Wide-ranging career for WWII veteran
Bruce Basil Catchpole 1922 – 2012
A Royal New Zealand Navy man to his fingertips, Bruce Catchpole, from Matamata, was one of the last remaining survivors of the Battle of the River Plate, the first major naval battle of World War II.
Although outgunned, three smaller Allied ships engaged the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, forcing her to seek refuge in the River Plate estuary.
Captain Hans Langdorff, trapped, ordered his crew ashore, scuttled the Graf Spee, and shot himself.
Bruce served on HMNZS Achilles.
Graf Spee guns killed four Achilles crew, HMS Exeter lost 61 killed and HMS Ajax lost 7. Allied ships had 28 crew wounded. Graf Spee lost 36 killed and 60 wounded.
Though he spoke little about his war service, records show Bruce served on the Achilles, the HMNZS Gambia and HMS Bleasdale. He was a crew member of Gambia, representing New Zealand at the formal surrender of the Japanese Empire, on September 2, 1945.
Back at HMNZS Philomel (the Devonport naval base) at war’s end, he found himself cleaning equipment in preparation for storage. There was little to do, little prospect of a permanent job, and Bruce left without discharge to explore the civilian world. He was in the Naval Reserve for 12 years.
His departure without discharge worked to his advantage – in 1995 Bruce was recruited as a Naval Relations Officer and commissioned with the rank of lieutenant-commander.
Bruce had many roles. He was born in Matamata on June 26, 1922, older child of Elsie and Percy (Joe) Catchpole.
Joe had been a farmer before becoming manager of Matamata’s Farmers Auctioneering Company. Bruce attended Matamata Primary School, was an outstanding sportsman, and claimed a collection of trophies.
As a third former at Matamata District High School he was selected for the rugby 1st XV and the cricket 1st XI. He switched to Auckland Grammar in his final secondary school year ( again picked for the 1st XV and 1st XI) and at 17 enlisted for the RNZN as war broke out.
Civilian life at war’s end found him searching for work, including as a traffic cop. One of his duties was to catch taxi drivers overcharging. Most of them were returned men; to Bruce, ‘‘it didn’t fit’’. He passed back the uniform and was out of there.
He found work with Farmers Auctioneering Company in Te Awamutu and met Ruihi Duncan. She became his first wife.
Bruce saw opportunity in Mata- mata, built a home, raised four children (two daughters and two sons), and established Catchpole’s Furnishing. In 1987 Ruihi died of cancer. Bruce retired and sold the business. Bruce met Joyce Burnett and they married in 1995.
Meanwhile, he had a wealth of interests. He was much involved with RSA and KEV ( King’s Empire Veterans), of which he was president for many years, retiring only this year.
A major interest in his life was vintage and veteran cars. Son Graham tells of Bruce’s introduction to these oldsters. Graham says Bruce got into his father’s Chandler and drove it through the garage wall. It was not an auspicious start. Bruce was four!
Bruce collected dozens of vintage and veteran cars and restored them, passing many cars on to other enthusiasts. The hobby led to world travel and close friendships.
Early this year Bruce was diagnosed with cancer. He died in Pohlen Hospital on Thursday, July 26, survived by Joyce, two sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.