HKVA
President Report – Phil Doddridge
The AWATEA
As indicated in my contribution to the April issue of Wasureru-nai, I did a little research into the Awatea and came across this item in The New Zealand Ship and Marine Society web site.
I quote.
“The Awatea… a record breaker, ‘Queen of the Tasman’, third fastest ship in the British Empire when built, quintessence of luxury and celebrity travel. The only international merchant ship manned by a New Zealand crew to be lost in combat during World War Two.”
I also found this article by G.Huston, entitled, “AWATEA AT WAR”
“We sailed from Vancouver with a contingent of Canadians aboard – just young chaps, many of whom had not even seen the sea until then, let alone travelled on a ship. The voyage across the Pacific to Hong Kong where these troops were to be stationed, with a call on the way at Honolulu for water and stores, was uneventful. It was reported that a ship had shadowed us for several days, and it was presumed to be a Japanese warship, but of course that was before Pearl Harbour.
I have wondered at the fate of the Canadians for they would have borne the brunt of the Japanese assault on Hong Kong, both in the fighting and as prisoners of war, but I have never seen any mention of them in the accounts I have since read.”(Comments, anyone?)
The story goes on in great detail, culminating with the end of the Awatea.
This bit by Deryk Thomson, a Canadian.
“ The Awatea was under the command of Captain G B Morgan, who had survived an earlier attack on his vessel by Japanese Zero aircraft while returning from Hong Kong after disembarking battalions of Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles of Canada in October (sic) 1941, many of whom were killed or captured within weeks of arrival.
The Awatea was sunk in the Mediterranean by German aircraft on November 11, 1942, off the coast of Algeria”.
Thus ended another small chapter in the history of “C” Force.
HONOURS AND AWARDS
Our members continue to distinguish themselves in their service to us and to their communities.
George Peterson has been inducted into the Canada Veterans Hall of Valour;
Flash Clayton has been awarded the Legion Meritorious Service Medal and Jessie Clayton has been awarded Life Membership in the Brechin Mara Branch 488 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Congratulations to all these loyal members.
HK VETS GRAVESTONE MARKERS
Now that the weather is warming up I have plans to continue some of the work I started last fall, that is, affixing the HK emblem to the gravestones of some of our deceased vets. I will have the help of a younger chap, Arnold Ross’ s son-in-law, David Sawyer, so it should go well. The monuments of Cecil Devouge and brother Alva Devouge have not yet been tended to, so they are on my list.
I know that there are many other veterans’ headstones that have not yet had the disc installed. This could be a project to be looked into after the excitement of the Wall has died down.
That will be all for this time. I wish everyone a happy and healthy summer, and to all the golfers, under par and a hole in one now and then.
Be good to each other, and may God Bless.
Philip