Ordnance during the Field Force era 1964 – 1978

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To meet SEATO commitments, the New Zealand Army was reorganised in 1964, with an Infantry Battalion based in Malaysia as part of the British Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. The remainder of the Army was organised to reinforce the overseas elements at short notice and, with a more extended notice period, forces able to meet other commitments outside of the scope of the Strategic Reserve. To achieve this the Army was organised as:

  • Field Force
    • The Combat Brigade Group – Organised as a combat force for commitments outside of the scope of the Strategic Reserve.
    • The Logistic Support Group – Organised to provide support in the field to the Combat Brigade Group.
    • The Combat Reserve Brigade Group – Designed to backfill personnel from the Combat Brigade Group and Logistic Support Group on their mobilisation, to provide trained reinforcements.
  • Static Support Force – all the static non-deployable units.

RNZAOC Locations and Roles

The RNZAOC maintained units on a regional basis.

  • Combat Brigade Group units based in the Northern region,
  • Logistic Support Group units based in the Central region,
  • Combat Reserve Brigade Group units based in the Southern region, and
  • Static Support Force units base throughout the country in non-operational support roles.

Units classed as Operating units had a real-time peacetime support role, all others only had training roles.

Up to 1968 Ordnance units, their locations and dependencies are detailed in the following three tables.

Ordnance In the Northern Military District

1968 NMD

1st COD 1971

1st Central Ordnance Depot – 25 June 1971. RNZAOC School

Ordnance In the Central Military District

1968 CMD

CDOD 1965

Central Districts Ordnance Depot 1965. Dave Morris Collection

 

Ordnance In the Southern Military District

1968 SMD

Dress Embellishments

Circular Coloured patches 1½ inch in diameter were worn on the shoulder Battledress and then Service Dress just below the Corps Shoulder Title, these patches were discontinued in the mid-1970’s.

  • Combat Brigade Group – Black
  • Logistic Support Group – Red
  • Combat Reserve Brigade group – Green
  • Static Support Force – Blue

1968 Reorganisation

In 1968 it was decided to refine the RNZAOC organisation to better suit its outputs, resulting in name changes, roles changes, relocation and disestablishment for some units.

Unit Name Changes

  • The Main Ordnance Depot at Trentham was renamed 1 Base Ordnance Depot.
  • The three District Ordnance Depots were renamed as Central Ordnance Depots
    • Northern District Ordnance Depot – 1 Central Ordnance Depot
    • Central District Ordnance Depot – 2 Central Ordnance Depot
    • Southern District Ordnance Depot – 3 Central Ordnance Depot

Note: It was mooted that ‘Command’ instead of ‘Central’ be used as the name of the Ordnance Depots, and some correspondence does refer to the COD as Command Ordnance Depots.

Roles Changes and Re-locations

  • 1 Infantry Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park based at Trentham and already partly scaled but with no role other than training this was moved to Ngaruawahia, with the task of maintaining the Equipment Tables of Combat Brigade group units.
  • 1COC PLAQUE

    1 Composite Ordnance Company Plaque. Peter Cox collection

     

    1 Composite Ordnance Company assumed the role as the significant bulk Ordnance stock-holding unit in the Field Force, with responsibility for issuing bulk to 1 Ordnance Field Park and all Workshop Stores Sections and detailed Issues to all Logistic Support Group units. This unit had a peacetime holding of 60 -90 days of War Reserve stocks which were transferred from 1 Base Ordnance Depot. All Platoons were centralised at Mangaroa, less 4 (Ammo) Platoon, located at Makomako and loaned back to 2 Central Ordnance Depot.

  • 3 Infantry Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park situated at Ngaruawahia with no stocks held and performing only a Training Role, this unit was relocated to Burnham where the majority of Combat Reserve Brigade Units were located, continuing to have no stock-holding responsibility and only have a training role.

There was no change to the Role and locations of the Workshops Stores section and RNZAOC school.

GEN OUTLINE.jpg

Disestablishment

The Small Arms and Proof Office co-located at Mount Eden with the Colonial Ammunition Company was closed down, and the Army ended its long relationship with the Colonial Ammunition Company when that company closed down.

The Ammunition Proof and Experimental Centre operations were also closed down, and its operations moved to the new Joint Services Proof Establishment, a Tri-service unit established as part of the Naval Ammunition Depot ad Kauri Point in Auckland.

RNZAOC Overseas

Throughout the 1960s the RNZAOC provided individuals for overseas service, with the bulk serving with the Australians in South Vietnam and 1 RNZIR at Ternadak Barracks in Malaysia.

In 1970 due to a proposed British withdrawal from Singapore, the RNZAOC made a commitment with the RAAOC to form 5 Advanced Ordnance Depot in Singapore. 5 Advanced Ordnance Depot was the first RNZAOC unit overseas since Kayforce during the Korean War, and the RNZAOC retained a unit in Singapore until 1989.

Future Reorganisations

The RNZAOC retained this organisation until the late 1970s, when the Rations and Fuel functions were gained on the disestablishment of the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps, and the RNZAOC underwent another Reorganisation, which will be covered in another article.

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017

Central Districts, RNZAOC Corps Day 2017

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To commemorate the 70th anniversary on the 12th of July 1947 of the granting of the “Royal” prefix by King George VI to the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, and the 100th anniversary of the formation of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department and New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps on 1 February 1917. A small gathering was held the 15th of July  2017 at the Empire Hotel in Palmerston North.

The Empire Hotel was chosen as the venue as 100 years ago the NZAOC Palmerston North Detachment, Ordnance Store was located across the road at 327 Main Street, and I am sure that some of them would have enjoyed a cold beer at the Empire Hotel on a Saturday afternoon.

NZ Army Ordnance Stores, 327 Main Street, Palmerston North circa 1930. Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services

NZ Army Ordnance Stores, 327 Main Street, Palmerston North circa 1920. Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services

The gathering was small, but those who attended represented a varied cross-section of former RNZAOC members from the 1960’s to the 1990’s.

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Rear Left to Right: Tony (Wingnut) Rogers, Terry McBeth, Richard Tyler, Rob Mckie, Merv Hutley, Kevin Sigglekow, Peter Cox, Brian Crafts, Peter Dellabarca, Front Row Left to Right: Ray Benseman, Willie Simonsen, Phil Blundell, Dave Morris.

Ordnance and the Central Districts

The RNZAOC and its predecessors have had a  long association with the Central Districts of New Zealand. The Central Districts including the provinces of;

  • Taranaki,
  • Whanganui,
  • Ruapehu,
  • Rangitikei,
  • Manawatu,
  • Hawkes Bay,
  • Wairarapa,
  • Horowhenua, and
  • Wellington.

Ordnance Depot

In the early years of the 20th Century, Ordnance Support to the region was provided by the Defence Stores Department from their Headquarters at Mount Cook in Wellington.

With the foundation of the NZAOC in 1917, Trentham soon became the Main Ordnance Depot with detachments at Featherston and Palmerston North

On the conclusion of the First World War permanent Ordnance Depots were established at Ngaruawahia to support the Northern Districts, and at Burnham to Support the Southern Districts, it was decided to support the Central Districts directly from the Main Ordnance Depot at Trentham, resulting in the closure of the Featherston and Palmerston North Ordnance Detachments. 

With the onset of the Second World War and the mobilisation of  New Zealand, the Central Districts Ordnance Depot was established at the Showground’s in Palmerston North with several large warehouses in rented accommodation at Whanganui.

In August of 1942, the District Ordnance Depots were renamed, and responsibility’s defined.  The Main Ordnance Depot name would remain extant, and it would service;

  • Army Headquarters,
  • Army School,
  • Mobilisation Camp, Trentham,
  • All other troops in the Wellington Fortress area,
  • 1, 2 and 3 Ordnance Sup Depots.

The Central Districts Ordnance Depot would become  No 2 Ordnance Sub Depot and would service ;

  • Waiouru Military Camp and all units therein,
  • Tactical School, Wanganui,
  • Staff College, Palmerston North,
  • Central Military Districts Troops (except Wellington Fortress troops),
  • 4th Division.

On the Wars end, No 2 Ordnance Sub Depot closed on 14 December 1945 and responsibility for Ordnance Support for the Central Districts reverted to the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham. A short time later No 2 Ordnance Sub depot reopened in Linton Camp.

  • No 2 Ordnance Sub Depot in Linton, would endure becoming;
  • No2 Ordnance Depot in 1946,
  • Central Districts Ordnance Depot in 1961,
  • 2 Central Ordnance Depot in 1968,
  • 2 Supply Company in 1979,
  • 5 Composite Supply Company in 1985 and finally
  • 21 Field Supply Company in 1990 until 1996 when its ownership Passed from the RNZAOC to the RNZALR.

Workshops and Stores Sections

In September 1946 most of the repair and maintenance functions of the NZAOC became the New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The NZAOC retained repair functions such as Bootmaking, Textile Repair and Tailoring.

From 1961 the RNZAOC was represented across the Central Districts in all of the RNZEME Workshops and LAD Stores Sections.

Ammunition Depot

Constructed and becoming operational in the mid-1940’s, Ammunition Depots would be established at:

  • Kuku valley at Trentham,
  • Belmont in Wellington,
  • Makomako, and
  • Waiouru.

