HMS/HQS Wellington

This book details the history of HMS Wellington which became HQS (Head Quarters Ship) Wellington when purchased by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners in 1948. 

The book is hardback of 106 pages measuring 215 x 150 mm with 77 illustrations (mainly B & W) but including track charts of the SW Pacific for the 1936 and 1938/39 Cruises around New Zealand and the islands, and three example convoys escorted by Wellington 1941 and 43.  More than half the book is devoted to relating the port visits and cruises around the NZ coast and islands.

In 2006 ownership of Wellington passed from The Honourable Company of Master Mariners to The Wellington Trust as a charitable organisation tasked with the ongoing maintenance and preservation of the ship on the Thames in the centre of London .  All proceeds from sales of the book are entirely for the benefit of The Trust, to which I donated the entire manuscript, photos, track charts, etc.

The Trust sells the book at £15 English plus p&p of £5.00 for First Class Airmail or £2..50 Surface Mail in a Jiffy bag, from The Wellington Trust, HQS Wellington , Temple Stairs , Victoria Embankment, London , WC2R 2PB .  Contact email is: info@hcmm.org.uk.  They have full credit card processing facilities there (e.g. MasterCard, Visa, Amex).  However we would caution against asking people to email their credit card details, since emails are not secure.   Probably the best way to do this is if purchasers email their order with a telephone number and the preferred time of contact (preferably 21.00 to 22.00 NZ local time).  HCMM can then call their number and take CC details over the phone.   

I would imagine some yachtsmen in N.Z. would surely buy a copy for an interesting read let alone those with a real maritime interest.