The Royal New Zealand Navy ships Te Mana and Endeavour paused in their training programme in the South China Sea recently to hold a brief memorial service for the men lost when two allied ships were sunk in a Japanese air attack nearly 64 years ago.
The service was held just before Anzac day to commemorate the loss of HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse. Te Mana and Endeavour sailed over the wrecks, which were sunk as World War II broke out in the Pacific. A wreath-laying ceremony was held over the Prince of Wales, and Te Mana’s executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Shane Arndell spoke about those on board the two battleships in 1941, several of whom were New Zealanders. The two ships’ wrecks are considered war graves, and Commonwealth warships frequently visit their location near the Malaysian port of Kuantan. Te Mana later berthed in Sembawang at the base where the two battleships prepared for what was to be their last mission.
Te Mana and Endeavour are in Southeast Asia to take part in a variety of operational exercises, activities and defence diplomacy visits. The aim of the deployment is to maintain the NZDF’s combat capability in a maritime environment, and to provide an opportunity for the New Zealand and allied navies to train together. The ships have taken part in a Five Power Defence Arrangement sea and air exercise, and will support New Zealand’s involvement in the World Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan. The ships will then sail north for diplomatic visits to Vladivostok, Russia, and Shanghai, China before returning home.