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Supplementary Report by the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser on Arrangements for the Escort of the First Echelon

During my visit to London in 1939 the question of the naval escort for the ships conveying our First Echelon to the Middle East was discussed with the Admiralty. The matter had also been the subject of cable discussion with the Naval Board in Australia.

A Captain came from the Lords of the Admiralty to see me at the Savoy Hotel, London. He expressed the Admiralty's regrets that a more senior officer was not available to convey the message. I replied that I did not attach any importance to the rank of the officer conveying the message but was very much concerned about the nature of the message itself. He stated that a cruiser could not be sent from Australia and that the Leander would be the only naval vessel to escort the First Echelon across the Tasman Sea to Australia, where they would join with the ships carrying the first Australian forces also bound for the Middle East. In Australia a stronger naval escort consisting of several cruisers would be waiting.

In reply I requested the officer to convey my compliments to the Admiralty and to inform the Sea Lords and all concerned that the ships conveying our First Echelon would not sail from New Zealand unless more adequate naval protection was provided.

Some days later, in acceptance of an invitation from Mr. Churchill, who was then First Lord, I waited on him at the Admiralty. I met Mr. Churchill for the first time on this occasion having been unable page 61 for various reasons to accept previous invitations from him to dinner and luncheon. On my being shown into the room by Captain Tennant (later Admiral Tennant)¹ Mr Churchill, after shaking hands, immediately informed me that His Majesty's Ship Canberra would go to New Zealand to escort our First Echelon, as well as the Leander. I thanked him very cordially for this decision and then stated that I thought he and the Admiralty could do better still.

I explained that a battleship had never visited New Zealand and that it was a splendid and, indeed, a unique opportunity to strengthen New Zealand's war effort, intensifying the already high morale of the New Zealand people, by sending a battleship to accompany our troops. Mr. Churchill immediately agreed that it was a splendid suggestion and made a note upon an envelope which was lying conveniently near and said it would be done.

As a result, some weeks later the Ramillies, under the command of Captain Baillie-Grohman (now Admiral Baillie-Grohman)² entered Wellington Harbour with a banner flying on which were the words ‘Well done Achilles’ in honour of the part played by the Achilles, under the command of Captain Parry (now Admiral Parry),³ in the Battle of the River Plate.