These would remain as interdependent Ammunition Depots until 1961 when they became Sub-Depots of the Central Districts Ordnance Depot.

The Belmont Ammunition Depot would close in the late 1960’s, with Makomako closing in the mid-1990’s leaving Waiouru as the Main Ammunition Depot.

Waiouru Camp

When Waiouru Camp was established in 1940 it was planned to create an Ordnance Depot there, but these plans never eventuated, and Waiouru would remain a Sub Depot of Trentham. Waiouru became a Sub Depot of Linton until the 1970s when it became 4 Central Ordnance Depot, then 4 Supply Company in 1979.

Wellington Region Ordnance Units

 

Although based in the Wellington region and having a broader responsibility for just, not the Central Districts but also the entire Army, by their proximity they have a closer association to the Central Districts than the Northern and Southern Districts and therefore have been included in this article.

In the post-war era Ordnance in the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham would undergo many transformations, the Main Ordnance Depot would become the Base Ordnance Depot in 1968 and then the 1st Base Supply Battalion in 1979 and finally 5 Logistic Regiment in 1993.

The RNZAF stores depot at Mangaroa was handed over to the NZ Army in 1949 and over the years would become home to;

  • 4(NZ) Division Ordnance Field Park was based at Trentham and Mangaroa from 1950 to 1963,
  • 1 Infantry Brigade OFP from 1963 to 1968 until reorganised and redeployed to Ngaruawahia and Burnham.
  • 1st Composite Ordnance Company from 1964 to 1977.

The Central Districts Vehicle Depot would be established at Trentham in the late 1940’s and would move closer to its primary customer base at  Linton in 1958 and would to be absorbed into the CDOD as a Sub-Depot in 1961.

Adoption of RNZASC functions

In 1979 the foodstuffs and POL functions of the RNZASC became an Ordnance responsibility with the RNZAOC gaining;

  • 24 Supply Platoon in Linton,
  • 44 Supply Platoon in Waiouru,
  • 54 Supply Platoons in Trentham,
  • 21 Supply Company in Waiouru (retaining its name in honour of its long history with the RNZASC), and
  • 7 Petroleum Platoon in Waiouru, which was renamed 47 Petroleum Platoon (4 added to identify it as a Platoon of 4 Supply Company).

Establishment of the RNZALR

On the 8 of December 1996, the RNZAOC along with the RNZCT and RNZEME was disestablished and its personnel and unit’s becoming part of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment.

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017

 

 

RNZAOC District Ordnance Depots 1961-68

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As the RNZAOC organisation matured in the late 1950s, it became apparent that the system in place of having separate Ordnance, Vehicle and Ammunition Depots located in the same locations but under different command arrangements was impracticable and not an efficient use of resources. Starting in 1961, a reorganisation was undertaken to consolidate administrative, accounting and store functions under one headquarters. The restructuring ensured that there was only one RNZAOC depot in each district, which consisted of.

  • Headquarters,
  • Stores Sub-Depot,
  • Ammunition Sub-Depot,
  • Vehicle Sub-Depot
  • Traffic Centre.

To achieve this all the existing Stores, Ammunition and Vehicle depots became Sub-depots of a District Ordnance Depot, designated as.

  • Northern Districts Ordnance Depot (NDOD) – Ngaruawahia,
  • Central Districts Ordnance Depot (CDOD) – Linton,
  • Southern Districts Ordnance Depot (SDOD) – Burnham

The outline shape of the new Depots is shown as;

1960 ord depot

Responsibilities

Officer commanding

A Major, the Officer Commanding was responsible for.

  • Command of the depot
  • Policy
  • Administrations including personnel matters.

2IC, Stores and Planning officer

Either a Captain of Senior Lieutenant the 2IC, Stores and Planning officer was responsible for;

  • Depot Planning,
  • Receipt, preservation, storage, maintenance, issue,
  • Storehouse layout,
  • Warehouse methods,
  • Procedure instructions,
  • Depot Workshops,
  • Traffic Centre,
  • Depot Transport officer,
  • Security,
  • Fire Precautions.

The 2IC, Stores and Planning officer was usually assisted by the Foreman IC Stores (FICS), who was a senior Warrant Officer.

Accounting Officer

Either a Captain or Senior Lieutenant or the Accounting Officer was responsible.

  • Accounting for Stores,
  • Provision,
  • Claims,
  • Stocktaking,
  • Correspondence in connection with Stores,
  • Accounting for Articles in use.

Ammunition Technical Officers

ATO’s could have been any of the Depots officers who had to balance their regular duties with their Ammo responsibility.

Depot HQ

Each HQ consisted of an.

  • Administrative Group, and
  • Accounts Group

Records from all three Sub-Depots were centralised in the HQ, and all administrative and accounting functions (including Workshop accounting) were performed there.

Administrative Group

Controlled by a Chief Clerk who was responsible to the OC for.

  • Records,
  • Technical Library including amendments,
  • Typing and reproductions,
  • Stationary including Army forms,
  • Mail – receipt, registration, dispatch,
  • Personnel administration as directed, and
  • Orderly room – Unit administration, ROs, etc.

Accounts Group

Controlled by the Accounting Officer,  for the two accounts in the Depot:

  • The main stores account embracing all general stores, ammunition and vehicles, and
  • The A in U account, which included all articles in use by all parts of the Depot

The Accounts Group was comprised of the following sections.

  • Control – General Stores, ammunition and vehicle ledgers
  • Ledger Checking – To provide:
    • 100% check of all ledger postings of Clothing and Ammunition.
    • 25% check of all other postings.
  • Provision – Annual and periodic provision reviews for all types of stores, and to progress demands and orders.
  • Claims –Passing of accounts for payment, financial aspects of “On Payment” transactions, hires etc.
  • Stocktaking -Responsible for continuous stocktaking of all stores (including ammunition), aimed at completion once every 3 years.

Stores Sub-Depots

The Stores Sub-Depots consisted of the following Groups;

  • Hardware
  • Clothing
  • Camp Equipment
  • Technical Stores
  • Returned Stores and Disposals, in addition to the conventional functions this group included;
    •  Textile Repair Workshop,
    • Footwear Repair Workshop,
    • Tailors,
    • Carpenters.

The functions within in Stores Groups were accepted as standard;

  • Receipts
    • Receiving
    • Unpacking
    • Identifying
    • Checking
    • Discrepancies and queries
  • Storage
    • Detail
      • Preserving
      • Binning
      • Maintaining
      • Amending Location and catalogue information
      • Selecting for issue
    • Bulk
      • Preserving
      • Packing for bulk storage
      • Bulk stacking
      • Selecting for issue
      • Dispatching.

Note: In a small group one person performed all or most of the above functions.

A typical representation of the staffing of a large Group is shown in the following diagram.

staff stores group

Ammunition Sub-Depots

Ammunition Sub-Depots consisted of:

  • Ammunition Inspection Section.
  • Ammunition Repair Section.
  • Non-Explosive Store.
  • Ammunition Areas;
    • NDOD
      • Ardmore.
      • Kelm road.
      • Ngaruawahia
    • CDOD
      • Waiouru.
      • Makomako.
      • Belmont.
      • Trentham.
    • SDOD
      • Burnham.
      • Glentunnel.
      • Fairlie.
      • Mt Somers.

Vehicle Sub-Depots

Vehicle Depots consisted of:

  • Vehicle Park
  • Kit Store

A RNZEME Maintenance Section was sometimes included as part of the Depot.

In the CDOD and SDOD the Vehicle group control functions were incorporated into the Depot HQ, In NDOD the Control functions were located at Sylvia Park and not at the depot HQ Ngaruawahia.

Traffic Centres

The NCO IC Traffic was directly responsible to the Stores officer and had the responsibility for the control and coordination of the Depots transport, Including;

  • Servicing,
  • Repair,
  • Vehicle registrations,
  • Warrants of fitness,
  • POL returns.

Establishments

Although similar in function, based on their location, dependency and infrastructure each Ordnance Depot had a slightly different structure, as much as possible the terms used to name positions were standardised against the following definitions.

  • Chief Clerk –  Clerk in charge of a Group, or 2IC of an HQ Group controlled by an Officer.
  • Senior Clerk – Clerk in charge of a Section of an HQ Group clerks
  • Chief Storeman – Storeman in charge of
    1. A group of a Stores Sub-Depot,
    2. A Vehicle Sub-depot,
    3. Traffic Centre.
  • Senior Storeman – Storeman in charge of:
    1. A Section of a Stores Group,
    2. An Ammunition Area storeman,
    3. A Vehicle Park storeman,
    4. A Kit Store storeman.
  • Chief Ammunition Technician – The WO1 in charge of an Inspection Section
  • Senior Ammunition Technician – he AT in charge of the Repair Section
  • Foreman – The Tradesman in charge of a RNZAOC Workshop

Copies of the 2 District Ordnance Depots establishments can seen on the attached Links;

Northern District Ordnance Depot Establishment

Central District Ordnance Depot Establishment

Linton-0001-OhG304062

Southern District Ordnance Depot Establishment

Burnham-2-0001-OhG303962

Summary

The District Ordnance Depots remained until 1968 when they were reorganised  again and became;

  • Northern Districts Ordnance Depot – became 1 Central Ordnance Depot (1COD),
  • Central Districts Ordnance Depot – became 2 Central Ordnance Depot (2COD),
  • Southern Districts Ordnance Depot – became 3 Central Ordnance Depot (3COD).

