In the Battle of the Atlantic, one of the most important campaigns of the Second World War, 24 May 1943 was a crucial date. Thousands of New Zealanders took part in this long and bitter struggle.
Royal Navy
Events In History
19 December 1941
In New Zealand’s worst naval tragedy, the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Neptune struck enemy mines and sank off Libya. Of the 764 men who lost their lives, 150 were New Zealanders.
30 April 1917
William Sanders received the Victoria Cross (VC) for bravery during a German U-boat (submarine) attack on his ship. He became the first – and only – New Zealander to win the British Empire’s highest military decoration in a naval action.
31 May 1916
In the misty North Sea on the last day of May 1916, 250 warships from Britain’s Royal Navy and Germany’s High Seas Fleet clashed in the First World War’s greatest and bloodiest sea battle.
8 February 1915
Able Seaman William Edward Knowles became one of the first New Zealanders to die in the First World War as a result of enemy action.
12 April 1913
The Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS New Zealand arrived in Wellington to begin a 10-week tour during which half a million New Zealanders inspected the vessel.
Articles
D-Day
It was one of the largest amphibious landings in history. On 6 June 1944 a huge Allied military machine embarked on the invasion of German-occupied France. Thousands of New Zealand sailors and airmen were on active duty that day. Read the full article
Page 1 - D-Day and the battle for Europe
It was one of the largest amphibious landings in history. On 6 June 1944 a huge Allied military machine embarked on the invasion of German-occupied France. Thousands of New
Page 6 - New Zealanders at sea
By 1944 more than 4700 New Zealanders were based in the United Kingdom and were serving in Royal Navy ships.
The Gallipoli campaign
Each year on Anzac Day, New Zealanders (and Australians) mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of 25 April 1915. On that day, thousands of young men, far from their homes, stormed the beaches on the Gallipoli Peninsula in what is now Türkiye. Read the full article
Page 3 - Invasion
Allied forces landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915. British (and later French) forces made the main landing at Cape Helles on the southern tip of Gallipoli, while
The Merchant Navy
3 September is Merchant Navy Day, which was first officially commemorated in New Zealand in 2010. The date marks the sinking of the first Allied merchant ship in 1939, just hours after the Second World War began. This is the story of the 'fourth service' at war. Read the full article
Page 4 - The Battle of the Atlantic
Although it was waged half a world away, few military campaigns were as vital to New Zealand's interests as the Battle of the Atlantic. A German victory, which would have severed
Battle of the River Plate
When HMS Achilles opened fire on the German 'pocket battleship' Admiral Graf Spee on 13 December 1939, it became the first New Zealand unit to engage the enemy in the Second World War. More than 80 years later, the Battle of the River Plate still holds a special place in this country’s naval history. Read the full article
Page 1 - Battle of the River Plate
When HMS Achilles opened fire on the German 'pocket battleship' Admiral Graf Spee on 13 December 1939, it became the first New Zealand unit to engage the enemy in the Second World
Page 2 - New Zealand's naval forces
New Zealand’s naval forces and strategy before the outbreak of the Second World
Page 3 - The outbreak of war
The outbreak of the Second World War and New Zealand naval involvement in the Battle of the
Page 4 - Into the South Atlantic
HMS Achilles joins the Royal Navy's South America Division patrolling the South Atlantic in search of German
Page 5 - The battle
The British cruisers Achilles, Ajax and Exeter engage the German ‘pocket battleship’ Admiral Graf
Page 6 - After the battle
The aftermath of the battle and the return of HMS Achilles to New
British Empire
Key information and statistics about countries who fought as part of the British Empire during the First World War Read the full article
Page 8 - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Key information and statistics about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the First World
Merchant marine
On 3 September New Zealand honours Merchant Navy Day. Here we explore the little-known but vital role played by the merchant marine during the First World War, when these civilian seafarers often found themselves in the front line of the war at sea. Read the full article
Page 5 - The Wahine's wanderings
Most requisitioned ships continued to carry people or cargo. One Union Company ship, however, entered the Royal Navy and bore the prefix HMS. The Wahine was no ordinary
The Royal New Zealand Navy
Seventy years old in October 2011, the Royal New Zealand Navy is today an integral part of the New Zealand Defence Force. But its 1941 establishment was the result of a long process of naval development. Read the full article
Page 4 - NZ Division of the Royal Navy
The First World War experience convinced Allen that New Zealand’s approach to naval defence had been on the right lines.
HMS Philomel
New Zealand's first warship, HMS Philomel formed the core of the country's naval forces during the First World War. The aged and largely obsolete vessel was commissioned in New Zealand in July 1914, and went on to serve in the Pacific, Mediterranean and Middle East. Read the full article
Page 1 - NZ's first warship
New Zealand's first warship, HMS Philomel formed the core of the country's naval forces during the First World War. The aged and largely obsolete vessel was commissioned in New
Biographies
William Sanders commanded a submarine-decoy vessel in the First World War, and became the only New Zealander to win the Victoria Cross in a naval action.
Percival Hall-Thompson served as captain of New Zealand’s first warship, HMS Philomel, during the First World War. In this role he was also the naval adviser to Wellington; effectively guiding the New Zealand government’s naval policy during and immediately after the war.
