Ajax Veterans Street Dedication: Gardiner Drive

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Description

Street Name: Gardiner Drive
Name of Veteran: Henry Huntly John Gardiner
1920-May 2003
Rank: Able Seaman to Petty Officer
Ship Served: HMS Ajax
Date of Service on Ship: 1938 to 1942
Year of Visit/Dedication: n/a
Veteran or Family Visit: n/a
Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: Yes
Died at Battle: No

Henry joined HMS Ajax as an Able Seaman and advanced to the rank of Petty Officer by the time he left in 1942. He remembered his time on the Ajax fondly and was proud of the many mementos he had from the ship. He donated a photograph of HMS Ajax to the Town in 1998 that was signed by Captain Woodhouse, Captain Everett and Rear-Admiral Harwood. He obtained the photograph while assisting the photographer on the ship. Henry was on light duty due to a hand injury and after all others were sold, kept one for himself. It now hangs outside of the Mayor’s Office.

After four years serving on HMS Ajax Henry was transferred to a mine sweeper and was involved in the evacuation of Crete.

His family says that it was Henry’s greatest wish to see the street that was named after him. He considered it a great honour.

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