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017

RNZAOC June 1948 to May 1949

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This article carries on from the post, RNZAOC June 1947 to 1948 and covers the activities of the RNZAOC from June 1948 to May 1949

Key Appointments

Army Headquarters

  • Director of Ordnance Services

    • Lieutenant Colonel A.H Andrews

  • Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services

    • Major F Reid

  • Chief Inspecting Ordnance Officer

    • Major I.S Millar

  • Senior Inspecting Ordnance Officer

    • Captian J.G.R Morley

  • IOO Technical Assistant

    • Captian N.C Fisher

Main Ordnance Depot

  • Officer Commanding

    • Major A.D Leighton

  • Second in command MOD

    • Captain M.K Keeler

Northern Military District

  • District Inspecting Ordnance Office

    • Captain E.C Green

  • OC Northern District Ammunition Depot

    •  

Central Military District

  • District Inspecting Ordnance Office

    • Captain G.H Perry

  • OC Central District Ammunition Depot

    • Captain Robert Price Kennedy

Southern Military District

  • OC Southern District Ordnance Depot

    • Captain A.A Barwick

  • District Inspecting Ordnance Office

    • Captain E Hancock

  • OC Southern District Ammunition Depot

    • Captain William Cleaver Ancell

Territorial Force

  • Chief of Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (CRNZAOC)

    • Lieutenant Colonel Donald Edward Harper

Appointment of Colonel Commandant

King
Brigadier T J King, CBE, RNZAOC Regimental Colonel 1 Jan 1949 – 31 Mar 1961. RNZAOC School

1949 saw the adoption of Colonel Commandants for Corps and Regiments of the New Zealand Army. New Zealand Gazette No 4 of 21 Jan 1949 detailed the appointment of Brigadier (Retired) J.J King, CBE as the first Colonel Commandant of the RNZAOC.

The organisation of Ordnance Services in Districts

Under discussion since May 1947, it was agreed that Ordnance Services in the districts (Northern, Central and Southern) would be better served by the appointment of a Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services (DADOS) om the staff of the District Headquarters.

The DADOS staff in the District Headquarters would consist of;

  • The DADOS – an RNZAOC Major, who was the Commanding Officer for all RNZAOC personnel in the district.
  • The District Inspection Ordnance Officer  – an RNZAOC Captain
  • DADOS Clerk – an RNZAOC Sergeant
  • DIOO Clerk – Civilian

The DADOS staff at the Headquarters would have the following responsibilities;

  • responsible to Army HQ through the DOS: for
    • Technical control of the District Ordnance Depot, IOO Section, Ammunition Depot and Vehicle Depot.
    • The storage of all Ordnance Stores, Ammunition and vehicles earmarked to be held by the districts for mobilisation,
    • The distribution of all stores declared to the War Asset Realisation Board (WARB) as being surplus to the requirements of the Army, (NMD and SMD Only)
  • The DADOS was  responsible to the OC of the district for:
    • Advice on all Ordnance matters,
    • The efficient functioning of all Ordnance Services in the District
    • Supply and storage of all Ordnance Stores required by the District,
    • Storage, maintenance and supply of all  ammunition in the district,
    • Supply of all MT requirements within the District from the Vehicle Depot,
    • Cooperating with DADME to ensure that maintenance of all vehicles in Vehicle Depots is adequately carried out.

Renaming of Ordnance Installations

Late in 1948 Ordnance Depots were renamed as follows;

Ordnance Depots

  • No 1 Ordnance Depot to Northern District Ordnance Depot
  • No 2 Ordnance Depot to Central District Ordnance Depot
  • No 3 Ordnance Depot to Southern District Ordnance Depot

Ammunition Sections

Ammunition sections became:

  • Northern District Ammunition Depot
  • Central District Ammunition Depot
  •  Southern District Ammunition Depot

MT Platoons

Vehicle Holding Platoons and Vehicle Reception Platoons became;

  • Northern District Vehicle Depot
  • Central District Vehicle Depot
  •  Southern District Vehicle Depot

IOO Group

Army Ammunition Repair Depot was  re-roled as Army Ammunition Stores Depot

Territorial Force Reorganisation

The following Territorial Force RNZAOC units were formed on 8 October 1948

  • Headquarters RNZAOC, New Zealand Division.
  • 1st Infantry Brigade Ordnance Field Park Platoon.
  • 2nd Infantry Brigade Ordnance Field Park Platoon.
  • 3rd Infantry Brigade Ordnance Field Park Platoon.

Ordnance Locations

The NZAOC Stores Depots were located at the following locations;

Trentham

TRE 1948
  • Main Ordnance Depot, including
    • Bulk Stores Sub Depots, at
      • Mangaroa, Upper Hutt
  • Inspecting Ordnance Officers Group
  • Army Ammunition Repair Depot, Kuku Valley (to become Army Ammunition Stores Depot)
  • Ammunition Proof and Experimentation Center, Kuku Valley
  • Central Districts Vehicle Depot at Trentham.

Northern Military District

NMD 1948

Auckland

  • Northern Districts Vehicle Depot, Sylvia Park
  • Small Arms Ammunition Proof Office, Mount Eden

Ngaruawahia

  • Northern Districts Ordnance Depot
  • Northern Districts Ammunition Depot, Magazines at Ngaruawahia, Kelms Road and Ardmore

Central Military District

CMD 1948

Linton and Waiouru Camps 

  • Central Districts Ordnance Depot at Linton Camp, with
    • Sub Depot at Waiouru.
  • Central Districts Ammunition Depot, with sections at
    • Belmont
    • Moko Moko
    • Kuku Valley
    • Waiouru.

Southern Military District

SMD 1948

Burnham

  • Southern Districts Ordnance Depot
  • Southern Districts Vehicle Depot
  • Southern Districts  Ammunition Depot, Ammunition magazines at
    • Alexandra,
    • Fairlie,
    • Glen Tunnel,
    • Mount Somers.

All RNZAOC units remained occupied by consolidating and maintaining stocks. The redistribution of equipment to ensure that balanced inventories required both for training and mobilisation was held in all districts had not progressed as well as anticipated. Lack of storage accommodation at ordnance depots and the difficulty experienced in moving heavy equipment either by rail or sea had caused delays.  The storage problem had been aggravated by the relinquishment of 86,000 square feet of storage space at Gracefield to assist the urgent requirements of other Government Departments.

Details of stores received and value of requisitions and orders placed overseas and in New Zealand during the year are as under :

  • Value of requisitions on;
    • United Kingdom – £79,088
    • Australia – £2,924
  • Value of receipts;
    • ex-United Kingdom – £22,239
    • Australia  – £2,785 8.
    • B.C.0.F – £133,307
  • Value of Orders in New Zealand;
    • Clothing;
      • Placed – £56733
      • Received – £35481
      •  Outstanding – £57031
    • General stores;
      • Placed – £75609
      • Received – £74303
      • Outstanding – £33359

At all depots shortage of staff has curtailed a full programme of maintenance and preservation of much valuable equipment.

During the period 730 vehicles, including 356 carriers, were disposed of through the War Assets Realization Board. The main items of other stores disposed of through the War Assets Realization Board consisted of large quantities of clothing and truck tires.

The Inspecting Ordnance Officers’ Group conducted frequent inspections to ascertain the extent to which stored ammunition had deteriorated. Consequent upon these examinations all ammo that had depreciated and thereby became dangerous was surveyed and finally destroyed. Under the surveys conducted by the group during the year, many tons of ammunition and explosives had been surveyed, and any which was unfit for use was disposed of by the standard method of dumping at sea. A quantity requiring repair was made serviceable. During the year the Chief Inspecting Ordnance Officer paid a visit to Australia to examine methods of organisation, inspection, repair, small-arms-ammunition production, and proofing. The experience gained as a result of this visit was applied with advantage to this organisation in New Zealand.

Uniforms

Withdrawn from widespread use during the  war, the tradition peaked felt cap of the New Zealand soldier the “Lemon Squeezer” was reauthorized by the Minister of Defence on 15 Feb 1949 as the an official peacetime form of headdress. Lemon Squeezers were to be issued to all personnel except the armoured corps and the women’s services.  Lemon Squeezers would continue to be worn with the appropriate corps or regimental pugaree (Red/Blue/Red for Ordnance)  and replaced the variety of different headdress that had been introduced during and shortly after the war, the current item been then khaki beret. No distinction in head dress was to be made in headdress between the regular force and the territorial force.  Members of the New Zealand  Women’s Army Corps and the New Zealand Army Nursing Service would continue to wear the khaki beret. The headgear for secondary school cadets would be  field service cap, more generally known as the “fore and aft.”  In announcing the change, the Minister of Defence said general service caps would be retained as working head-dress by drivers, mechanics and others similarly employed.  The black beret would continue to be the head-dress of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps. By reverting to the Lemon Squeezer the Army considered the views of serving soldiers as expressed in a “hat poll” inaugurated in J Force in October, 1947, and an RSA poll, which were in favor of the Lemon Squeezer.

