Personnel

The strength of the NZAOC on 31st May 1927 was 119 consisting of;

• 8 Officers
• 104 Permanent Other Ranks
• 7 Temporary Other Ranks

Key Appointments

Director of Ordnance Services

• Major Thomas Joseph King, NZAOC

Ordnance Accounting Officer

• Lieutenant T.W Page, NZAOD

Northern Command Ordnance Officer

• Captain A.W Baldwin, NZAOC. [1]
• Captain F. E. Ford, NZAOC

Central Command Ordnance Officer

• Captain H. H. Whyte, M.C., NZAOC

Featherston Camp Ordnance Officer

• Captain F. E. Ford, NZAOC.[2]

Southern Command Ordnance Officer

• Captain A.R.C White, NZAOC

Trentham Ordnance Depot Ordnance Officer

• Captain H. H. Whyte, M.C., NZAOC,[3]
• Lieutenant H. E. Erridge, NZAOC

Inspecting Ordnance Officer and Acting Inspector of Ordnance Machinery

• Captain W. Ivory, RNZA. [4]

Acting Inspecting Ordnance Officer

• Lieutenant A. de T. Nevill, RNZA.[5]

Proof Officer, Small Arms Ammunition

• Captain E.H Sawle.

1927 Army Regulations

The roles, responsibilities and dress regulations pertaining to the NZAOC were detailed in the New Zealand Gazette of May 19, 1927. Excerpts of which are detailed here.[6]

SECTION II

27 (b) The Director of Ordnance Services, assisted by, the Chief Ordnance Officer, The Inspecting Ordnance Officer and the Ordnance Mechanical Engineer, is responsible to the Quartermaster-General for;

• The provision, receipt, storage, distribution, repair, examination and maintenance of small-arms, machine guns, vehicles, clothing and necessaries, equipment and general stores (including medical and veterinary), and camp and barrack equipment,
• The inspection and repair of armament and warlike stores, and the inspection of gun ammunition,
• The provision, receipt, storage and distribution of small arms ammunition.
• The receipt, storage, issue and repair of fixed armament, field armament and artillery vehicles,
• The organisation and control of ordnance workshops,
• The preparation and periodic revision of Equipment regulations and barrack and hospital schedules,
• The organisation, administration and training of the NZ Army Ordnance Corps,
• The maintenance of statistics of the Ordnance Department.

He is the Commanding Officer of the NZ Army Ordnance Corps and responsible for the interior economy, including enlistment, training, pay, promotion, postings, transfers, clothing, equipment and discharges within the unit.

He will issue Regimental Orders dealing with training, administration and personnel.

130.   The promotion of Officers in the NZAOC will be the same conditions as those governing promotion in other branches of the NZ Permanent Forces, except that the necessary qualifying examinations will be one set specially for the NZAOC.

SECTION IV

Enlistment, Promotion, Transfer and Discharge, NZAOC

226. Applicants for enlistment must fulfil the following conditions;

• Be between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five years,
• Be unmarried
• Have passed the Sixth Standard of education or its equivalent
• Be physically fit for active service in any part of the world

In special cases with the approval of the General Officer Commanding, these conditions may be modified.

227. For the purpose of administration and promotion the corps will be organised into six sections;

• A Section – Clerks and Ledger keepers
• B Section – Armament artificers
• C Section – Armourers
• D Section – Tradesmen and specialists
• E Section – Storeholders and storemen
• F Section – Ammunition details

Personnel in Sections A, E and F will require to qualify for promotion by examination, while personnel in Sections B, C and D will require to pass both trade test and examination in order to qualify for promotion.

228. Promotion to Non-Commissioned and Warrant ranks in the various sections will, subject to the soldier being recommended by his immediate commanding officer as being in all respects fit for promotion and to passing the prescribed examination and trade test, be as set out in paras 229 to 236.

Section A – Clerks and Ledger keepers

229. Cadets on reaching the age of eighteen years will, if qualified and recommended by the OC Corps, be appointed privates. Subsequent promotion will be as under:

• To Lance Corporal after one year’s service as private
• To Corporal after three years’ service as a Lance Corporal
• To Sergeant after five years’ service as a Corporal

Promotion above the rank of Sergeant within the establishment will be by selection.

