A basalt memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in the sinking of HMS Neptune off the coast of Libya in World War 2 will be unveiled at a ceremony on Customhouse Quay in Dunedin today at 6.45pm.
The memorial, designed by Dunedin architect Niel Wales and crafted by stonemason Ron Turner, includes two bronze plaques.
One bears the names of the 30 Otago sailors who died.
The other features the crest of Neptune with an account of its fate.
The ceremony will be attended by New Zealand's Chief of Navy, Rear-admiral David Ledson, British High Commissioner George Fergusson and city dignitaries.
The memorial is the idea of Nigel McPherson, of Dunedin, whose midshipman brother Brian was killed in the sinking, and Royden Thomson, from Central Otago, whose father, Paymaster-lieutenant Bruce Thomson, also died.
Dunedin and district men named on the memorial: L.R.Ashton, R.G.Baskett, H.W.Biggs, A.V.Campbell, T.Collins, C.A.Cormack, G.S.Dennison, L.R.Denton, R.F.Dyer, R.C.Gillan, R.D.Hook, I.A.Kennedy, J.W.Knewstubb, J.C.Leckie DSM, G.McCabe, R.A.Macdonald, I.W.Macintosh, A.J.McLeod, B.E.McPherson, R.Morley, T.J.Mosley, R.Peat, R.J.Perry, J.D.Petherick, J.G.Scott, A.G.Simpson, A.V.Sturgeon, B.M.Thomson, A.K.M.Toomey, L.R.Walkinshaw.
People interested in finding out about relatives or friends who may have been served on HMS Neptune should contact Mr McPherson (03) 476-1109, or Royden Thomson (03) 445-0025, or email n-rmcpherson@xtra.co.nz or thomcrom@xtra.co.nz