Revilement of the Conductor Rank

Although in abeyance since the mass redundancies of March 1931, the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 (Conductor) had remained in the precedence of ranks of the New Zealand Army Regulations, 1927 as an official rank. Amendment 62 to the NZ Army Regulations of 1927 revoked the appointment of Conductor.

Personnel Movements -June 1948 to May 1949

Promotions

  • Lieutenant (on Probation) J.F Finn, to Captain  30 June 1948
  • Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) O.H Burn, to Captain  1 June 1948
  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster E.D Gerard to be Captain and Quartermaster, 28 May 1948
  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster K.A Bailey to be Captain and Quartermaster, 2 May 1948

Relinquishment’s

  • Major P. H M Galbraith relinquished commission 30 June 1948.

Discharged 31 March 1949

  • Warrant Officer Class One J.P Thomson (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant D.L Dowman (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017

RNZAOC June 1947 to May 1948

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This article carries on from the post, NZAOC June 1946 to May 1947 and covers the activities of the NZAOC/RNZAOC from June 1947 to May 1948.

Key Appointments

Director of Ordnance Services

The appointment of Director of Ordnance Services (DOS) had been in abeyance since 6 Jan 1940. The senior Ordnance appointment from 6 Jan 1940 to 1 Sept 1946 was the Chief Ordnance Officer (COO). From 1 Sept 1946 the Director of Army Equipment (DAE) became the Senior NZAOC appointment and remained occupied by the incumbent Lieutenant Colonel (temp.) C. S. J. Duff,  D.S.O., RNZA, until his retirement on 3 July 1947.  With the appointment of DAE renamed to  DOS, Lieutenant Colonel A.H Andrews assumed the appointment on 1 October 1947.

Andrews
Lt Col A.H Andrews. OBE, RNZAOC Director of Ordnance Services, 1 Oct 1947 – 11 Nov 1949. RNZAOC School

Ordnance Locations

The NZAOC was  located at the following locations;

Trentham

  • Main Ordnance Depot, including
    • Bulk Stores Sub Depots, at
      • Gracefield, Lower Hutt
  • Inspecting Ordnance Officers Group
  • Ammunition Repair Depot, Kuku Valley
  • Ammunition Proof and Experimentation Center, Kuku Valley
  • Central Districts Vehicle Depot at Trentham
TRENTHAM 1947
Trentham 1947

Auckland

  • Northern Districts Vehicle Depot, Sylvia Park
  • Small Arms Ammunition Proof Office, Mount Eden

Ngaruawahia

  • Northern Districts Ordnance Depot
  • Northern Districts Ammunition Depot, Magazines at Ngaruawahia, Kelms Road and Ardmore

Linton and Waiouru Camps 

  • Central Districts Ordnance Depot at Linton Camp, with
    • Sub Depot at Waiouru.
  • Central Districts Ammunition Depot, with sections at
    • Belmont
    • Moko Moko
    • Kuku Valley
    • Waiouru.

Burnham

  • Southern Districts Ordnance Depot
  • Southern Districts Vehicle Depot
  • Southern Districts  Ammunition Depot, Ammunition magazines at
    • Alexandra,
    • Fairlie,
    • Glen Tunnel,
    • Mount Somers.

Ordnance Activities

During the year all NZAOC/RNZAOC establishments were fully occupied consolidating and maintaining stocks and in the disposal of substantial surplus holdings through the War Assets Realization Board. The total value of such disposals amounted to £595,000 (2017 NZD 44,116,722.10).  During the year all possible surplus motor transport spare parts were declared to the War Assets Realization Board.

Also, 1,511 surplus carriers and vehicles were sold, of which 827 carriers and 444 motor-cycles went to private individuals, while all the 230 cars and vehicles went to Government Departments.

Details of stores received and requisitions placed overseas during the year were:

  • Value of receipts;
    • From United Kingdom  £41,500 (2017 NZD$3,077,048.68)
    • From Australia   £44,700 (2017 NZD$3,314,315.09)
  • The estimated value of requisitions;
    • On United Kingdom   £86,200(2017 NZD$6,391,363.77)
    • On Australia- £87,300(2017 NZD$6,472,924.10)

At all depots, acute shortages of staff have prevented preservation work being carried out on much valuable equipment, but every endeavour was made with the available staff, materials, and facilities available to maintain equipment in good condition.

Inspecting Ordnance Officers Group

The Inspecting Ordnance Officers Group was fully occupied in the inspection and repair of large stocks of all types of ammunition and explosives, and, also, carried out a considerable programme involving the destruction of unserviceable ammunition and explosives and the preparation of further unserviceable ammunition for dumping.

J Force

Since 1945 to support the J Force, the New Zealand contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) in Japan,  the NZAOC had contributed the following;

  • 4 Forward Ordnance Depot (4FOD) which in November 1946 was renamed 4 New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot (4NZAOD) based at Chofu, Japan, and
  • One Officer and 20 other ranks were also detached from 4FOD/4AOD to become the New Zealand Ordnance commitment of the BCOF, Base Ordnance Depot (BOD) based at Kure. The BCOF BOD was British Commonwealth organisation with contributions from the;
    • Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    • Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
    • Royal Indian Army Ordnance Corps

The second draft of Jay Force in place by June 1947. NZ Ordnance Personnel identified by the following red and blue unit identifier worn on the right sleeve:

J Force unit identifyer
J Force unit identifier. Robert McKie Collection

 

  • Some of the 4AOD Personnel, Chofu, Japan 1947. Photo Colonel Atkinson

Granting of the Royal Prefix

On the 12 of July 1947,  King George IV approved the addition of the prefix ” Royal” to the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, Creating the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps.

Dress Embellishments

The Design for the new Badge was approved on 27 October 1947 and orders placed on 14 January 1948 from;

  • United Kingdom;
    • 175 Gilt, Silver and Enamel cap badges,
    • 158 Pairs Gilt, Silver and Enamel cap collar badges.
20190402_193304385301766.jpg
Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, Officer Gilt, Silver and Enamel Badge. 1947-1955, Robert McKie Collection.
  • New Zealand;
    • 1600 Brass cap badges,
    • 850 Pairs Brass collar badges
RNZAOC hat and collar 1947-55
Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps 1947-55 badge. Robert McKie collection

N.Z.A.O 36/1947 authorised the wearing of coloured patches on caps GS or Berets, for all ranks below the rank of Colonel. The patch authorised for the RNZAOC was a 2inch Red and Blue (vertical) diamond to be worn behind the Corps badge.

rnzaoc 47-55 diamond
RNZAOC 47-55 Badge with Ordnance diamond backing patch. Robert McKie collection

Personnel Movements -June 1947 to May 1948

Appointments confirmed

  • Major F Reid
  • Captain S.S Knight
  • Captain and Quartermaster Robert Price Kennedy, E.D
  • Captain and Quartermaster (Temporary Major and Quartermaster) L.S Miller, E.D
  • Captain and Quartermaster Alfred Abel Barwick
  • Captain and Quartermaster G.A Perry E.D
  • Captain and Quartermaster (Temporary Major and Quartermaster) Lionel Herbert Stroud
  • Captain (Temporary Major) Herbert John Mockridge
  • Captain and Quartermaster R.T.J Adams
  • Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Kevin Graham Keith Cropp
  • Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Owen Haitlie Burn
  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster (Temporary Captain and Quartermaster) Ronald Stroud
  • Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Gordon Renwicke Morley
  • Lieutenant M.R.J Keeler
  • Lieutenant S.M King
  • Lieutenant R.G.P O.Connor
  • Lieutenant A.B West
  • Lieutenant Allan Garth Haselden

Transfers from the Indian Army

  • Percy Hardie Murray Galbraith (late Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army) appointed Temporary Major (on probation) 3 March 1948.
  • Derek Evelyn Albert Roderick (late Major Indian Army) appointed Lieutenant (on probation) with seniority 27 May 1942, 20 February 1948
  • Alfred Wesseldine was attested on 4 March 1948 and joined the Regular Force in the rank of Substantive Warrant Officer Class Two Temporary Warrant Officer Class One and posted to the Main Ordnance Depot Trentham.

