Personnel

The strength of the NZAOC on 31st May 1929 was 122 consisting of;[1] [2]

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

Key Appointments

Director of Ordnance Services

• Major Thomas Joseph King, NZAOC.[3]

Assistant Chief Ordnance Officer

• Captain W.R Burge, MC, NZSC.[4] [5]

Ordnance Accounting Officer

• Lieutenant T.W Page, NZAOC

Ordnance Officers

• Captain W. M. Bell, NZAOC.[6] [7]
• Lieutenant H. E. Erridge NZAOC.[8] [9]

Northern Command Ordnance Officer

• Captain F. E. Ford, NZAOC.

Central Command Ordnance Officer

• Captain H. H. Whyte, M.C, NZAOC.[10] [11]
• Lieutenant H. E. Erridge NZAOC.[12] [13]
• Captain W.R Burge, MC, NZSC.[14]

Southern Command Ordnance Officer

• Captain A.R.C White, NZAOC.

Inspecting Officer Ordnance and Ordnance Mechanical Engineer

• Major W Ivory, RNZA.

Assistant Inspecting Ordnance Officer and Ordnance Mechanical Engineer

• Lieutenant I.R Withell, RNZA.[15] [16]

Proof Officer, Small Arms Ammunition

• Lieutenant M.J Lyons

NZAOC appropriations year ending 31 March 1929

Enlistments

To make good the normal wastage due to retirements, discharges, etc 10 Other Ranks were enlisted into the NZAOC during this year.[17]

Artillery Artificers

Artillery Artificers were transferred to the NZAOC during 1929.

Ordnance Depots

Northern Command

Ngaruawahia Camp

Construction of the Small-arms Ammunition Magazine, magazines Nos. 8, 9, and 10 (for high explosives) Ordnance Workshops was completed. The erection of the laboratory was still to be completed.[18] [19]

Mount Eden

With the removal of stores to Ngaruawahia Camp, the buildings at Mount Eden were no longer required, so they were disassembled and re-erected at Narrow Neck Camp.[20]

Central Command

The Upper Hutt water-supply now served this camp in lieu of the previous camp system, the fire-fighting facilities had been considerably strengthened and some economy in maintenance effected. The buildings and roads had been maintained in good order.[21]

Southern Command

A concrete strong-room and Ordnance Workshops had been erected, and the buildings and the surrounding area generally maintained.[22]

Accounting irregularities

Early in 1929 the DOS identified some irregularities in connection with the sale of rifles and invited the Audit Department to investigate the matter. The result of the investigation identified that contrary to the provision of instructions relating to the Accounting of Stores Captain Whyte had;

• Sold stores on credit contrary to instructions from superiors
• Concealed the transactions by tampering with the documentation and ordering a NCO to produce doctored packing lists
• Cashed cheques received as payment for Government stores that were endorsed as payable to “The Director of Ordnance Services or Bearer” and used the proceeds for his own purposes.

A disturbing breach of procedures Captain Whyte was questioned about the irregularities identified by the Audit report and with all the outstanding amounts repaid was given the opportunity of resigning his commission or facing disciplinary action.  Captain Whyte took the opportunity of resigning his commission resulting in a loss of accrued leave and benefits.

Examinations for Promotions

The 1928 examinations for promotion were conducted in all Depots on the following dates;

• Monday 19 November -Technical – Armament Section
• Monday 19 November – Technical – Stores Section
• Monday 19 November – Technical – Ammunition Section
• Tuesday 20 November – Technical – Clerical Section
• Wednesday 21 November – Arithmetic – All Sections
• Thursday 22 November 1928 – Accounting for Stores – All Sections Staff Sergeant and above
• Friday 23 November 1928 – Discipline – All Sections Staff Sergeant and above

Courses

A course of Instruction for Armourers was held at the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham over the period 4-22 January 1929, attending were;

• 14 Armourer Sergeant Major B Buckley (Trentham)
• 2 Armourer SQMS J.A Adamson (Burnham)
• 132 Armourer Staff Sergeant A.P Young (Trentham)
• 915 Armourer Staff Sergeant E.J Hunter (Trentham)
• 25 Armourer Sergeant F.A Clapshaw (Burnham)
• 7 Armourer Corporal R.C Austin (Burnham)
• 992 Armourer Corporal H.C Cooper (Trentham)
• 141 Armourer Corporal R.S H Lyons (Trentham)

