The 24th of May commemorates the Allies' hard-fought victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, one of the most decisive campaigns of the Second World War. Thousands of New Zealanders took part in this long and bitter struggle, manning the ships of the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy, and the aircraft of RAF Coastal Command and the Fleet Air Arm.
A 21-gun salute from Fort Britomart marked the opening of New Zealand's first Parliament. The 37 parliamentarians gave their oaths of allegiance to the Crown via the acting governor, R.H. Wynyard.
