Historical Photo HMNZS Royalist (C89) at Yokosuka Japan October 1957
HMNZS ROYALIST was one of three Bellona or Improved Dido Class cruisers to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy. She was built between 1940 and 1943.
- Royal Navy’s first all-female crew set for ‘phenomenal challenge’ of World’s Toughest Row.
- Duty and Valor
This Photo of the Royalist shows us outboard of the Cruiser USS Los Angeles
our Host Ship and was taken just after 4th October 1957 when the Russians
had launched Sputnik 1 and it had given rise to a “tense situation” worldwide.
but more so in the United States…and its “Allies”
The US Fleet was preparing an “Emergency Departure” to “Go to Sea” and
evacuate Yokosuka, but sanity quickly prevailed and this did not eventuate.
P O EW Frank Holbrook and I monitored the Sputnik in the EW Office, it was
orbiting about every 96 minutes and “Beeping” every second or so and from
memory was on about 40 megs…but it was pointless for us just listening to
“harmless” (as we assumed) beeps. So we gave it away after a day or so.
Any “Action” to be taken by Royalist would obviously come from the FO 2 FES
(who was also there in charge of the RN/RAN/RNZN Ships) , so we all waited
apprehensively to see what would happen…..Nothing did.
The original photo Jim indicates as follows USS Los Angeles, HMAS Tobruk, HMAS Anzac, USS Rochester, HMS Newfoundland then HMNZS Royalist in that order.
There is a sequel to this post and it concerns a communicator. Randy Pearce. Randy was a school mate of mine and joined the navy about a year before me. Randy was a bit of a lad, Jim B. will no doubt remember.
Randy and a couple of mates were ashore in Japan and returning to the ship by taxi made a fateful decision to Rob their driver, using a lanyard they tried to choke him. Then scarpered to get back onboard. Two of them did but Randy was caught and arrested by the police. As I understand it the police demanded the other two be handed over as well but the Captain refused.
The ship sailed without him. He was later tried, convicted and sentenced in a Japanese court to two years I think.
The following year 1959/60, I was on Pukaki and visited Japan. Knowing Randy was still in custody I asked to visit him. I think I was able to take some Kiwi goodies for him. It was his place of incarceration that stays in my memory It was a circular facility with a dividing wall one side Japanese, the other American with American guards. It was very basic indeed. I think that was the last time I saw Randy. As I understand it on completion of his sentence he returned to the Navy and was subsequently discharged.
Further to Lindsay’s last sentence, on Randy’s return to New Zealand, he was posted to HMNZS Irirangi as an RO2 and worked at NR2 for 18 months. Randy was a top-drawer Radioman and earned selection to undergo his LRO[G} course at HMNZS Philomel [North Head]. He qualified first in class and, a few months later, was promoted to LRO[G]. Upon completion of his eight-year RNZN contract, Randy returned to civilian life. Notwithstanding his incarceration in Japan, Randy stood head and shoulders above many. I have fond memories of our time together at HMNZS Irirangi.