NEW ZEALAND.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Album presented to Captain Martin John Coucher de Meric following the Hawke's Bay Earthquake, 3-11 February 1931. A photographic tribute to the Royal Navy and its response to New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster. Under the captaincy of de Meric (1887-1943), HMS Diomede sped to Napier with emergency supplies and medical personnel, and its crew took charge of clearing rubble, recovering bodies, distributing aid, and comforting survivors.The earthquake, also known as the Napier Earthquake, measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and virtually levelled the town. Together with HMS Dunedin, Diomede arrived at 8:30 am on 4 February, their crews working solidly until 9 February. The front cover thanks de Meric for "his generous assistance to members of the staff of 'The New Zealand Herald' and 'The Auckland Weekly News'", both papers operated by Wilson & Horton Limited. The press photographs show both scenes of terrible destruction and the rescue efforts. De Meric's loosely inserted reports chronicle the multi-day operation in detail.De Meric retired in 1940 at the rank of read-admiral, his command in 1931 being a high point in a successful naval career that also saw him awarded the MVO.

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