Harris, Lieutenant Commander H.W.
Lieutenant Commander Hiram Harris joined the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy in 1925 as a direct entry Engine Room Artificer. He completed his basic training at the shore establishment HMS PHILOMEL before joining the cruiser HMS DIOMEDE in January of 1926. He served alternately on the cruisers HMS DIOMEDE and HMS DUNEDIN before joining the cruiser HMS LEANDER in 1937 where he remained until 1943.
Harris was promoted to warrant officer in 1944 and was the engineering officer in the Flower class corvette HMS ARABIS on its return to Britain. Service as the first engineering officer onboard the newly commissioned frigate HMNZS TAUPO followed. In 1949 Harris joined the survey vessel HMNZS LACHLAN which had just been taken over from the Royal Australian Navy. He spent the latter part of his naval career in the Reserve Fleet in both the shore establishment HMNZS PHILOMEL and in the cruisers HMNZS BELLONA and HMNZS BLACK PRINCE.
Hiram Harris retired from the Royal New Zealand Navy in May 1956 having attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
DLA 0016
Some of the oral histories in the Museum’s collection are able to be accessed for research purposes to find out more please contact our researcher.