It is well-documented that the Palmerston North Showgrounds served as a military facility during the Second World War. Perhaps its most renowned occupants were the Māori Battalion, who conducted their initial assembly and training at this location. However, throughout the wartime period, the Palmerston North Showgrounds also accommodated several other military units, including the Manawatu Mounted Rifles, HQ 2 Brigade, HQ 4 Division, 2 ASC Coy, and notably, No 2 Sub Depot, NZAOC, which is the focus of our discussion here.

The wartime NZAOC

During the Second World War, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) efficiently organised its supply functions within the country. The central hub of this operation was the Main Ordnance Depot located at Trentham, which oversaw various subunits positioned both within and outside Trentham. These included:

• HQ Ammunition Section in Belmont
• Ammunition Sections situated at Makomako and Waiouru
• Bulk Stores at Linton and Mangere
• Artillery Sub Depot in Waiouru
• Inspection Ordnance Officer Section in the Central Military District (Palmerston North)
• Ammunition Repair Depot in Kuku Valley

Furthermore, the NZAOC established Ordnance Sub Depots in each military district:

• Northern Military District, No 1 Sub Depot operated at Hopuhopu Military Camp.
• Central Military District, No 2 Sub Depot was situated at the Palmerston North Show Grounds.
• ISouthern Military District, No 3 Sub Depot was established at Burnham Camp.

(Note: Up to 20 August 1942, the District Ordnance Depots were known as Northern, Central and Southern District Ordnance Depots) 

At the commencement of the war, both the Northern District Ordnance Depot (No 1 Sub Depot) and the Southern District Ordnance Depot (No 3 Sub Depot) stood as firmly established Ordnance Depots, albeit with distinct histories and infrastructure.

The Northern District Ordnance Depot, situated at Hopuhopu Military Camp in the picturesque Waikato region, had been commissioned in 1927 as a purpose-built Ordnance Depot, well-prepared to support wartime operations.

In contrast, the Southern District Ordnance Depot, established in 1921, underwent a significant transformation in the early 1940s when modern facilities were added, enhancing its capacity to meet the evolving demands of the war effort.

While records indicate the existence of a Palmerston North Ordnance Detachment during the First World War, historical documentation is scarce regarding a lasting Ordnance presence in Palmerston North during the interwar years. In a cost-effective approach, logistical support to units in the lower North Island was streamlined, with direct supply channels emanating from Trentham.

Upon the mobilisation of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2nd NZEF), Home Defence Forces, and Territorial Forces, a significant development occurred in early 1942 with the establishment of the Central Districts Ordnance Depot, located at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. This pivotal move saw the appointment of Lieutenant William Saul Keegan from the New Zealand Temporary Staff (NZTS) to the crucial roles of Ordnance Officer for the Central Military District and Officer Commanding of the Palmerston North Detachment within the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) and New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC). This appointment officially took effect on 1 March 1942, marking a significant moment in the wartime logistics effort.

No 2 Sub Depot

The choice of the Palmerston North Showgrounds as the location for the Central Districts Ordnance Depot was a well-thought-out decision. Positioned strategically between Featherston, Waldegrave, Pascal, and Cuba Streets, these showgrounds were ideally situated just a stone’s throw away from the Palmerston North Railway yards, which, during that time, were situated in what is now the Railway Reserve on Pioneer Highway. This strategic location facilitated the smooth flow of goods, not only from the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham but also from various suppliers across the country. It also made it convenient for dispatching goods to subordinate units throughout the lower North Island via both rail and road networks.

The showgrounds boasted some of the largest covered spaces in the region, featuring five exhibition halls all under one expansive roof. Additionally, there was ample hardstanding space available for vehicles and other defense stores. To accommodate units such as the Māori Battalion and others, facilities like cookhouses, dining halls, accommodation (including huts and tents), and ablutions were thoughtfully established.

Initially, in the early years of the war, the occupation of the showgrounds was seen as a temporary arrangement, with the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association retaining partial use of the facility. However, as the threat of war with Japan became increasingly real by late 1941, a crucial decision was made to allocate full occupancy of the showgrounds to the military for the duration of the conflict. This shift marked a significant step in ensuring the efficient and exclusive use of the facility for wartime purposes.

