Akaroa and Rotarua, New Zealand

Cap Verde and St. Helena

South Africa

Christchurch, Napier & Gisborne New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

Very Special Postcards

More Melbourne Views

Old Views of Melbourne, Australia

Magnificent Melbourne

Australia

HMS New Zealand - a 40,000 mile cruise - 1913

HMS New Zealand facts and figures:
(click to view larger)

The following information is taken from The Royal New Zealand Navy by S. D. Waters

Published by Historical Publications Branch, 1956, Wellington
Part of The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945
and digitized by: New Zealand Electronic Text Centre

HMS New Zealand was commissioned by Captain Lionel Halsey, RN, on 23 November 1912. Her officers at that time included three New Zealanders, all of them from Christchurch. They were Lieutenants David Boyle and R. C. Garsia and Midshipman H. Anderson. After being inspected by the King, the New Zealand sailed from Portsmouth on 8 February 1913 on a world cruise of more than 50,000 miles. She called at St. Vincent, Ascension Island, St. Helena, Capetown, Durban, and Melbourne on her way to New Zealand and arrived at Wellington on 12 April 1913.

The New Zealand and her ship's company were given a magnificent reception in the Dominion and gifts of many kinds were showered upon her. She steamed round both islands, called at or off every port, and showed herself at many isolated parts of the coast. During her stay of more than ten weeks in New Zealand waters, the ship was inspected by nearly half a million people.

After leaving Auckland on 25 June 1913, the New Zealand called at Suva, Honolulu, Vancouver, Panama, Callao, and Valparaiso. She steamed through the Strait of Magellan and thence to Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro, after which she visited the principal islands in the West Indies. She returned to England in November 1913. Nine months later, Britain was at war with Germany and HMS New Zealand had been in action in the North Sea.