Lieutenant Geoffrey Baylis joined the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy under the auspices of Scheme B in late 1940. He sailed to Britain onboard the New Zealand Shipping Company passenger-cargo vessel RIMUTAKA, proceeding to the training establishment HMS GANGES for basic training. After serving his mandatory sea time onboard Fairmile motor launches he was sent, as was customary, to the training establishment HMS KING ALFRED for officer training.
Post commission Baylis served onboard the corvette HMS CROCUS, bearing witness of that ship’s action with the submarine U333. After leaving HMS CROCUS he then did specialist asdic training and consequently joined the frigates HMS STRULE and HMS LOUIS. With leave owing he returned to New Zealand in September 1944 and subsequently joined the staff at the asdic training school in Petone.
Baylis was discharged shortly before the end of World War II having achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
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