Connell Thode

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Lieutenant Commander

Connell Percy Thode

OBE
Born(1911-03-11)11 March 1911
Auckland, New Zealand
Died9 October 2014(2014-10-09) (aged 103)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
RankLieutenant Commander
Commands heldHMS Scythian
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsMention in Despatches (2)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Connell Percy Thode OBE (11 March 1911 – 9 October 2014) was a New Zealand naval officer and yachtsman. He served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II and commanded HMS Scythian, an S class submarine of the Royal Navy.

Early life[edit]

Born in Auckland in 1911,[1] Thode was educated at Mount Albert Grammar School from 1925 to 1926.[2] An accomplished yachtsman, he joined the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1933, and skippered the keel sloop Iorangi. His skill was such that he was in contention to be a crew member on Thomas Sopwith's America's Cup challenge, but this did not proceed following the outbreak of World War II.[3]

World War II service[edit]

After the war began, Thode worked his passage to the United Kingdom, where he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and served in submarines. He was appointed navigator of HMS Proteus, a Parthian-class submarine based in Egypt, in mid-1941.[3] In June 1942 he was mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished service in successful patrols while serving on that vessel.[4] He then was made first lieutenant aboard HMS Ultor, a U-class submarine, before gaining command of HMS Scythian in late 1944.[3] He received his second mention in despatches in November 1945.[5] Thode was one of only three New Zealanders to command a submarine during World War II, and the only one serving in the naval reserve to do so.[3][6]

Later life[edit]

Thode spent 25 years teaching young New Zealanders to sail on the training ships Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of New Zealand.[6] In the 1996 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to yachting.[7]

Thode is believed to have been the oldest person to complete the 2013 New Zealand census online, when aged 101 years.[3][8] He died on 9 October 2014 and his funeral service was held in St Christopher's Chapel at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.[3][9] His ashes were buried at North Shore Memorial Park in Albany.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Births". Auckland Star. 14 March 1911. p. 10. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Oldest Albertian farewelled as youngest member of Hall of Distinction inducted". Mount Albert Grammar School. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Field, Michael (14 October 2014). "Centenarian Kiwi sailor dies". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  4. ^ "No. 35613". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1942. pp. 2866–2867.
  5. ^ "No. 37358". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1945. p. 5658.
  6. ^ a b Gorter, Sandra (22 September 2001). "The depths of submariner bravery". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  7. ^ "No. 54256". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1995. p. 34.
  8. ^ "WWII vet completes census forms online". Rodney Times. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Connell Percy Thode obituary". New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  10. ^ "North burial and cremation records search". Auckland Council. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
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