Leander Trophy Prizegiving Address

Address to the R Class Leander Trophy Prizegiving

9 March 2003

by Commander Rex Edwards, HMNZS Pegasus.

Commander Rex Edwards, HMNZS Pegasus

Thank you very much for the opportunity to present today's prizes and say a few words.

First up I have a confession to make.

I hate sailing! Many years ago, I used to sail quite regularly out of the Port Chalmers Yacht Club, which was just a stones throw from where I lived. Trouble was, I was always the bowman, never did get a chance on the mains or tiller. Consequently, I was always wet, and usually miserable.

I am here today to present the Leander Trophy. The cruiser Leander had a short and worthy time in what was initially the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and which from 1941 became the Royal New Zealand Navy. At 169 metres in length and 7270 tonnes she was longer and heavier than today's Anzac frigates, and carried three times more crew (none of which of course were female).

Leander joined your navy in April 1937. Pre-war was spent in New Zealand and Australian waters. In 39 following the outbreak of war, Leander worked around the coast and offshore islands and South Pacific. Then in 1940, she went to the Red Sea, then Mediterranean Fleet. For the next two years, she escorted troop ships and convoys throughout the region, fought and destroyed an Italian submarine, sunk an Italian raider and survived a number of German and Italian air attacks.

The war with Japan brought Leander back into the Southwest Pacific area in late '41, along with her sister ship Achilles. Working with both American and Australian ships as part of the ANZAC Squadron, she took part in patrol and escort work in support of American operations against the Japanese advance in the Solomons. It was during these operations while in the Kula Gulf off New Georgia, she was hit by a Japanese torpedo in one of her boiler rooms, resulting in 27 deaths and 8 injuries, and effectively ending her career with the RNZN.

The extent of the damage forced Leander to return to Auckland for temporary repairs before going to America for major repairs. Leander finally paid off and returned to the Royal Navy in May 1944 and was broken up in 1950.

Like the men of Leander in those hazardous days, the men and women of todays navy, many of whom are right now operating in the same seas that Leander did over 60 years ago, share with you a love of the sea.

The principles by which your Navy's decisions are guided and against which our behaviour is measured are Courage, Commitment and Comradeship. We call these our Core Values. They are linked together, and together, they keep our navy afloat and on an even keel.

I have no doubt that the sailors here today also show commitment to each other and their sport, and from that gain comradeship. Perhaps when racing in extreme conditions, there may even be glimpses of courage. So, we share a great deal in common, and for that reason, I am really delighted to be able to present the Leander trophy today.

Commander Rex Edwards presents the Leander Trophy to Wellington sailors, Neill Wood and Steve Hogg sailing R 581 Stagecoach