Transfers from the New Zealand Temporary Staff

  • Captain E.C Green M.B.E
  • Lieutenant (on probation) E.W Whiteacre
  • Lieutenant (on probation) C.A Penny
  • Lieutenant (on Probation) A Whitehead
  • Lieutenant (on Probation) J.F Finn
  • Lieutenant (on Probation) H.P White
  • Lieutenant (on Probation) G.N Weston
  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster K.A Bailey M.M.
  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster N.C Fisher
  • Warrant Officer Class One S.H.T O’Leary (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Warrant Officer Class One J.P Thomson (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Warrant Officer Class Two H.C Denovan (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant W.H Kerr (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant E.C.L McKay (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant C.R Crichton (IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant H Combs (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant W.P Hanrahan (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant J Reid (Clerk IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant L Smith (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant A.N.J Swain (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant R.A Clarke (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant D.L Dowman (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant H.J Hale (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant R Handy (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant G.H Bailey (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant A.A Baker (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant K.W Kibblewhite (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant J Leslie (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant J.G McConnell (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant J.B Murphy (Clerk IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant E.C Sherman (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant J.D Smith (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant F.E.W West (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Corporal H.W Douche (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Corporal R.C Fisher (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Corporal F.F Hutton (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Corporal D.R Lupton (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Corporal F.W Wood (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Lance Corporal R.C Knight (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)

Promotions

  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster E.R Hancock to be Captain and Quartermaster as at 13 December 1947.
  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster F.J Mitchell to be Captain and Quartermaster as at 13 December 1947.
  • Captain H.J Mockridge to be Temporary Major as at 4 February 1948
  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster R Stroud to be Temporary Captain and Quartermaster as at 15 April 1948
  • Lieutenant (on probation) C.A Penny, to Captain 30 May 1948
  • Lieutenant (on Probation) J.F Finn, to Captain  30 June 1948
  • Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) K.C.K Cropp, to Captain  26 May 1948

Relinquishments

  • Lieutenant and Quartermaster (Temporary Captain and Quartermaster) S.H.E Bryant relinquished temporary rank of as 1 May 1948.

Discharged 31 March 1948

  • Warrant Officer Class One S.H.T O’Leary (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant H Combs (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant W.P Hanrahan (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Staff Sergeant A.N.J Swain (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)
  • Sergeant H.J Hale (Ammunition Examiner IOO Branch)

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017

NZAOC June 1946 to May 1947

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The reorganisation of New Zealand Military Forces

Formation of NZEME

On 1 September 1946 the MT Workshops, Ordnance Workshops and Armourers Workshops combined to form the New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The MT Stores would transfer to NZAOC control, becoming workshops stores sections in later years.

Reorganisation of the NZAOC

Reorg of NZAOC

Combining of Regular and Non-Regular Forces

During the year the distinction between Regular and non-Regular soldiers which had been in place since the Defence Act of 1909 was removed. The New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps would now be comprised of both Regular and non-Regular personnel from The New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC), The NZOC had been constituted as a stand-alone Corps of the Territorial Army in December 1940 and had been in suspension since 1944.

NZAOC Stores

The NZAOC Stores Depots were located at the following locations, the Major change in this period was the handing over of Sylvia Park by the US Forces to the NZ Army;

Trentham

  • Main Ordnance Depot, including
    • Bulk Stores Sub Depots, at
      • Gracefield, Lower Hutt.
      • Linton Camp until 30 Sept 46
      • Waiouru Camp until 30 Sept 46
    • HQ Ammunition Group, with sections at
      • Belmont,
      • Moko Moko,
      • Kuku Valley,
      • Waiouru.

Auckland

  • Vehicle Depot, Sylvia Park,
  • Ammunition Magazines at  Ardmore.

Ngaruawahia

  • No 1 Ordnance Depot,
  • Ammunition Magazines at Kelms Road.

Linton Camp 

On 1 October 1946 the Main Ordnance Depot, Linton Sub Depot was reorganised into an independent Ordnance Depot to be known as No 2 Ordnance Depot.

No 2 Ordnance Depot would also assume responsibility for the Waiouru Sub Depot.

Burnham

  • No 3 Ordnance Depot
  • Ammunition magazines at
    • Alexandra,
    • Fairlie,
    • Glen Tunnel,
    • Mount Somers.

All NZAOC establishments were fully occupied in consolidating and maintaining stocks and in the disposal of substantial surplus holdings through War Assets Realization Board.

Considerable shipments of clothing, necessaries, and barrack stores were made to B.C.0.F. in Japan were made during the year.

The following transactions were recorded for the year:

  • Receipts – No less than 536,355
  • Issues – 665,953.

At all depots suffered from severe shortages of personnel, which prevented preservation work on much of the valuable equipment held, resulting in avoidable deterioration, mainly where the material was stored in the open.

Surplus Stores

The total value of  disposals amounted to £790000 (2017 NZD$64,526,315.79) distributed as follows

  • UNRRA, CORSO, and overseas relief –  £68,000 (2017 NZD$5,554,163.89)
  • Other overseas – £190,000 (2017 NZD$15,518,987.34)
  • Goods sold in New Zealand/ transferred to the Defence Services Provision Office for overseas disposal. £532,000 (2017 NZD$43,453,164.56)

Ammunition

The Inspecting Ordnance Officers Group was employed on the inspection and repair of ammunition and explosive stores and the disposal of unserviceable and unsafe stores, including the disposal of chemical-warfare weapons by dumping at sea during October 1946.  Some 1500 tons of 25 pounder chemical shells and 20 tons of bombs were taken to a point 50 nautical miles off Pencarrow Head near Wellington by the Marine Department steamer Matai and dumped. The latter project was completed, but other activities were hampered by shortages of staff.

Medical Stores

From 1 April 1947, the responsibility for medical stores was resumed by the Chief Ordnance Officer.  Due to the expansion of the New Zealand Forces for home defence and overseas the responsibility for medical stores was transferred from the NZAOC to a standalone organisation in November 1940.

Under the wartime organisation, a large warehouse in Wellington was taken over as the Main Medical Stores Depot, with sub-depots at Christchurch and Auckland, and a reserve depot at Palmerston North.

J Force

In November 1946, 4 New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot was renamed to  4 New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot.

ADO Gate

London Victory Celebrations of 1946

The London Victory Celebrations of 1946 were British Commonwealth, Empire and Allied victory celebrations held on 8 June 1946 to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan in World War II. New Zealand provided a contingent of 300 members and former members of the armed forces with 150 from the Army, 100 from the RNZAF and 50 from the RNZN. The New Zealand contingent also included women from all the services.

The NZAOC was represented on the parade by;

  • Lieutenant Colonel  John Owen Kelsey, MBE, MID
  • Sergeant Bernard Foster,
  • Corporal  Ronald Dawson Briggs

Presentation on New Zealand Ordnance in the Pacific

In April 1947, Mr Bernard Ewart Woodhams, formerly of the Ordnance Coprs recounted to the Hamilton Rotary Club some of the problems which had been faced in supplying the 3rd New Zealand Division during the Pacific campaign.

In the first major campaign ever to take place in the Pacific, lack of port facilities, the effect of the climatic conditions and the great amount of handling required were responsible for great difficulty in the distribution of supplies, said Mr Woodhams. The Ordnance Corps had been responsible for the supply and maintenance of most of the stores used by the division. Although it worked in the background the corps was an important force in the military set-up. Giving a review of the campaign, Mr Woodhams said after some months in New Caledonia the division moved on to Guadalcanal and much work was involved in the transfer of 12,000 troops, vehicles and supplies to the new area. The materials for supply and maintenance were mainly supplied from New Zealand. In his opinion, the supply of the New Zealand troops would have been much easier if American equipment had been used.

The New Zealand force was operating among the Americans and because the division had British equipment supplies had to be indented in New Zealand. The division had to take its own ammunition everywhere it went. The American supply system was amazing, said’ Mr Woodhams. When the New, Zealanders landed at Noumea there were about 80 American ships in the harbour with supplies for their forces. As an illustration of the efficiency of American logistics, Mr Woodhams said that a special issue of shirts, trousers and belts was to be made to the 15,000′ New Zealand troops. When the order was placed the American officer asked the New Zealander to call for the supplies the following morning.

Speaking of the effect of the climate on equipment, Mr Woodhams said that the life of a tent under combat conditions was about three months. A type of fungus grew on the lenses of binoculars and other optical equipment. Radio sets used by the division were difficult to maintain, certain standard types being practically useless in the jungle. A species of insect was notorious for boring into the rifling of the barrels of rifles. Because of this pest troops not immediately in action were allowed to grease barrels and cover the muzzles.

When the troops were due to return to the Dominion, 22,000 battledresses and greatcoats were required to replace the tropical, issue, said Mr Woodhams. In addition to issuing and storing equipment, the maintenance of gear imposed a great strain on the organisation. On one occasion 20,000 blankets had to be washed and packed before being returned to the Dominion. Half a ton of soap powder was used to do the job. Two football fields made an unusual sight absolutely covered with lines hearing the drying blankets. In all 11,000 tons of ammunition had to be brought back. As the troops had carried their own rifles and webbing equipment on the outward trip the Ordnance Corps was responsible for the return of this gear. There were no cases for the packing of the rifles, so the timber had to be cut and boxes made.

NZAOC June 1945 to May 1946

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This article covers the activity’s of the NZAOC from June 1945 to 1946.

With the Second World War concluded by the Japanese surrender in September 1945, the 2NZEF in Italy had demobilised, with elements redeploying in January 1946 to Japan as “Jayforce” the New Zealand’s contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan. In New Zealand NZAOC units had been fully occupied with:

  • The consolidation, classification, and maintenance of the large stocks accumulated post-war,
  • The transfer and receipt of stock into Ordnance Depots as rented accommodation was vacated
  • providing support to BCOF.

