It was late in the afternoon March 8 that Her Majesty's Ship St Brides Bay first entered the wonderful natural harbour of Auckland, New Zealand. On board the ship, everyone from the most senior down to the youngest Junior Seaman was wondering what lay in store for us in this legendary land of New Zealand. The ship's Company had been imagining a land of cattle and sheep, and hoping for a land flowing with their equivalent of milk and honey, that is, beer and steak. However these hopes had received a severe setback the previous evening when they had been informed by a 'prophet of doom' thinly disguised as a Royal New Zealand Navy Sub Lieutenant that all bars closed at 6 pm and that the law prohibited the sale of liquor to anyone under the age of 21. However, matelots being what they are, a little thing like this wasn't going to worry them and all were eager to get ashore in this long awaited land.
To most people the first night's trip ashore in Auckland was just an exploratory one, consisting of finding out the quickest way to the bars, the way back to the ship, (in order to be able to crawl along it in future days) and the intricacies of the Cross Harbour ferry (in order to be able to find an excuse for being adrift). However there were at least two ratings who discovered the traditional New Zealand hospitality on this first night and were soon ensconced in the residents bar of one of the city's hotels supping the local 'witch's brew' and swapping reminiscences with one of the local population.
On the convivial side of things the crew soon discovered that New Zealand was a land of endless parties. These usually started about an hour after the bars had closed and ended at indeterminate hours of the morning when all present had passed into the realms of peaceful repose or else the supply of liquor had reached an end. One 'dusty' member of the happy band of Brides' seemed to be determined to prove that it was possible to sleep on the hardest surface and it's been suggested that the pavements of Auckland should be renamed 'Bill's Beds'. Many members of the crew also very quickly discovered the affection which the local female population bore for members of the British Navy. In this respect we doubt very much if certain Electrical personnel will ever forget the name of Gibraltar and expect to see their drafting preference card marked down as first choice Gib, second 'Aussie'.
However all good things come to an end and it was after ten days of this life we set sail with our first class of CNR Trainees. For the next few months our programme was going to consist of four days out and two in. Needless to say the two days in were always well spent and enjoyed by all and sundry. The hectic nature of our life could be well judged by the number of people who found themselves minus a few days pay every other Thursday.
To sober us up something drastic was needed and needless to say it came. Our annual inspection was upon us. This took place on April 18 and the sea inspection on April 24. Despite our fears this passed off very well and we could afford to relax again. This we did, in Wellington and the ports of the South Island at which we paid informal visits. But our sights were fixed on Auckland and most people were not sorry to arrive back there at the end of May.
On May 31 our Ship's dance was held and the number of friendships formed in Auckland was apparent from the large number of the fair sex who were present.
We must not neglect to mention also our fellow 'Bridians' who were married in Auckland. To Able Seaman Goodridge, Signalman Boucher and Signalman Roper go all our best wishes for their future happiness. However our stay in New Zealand was coming to an end, and on the afternoon of June 3 the time of our departure arrived. With the ship's company fallen in for leaving, flying our paying-off pennant, with the friends of our stay lining the jetty to see us off and to the strains of "Now is the Hour" coming over the armament broadcast, St Brides Bay slipped and proceeded to sea on her way back to the Far East Station.
The ship's company were leaving behind them many memories of a land where they had enjoyed themselves to the full, had met a friendly and helpful people and had seen much to keep them well supplied with anecdotes for years to come. They were a few months to be long remembered and everyone was sorry to leave. New Zealand had lived up to our hopes and expectations.