Athol was born at The Avenue Mt Eden on 23rd April 1920. The deputy registrar of births recorded his birth on 4th June 1920.
Athol's Parents & Sister
Hazel and Frank had two children, Athol's older sister was my grandmother, Kathleen Lavoni who married John Raymond (Jack) Owens.
Athol's Young Life
Athol grew up in Mt Eden - two addresses we have are Landscape Road and later at 2 Carrick Place in Mt Eden. My mother recalls stories of her mother talking of their Shetland Pony.
Athol attended Sacred Heart College. He was well remembered for his engaging character and his involvement and participation in a range of sporting aspects whilst at the College. He excelled academically as well, particularly in Chemistry and Maths.
A proud Coolahan man (Coolahan House), Athol was also in the 3rd-grade Rugby Team in 1935 who was runner-up in the competition that year. As an adult Athol towered at 6"3.
Auckland Post Office
On leaving school Athol was employed in the Engineering department of the Auckland Post Office. He was well known in sporting circles before World War II, being a member of the Marist Rugby Club, the University Harriers and yachting and cruising clubs.
The Great Raid
Athol was in the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserves. He left New Zealand in September 1940 with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and served on various ships including the Ark and the King Alfred. After gaining his commission he took part on the commando raid on the docks at Saint-Nazaire, France - known as the greatest raid of all time.
A force of commandos landed to destroy machinery and other structures. German gunfire sank, set ablaze, or immobilised virtually all the small craft intended to transport the commandos back to England. The commandos fought their way through the town to escape overland but many surrendered when they ran out of ammunition or were surrounded by the Wehrmacht defending Saint-Nazaire.
Of the 611 men who undertook the raid, 228 returned to Britain, 169 were killed and 215 became prisoners of war. German casualties included over 360 dead, some of whom were killed after the raid when Campbeltown exploded. To recognise their bravery, 89 members of the raiding party were awarded decorations, including five Victoria Crosses. After the war, St Nazaire was one of 38 battle honours awarded to the Commandos. The operation has been called The Greatest Raid of All within British military circles.
Athol's Bravery
The story of what actually happened was told in the obituary written after the death of Lord Newborough (Micky Wynn) who was Athol's friend and commander and served with him on the same engagement. Athol was second in command of the MT74. Their small torpedo boat was towed by the Campbell Town from Falmouth to Saint Nazaire, a voyage of over 400 miles.
His mother Hazeldine Agnes Griffiths grew up on her family farm in the Pukekohe and Bombay area. Hazel was the daughter of William Charles Griffiths and Elizabeth Annedine Piggot of Bombay and the granddaughter of William and Elizabeth Piggot who arrived to New Zealand as migrants on the ship Bombay on the 18th March 1865.
Hazeldine Agnes Griffiths
His father John Francis O'Connor (Frank) was the son of Martin O'Connor and Catherine Heavey. Frank migrated to New Zealand in 1907 aged 14 years old to live with his uncle in Pukekohe. His mother and three siblings followed in October 1910 from London aboard the steam ship Tainui.
Hazel and Frank are both buried at Hillsborough cemetery.
Hazel Agnes, Kathleen Lavoni, John Francis (Frank) and Athol Francis circa 1925
The most beautiful photo of young Kathleen Lavoni and Athol Francis circa 1927
Athol's Young Life
Athol grew up in Mt Eden - two addresses we have are Landscape Road and later at 2 Carrick Place in Mt Eden. My mother recalls stories of her mother talking of their Shetland Pony.
Athol attended Sacred Heart College. He was well remembered for his engaging character and his involvement and participation in a range of sporting aspects whilst at the College. He excelled academically as well, particularly in Chemistry and Maths.
A proud Coolahan man (Coolahan House), Athol was also in the 3rd-grade Rugby Team in 1935 who was runner-up in the competition that year. As an adult Athol towered at 6"3.
A. O'Connor, middle row, 1st left - 1935 Year Book - Sacred Heart College
A O'Connor - 2nd row, 5th from right
On leaving school Athol was employed in the Engineering department of the Auckland Post Office. He was well known in sporting circles before World War II, being a member of the Marist Rugby Club, the University Harriers and yachting and cruising clubs.
The Great Raid
Athol was in the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserves. He left New Zealand in September 1940 with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and served on various ships including the Ark and the King Alfred. After gaining his commission he took part on the commando raid on the docks at Saint-Nazaire, France - known as the greatest raid of all time.
The obsolete destroyer HMS Campbeltown, accompanied by 18 smaller craft, crossed the English Channel to the Atlantic coast of France and was rammed into the Normandie dock gates. The ship had been packed with delayed-action explosives, well-hidden within a steel and concrete case, that detonated later that day, putting the dock out of service until 1948.