Palmerston North Showgrounds, Cuba Street, 1939. Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services

Following the 20th of August 1942, a significant transformation took place at the Central Districts Ordnance Depot, which was subsequently renamed as No 2 Sub Depot. It found its new home on the Waldergrave Street side of the showgrounds, housed within the expansive complex of five interconnected exhibition halls all under one roof. Each hall had its distinct purpose:

• Hall 1: This hall was dedicated to the storage of an extensive array of clothing items, including boots, tunics, greatcoats, and underwear.
• Hall 2: Here, an impressive inventory of tools, spare parts, and expendable stores was meticulously organized. This included an abundance of hardware, such as nails, wire, rope, paint, thinners, and linseed oil, surpassing the combined stock of all merchants in Palmerston North.
• Hall 3: Hall 3 was stocked with an assortment of camp fittings, crockery, cutlery, sheets, blankets, and various household linens, numbering in the thousands.
• Halls 4 and 5: These two halls were the repository for every conceivable type of Army equipment, including rifles and machine-guns.

Flammable materials like paints, turpentine, and kerosene, initially stored within the main buildings, saw improved storage conditions in 1943 when dedicated structures with concrete floors and iron walls and roofs were provided.

Explosives and ammunition were also housed at the showgrounds until 1943 when the construction of the Makomako ammunition area was completed. With the buildings often filled to their capacity, sometimes with stock stacked to the ceilings, two nightwatchmen were employed to ensure security and act as a fire picket during the quiet nighttime hours. Stringent fire safety measures were in place, including regular inspections in coordination with the Fire Brigade. The Army maintained a well-equipped first aid inventory, comprising buckets, bucket pumps, hoses, and fire extinguishers.

The storage method employed was designed to minimize fire risks, with flammable goods strategically positioned between non-flammable products to create firebreaks in case of an emergency. The Fire Brigade provided valuable recommendations for further reducing fire hazards, all of which were diligently implemented. Despite the heightened precautions, the installation of an automatic alarm system was not deemed necessary by the fire brigade, as the measures in place were considered sufficient.

Beyond the showgrounds, No 2 Depot extended its operational reach with surge accommodation, including Part Worn Clothing stores located in Rangitikei and Church Streets, as well as engineer dumps at two Fielding locations. The cumulative value of all stock at the depot by the end of December 1944 amounted to a substantial £1,100,000 (equivalent to approximately $NZ 90,845,402.49 in today’s currency), underscoring the depot’s critical role in supporting wartime logistics and readiness.

Depot Establishment

As of the 17 of August 1942, the formation of No 2 Depot was officially constituted with a complement of 3 officers and 81 Other ranks, organised in the following structure.

Owing to the constraints on manpower during the wartime period, the posted strength of personnel was never fully reached in accordance with the established numbers. This shortage of personnel was a consequence of the pressing demands of the wartime context.

February 1943

Posted strength was One Officer and 66 Other ranks.

30th of October 1943

the establishment had been increased to 3 Officers and 95 Other ranks, with a posted strength of 2 Officer and 88 Other ranks.

29 February 1944

the establishment had been increased on 1 November 1943 to 3 Officers and 92 Other ranks, with a posted strength of 2 Officer and 83 Other ranks.

5 April 1944

The big blaze

On the 31st of December 1944, Mr. Milverton, the superintendent of the Palmerston North fire brigade, was investigating faults in the city’s general fire alarm system. He traced the fault to the Show Grounds and determined that it resulted from vibrations caused by heavy motor traffic. As a temporary measure until the fault could be rectified, it was decided to disconnect the Show Grounds loop from the alarm system. The military authorities were informed of this action, and the alarm boxes at the Show Grounds were marked as ‘Out of order.’

Around 9:30 PM, Sergeant W. C. Luffman, the Senior NCO of the Showgrounds guard, conducted his patrol and found nothing unusual. However, during his next scheduled patrol at 10:30 AM in the cookhouse, he discovered an empty and red-hot copper used for heating water, with the gas underneath it ignited. This had caused a piece of wood on the wall to catch fire. Sgt. Luffman promptly turned off the gas, then went to the main gate and enlisted the assistance of Private Wagstaff. Together, they used a stirrup pump to extinguish the burning timber. After ensuring that the fire was out, Private Wagstaff filled the copper with cold water and checked the iron around the fire site, confirming it was cool. They refilled the stirrup pump and left it near the copper as a precaution.

During another patrol at 11:35 AM, Privates Wagstaff and Collins, the Ordnance night watchman, were instructed to examine the wall in the neighboring Ordnance Store, opposite where the earlier fire had occurred. Meanwhile, Sergeant Luffman returned to the kitchen, finding everything in order and no signs of fire. Satisfied with the situation, he returned to the guard house around 11:55 AM.

While waiting at the guard house until midnight, Sgt. Luffman noticed a glow in the sky near the Ordnance Depot. Uncertain if it was coming from the Ordnance Depot, he hurried into the guard house to call the fire brigade. Unfortunately, there was no response as the alarms had been disconnected earlier in the day due to the fault.

