Royal New Zealand Naval Association Inc.

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

• 15 November 1934 - the sheerlegs are demolished on Calliope Jetty
• 16 November 1940 - three German freighters interned in the Mexican port of Tampico attempt to break out and reach a French port. When an escorting USN destroyer appears one of the German ships is scuttled and the other two return to internment.
• 17 November 1917 - HMS New Zealand as part of the 1st Battlecrusier Squadron takes part in a minor action off Heligoland
• 18 November 2006 - the first OPV HMNZS Otago is launched
• 19 November 1941 - the RAN cruiser HMAS Sydney engages with the German raider Kormoran. Sydney is lost with all hands while some of the Kormoran's crew manage to reach Australia. This starts decades of conspiracy theory and investigations until the wrecks of both vessels were located recently.
• 20 November 1863 - Battle of Rangiriri. A British force under General Cameron attacks the Maori fortifications anchored on the Waikato River. Men from the supporting warships were called upon to attack when infantry assaults had been repelled. After to determined efforts they too were withdrawn.
• 21 November 1918 - Der Tag (The Day), the German High Seas Fleet leaves their home ports and meets up with the Grand Fleet in the North Sea. Surrounded by Allied warships with guns loaded, the German warships are escorted into Scapa Flow. This is part of the agreements reached in the Armistice of 11 November

DID YOU KNOW

Idlers - is a term for those serving in a ship who are liable for constant duty aboard ship during the day and therefore not called upon to keep the night watches
Skylarking - a common word used for fooling around or playing. The work lark comes from an old English work Lac or to play. In the naval context it was when sailors would rapidly climb to the mastheads and descend back to the deck by sliding down the royal-stays or back-stays. In the days of sailing warships the Admiralty thought this was an essential exercise to teach their ratings the necessary skills.