British Section NZEF

[atillathenunns]

Before HMS New Zealand departed for her trip to New Zealand on the 8th February 1913, there were two big events that were staged on the quarterdeck of HMS New Zealand.

One of these events was the visit of King George V on the 5th February 1913. (Photos in post #s 40 & 42)

The King devoted over an hour to a general tour, and was introduced to the New Zealand-born officers and men in the crew.

The photo in post # 40 is unfortunately missing the people sitting at both ends of the second row. The following photo shows all the people that were seated in the second row, from left to right they are: —

Rear-Admiral Herbert L. Heath, Admiral Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard.
Captain Lionel Halsey, Captain of HMS New Zealand.
Rear-Admiral A. Gordon H. W. Moore, Third Sea Lord.
Vice-Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, Second Sea Lord.
The Honourable Thomas N. Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand.
Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.
The Right Honourable Winston L. S. Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty.
H.M. King George V.
The Honourable James Allen, New Zealand Minister of Defence.
H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg, First Sea Lord.
The Right Honourable Lewis Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies.
The Honourable Sir Joseph G. Ward.
The Right Honourable Thomas J. Macnamara, Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Board of Admiralty.
Sir W. Graham Greene, Permanent Secretary to the Board of Admiralty.
The Right Honourable George Lambert, Civil Lord of the Admiralty.
The Right Honourable Sir Francis J. S. Hopwood, Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty.



The other important event that took place on the quarterdeck of HMS New Zealand was the unveiling of the New Zealand coat of arms.
The NZ Navy web site suggests that they were unveiled in January 1913, but my money is on that the unveiling took place on the 3rd February 1913.

It appears that the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, who was accompanied by his daughter, was supposed to have unveiled the coat of arms, however at the request of Captain Halsey, the task of unveiling the large New Zealand ensign covering the coat of arms was given to Miss Mackenzie.

“As the folds of the flag fell aside, the whole gathering burst into cheering. Captain Halsey gave the order, ‘Off caps!’ and the band played Rule Britannia.”

Thomas Noble Mackenzie GCMG (10 March 1854–14 February 1930)


On the 18th February 1913, a conference of educationists was held at Bristol Bristol to consider the problem of untrained (British) boy labour. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, sent a letter suggesting the establishment of a farm on which lads would be given a year's agricultural training. New Zealand would then be able to absorb the lads in her primary industries.