In New Zealand, the postwar strength of the Regular Force was 144 officers and 400 other ranks. Of the 400 other ranks, 131 held temporary or N.Z.E.F. commissions. The May 1946 strength of the NZAOC against the approved 1939 establishment was :

  • Officers ;
    • Present Strength – 9
    • Establishment – 20
  • Other Ranks;
    • Present Strength.
      • Temporary Commissions – 12
      • Other ranks – 31
    • Establishment
      • Quartermaster Commissions – 2
      • Other ranks – 83

NZAOC Officer and Officers holding Ordnance Appointments

  • DQMG2 –  Lieutenant Colonel (temp.) C. S. J. Duff,  D.S.O., R.N.Z.A
  • Chief Ordnance Officer – Lieutenant Colonel (temp.) E. L. G Brown, O.B.E., N.Z.S.C
  • Assistant Chief Ordnance Officer – Major Nicol
  • Chief Inspecting Ordnance Officer –
  • Controller Defence Procurement Office – Lieutenant Colonel (temp.) H.E. Erridge, O.B.E., N.Z.A.O.C
  • Ordnance Officer Main Ordnance Depot – Lieutenant Colonel (temp.) E. L. G Brown, O.B.E., N.Z.S.C
  • Ordnance Officer No 1 Ordnance Depot – Major D.L Lewis, NZAOC (also Commandant Ngaruawahia Military Camp)
  • Ordnance Officer No 2 Ordnance Depot – Captian W.S.Keegan, NZAOC (disbanded  1 Dec 1945)
  • Officer No 3 Ordnance Depot – Major Reid, NZAOC

NZAOC Stores

The NZAOC Stores Depots were located at the following locations;

Trentham

  • Main Ordnance Depot, including
    • Bulk Stores Sub Depots, at
      • Mangere,
      • Linton, and
      • Gracefield, Lower Hutt
    • From September 1945 Storage capacity at Trentham was increased with the relocation of five warehouses that had been constructed for the United States Forces at Waterloo. The first warehouse had been reassembled in early September with the follow-on buildings re-erected  at a rate of one per month, with all construction completed by February 1946
    • Artillery Sub Depot at Waiouru
    • HQ Ammunition Group, with sections at
      • Belmont,
      • Moko Moko,
      • Kuku Valley,
      • Waiouru.
    • Main Ordnance Workshop

Trentham - 1945

Main Ordnance Depot, Trentham Camp – 1945

Auckland

  • Ammunition Magazines at  Ardmore.

Ngaruawahia

  • No 1 Ordnance Sub Depot
  • Ammunition Magazines at Kelms Road

Palmerston North 

  • No 2 Ordnance Sub Depot. Ceased to function 1 December 1945, All issues for the Central Military District were made from the Main Ordnance Depot, Trentham

Burnham

  • No 3 Ordnance Sub Depot
  • Ammunition magazines at
    • Alexandra
    • Fairlie
    • Glen Tunnel
    • Mount Somers
  • No 14 Ordnance Workshop,

The total storage space (including magazine accommodation) now occupied by the NZAOC was 1,349,488 square feet (411323.95 Sq Mtrs). This was suitable for most requirements except there was still a significant amount of equipment stored in the open at Waiouru Camp and in accommodation such as mess-rooms, barrack-rooms, and institutes at Waiouru and Linton. It was anticipated that this material would be stored under cover once Sylvia Park was made available by the United States Forces.

All rented storage space occupied at the commencement of the year had been vacated. Stores released include;

  • Auckland;
    • Federal Street (Clothing Store),
    • Mills Lane Boot Store, Auckland,
    • Glide Rink, Auckland.
  • Pukekohe
    • Showgrounds.
  • Wanganui
    • Farmers’Co-operative Building,
    • Thanes Building,
    • Horsley’s Garage.
  • Wellington;
    • Taranaki Street (Bulk Store),
    • Todd Motors (Clothing Bulk Store).
  • Christchurch
    • Victoria Street,
    • New Zealand Railways Building (Clothing Bulk Store),
    • Moorhouse Avenue.
  • Dunedin;
    • Briscoe’s Building (Clothing Bulk Store),
    • Otago Steam Laundry (Overseas Bulk Store).

Soon after the cessation of hostilities, all outstanding orders placed overseas were reviewed and where the necessary action was taken to cancel, except where items were required to complete equipment’s already in the country and for the maintenance and modification of stores. The following table of yearly requisition values illustrates how these demands were equated to the war situation :

  • Year ended
    • 31st March, 1943 –  £44830000 (2017 NZD$3,756,772,385.51)
    • 31st March, 1944 – £7300000 (2017 NZD$602,883,125.63)
    • 31st March, 1945 – £173000 (2017 NZD$14,106,950.45)
    • 31st March, 1946 – £94000 (2017 NZD$7,677,814.79)

Workshops

NZAOC Workshops alongside the Motor Transport Branch(MT Branch) continued to undertake work of a general nature with all workshops been fairly heavy, in spite of the closing down of units. The bulk of the work carried out was the overhaul and repair of stores returned by units and the inspection and dismantling of stores for disposal by War Assets Realization Board.

At the start of 1945 there was;

  • Three Ordnance Workshops
    • Main Ordnance Workshop, Trentham
    • 12 Ordnance Workshop,  Devonport
    • 14 Ordnance Workshop, Burnham
  • Nine MT Workshops
    • 1 MT Workshop, Trentham
    • 2 MT Workshop, Waiouru
    • 3 MT Workshop, Papakura
    • 4 MT Workshop, Palmerston North
    • 5 MT Workshop, Burnham
    • 7 MT Workshop, Wellington
  • Five MT Depots
    • 1 MT Depot, Auckland
    • 2 MT Depot, Hamilton
    • 3 MT Depot, Napier
    • 4 MT Depot, Whanganui
    • 5 MT Depot, Christchurch
  • Four MT Stores
    • 1 Base MT Stores, Trentham
    • 2 Advanced MT Stores, Papakura
    • 3 Advanced MT Stores, Palmerston North
    • 4 Advanced MT Stores, Burnham

Surplus Stores

Disposals of surplus stores continued to be carried out,  with further considerable surpluses declared to the War Assets Realization Board and held pending disposal instructions.

Ammunition

Up to 1946 the RNZA, managed ammunition, explosives, Coast Artillery and specialist equipment and stores with the Ammunition and Equipment Section based in Army Headquarters, during the year this responsibility including some manpower was passed to the NZAOC.

The Inspecting Ordnance Officer’s Branch, continued to Inspect ammunition of all calibres to classified it, serviced if required and prepared for long-term storage.

In April 1946, 200 tons of Chemical shells were dumped at sea. The Chemical shells were loaded on to the hulk of the Rosomund at Auckland and then towed to the 100 fathom line of the Hauraki Gulf by the tug Maui Pomare and scuttled.

Accidents

Privates Sedrick Montague Cameron and Trevor Ronald Beach were killed when a truck from the Trentham Ordnance Depot crashed over a 400 ft bank into the Belmont Stream, at the Belmont Ammunition Depot. Fifteen other occupants escaped with light injuries and bruises, including;

  • Corporal N. A. Prier
  • Sergeant T. A. Claridge
  • Corporal W. M. Hugh
  • Corporal J, R. Parker
  • Private V. E. Nicholas
  • Private J. A. Hockly,

Ordnance in Support of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force

  • Assistant Director of Ordnance Services
    • Lieutenant-Colonel J. O. Kelsey, MBE
  • Divisional Ordnance Field Park
    • Officer Commanding, Major H. L. McLaren
  • Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit
    • Officer Commanding, Captian I Bell

NZEF Ordnance units consisted of;

  • Office of the ADOS 2NZEF, Formed 2 June 1945 – Disbanded 1 September 1945
  • No 1 Base Ordnance Depot, Maadi Camp Egypt – Disbanded February 1946
  • No 2 New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot, Bari, Disbanded 30 November 1945
  • 2 NZ Division Ordnance Field Park OFP  – Disbanded 29 December 1945
  • MZ Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit – Disbanded 8 December 1945
  • NZ Vehicle and Stores Reception Depot – Formed 27 October 1945 – Disbanded January 1946
    • Vehicle Depot, Assisi
    • Stores Depot, Perugia
  • NZ Advanced Ordnance Depot Formed 27 Oct 1945 – Disbanded 1 February 1946

NZEF (Japan)

On 12 March 1946, Major R. G. A. Arnell was named as the Officer Commanding of the Ordnance Depot to support the New  New Zealand Brigade Group, which was on its way to Japan from Italy.

NZEF (Fiji)

Major G. Prentice, N.Z.P.S, the Senior Ordnance stationed as part of the 2nd NZEF in Fiji returned to New Zealand in May 1946.

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017

NZAOC June 1944 to May 1945

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A short snapshot on the activities of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) and the New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC) for the period 1st June 1944 to 31st May 1945.

By May 1945 the threat from Japan had been neutralised, and the Allies were on the offensive in the Pacific. The New Zealand Division in the Pacific had been withdrawn, and its resources focused towards reinforcing the Division in Italy for the final fight against Germany.

The Home Defence Divisions had been disbanded with the Territorial Force, and Home Guard demobilised and all training suspended, with equipment either returned to Ordnance Depots or placed under the care and maintenance care of unit cadres. This allowed the NZAOC to be able to provide further attention to the concentration, classification, and maintenance of stores, conduct a complete stocktaking and carry out a progressive clearance of surplus holdings of arms, equipment, and ammunition.

