HMNZS Achilles

[martyn wood]

My Grandfather was a member of the crew on NZS achilles. He was present at The River Plate, and took many photographs, some of which appeared in war Illustrated. Unfortunately I only have 1 photo, which is the Graf Spee on the horizon ( only her smoke ). He was tragically killed at Guadacanal when the ships gun turret was hit, and he is mentioned ( not by name ) in Jack Harkers book about the ship. His name was Richard ( Dick ) Coleman, and I am trying to find out more about his time on the ship, any old photos , documents etc. If anyone could help please.

Thanks

[jainso31]

1 9 4 3

January

3rd - Escorted military convoys to Guadalcanal with ships of TF67.

4th - Deployed off Solomons and bombarded airfield at Munda, New Georgia.

]5th - Whilst providing naval gunfire support off Guadalcanal hit on X turret [/B]during air attacks and badly damaged.

8th - Under temporary repair at Espiritu Santo by US repair ship VESTAL.

On completion of repair took passage to Melbourne

Not a lot I know; but getting details that you need is going to be difficult.Have you tried the "search" facility at the top of the page.type in Achilles and see what we have on record.

jainso31

[Old Salt]

Got to head out now, will respond later.

In the meantime try : http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy.html

This is the official history of RNZN in WW2

There are also photos from Achilles at River Plate

Brian

[Brian Wentzell]

Brian: I have been interested in the history of the RNZN and have bookmarked the online official history. Thanks very much for making this history available.
Cheers,
Brian

[Alan D]

There is also information about Achilles and Leander and photographs in Ross Gillet's book 'Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914 - 1945' pages 279, 288 - 290.

[martyn wood]

Many thanks

Will try the books mentioned

Martyn

[Old Salt]

Got to head out now, will respond later.

In the meantime try : http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy.html

This is the official history of RNZN in WW2

There are also photos from Achilles at River Plate

Brian

Sorry for the long delay in following up : tempus fugit !

I think you would be best looking at the RNZN Museum website;

http://www.navymuseum.mil.nz/

There is info on Achilles and River Plate of course.

They also have recorded interviews with a number of (now) ex Navy men about their experiences...... I am sure one or more will have been in Achilles and perhaps they will send you a transcript.

For more info, click on the 'Contact Us' button at the bottom of the page.
Send off your questions and their Naval Historian will respond.

Good luck.

Brian

[martyn wood]

Many thanks Brian

Have sent mail, see what happens

RGDS

martyn

[chris westwood]

Achilles was one of my father's ships, He joined her as a petty officer anti submarine specialist(higher submarine detector) in the spring of 1944 after her refit following her bomb damage. He stayed with her until 1946 and the completion of his service.

He had a good friend called Trevor-I can't remember his second name who was a kiwi. My dad brought Trevor to my gran's house in Featherstone before departure. Trevor thought that the pit slag heaps that surrounded the village were mountains and that the landscape was beautiful. I often wonder what happened to him.

[brian james]

A few nice shots I have of INS Delhi..Ex HMNZS Achilles..1.c1953..2..3..and 4 in Genoa c1955...Regards to all Brian....

[hood51]

A few nice shots I have of INS Delhi..Ex HMNZS Achilles..1.c1953..2..3..and 4 in Genoa c1955...Regards to all Brian....

Very nice pictures, Brian. Thanks

Steve

[ferris775]

My grandfather also served on the Achilles from 1938 to 1940 as a cook.

Check out my other thread at the following link:

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12770

1-3 HMNZS Achilles
4. On board the Achilles - anyone know the ships in the background?
5. Achilles crew prepping the guns.

[tjstoneman]

Thanks for posting the ACHILLES photos in post #12, ferris775. The ships seen bows-on in the fourth photo are a County class cruiser (on the right - two twin turrets for'd, two anchors on the starboard bow, and two HA.DCTs abreast the bridge) and either a Leander class or Arethusa class cruiser (on the left - two twin turrets for'd, one anchor on the starboard bow, and one HA.DCTs above/abaft the bridge). I wonder if this shows AJAX and CUMBERLAND soon after the GRAF SPEE entered Montevideo?

To be VERY pedantic, ACHILLES was "HMS" until 1 October 1941, the date on which the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy (to which ACHILLES belonged from 31 March 1937) became the Royal New Zealand Navy. Photos 1 and 3 were all taken before the Second World War (neutrality bands on turrets) and so, probably, was photo 2.

Tim

[ferris775]

Thanks for the help, Tim. I certainly appreciate the knowledge everyone in this forum has.

More ACHILLES pictures ...

1. ACHILLES in Tahiti
2-4 Docked at Port Stanley / Falkland Islands, ACHILLES crew lower the wounded after battle with Graf Spee.
5. Commodore W.E. Parry (ACHILLES captain) and Rear Admiral Harwood (commander of South American Division)
6. T.S.S. Awatea and HMS ACHILLES
7-8 Crew returning to the ACHILLES after shore-leave in Rio de Janeiro (after Battle of River Plate)
8. On board the ACHILLES with HMS CUMBERLAND during patrols.

[tjstoneman]

Thanks again (post #14) - I particularly liked photo 4, showing EXETER anchored off Navy Point in Port Stanley after the Battle of the River Plate (not sure if it was called Navy Point in 1939).
Tim

[ferris775]

A few more from grand-dad's photo album ...

1. Morning after oiling & storing from HMS Orange Leaf (San Quentin's Bay)
2. ACHILLES says farewell to HMS Orange Leaf
3. ACHILLES crewman G. Lacey. He must have been a friend of my Grand-Dad.
4. Japanese wreckage smokes in the background.
5. ACHILLES enters Port of Montevideo
6. Crewmen pose in Japanese wreckage from 1945 atomic blasts. I guess they didn't know about nuclear radiation back then?

[Old Salt]

Hi ferris775.

Thank you so much for posting those precious photos ! Of course, nobody has seen them before, which makes them even more exciting to see. Your grandfather was no doubt proud to record them for you to inherit.

Thanks also Tim, for your input. You are quite correct about 'HMS'. just don't mention it to a Kiwi ! Still our boys.:):)'

Brian

[Old Salt]

There are photos of ;Achilles'etc. at River Plate in the official history of New Zealand in WW2 : Here is a list of the photos:

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-_N67831.html

Brian