A force of commandos landed to destroy machinery and other structures. German gunfire sank, set ablaze, or immobilised virtually all the small craft intended to transport the commandos back to England. The commandos fought their way through the town to escape overland but many surrendered when they ran out of ammunition or were surrounded by the Wehrmacht defending Saint-Nazaire.
Of the 611 men who undertook the raid, 228 returned to Britain, 169 were killed and 215 became prisoners of war. German casualties included over 360 dead, some of whom were killed after the raid when Campbeltown exploded. To recognise their bravery, 89 members of the raiding party were awarded decorations, including five Victoria Crosses. After the war, St Nazaire was one of 38 battle honours awarded to the Commandos. The operation has been called The Greatest Raid of All within British military circles.
The story of what actually happened was told in the obituary written after the death of Lord Newborough (Micky Wynn) who was Athol's friend and commander and served with him on the same engagement. Athol was second in command of the MT74. Their small torpedo boat was towed by the Campbell Town from Falmouth to Saint Nazaire, a voyage of over 400 miles.
The bombs were laid and under intense fire Wynn was proceeding down the estuary of the Loire when he stopped to pick up survivors. He said "the German shore batteries found their mark and two shells went straight through us."
Having picked up survivors from Campbeltown and an MTB, Wynn was ordered to return to England. He turned his craft and ran his full speed of 40 knots (74 km/h). Wynn spotted two men on a Carley float directly ahead of him. He had to make a snap decision, either to stop—which could be done quickly—or to drive on, which would have meant that the men would be washed off their float and probably drowned. He later recorded, "it was an awful decision . . . I decided to stop the vessel and we pulled up right alongside them. My crew had got hold of them, but unfortunately at that very moment the German shore batteries found their mark and two shells went straight through us." Wynn was blown from the bridge down to the bilges. He was saved by the chief motor mechanic, Chief Petty Officer Lovegrove, who decided to search that area before jumping overboard. He held the severely injured Wynn and joined other survivors on a Carley float. When the Germans found them 12 hours later only three men were left out of 36. Wynn became a POW.
Wynn wrote to Athol's family after the war saying he was in the water with Athol. It was intensely cold and after nine hours Athol said. "I'll just say my prayers now and slip away."
Wynn wrote to Athol's family after the war saying he was in the water with Athol. It was intensely cold and after nine hours Athol said. "I'll just say my prayers now and slip away."
After completely destroying U-Boat gates in a massive dry dock up the St Nazaire River with two torpedoes mounted retrospectively on the front decks of the motor boat, Athol and most other crew lost their lives.
Athol was just 21 years of age when he passed away, three weeks short of his 22nd birthday. He is remembered on the New Zealand Naval Memorial at Devonport and on the plaque at Sacred Heart college. To his family, he is a hero.
Athol was just 21 years of age when he passed away, three weeks short of his 22nd birthday. He is remembered on the New Zealand Naval Memorial at Devonport and on the plaque at Sacred Heart college. To his family, he is a hero.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.
You can leave a poppy on Athol's memorial page here on the online cenotaph. His final resting place is the Bay of Biscay.
While Athol gave his life in service and never had the opportunity of a family himself, his sister Kathleen's four children - John, Kathleen (Raewyn), Noelene and Athol have kept his memory alive and he will never be forgotten. Passed down through the generations is the story of a dream Hazeldine had of her son Athol coming to her dripping wet - he had come to say goodbye.
While Athol gave his life in service and never had the opportunity of a family himself, his sister Kathleen's four children - John, Kathleen (Raewyn), Noelene and Athol have kept his memory alive and he will never be forgotten. Passed down through the generations is the story of a dream Hazeldine had of her son Athol coming to her dripping wet - he had come to say goodbye.
My uncle, John Michael Owens, stands at the end of his driveway during the Covid 19 lock down Anzac Day commemoration at his home in Pakuranga, Auckland at 6am, Saturday 26th April 2020, to pay his respects to his uncle, Athol Francis O'Connor, and other family members who lost their lives in service to their country. Uncle John and his wife Irene visited St Nazaire for the 50th birthday celebrations in 1992. They were the first of our family to see Athol's resting place.
My uncle, Athol Raymond Owens, commissioned a model of the MT74 which he gifted into the care of Uncle John around 2015/16. It sits pride of place on his mantel piece with a picture of Athol and an illustration of the MT74.
My mother Noelene Hazel Owens pictured visiting the memorial at Saint Nazaire in 2005.
"I'll just say my prayers now and slip away"
In loving memory of Athol Francis O'Connor
23rd April 1920 - 28th March 1942
My uncle, Athol Raymond Owens at St Nazaire in 2014
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