Connell Thode
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = Lieutenant Commander
| name = Connell Percy Thode
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE|size=100%}}
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1911|03|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|10|09|1911|03|11|df=y}}
| death_place =
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch = {{navy|United Kingdom}}
| serviceyears =
| rank = Lieutenant Commander
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = HMS Scythian
| battles = World War II
| awards = Mention in Despatches (2)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire}}
Connell Percy Thode {{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE|size=85%}} (11 March 1911 – 9 October 2014) was a New Zealand naval officer and yachtsman. He served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II and commanded HMS Scythian, an S class submarine of the Royal Navy.
Early life
Born in Auckland in 1911,{{cite news | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19110314.2.101 | title=Births | date=14 March 1911 | work=Auckland Star | access-date=19 October 2014 | page=10}} Thode was educated at Mount Albert Grammar School from 1925 to 1926.{{cite web |url=http://www.mags.school.nz |title=Oldest Albertian farewelled as youngest member of Hall of Distinction inducted |publisher=Mount Albert Grammar School |access-date=19 October 2014}} An accomplished yachtsman, he joined the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1933, and skippered the keel sloop Iorangi. His skill was such that he was in contention to be a crew member on Thomas Sopwith's America's Cup challenge, but this did not proceed following the outbreak of World War II.{{cite news | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10614468/Centenarian-Kiwi-sailor-dies | title=Centenarian Kiwi sailor dies | date=14 October 2014 | work=Stuff.co.nz | access-date=19 October 2014 | first=Michael | last=Field }}
World War II service
After the war began, Thode worked his passage to the United Kingdom, where he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and served in submarines. He was appointed navigator of HMS Proteus, a Parthian-class submarine based in Egypt, in mid-1941. In June 1942 he was mentioned in despatches for gallant and distinguished service in successful patrols while serving on that vessel.{{London Gazette |issue=35613 |date=30 June 1942 |pages=2866–2867 |supp=y }} He then was made first lieutenant aboard HMS Ultor, a U-class submarine, before gaining command of HMS Scythian in late 1944. He received his second mention in despatches in November 1945.{{London Gazette |issue=37358 |date=16 November 1945 |page=5658 |supp=y }} Thode was one of only three New Zealanders to command a submarine during World War II, and the only one serving in the naval reserve to do so.{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=218273 | title=The depths of submariner bravery | date=22 September 2001 | work=New Zealand Herald | access-date=19 October 2014 | first=Sandra | last=Gorter }}
Later life
Thode spent 25 years teaching young New Zealanders to sail on the training ships Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of New Zealand. In the 1996 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to yachting.{{London Gazette |issue=54256 |date=30 December 1995 |page=34 |supp=2}}
Thode is believed to have been the oldest person to complete the 2013 New Zealand census online, when aged 101 years.{{cite news | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/8347649/WWII-vet-completes-census-forms-online | title=WWII vet completes census forms online | date=26 February 2013 | work=Rodney Times | access-date=19 October 2014 }} He died on 9 October 2014 and his funeral service was held in St Christopher's Chapel at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.{{cite news | url=http://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=connell-percy-thode&pid=172757911&fhid=12556 | title=Connell Percy Thode obituary | date=11 October 2014 | work=New Zealand Herald | access-date=19 October 2014 }} His ashes were buried at North Shore Memorial Park in Albany.{{cite web |url=http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/parksfacilities/cemeteries/Pages/northburialcremationrecords.aspx# |title=North burial and cremation records search |publisher=Auckland Council |access-date=11 May 2017}}
References
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Category:People educated at Mount Albert Grammar School
Category:New Zealand male sailors (sport)
Category:New Zealand military personnel of World War II
Category:Royal Navy submarine commanders
Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:New Zealand men centenarians