War veteran's memories echo down the years

Sixty-five years on, Vince McGlone remains every inch the sailor despite hearing problems from unrelenting gunfire. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Eighty-two minutes of gunfire left Vince McGlone with a lifetime of hearing problems - not just deafness, but background noise, as well.

"It's not just a gentle little whistle, it's like a great diesel engine moving through your head."

The 93-year-old, from Torbay on Auckland's North Shore, was one of more than 300 Kiwis serving aboard the HMS Achilles when - accompanied by the Ajax and Exeter - it encountered the German pocket battleship Graf Spee, in the early days of World War II.

The ships had for days been following the Graf Spee, which had been picking off merchant vessels in the South Atlantic.

Finally, early on the morning of December 13, 1939, they found her about 400km off the coast of South America.

The Achilles was the first ship to open fire, turning its guns on the Graf Spee at 6.20am - a full minute ahead of the Ajax.

"And we never let her [the Ajax] forget it."

Though Mr McGlone did not take part in the fighting - his 10cm guns were too small to be effective - he watched from the gun director control tower as shells exploded all about him.

"The Yanks had a saying, there's no atheists in a foxhole. I changed it to, there's no atheists on a ship in action."

The unrelenting noise of battle also did for his hearing - and he still wears hearing aids.

After a pitched battle, the Graf Spee turned and headed for Montevideo, Uruguay.

After waiting it out in port for a few days, she was scuttled in the mouth of the River Plate on December 17.

The German crew were taken prisoner, the ship's captain - Hans Langsdorff - committed suicide.

Despite heavy damage to the trio of navy ships, the Battle of the River Plate is considered one of the Allies' early victories of the war.

This weekend marks the 70th anniversary, and though 12 Achilles crewmen remain alive, only six are fit enough to make the celebrations.

Mr McGlone - who went on to serve in a number of other major battles, including Okinawa - will be the oldest of the group, which will be attending services in Wellington and Auckland over the next three days.

Today, 65 years on, he remains every inch the sailor. He remembers his serial number - NZD1130 - and the former Mt Albert Grammar boy remembers the exact length of his service.

"From 15/1/32 to 18/6/44."

He keeps a battered notebook full of navy facts and figures in his chest pocket, and there's a faded, inky tattoo just visible on his left arm, peaking out from below his rolled up shirtsleeves.

On his return to New Zealand, Mr McGlone trained as a carpenter and joiner, working in Kaikohe and Auckland.

He never left the country again, and to this day has never held a passport.

"My passport was my white cap."

He has ignored the suggestions of family members that he take a cruise ship holiday, insisting "I have done hundreds of thousands of miles cruising".

And until today - when he will fly with his fellow returned servicemen to Wellington - he has never taken a commercial airline flight, either.

"I am quite happy where I am."

70TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME

Today
* Afternoon tea with Chief of Defence Force at Defence House, Wellington.
* Dinner, hosted by Chief of Navy. Navy personnel and guests, Wellington.

Tomorrow
* Commemoration and wreath laying at the National War Memorial, Wellington.
* Wreath laying at Y-turret, Devonport Naval Base.
* Reception for veterans at HMNZS Philomel, Devonport Naval Base.

Sunday
* Dawn karakia at Achilles Pt, St Heliers (indications are that no veterans will attend).
* Commemoration service at Achilles Pt, St Heliers.
* Reunion meet and greet at Takapuna RSA.
* Reunion luncheon at Takapuna RSA.