RNZAOC hat and collar 1937-1947

RNZAOC hat and collar 1937-1947. Robert McKie collection

NZAOC Overview

Known NZAOC personnel in 1944 were;

  • Chief Ordnance Officer
    • Lieutenant Colonel Earnest Lenard Guy Bown
  • Main Ordnance Depot 
    • Commanding Officer
      • Lieutenant Colonel Earnest Lenard Guy Bown
    • Ordnance Officer’s
      • Captain R.J Gamble (Deceased Sept 1944)
  • Main Ordnance Workshops
    • Chief Ordnance Mechanical Engineer
      • Captain (Temp Lt Col) A.H Andrews,(Posted to 2NZEF as CNZEME) Aug 1944)
  • Ordnance Sub Depots
    • Officers Commanding
      • No 1 Sub Depot – Major D Lewis
      • No 2 Sub Depot –  Captain W. S. Keegan

The NZAOC was located at the following locations;

Stores

Trentham

  • Main Ordnance Depot, including
    • Bulk Stores Sub Depots, at
      • Mangere,
      • Wanganui
      • Linton, and
      • Gracefield, Lower Hutt.
    • Artillery Sub Depot at Waiouru
    • HQ Ammunition Group, with sections at
      • Belmont,
      • Moko Moko,
      • Kuku Valley,
      • Waiouru.

Ngaruawahia

  • No 1 Ordnance Sub Depot,
  • Ammunition Magazines at Kelms Road
  • Ammunition Magazines at  Ardmore

Palmerston North 

  • No 2 Ordnance Sub Depot, Palmerston North Showgrounds.

Burnham

  • No 3 Ordnance Sub Depot
  • Ammunition magazines at
    • Alexandra,
    • Fairlie,
    • Glen Tunnel,
    • Mount Somers.

Construction of additional storage facilities at the Ngaruawahia and Burnham Sub Depots facilitated the release of twenty-seven rented commercial buildings, totalling 245,000 square feet (22761.2448 Sq Meters) of storage space at;

  • Auckland,
  • Hamilton,
  • Dunedin, and
  • Christchurch.

There was still a shortfall of storage space for bulky equipment for which suitable area did not exist.  It was anticipated that buildings erected for the Navy, Air Force and the United States Forces would not be disposed of until their storage possibilities had been investigated. It was accepted that outside storage was not optimal and that some deterioration of much of the equipment stores outside would occur if proper covered storage were not made available.

The Army was holding stores on account of the War Office alone to the value of £2,987,000 (2017 NZD$246,686,561.13), this represented a very small proportion of the total holdings of the NZ Army at the time.

Workshops

In 1944 there were three types of Workshops in the New Zealand Army;

  • MT Workshops. Under the control of the Director of Mechanical Transport, MT Workshops were responsible for the issue of all classes of vehicles and spare parts and the repair of all such vehicles.
  • Ordnance Workshops. Under the control of the Chief Ordnance Mechanical Engineer, Ordnance Workshops were responsible for the repair of all armaments, instruments, wireless, radar and general stores.
  • Armourers Workshops. Under the control of the Director of Ordnance Services, Armourer Workshops were responsible for the repair of small arms and machine guns

At the start of 1944 there was;

  • Six Ordnance Workshops
    • Main Ordnance Workshop, Trentham
    • 11 Ordnance Workshop, Whangarei (Closed July 1944)
    • 12 Ordnance Workshop,  Devonport
    • 13 Ordnance Workshop, Blenheim  (Closed July 1944)
    • 14 Ordnance Workshop, Burnham
    • 15 Ordnance Workshop, Dunedin (Closed July 1944)
  • Nine MT Workshops
    • 1 MT Workshop, Trentham
    • 2 MT Workshop, Waiouru
    • 3 MT Workshop, Papakura
    • 4 MT Workshop, Palmerston North
    • 5 MT Workshop, Burnham
    • 6 MT Workshop, Whangarei (Closed July 1944)
    • 7 MT Workshop, Wellington
    • 8 MT Workshop, Blenheim (Closed July 1944)
    • 9 MT Workshop, Dunedin (Closed July 1944)
  • Five MT Depots
    • 1 MT Depot, Auckland
    • 2 MT Depot, Hamilton
    • 3 MT Depot, Napier
    • 4 MT Depot, Whanganui
    • 5 MT Depot, Christchurch
  • Four MT Stores
    • 1 Base MT Stores, Trentham
    • 2 Advanced MT Stores, Papakura
    • 3 Advanced MT Stores, Palmerston North
    • 4 Advanced MT Stores, Burnham

Across all Workshop branch’s work was heavy, and included

  • Coast Artillery and ancillary equipment continued to be regularly serviced, with periodical inspections of material that was held on a care and maintenance basis carried out.
  • Static anti-aircraft batteries had been dismantled and the equipment placed in storage,
  • Mobile anti-aircraft equipment’s (with their predictors and generators) had been overhauled and repaired for dispatch overseas if required, and
  • Radar workshops had serviced deployed equipment and maintained those that were on care and maintenance basis.
  • The complete overhauling and repairing an average of 715 vehicles per week. This includes all 3rd Division vehicles returned from the Pacific theatre, of which a quantity of these have been thoroughly reconditioned and transferred for overseas use.
  • Repairs for Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force,
  • Repair and reconditioning of equipment for the United States Forces, including 500 United States Marine Corps vehicles from forward areas which had been reconditioned. VEHICLE RECLAMATION IN NEW ZEALAND

Surplus Stores

Surplus Army equipment and ammunition were made available to overseas theatres of war, the value of equipment from the New Zealand Army reaching battlefields of France, Germany, Italy, and Burma increasing from £12,000,000 (2017 NZD$$991,040,754.46) to approximately £25,000,000. (2017 NZD$2,064,668,238.46), including 800,000 rounds of 25-pounder gun ammunition that was forwarded to the three theatres during the year.

  • Clothing. Clothing unsuitable for reissue within the Army, but retaining some sales value and accumulated at ordnance depots, was under offer to the UNRRA and the Netherlands East Indies Government for use in liberated territories, this was managed by the Assets Realization Board.
  • Miscellaneous Items. Many items of a various nature including defence stores (barbed wire, pickets etc.), blankets, and medical supplies, to the value of £160,114 17s. (2017 NZD$13223305.65), were disposed of to other Government Departments and to the general public.
  • Vehicles. On 31 March 1944, the Army had 22190 vehicles on charge, by 31 March 1945 this had been reduced to  10931 vehicles. The 11259 vehicles had been disposed of as follows:
    • 8146 through the Ministry of Supply and War Assets Realization Board,
    • 2553 transferred to British and Allied services overseas, and
    • 560 transferred to other services and Departments in New Zealand.
    • The final holdings of holdings of commercial type vehicles impressed early in the war were made available for disposal.

managre

3 NZ Division Tricks and Tanks parked at Main Ordnance Depot, Mangere Sub Bulk Depot on their Return from the Pacific in 1944 (Colourised). Alexander Turnbull Library

20171005_163654C

3 NZ Division Tricks and Tanks parked at Main Ordnance Depot, Mangere Bulk Depot on their Return from the Pacific in 1944(Colourised). Alexander Turnbull Library

 

20171005_163604C

3 NZ Division Tricks and Tanks parked at Main Ordnance Depot, Mangere Bulk Depot on their Return from the Pacific in 1944 (Colourised). Alexander Turnbull Library

20171005_163836

3 NZ Division Tricks and Tanks parked at Main Ordnance Depot, Mangere Bulk Depot on their Return from the Pacific in 1944. Alexander Turnbull Library

20171005_163736C

3 NZ Division Tricks and Tanks parked at Main Ordnance Depot, Mangere Bulk Depot on their Return from the Pacific in 1944 (Colourised). Alexander Turnbull Library

 

Ammunition

Production of small-arms ammunition at the Colonial Ammunition Company Mount Eden facility at Auckland was reduced to a minimum, with the War Office taken over much of the surplus holdings of ammunition.

To ensure that Mortar, Artillery and Tank ammunition was fit for purpose the Ammunition Repair Depot had assessed thousands of rounds of ammunition, providing its immediate use on arrival in any theatre of war. An example of the this is the 801,096 25-pounder shells and 826,000 25-pounder cartridges that were inspected before shipment.

Uniforms and Clothing

Receipt and issue of clothing had been considerable, with;

  • 1,255,947 clothing items received from manufacturers,
  • 1,521,377 clothing items shipped overseas, and
  • 449,567 clothing items dry-cleaned and repaired.

 

Serious Incidents

Two serious incidents occurred during this period;

  • A massive fire at No 2 Sub Depot at Palmerston North on New Years Eve 1944 resulting in losses of £225700 (2017 NZD$18,639,824.86), with a considerable amount of stock able to be salvaged.

pnorth showgrounds

The aftermath of Dec 1944 Showground fire. Evening Post

  • An Accidental Explosion at the Glen Tunnel Ammunition Magazines in February 1945, resulting in the complete loss of an Explosive Store House and its contents.

