August 24 New Zealand Prime Minister informed Navy Board Wellington that the Government was in Empire War 'alert'.
Achilles and Leander immediately recalled from Hauraki Gulf to complete full war storage.
August 29 Request from Admirality that ships prepare for war stations with one New Zealand cruiser to join the West Indies Force - Achilles - River Platte Battle and the Admiral Graf Spree.
August 30 Leander sailed from Auckland 1700 at 24 knots to Fanning Island a 3000 mile passage. Stopped Suva for re-fuelling. TB Paton Stoker 1st Class.
September 1 - 10 October TB Paton Acting Leading Stoker Leander
September 3 War declared. NZ Naval forces mobilised.
September 5 arrived Fanning Island. Left troops and 60 tons of stores and returned to Suva.
September 13 arrived Auckland. Leander required to stay in New Zealand waters to guard against the threat of attack on shipping by armed raiders.
September 25 Leander patrols Antartic waters to Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands. Uninhabited but possible bases for enemy raiders. Nothing suspicious seen but a heavy gale and poor visibility between rain squalls prevented closer look.
October 1 Wellington
October 4 Auckland. Worked with reconnaissance aircraft making sweeps over the Cook Strait, Cuvier Island and Hauraki Gulf.
October 11- November 10 TB Paton Acting Leading Stoker Philomel.
On board 'Wongabella' to Australia.
November 11 HMAS Cerberus Melbourne Australia.
TB Paton Acting Leading Stoker.