Section B – Armament artificers

(1) Fitters, Turners and machinists 

230. On completion of his term or probation (twelve months) a fitter, turner or machinist will if qualified and recommended, be promoted, Lance Corporal, Subsequent promotion will be as under:

• To Corporal after three years’ service as a Lance Corporal
• To Sergeant after five years’ service as a Corporal
• To Staff Sergeant after four years as service as Sergeant
• To Quartermaster Sergeant after three years’ service as Staff Sergeant

Subsequent promotion will be governed by establishment and by selection.

Promotion to Armament Sergeant Major will be made by the selection of the most highly qualified mechanic possessing the necessary experience and ability to control the Armament Section.

231.   Boys will be apprenticed for five years on the conclusion of which they will receive their indenture-papers, and will be appointed fitters, turners or machinists on probation (twelve months). Conditions for future promotion and service will then be in accordance with para 230.

(2) Other Trades

232. When suitable candidates are available, vacancies in other trades of this section will be filled by the transfer of serving soldiers from the Royal NZ Artillery or from other sections of the NZAOC. A tradesman of this section will be appointed Lance Corporal on probation provided he has already had one years’ service in the Permanent Forces or has come direct from his trade. On completion of his term of probation (twelve months) a tradesman will, if qualified and recommended, be confirmed in the appointment, Subsequent promotion will be as under:

• To Corporal after four years’ service as a Lance Corporal
• To Sergeant after six years’ service as a Corporal

On the recommendation of the OC Corps, a tradesman showing exceptional ability and zeal may be promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and a blacksmith, if he is also efficiently carrying out the work of a moulder and welder, may be placed on the same footing for pay and promotion as fitters, turners and machinists.

Section C- Armourers

233.  On completion of his term or probation a mechanic will, if qualified and recommended, be promoted, Armourer Lance Corporal, Subsequent promotion will be as under:

• To Armourer Corporal after three years’ service as a Armourer Lance Corporal
• To Armourer Sergeant after five years’ service as a Armourer Corporal
• To Armourer Staff Sergeant after four years as service as Armourer Sergeant
• To Armourer Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant after three years’ service as Armourer Staff Sergeant

Promotion to Armourer Sergeant Major will be made by the selection of the most highly qualified mechanic possessing the necessary experience and ability to control the Armourer Section.

Sections D and F Section – Tradesmen and specialists and Ammunition details

234. When suitable candidates are available, vacancies in other trades of this section will be filled by the transfer of serving soldiers from the Royal NZ Artillery. If qualified personnel are not obtainable from the Royal NZ Artillery or other units of the NZ Permanent Forces, special enlistment may be made.
235. A tradesman will be appointed Lance Corporal on probation, provided he has already had one years’ service in the Permanent Forces or has come direct from his trade. On completion of his term of probation (twelve months), a tradesman will, if qualified and recommended, be confirmed in the appointment. Subject to passing the necessary trade tests, Subsequent promotion will be as under:

• (a) Carpenter:  To Corporal after four years’ service as a Lance Corporal, To Sergeant after six years’ service as a Corporal. On the recommendation of the OC Corps a Carpenter showing exceptional ability and zeal may be promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant
• (b) Saddlers:  To Corporal after four years’ service as a Lance Corporal, To Sergeant after six years’ service as a Corporal.
• (c) Tent Repairers, clothing- examiners, painters and other tradesmen not specified: To Corporal after six years’ service as a Lance Corporal. Promotion to Sergeant may be made under special circumstances e.e when tradesmen are controlling a staff or acting as store holders in addition to working at their trades.
• (d) Ammunition Details. Non-Commissioned Officers in charge Ammunition Section, to Staff Sergeant after five years as service as Sergeant, and to Quartermaster Sergeant after seven years’ service as Staff Sergeant.

Section E – Storeholders and storemen

236. Promotion will be governed by establishment and will be subject to passing the necessary qualifying examination.
237. (ii) Those Warrant Officers, Non Commissioned Officer and men who during the year 1917 were transferred from the Civil Service to the NZAOC, may subject to the approval of the General Officer Commanding, be allowed to continue to serve until they reach the age of Sixty Five years, or until such earlier age when they will have completed forty years’ service towards a retiring allowance from the Public Service Superannuation Fund.

Precedence of Corps 

766A. The position of Warrant Officer is inferior to that of all Commissioned Officers but superior to that of all Non-Commissioned Officers.

766B. The order of precedence or Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers will be as follows;

Dress Distinctions

916. Gorget Patches. As per Para 916. (b) (i) the Director of Ordnance Services wore Blue Gorget-Patches, Blue Cap Bands, lion and crown cap badge.

