battle-of-the-river-plate-commemorative-booklet

BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE ◊ 35On the 23 February 1940 ACHILLESreturned to Auckland to a heroes’welcome. The newly named AchillesPoint flew the New Zealand Ensignand signalling flags spelt outNelson’s famous Trafalgar Signal.The town hall resurrected the lightsfrom the King’s coronation andthe Auckland Electric Power Boardaugmented this with a display whichincluded a 30 foot (10 metres)model of the ACHILLES.The parade route was alive with colour and there was a carnivalatmosphere in the air. The route was decorated with buntingand Queen street shop owners had decorated their shopfrontages. Queen street had been cleared of all traffic bypolice and traffic officers. senior cadets from High schoolsand Territorials lined the sides of the route. Much to the schoolchildren’s delight, Auckland and suburban schools had beengranted a day off. school children from country districts werenot to miss out and could get to the parade on special trainswhich had been put on for the day. Many offices, shops andfactories granted their staff a few hours holiday to attend theparade. Auckland was alive with anticipation.Of course as Auckland is the city of sails Auckland boatiesmet the AcHILLes long before she got into harbour.Tugs, launches and private boats met and escorted her in.At Narrow Neck Beach and North Head 600 troops greetedher. At 6.30am she passed a silent Devonport Naval Base whensuddenly cheers rang out, every merchant ship in port soundedtheir sirens, trains whistled, and thousands of cars lining thewharf tooted. The lads were home! AcHILLes berthed at thecentral wharf and the ship’s company met with their family andfriends. captain parry then received calls from the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway, and Government and local authorityrepresentatives.ACHILLES’ welcome home parade, Queen StreetACHILLES arriving home in AucklandACHILLES homecomingAucklanders began to line the street for the parade from 9.30am onwards.every place with a view was occupied and at ground level people stood ten deep.On the side streets which had a slight elevation people jostled for a better position.About 1000 ex-servicemen and women began the parade, followed by the RoyalMarines Band, then the Navy and the second New Zealand expeditionary force.captain parry and his wife were next, riding in an official car as parry’s leg wound stilltroubled him. When the AcHILLes ship’s company appeared flags and handkerchiefswere waved and confetti and streamers were thrown. Throughout the parade thecrowd clapped and cheered. The AcHILLes sailors certainly knew they were theheroes of the day.