| The late Allan T Jones represented the 16th Minesweeper Squadron attended a memorial and plaque dedication service in New Zealand for the RNZN Minesweepers. |
| Here are the photographs and account of his trip. |
For as long as there has been a Navy, Australia and New Zealand have shared together many conflicts and
peaceful exercises joining together in a bond that is unique and unlike any other in the world and so it was in
the Indonesian Confrontation, the forgotten passage of time that both of our governments hoped our presence
would go
unnoticed due to the sensitive nature of our
relationship with Indonesia, luck was on the governments side, with the increase of the tension in Vietnam
happening so close to home away from the front pages, even today few people know of our deep involvement
and it must have been harder
for the New Zealand Navy, for the first time in history
ships commissioned into the RNZN, manned in the most part by RNZN personnel never went anywhere near
New Zealand!, in addition one of their sweepers fired the last shot in anger for a New Zealand Ship up until the
present time.
From the time of their service during the confrontation they worked closely with ships of the 16th MSS and it was
wonderful to have some of their crews attend our dedication in Canberra in March, when I decided that I would
go to New Zealand to attend their dedication service in July I was happy to be able to represent the 16th MSS.
From the moment I arrived in Auckland I was made to feel very welcome and was invited to participate in the
formal service on Sunday by sharing the reading of the Scripture Lessons with the RNZN Chief of Navy: Rear
Admiral David Ledson ONZM.
A huge amount of planning had gone into the whole event with the dinner on Saturday being attended by many
Veterans from the sweeper days, His Excellency, The Malaysian Commissioner who presented the PJM to some
of the Veterans,( I did notice that the case the Kiwi's got their medal in was bigger than ours! ),I had the
opportunity to make a speech and expressed the hope to them that their dedication service gave them the
same feeling of closure that many of our Veterans felt after
our service in Canberra.
On behalf of the Mayor of Ipswich, Cr Paul Pisasale, who is a great supporter of our Naval Sub-Section, I
presented to Admiral Ledson the book HMAS Ipswich, standing with us was the Malaysian High Commissioner,
who, with every Veteran there received an Ipswich Heritage Pin, ( My friends know how I hate the media! ),
Gerry signed and gave me a copy of his book "A Kiwi on our funnel" for our Mayor.
After the service on Sunday I was taken in tow by Gavin and his wife Pat along with their son who is a Lt in the
RNZN for a cooks tour of the Naval Base and to some of the highlights of Auckland, a very hectic two days but a
time that I am glad I was able to do and proud to have represented the 16th MSS.
Allan T Jones
peaceful exercises joining together in a bond that is unique and unlike any other in the world and so it was in
the Indonesian Confrontation, the forgotten passage of time that both of our governments hoped our presence
would go
unnoticed due to the sensitive nature of our
relationship with Indonesia, luck was on the governments side, with the increase of the tension in Vietnam
happening so close to home away from the front pages, even today few people know of our deep involvement
and it must have been harder
for the New Zealand Navy, for the first time in history
ships commissioned into the RNZN, manned in the most part by RNZN personnel never went anywhere near
New Zealand!, in addition one of their sweepers fired the last shot in anger for a New Zealand Ship up until the
present time.
From the time of their service during the confrontation they worked closely with ships of the 16th MSS and it was
wonderful to have some of their crews attend our dedication in Canberra in March, when I decided that I would
go to New Zealand to attend their dedication service in July I was happy to be able to represent the 16th MSS.
From the moment I arrived in Auckland I was made to feel very welcome and was invited to participate in the
formal service on Sunday by sharing the reading of the Scripture Lessons with the RNZN Chief of Navy: Rear
Admiral David Ledson ONZM.
A huge amount of planning had gone into the whole event with the dinner on Saturday being attended by many
Veterans from the sweeper days, His Excellency, The Malaysian Commissioner who presented the PJM to some
of the Veterans,( I did notice that the case the Kiwi's got their medal in was bigger than ours! ),I had the
opportunity to make a speech and expressed the hope to them that their dedication service gave them the
same feeling of closure that many of our Veterans felt after
our service in Canberra.
On behalf of the Mayor of Ipswich, Cr Paul Pisasale, who is a great supporter of our Naval Sub-Section, I
presented to Admiral Ledson the book HMAS Ipswich, standing with us was the Malaysian High Commissioner,
who, with every Veteran there received an Ipswich Heritage Pin, ( My friends know how I hate the media! ),
Gerry signed and gave me a copy of his book "A Kiwi on our funnel" for our Mayor.
After the service on Sunday I was taken in tow by Gavin and his wife Pat along with their son who is a Lt in the
RNZN for a cooks tour of the Naval Base and to some of the highlights of Auckland, a very hectic two days but a
time that I am glad I was able to do and proud to have represented the 16th MSS.
Allan T Jones
| RANZ- Dedication - New Zealand - HMNZS Philomel |
| Principal Naval Chaplain Wayne Toleafoa, Lindsay Roberts (Santon coxswain), Bill Newell (Hickleton REM), Gerry Wright (reunion coordinator), Geoff Kelly (Mull of Kintyre technician) |
| Quaterdeck, new entry school. |
| Base chapel building (left) and conference centre (right) |
| Chaplain Wayne Toleafoa and Gerry Wright |
| Canterbury - paid off and awaiting disposal. Last RNZN steam ship. |
| Original anchor from cruiser Philomel (c.1890) |
| HMNZS Tamaki bell (ex-new entry training establishment) |
| HMNZS Philomel Landing |
| All Photographs and main body text courtesy of the Late Allan T Jones (c) and must not be reused without express permission. With thanks to Gerry Wright for help with name tags! |
| Leander class propellor - Canterbury, Waikato, Wellington, Southland. Outside Engineering school. |
| New entry school parade ground - GI's still exist!!!!! |
| Allan Jones' address |
Allan Jones and Navy Friend
| anchor colour to base colour here |
| THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY 16th MINESWEEPING SQUADRON |
| THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY 16th MINESWEEPING SQUADRON |
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| copyright (c) sixteenthnavalsquadaus.org 2004-2010 all rights reserved RAN 16th Minesweeping Squadron Association. site conception and editorial content copyright (c) RG Clarey,JL Clarey & C Collins. 2004-2010 all rights reserved. |