918 Armlets. All Staff Officers holding Staff appointments at General Headquarters or Command Headquarters will, when o duty wear armlets in in-depth on the right arm above the elbow as follows;

• General Headquarters – Red and Blue armlet
• Command Head Quarters – Red and White armlet

919. To distinguish the branch which the officer represents armlets will bear the following letters:

• Ordnance Officers attached to staff – “O”

Orders of Dress Other ranks

921. Khaki Service Dress only will be worn by Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned officers and men of the Permanent Forces, as under;

Full dress will be as above, with the following modifications;

• (a) Decorations and medals will be worn
• (C) NZ Army Ordnance Corps will wear felt hats with puggaree

922. Working dress. Drill Khaki and Trousers are authorised for “working Dress” for

• Royal NZ Artillery
• NZ Permanent Air Force
• NZ Permanent Army Service Corps
• NZ Army Ordnance Corps

934. Shoulder Titles. The shoulder titles of the unit or corps in brass letters will be worn by Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men in the shoulder straps of jackets (service and blue) and greatcoats.

The approved shoulder titles for the NZAOC are illustrated below;

Ordnance Depots

Northern Command

The development of Ngaruawahia Camp was continuing satisfactorily.[7] The large Ordnance Store was nearing completion with the building walls up and two of the smaller bays roofed in. The Ordnace Store would consist of a large building 322 ft by 100 ft (98.14m x 30.48m) divided into seven bays;

• Four 25ft by 100 ft. (7.62m x 30.48m)
• Three 74ft by 100 ft, (22.55m x 30.48m)

Other buildings projected and to be constructed including;

• The Ordnance workshop, 61ft by 50ft, (19m x  15.24m)
• a vehicle shed, 520ft by 25ft. (156m x 7.62m)

The railway-siding serving the Ordnance buildings has been completed. The construction of the Ordnance Office and small-arms ammunition magazine has been commenced, and two high-explosive magazines and three married quarters will be put in hand immediately. [8] [9]

Central and Southern Commands

Various small improvements have been effected at Trentham and Burnham Camps. At Trentham, the work of changing over from the present independent electrical installation to the Mangahao power was practically completed. This work would result in a very considerable saving in annual charges. At Burnham, a camp equipment building had been provided.[10]

Featherston Camp

Apart from some final administrative work, Featherson Camp was closed. The bulk of the stores previously held at Featherston Camp had been removed to Trentham Camp with a smaller quantity required to support Territorial training in the Northern Command, to the Mount Eden Ordnance Store. Several buildings were transferred to Fort Dorset to provide accommodation there, and, with the exception of six retained for possible similar transfer elsewhere, only two brick buildings retained on the site. the remainder of the buildings had been sold to the general public for removal. The land was retained and was leased for grazing purposes. [11]

Personnel Movements -June 1926 To May 1927

Promotions

• Captain (Temporary Major) Thomas Joseph King to Major 18 October 1926. [12]

Enlistments into the Permanent Section of the NZAOC

• 1013 Private F Reid

Transferred to NZ Permanent Staff

• 348 Staff Sergeant Leonard Robertshaw

Released

• 68 Private Patrick Keeshan MSM
• 130 Private Joseph Woods
• 993 Corporal William George Maidment
• Captain A.W Baldwin.[13]

Copyright © Robert McKie 2018

Notes:

[1] Relinquished appointment of Ordnance Officer, Northern Command 1 August 1926.”Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps, Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery and Territorial Force,” New Zealand Gazette No 77, 18 November 1926, 3254.

[2] Relinquished appointment of Ordnance Officer Featherston Camp form 1 September 1926, appointed Ordnance Officer Northern Command. Ibid

[3] Relinquished appointment of Ordnance Officer, Ordnance Depot when appointed Officer In Charge Trentham Camp 2 November 1926. “Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfers of Officers of the NZ Military Forces,” New Zealand Gazette, 23 December 1926.

[4] Captain Ivory was seconded to the RNZAOC as the IOO and Acting IOM on 12 January 1927   “Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps, Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery and Territorial Force,” New Zealand Gazette No 11, 3 March 1927.

[5] Relinquished the appointment of Acting IOO on 11 January 1927 ibid.

[6] “Regulations for the Military Forces of the Dominion of New Zealand,” New Zealand Gazette, May 19 1927.

[7] “Military Training,” New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19544, 25 January 1927.

[8] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1927).

[9] “Asc in Camp,” Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1927.

[10] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces.”

[11] Ibid.

[12] “Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 17, 24 March 1927, 705.

[13] Ibid.