I created this two stage multi so that people can learn more about the town of Ajax and how it was created and of course tell the story of the valiant efforts of the HMS Ajax, Achilles and Exeter in the first naval battle of the second world war, the battle of the River Plate. The monument itself is wheelchair and stroller accessible but the final cache is definitely not but you can always stay on the waterfront trail while you send someone else to find the cache. Be very careful! Depending on your route it may be steeper than others. You can probably find it in the winter but again be careful.
The final cache is a small camo taped lock and lock. Original contents include 5 personally made buttons for the first five people to find the cache (a first to find and 4 fastest five buttons. check out the image to see what they look like!) you can take the button as well as a second item. I also included my brand new suncatcher geocoin
What to do to find the cache
The posted coordinates will bring you to a large black obelisk at the beginning of the Ajax monument. Look closely at the engraving. The obelisk was dedicated by veterans of all three ships on October 4th 200(a) for the 70th anniversary of the battle of the river plate.
Next head south down the monument's path, feel free to read some of the many plaques about Ajax. Now stop at the foot of the map. Locate which of the four ships is the HMS Ajax. The length of the ship's beam was 55 (b)/3 ft.
Face the main monument and look starboard (your right side) and head for the first plaque. It should say HMS Exeter at the top. After the HMS Ajax and Exeter returned to Britain they received a hero's welcome from Winston Churchill himself. On Feb 23, 19(c)0, 760 officers from both ships marched through the city of London as heros.
Move left to the HMS Ajax plaque where you will find a letter written by our current mayor Steve Parish where he talks about when his father was a representative of the town of Ajax for the Christening of the 8th HMS Ajax in England in December 196(d)
Move left to the main monument. The full monument was dedicated for the 6(e)th anniversary.
Move left again to the HMS Achilles where you will find a poem by Samuel Shale about the battle of River Plate. You will also find a picture of some Achillies veterans. How many veterans in the photo are wearing black? (f)
Move left to the last plaque about the Admiral Graf Spee. The Graf Spee captured and sunk (h) British merchant ships between September 30 and December (g).
N 43 4(a).(b)(c)(d)
W 79 0(e).(f)(g)(h)
These coordinates will lead you to the beach where the final cache awaits. Good luck and i hope you enjoyed seeing Ajax's beautiful monument and i encourage you to look at the rest of the plaques later! :)