HMNZS OTAGO – Paying Off
A Question of OTAGO
The image below shows Otago in the Singapore NB Stores Basin apparently flying a paying off pennant. Can any bunting of the time remember the date and why, as she did not pay off while still being fitted with her mortars.
Not sure, but it looks like a pre 67 White Ensign. Maybe its not a paying off pennant?
My thoughts also. Maybe the buffer has dhobeyed a berthing line and has hung it up to dry.
I believe Otago’s last time in Singapore was in July 1981. This paying off pennant may have been a symbolic farewell gesture to SE Asia.
I have done a “Google” search Plus. In brief this is what I found re the “new” ensign.
During the 1960s the RNZN also began to move away from British symbols. In 1968 (10th June) it adopted its own white ensign (in which the Southern Cross supplants the St George’s Cross), replacing the British white ensign it had flown since its inception.
Refer: http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/consol_reg/nzwer1968347.pdf
Otago was alongside in Singapore and lower deck was cleared, fell in 10’s and the RN WhitEnsign was lowered and the new NZ Wite Ensign was hoisted. Our C.O was Captain Richard T Hale.
When it was known that the RAN was going to be involved in the Vietnam War, the British government made it known that they did not want the RN White Ensign to be flown by RAN ships participating in the war. Subsequently, the RAN changed to their own white ensign. Perhaps this was a nudge for the RNZN to follow suit.
If i remember rightly Otago was in Bangkok on the change date (some kind of exercise) 10 July 1968 and we sailed with the new ensign in a Formation Alfa type arrangement and there was some type of Commie vessel around and Otago was the only one it saluted supposedly due to the RED starts on the ensign (or is that just a dit from 52 years or so ago)
If My memory serves me rightly, which it might not. We flew the POP to farewell the RN Ensign.