Bay Harbour: February 16, 2022

Bay Harbour News Wednesday February 16 2022
12
NEWS
ON A FINE day in 1909,
ironfounder, mountaineer, and
celebrated photographer Charles J.
Bekken assembled his handmade
camera by the banks of the
Ōtākaro Avon River.
On the sloping lawns of the
Canterbury Provincial Buildings
the camera faced the Timber
Council Chamber with its
distinctive bay window.
Bekken, of Rossall St in
Christchurch, was there to
document the assembled sailors
from what appeared to be a
contingent of the No. 1 Company
Canterbury Division of the New
Zealand Garrison Artillery
Volunteers. Or, as they were
perhaps more widely known at the
time, the Lyttelton Naval Artillery
Volunteers, or ‘Lyttelton Navals’
on the occasion of their individual
awards of the Certificate of
Qualification in Gunnery.
We’re told at the rear far left of
the group photo to the far right is
Chief Petty Officer W.J. Toomey
with his petty officers cap worn at
a characteristically rakish angle.
His fellow petty officer (unnamed)
can be seen in the photograph
to the right in front of Bellamy’s
main door, alongside the proud
winners of the first prize for
gunnery, B. Turner, Kennedy,
Diamond, M. Chambers, G.
Sowden Day, Marshell M. Roach,
Gardner, and M. Turner, at least
according to Bekken’s inscription
on the reverse.
The Lyttelton Naval Artillery
Volunteers were originally formed
in the 19th century as part of
a nationwide citizen’s militia
coastguard, generally known as
‘the Navals’, authorised under the
Militia Act of 1858.
After this proclamation, volunteer
units formed across the
country including, of course, the
strategic port of Lyttelton. Starting
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Treasures from the past: Meet the Lyttelton Navals
PHOTO: TE ŪAKA THE LYTTELTON MUSEUM REF 8727.1 WWW.TEUAKA.ORG.NZ/ONLINE-COLLECTION/1128911
with two Lyttelton rifle companies
in 1860, a Drill Shed was built in
Market Pl in 1864, and the following
year the Lyttelton Artillery
Volunteers were formed.
While many of their North
Island compatriots were mobilised
in the Waikato and for wars
against Māori Kingitanga tribes,
Te Waipounamu South Island
remained largely free of trouble.
ATTENTION: The gun crew on the left, consisting of 10
sailors, outside Bellamy’s in 1909 won the first prize for
gunnery. The group of 56 sailors above were photographed
outside the Canterbury Provincial Buildings. PHOTO:
TE ŪAKA THE LYTTELTON MUSEUM REF 8724.1, WWW.
TEUAKA.ORG.NZ/ONLINE-COLLECTION/1128908
In 1880, a volunteer Lyttelton
Naval Brigade was formed to support
the first port defences built
that year, and it is this formation
that became the Lyttelton Naval
Artillery Volunteers in 1883.
Following the 1885 ‘Russian scare’
the force was expanded to support
the Battery Point and Jervois Fort
gun installations protecting Whakaraupō
Lyttelton Harbour from
Imperial competitors.
By 1898, a typical day at the 15-
day volunteer ‘Lyttelton Navals’
camp at Fort Jervois consisted of:
•4.30am Réveille, 5am gun drill,
6.30am breakfast, 7am launch to
Lyttelton for work, 5.30pm return,
6pm evening meal, 7-8.45pm drill,
9.30pm First Post, 10pm Last Post,
10.30pm lights out, Sundays free.
From 1902 onwards, the
NZ defence forces began to be
modernised in line with the
British Imperial forces. The naval
artillery volunteer units were
regrouped into divisions of the
Garrison Artillery Corps and rebadged
as the Garrison Artillery
Volunteers.
In 1905 the Lyttelton Naval
Artillery Volunteers became the
No. 5 Company of the Garrison
Artillery Volunteers and then
finally in 1907 the No. 1 Company
Canterbury Division of the New
Zealand Garrison Artillery
Volunteers.
CHRISTCHURCH
CHATHAM ISLANDS –
Experience 8 days in one of New Zealand’s most remote and unique places.
The Chatham Islands are the closest most New Zealanders
can get to international travel without packing their passport.
Due to ever increasing popularity and in conjunction with Air Chathams
and Hotel Chathams, we have decided to run a tour out to the Chatham
Islands for Christchurch folk from Christchurch during April 2022
We will be using a 50 passenger ATR aircraft, where we will have up to 8
fully guided days to explore our most eastern island before
returning home to Christchurch.
Pitt Island is an option as is fishing.
Tour # 42 is for 8 days & 7 nights on Chatham X Christchurch
Tues 12th April 2022, depart Chrischurch 2:00pm arrive Chatham 4.45 am (CI)
Tues 19th April 2022, depart Chatham Islands 9.45am — Arrive Christchurch 11.15am
All Inclusive Costing
per person X Christchurch
SINGLE shared facilities ..............................................................$4,373
TWIN / DOUBLE with ensuite ......................................................$4,473
SUPERIOR SUITES ....................................................................$4,573
Make up your party now and take advantage of your
preferred accommodation while availability lasts.
www.chathamislandtours.nz/contact/booking_enquiry