MEDIA RELEASE

From: SS Otaki Commemoration Committee

March 10, 2017

Otaki Gives Governor-General Royal Welcome

An rousing haka from the students of Otaki College was a fitting climax to the unveiling of a First World War monument by the Governor-General today.

Dame Patsy Reddy drew back an Otaki College korowai (cloak) to reveal the monument dedicated to the memory of the Merchant Navy's role in a First World War sea battle 100 years ago today. The battle between the New Zealand Shipping Company's SS Otaki and the German raider SMS Moewe led to a Victoria Cross being awarded to the Otaki's captain, Archibald Bisset Smith, and to the establishment of the Otaki Scholar.

About 500 guests and students attended the commemoration at Otaki College today. Wreaths were laid by the Governor-General, representatives of the Merchant Navy, the chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy, the German Ambassador, the British Deputy High Commissioner, and others.

Dame Patsy was earlier welcomed to Otaki at a powhiri on Raukawa Marae. After the ceremony at the college, Kapiti Mayor K Gurunathan opened an exhibition at Otaki Museum entitled World War One at Sea.

The events in Otaki were part of First World War commemorations funded by the Lottery Environment and Heritage Fund. Several other local organisations and individuals have contributed to the event.

The bronze monument was designed and sculpted by Defence Force artist Matt Gauldie, who lives in Otaki. The monument represents the Otaki and honours the six seamen who died on the Otaki.

On 10 March 1917, the SS Otaki, a refrigerated freighter owned by the New Zealand Shipping Company, engaged in a battle with the German auxiliary cruiser SMS Moewe. The Moewe was crewed by naval personnel and bristled with guns; the Otaki had only one small stern-mounted gun.

In the ensuing battle, the Otaki set the Moewe on fire, but was ultimately subdued by the greater fire power of the Moewe. The Otaki was sunk, with its captain, Archibald Bisset Smith, last seen heading for his cabin. Five others on the Otaki died, including the two gunners, one aged only 14 and the other 16 or 17. Five men of the Moewe were killed.

After the war, the captain of the Moewe, Nikolaus zu Dohna-Schlodien, said Captain Smith's battle with the Moewe was “as gallant as naval history can relate”. It led to Captain Smith receiving a posthumous Victoria Cross for his bravery.

Captain Smith's wife, New Zealander Edith Broomfield, established an Otaki Shield award at her husband's old school, Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen, Scotland. This led to the awarding of the Otaki Scholar, who has visited New Zealand every year since 1937, bar the Second World War years. A Sander Scholar from Otaki College has visited Scotland each year since 2013.

ENDS

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