Glenntunnel 4

Scenes from the ammunition accident at Glentunnel, 1945. RNZAOC School

glenntunnel-3Cglenntunnel-2C

Glenntunnel 1

 

 

The NZOC in Support of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force

  • Assistant Director of Ordnance Services, 2nd NZEF
    • Lieutenant-Colonel D. E. Harper, 27 Mar 1944–1 Oct 1944
    • Lieutenant-Colonel J. O. Kelsey, MBE. 1 Oct 1944–14 Aug 1945
  • Divisional Ordnance Field Park
    • Officer Commanding, Major H. L. McLaren
  • Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit
    • Officer Commanding, Captian I Bell

NZEF Ordnance units consisted of;

  • No 1 New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot, Maadi Camp Egypt
  • No 2 New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot, Bari,
    • 2 Base Advanced Ordnance Depot, Senegallia
  • 2 NZ Division Ordnance Field Park OFP
  • MZ Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit

 

Pataka Magazine

3 Comments

The Pataka Magazine was the Newsletter of the RNZAOC. Starting off as a simple 3-page newsletter in 1968, it continued to be published intermittently over the next 28 years until the final edition was published in 1996.

When I was the Warrant Officer Logistic Policy in HQ Logistic Command (Land), I discovered the former Ordnance Directorate Pataka files in a filing cabinet. To preserve them for the future, I had digital copies made, and the originals passed to the Corps History room at the Supply Wing of the Trade Training School.  Hopefully, they remain there today.

Although not all editions of the Pataka magazine survive today, the surviving copies do provide a great snapshot of the operations and activities of the RNZAOC from 1968 to 1996.

1968 – Issue No 1

On assuming the office of DOS in August 1968, Lieutenant Colonel G.J.H Atkinson wanted the many members of the RNZAOC to be informed of the Corps activities and “Kept in the picture Corps-Wise”, and it was decided that a straightforward way of rectifying this was by the production of a Corps Newsletter.  To be produced by the Corps Directorate, with content provided by units, it was hoped that a newsletter would provide an informative two-way flow of information to all units and personnel of the Corps.

pataka no 1

RNZAOC Newsletter No 1 was published in October 1968 and was a simple affair of three typewritten pages detailing the newsletter’s intent, information on the Corps Organisation, Staffing, Training, Procedures and miscellaneous news on dress and awards. Copies were distributed to all units, with individual copies going to each Ordnance Soldier overseas. Newsletter No 1

Distribution N01
Distribution of RNZAOC Newsletter No 1. Robert McKie Collection

1969

The first contribution to the Corps Newsletter was in February 1969, when SSgt Nicholson, MBE of 1BOD made the following  submission to name the Corps Newsletter “Pataka”:

new name

SSgts Nicholson’s proposal was accepted, and all subsequent issues of the RNZAOC Newsletter were to be known as the “Pataka”.

The concept of a Corps Newsletter was popular, with six issues produced in 1969. These first editions followed the format set by the first issue. In that, they covered Corps Organisation, Staffing, Training, Procedures and miscellaneous news on dress and awards, and expanded to include Corps-related sports news, Postings in and out of units and promotions.

Six editions of Pataka were produced in 1969. Copies can be viewed at the links below.

1970

Pataka continued to flourish in 1970. The size of the issues was growing, with most consisting of 4 to 5 pages of contributions from throughout the Ordnance community, including the introduction of some rudimentary illustrations.

The six known remaining editions of the 1970 Pataka can be viewed on the links below.

1971

Unfortunately, only the December copy of the 1971 Pataka magazine remains today, it number indicates that there were 7 issues produced in 1971. The December issue is significant because it is the first issue to be seen with a cover.

1st cover

Designed by Major T.D McBeth (DOS 83-86) at the direction of the sitting DOS Lieutenant Colonel G.J.H Atkinson (DOS 68-72), the cover design was a clever combination of various aspects of the RNZAOC.[1]

The base of the design is the NATO Map symbol for an ordnance unit, a stylised shield over two crossed swords. 

The shield is then divided into quarters surrounding an Ordnance Badge in the centre:

  • the top quarter illustrates a traditional Māori Pataka storehouse,
  • the right quarter illustrates a contemporary warehouse,
  • The bottom quarter illustrates an RL Bedford representing the field function of the Corps
  • The left quarter illustrates the “Flaming A” of the Ammunition trade

Although initially produced on white paper, some units indicated that to make the magazine more appealing, the covers should be provided in a different colour for each edition, this idea was supported by the Ordnance Directorate. But as 1000 white copies had been produced at great expense, and distribution per edition was 125 copies, the white copies were to be wasted out first.

The surviving 1971 edition of Pataka can be viewed on the link below;

1972

1972 was an eventful year for the RNZAOC, the ANZUK Ordnance Depot in Singapore had become a fully established depot, and the Singapore posting became a welcome addition to the posting cycle iuntil1989.  Lt Colonel Atkinson, who had served the Corps since the Second World War, had retired and Lt Col M.J. Ross took up the position of DOS

Today only four issues remain from 1972

It was decided at the 1972 Corps Conference that future editions of the Pataka Magazine was to be produced quarterly in February, May, August and November.

1973

No Pataka magazines from 1973 remain today, but a special “Pataka Supplement” was produced to record the commitment of 3COD to operation Snowline. Operation Snowline was the emergency relief operation conducted as the result of massive Snows affecting the South Island in August 1973. With snow falling as low as 250 meters above sea level from Oxford in the north to Fairlie in the south, a considerable emergency relief effort was mounted by the Army, with 3COD playing a significant part, which is recorded in the following ‘Pataka Supplement’;

1974 – 1978

It seems that Pataka Magazine was in the doldrums from 1974 until 1979. In the last Pataka Magazine published in 1996, mention is made of Pataka Magazines released in Nov 1974, October 1976, June and July 1978. Unfortunately, no copies exist in the DOS Archive.

1979

An outstanding year for the RNZAOC, 1979 the Corps took over the RNZASC Supply Functions, only the February 1979 edition survives and can be viewed at this link;

1980 -1981

No copies of the 1980/81 Pataka Magazine remain.

1982

The 1982 editions of Pataka can be seen on the link below;

1983

No copies of the 1983 Pataka Magazine remain.

1984

The March 1984 issue of Pataka saw a departure from past issues, it had a revised format and a new Colour cover.

Pataka cover 1980's

1985

No copy held for 1985

1986

The 1986 editions of Pataka can be viewed on the links below;

1987

The 1987 editions of Pataka can be seen on the links below;

1988

No Copies of the Pataka Magazine produced in 1988 have been located.

1989

The March 1989 edition of Pataka can be seen on the links below;

1990-1991

No Copies of the Pataka Magazine produced between 1990 and 1991 have been located.

The 1990s were a vibrant era for the Pataka Magazine. Management of the magazine was taken over by 1 Base Supply Battalion with WO2 G.D Moore as the Editor. Taking Young officers under his wing, GD hit the road with his team and visited most units throughout the country, gathering material for the Magazine and if time permitted playing the occasional round of golf.  Utilising the latest in word processing technology (Wordperfect 5.1 and Alldus Pagemaker 4) GD revitalised the format of the Pataka Magazine into a professional-looking publication, which was both an entertaining and informative read of 60 to 100 pages. The traditional Pataka Magazine cover was retired and replaced with a full-page colour photo.

1992

1992 cover
The Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, Ensign and Escorts on the occasion of the Fortieth Anniversary of the Accession of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.  (left to right: SSgt D. Cossey, Lt S. Stewart, WO1 D. Kneble, SSgt L Cameron)

The 1992 editions of Pataka can be viewed on the links below;

1993

1993.jpg
Taniwha Hill and Personnel from the first rotation of UNOSOM (NZ Supply Detachment)     (left to right Pte TeHau, Cpl Rennie, Pte King, Lt Howard, Pte’s Kareko, Tauranga, Pullar)

The 1993 editions of Pataka can be viewed on the links below;

1994

Produced but the editorial team of WO2’s Dave Cossey and Willy Epiha, this edition was a huge effort at 108 pages, with a cover which highlighted the unveiling of the RNZAOC window at St Marks Chapel in Waiouru.

1994
RNZAOC Window, St Marks Chapel, Waiouru.

The 1994 edition of Pataka can be viewed on the links below;

1995

No copy held for 1985

1996

The Final Edition of Pataka Magazine, produced by an Editorial Team led by WO1 Keith Pittams, The final edition consisted of 127 pages of articles on current activities and also a retrospective view back to past editions.

1996
Pataka Magazine, Final Cover

The final edition of Pataka can be viewed on the link below;

Te Pataka Book prize

Introduced by Lieutenant Colonel Ron Cross, the Te Pataka Book Prize was an annual book prize for the best article written for the Pataka Magazine. Instituted to increase interest and encourage quality submissions from both serving and non-serving members, Lt Col Cross was the judge, which was a crafty way to ensure that he continued to receive copies during his retirement.

At this stage, the only know recipient was SSgt Tama Hiroti in 1994.

 

Legacy

With the disestablishment of the RNZAOC in 1996, the concept of a Pataka-type magazine did not entirely fade away, and in 2010 the successor to the RNZAOC, the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment, started to publish its own in-house magazine,

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017

Notes

[1] T.D McBeth (2018, 21 March). [Facebook Message to RNZAOC Facebook Page].