Boyd was presented with a third bar to his Long
Service and Good Conduct Medal, representing
45 years of service to the Naval Reserve. His is
the only LS & GCM in the Commonwealth with
3 bars. (This is unlikely to ever occur again,
as the RNZNVR LS&GCM, which was also the
universal medal within the Commonwealth navies
until recently, has been replaced in other
countries by local awards.)
20 NT125SEPTEMBER07
WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ
WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ
NT125SEPTEMBER07
21