HMNZS TAMAKI – Intake 1958

Here is an image of a recruit intake for 1958.   They certainly looked a smart bunch which is only to be expected noting that most of these were Communicators.  Click on Image to enlarge.

Standing L -R  REC(L) MacDonald, JREC (L) Kerrick, JREC(L) Burns, JTEL Garrick Bryce, JREC(L) Trevor Woon , J TEL Bryan Mills, Rec (L) Kilby

Sitting  L – R  OTEL Terry East, REC (L) Albie Wardle, JTEL Des Long, JTEL Bob Young and JTEL Ken Beattie. (All Comms except Albie Wardle)

Sadly on 23 May 1959, REM2 Albie Wardle died in a fire in the accommodation block at IRIRANGI along with his shipmate REM1 Fred W Grupen.

Des Long later in life, after leaving pussers, became a Radio Officer on the Inter-Island Ferries.

The Boy Wireless Telegraphist Intake [42nd Boys W/T] joined the RNZN on 19 September 1957 at HMNZS Philomel. The following day, the boys were posted to HMNZS Tamaki [Motuihe Island aka The Rock] for one year. The names of the 42nd Boys W/T are as follows:

* Boy Tel – Neal Catley [Class Leader]
* Boy Tel – Roy Halgarth
* Boy Tel – Alan Hathaway [Benji]
* Boy Tel – Lindsay Lawerence
* Boy Tel – Peter McDonald

The 42nd Boys W/T together with the 1958 Recruitment Telegraphist Intake [older lads as detailed in Bob’s photo] were combined in September 1958 as one Telegraphist Class. The class continued their Basic Telegraphist training at North Head Communications School [HMNZS Philomel] for eight months. The Communications Training Officer was Lt Cdr Eggy Biggs, RNZN and the course Instructor was PO/Tel Snow Millson. All of the class qualified and were posted to HMNZS Royalist on completion.

Thanks to Bob Young and Neal Catley for the image and narrative.