Fortunately, local citizens had spotted the fire and alerted the fire brigade. Sgt. Luffman soon heard the sirens of the approaching fire engines. Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered that the fire had engulfed the building beyond the cookhouse, which was the Ordnance Store. It was well ablaze, with flames breaking through the roof. Eventually, three motor engines responded, and it wasn’t until midday that the last embers were finally extinguished.

While the row of six dwellings facing Waldegrave Street, which backed onto the showgrounds, was saved, it required tons of water to prevent them from catching fire. Additionally, the administrative offices of the A&P Association were spared but not without significant effort. Unfortunately, Halls 1, 2, and 3 were lost, but Halls 4 and 5 remained intact. At that time, it was the most substantial fire that the Palmerston North Fire Brigade had ever tackled.

Aftermath

Evidence presented during the inquiry conducted in March 1945 by Captain William Saul Keegan, the Ordnance Officer in charge of the Ordnance Depot, estimated the loss resulting from the fire at £225,700 (equivalent to $18,639,824.86 in today’s value). It’s worth noting that a significant portion of the stock could be salvaged. Unfortunately, the fire claimed nearly the entire inventory of approximately 1,500 Charlton Automatic Rifles, a successful New Zealand conversion of the Lee–Enfield rifle into an automatic rifle, with only a handful surviving to this day.

Initially, there were suspicions that the fire might have been intentionally set to conceal thefts from the depot. However, Captain Keegan dismissed these suspicions. He stated that the total value of all stock at the depot at the end of December 1944 was £1,100,000 ($90,845,402.49). Thefts from the Depot up to the time of the fire were minimal, and most of the overall deficiencies were attributed to miscounting. Over a span of two years and nine months, losses from all sources amounted to £627 ($51,781.88). During the same period, there were surpluses valued at £1,600 ($132,138.77). Thus, surpluses exceeded shortages by approximately £1,000 ($82,586.73). Captain Keegan provided a detailed account of the accounting system for goods, and based on his knowledge of the store, there was no indication that the fire was started to conceal shortages.

Detective F. Quin of the New Zealand Police testified about the extensive and thorough investigations into the possible causes of the fire but was unable to provide any additional pertinent information that had not already been presented to the Court. No evidence was discovered of sabotage, incendiary devices, or any other form of interference. No individual could be identified as the one who ignited the copper found burning by Sergeant Luffman.

It was fortunate that the fire occurred in 1944, by which time the threat of invasion had subsided, and the majority of the Territorial Army, Home Guard, and other home defense forces had been demobilized. Consequently, the loss of the stores had negligible impact on the ongoing operations of the Army.

Post War Reorganisation

In October 1941, the New Zealand Government acquired land in Linton to establish a Military Camp. The initial units began occupying the camp in February 1942, and within a remarkably swift six months, the first prefabricated huts were erected. Subsequently, over the following years, more permanent accommodations were constructed.

The Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham swiftly established a satellite Bulk Store at Linton. This Bulk Store operated independently of No 2 Sub Depot, serving the logistical needs of the military units based in the Linton camp.

No 2 Sub Depot continued its operations at the Palmerston North showgrounds until December 14, 1945. At this point, its functions were transferred to the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham, marking the conclusion of its presence at the showgrounds.

Reestablishment at Linton

On the 1st of October 1946, the Bulk Stores of the Main Ordnance Depot, situated within Linton Camp, underwent a formal transformation and was redesignated as No 2 Ordnance Depot. This newly established depot not only took on the responsibility for units stationed in the Linton area but also assumed the oversight of the Main Ordnance Depot Subunits located at Waiouru Camp.

The proposed establishment for this new configuration as of September 1946 was as follows:

Over the course of the subsequent four decades, No 2 Ordnance Sub-Depot stood as the enduring Ordnance unit situated within Linton Camp. During this prolonged period, it underwent a series of name changes until the eventual disestablishment of the RNZAOC in 1996. These transitions in nomenclature and their respective durations were as follows:

• Central Districts Ordnance Depot: 1948 to 1968
• 2 Central Ordnance Depot: 1968 to 1979
• 2 Supply Company: 1979 to 1985
• 5 Composite Supply Company: 1985 to 1990
• 21 Field Supply Company: 1990 to 1996

Today, known as 21 Supply Company within the Royal New Zealand Logistic Regiment, it holds the distinction of being the longest-standing resident unit in Linton Camp, an honor it has upheld over the years.

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017