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HMS Archilles - Source: ONE News
This weekend marks the 70th anniversary of New Zealand's first run-in with the enemy during World War Two.
The Kiwi crewed HMS Achilles, along with two other allied ships, managed to force a German battleship to withdraw off the coast of Uruguay.
The WW2 veterans were recognised at a memorial service on Saturday, the occasion also a chance for some of the founding members to catch up.
Veteran Bob Batt was a 17-year-old on board the HMS Achilles, 70 years ago.
"I remember going to action stations, just our every morning action stations and going back to my hammock and getting called out again," he says.
"My hammock was riddled with shrapnel, right the full length of the mattress. So if I'd been there I wouldn't be here now."
In the South Atlantic, the battle of the River Plate had just begun.
Three allied ships embarked on a David and Goliath battle against a large German battleship the Graf Spee. They managed to force the German ship to withdraw and it was later scuttled.
"The battle actually gave a huge uplift to people throughout the Commonwealth. Here was the first time that Adolf Hitler had his nose bashed," says historian Ian McGibbons.
The allied forces suffered 72 fatalities including two New Zealanders, but it could have been worse.
The Achilles returned home to a heroes' welcome. Around 100,000 people packed Auckland's Queen Street after the return.