The following passed and became eligible for promotion to the next highest rank;

• 915 Armourer Staff Sergeant E.J Hunter (Trentham) 79% eligible for promotion to Armourer SQMS
• 25 Armourer Sergeant F.A Clapshaw (Burnham) 78% eligible for promotion to Armourer Staff Sergeant
• 7 Armourer Corporal R.C Austin (Burnham) 77% eligible for promotion to Armourer Sergeant
• 992 Armourer Corporal H.C Cooper (Trentham) 72% eligible for promotion to Armourer Sergeant

Personnel Movements -June 1928 to May 1929

Enlistments

• 1024 Armament-Artificer E.W Jepson
• 1025 Tent-Repairer-Artificer H.R Griffin into “D Section” of the Permanent Section of the NZAOC
• 1026 Private J.S Jefcoate into “B Section” of the Permanent Section of the NZAOC
• 1027 Artificer W.C Brizzel into “D Section” of the Permanent Section of the NZAOC
• 1028 Private P.N Erridge into “A Section” Burnham of the Permanent Section of the NZAOC

Postings

• 35 Lance Corporal H Ekins from “E Section” Trentham Detachment to “F Section” Wellington Detachment.
• 363 SQMS D.L Lewis from Burnham to Trentham in September 1928
• 915 Armourer Staff Sergeant J.A Kenning from Trentham to Ngaruawahia
• Sergeant Peterson from Trentham to Ngaruawahia
• Corporal P Henry from Trentham to Ngaruawahia
• 996 Lance Corporal A.G McCurdy from Trentham to Ngaruawahia
• 1009 Lance Corporal J.L Myers from “F Section” Trentham to “A Section” Burnham
• 7574586 Armourer Staff Sergeant R.R Grieve from Northern Command to Trentham

Promotions

• 363 SQMS D.L Lewis to Warrant Officer Class 1 (Conductor) on 1 October 1928
• 894 Staff Sergeant J Moroney to SQMS 1 October 1928
• 951 SQMS A Martin to Warrant Officer Class 1 on 15 of September 1928
• 989 Lance Corporal P.R Hunter to Corporal on the 19th of January 1929
• 1002 Lance Corporal S.P Stewart to Corporal 1 March 1929
• 1026 Private J.S Jefcoate to Armament-Sergeant on the 13th of December 1928

Appointments

• Lieutenant H. E. Erridge NZAOC, appointed Ordnance Officer. Main Depot, Trentham and Ordnance Officer Central Military Command from 14 May 1929.[23]

Transfers

• Capitan W.M Bell from the reserve of Officers to the NZAOC with the rank of Capitan with seniority to 1 August 1919. To be Ordnance Officer Main Ordnance Depot and Office in Charge Trentham Camp from 15 March 1929.[24]
• Captain W.C Burge, New Zealand Staff Corps seconded to NZAOC as Assistant Chief Ordnance Officer from 18 April 1929.[25] [26]
• Lieutenant I. R. Withell, RNZA seconded to NZAOC as Assistant Inspecting Ordnance Officer and Ordnance Mechanical Engineer from 16 May 1929[27] [28]

Releases

• 1 Private Hugh John Adams
• 17 Armament Staff Quartermaster Sargent George Bush, MSM
• 995 Staff Sergeant Wilfred Robert White
• 102 Armourer Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant Harold Victor Coyte Reynolds, MSM
• 951 SQMS A Martin
• Captain H. H. Whyte, M.C., NZAOC

Copyright © Robert McKie 2018

Notes:

[1] “”H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces. June 1928 to May 1929,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1929).

[2] “B-07 Appropriations Chargeable on the Consolidated Fund and Other Accounts for the Year Ending 31 March 1929,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1929): 136-37.

[3] Major J.S Bolton, A History of the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (Trentham: RNZAOC, 1992).

[4]  Appointed Assistant COO 18 April 1929 “Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 48, 27 June 1929, 1761.

[5] “New Zealand Army,” Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 150, 29 June 1929.

[6]Appointed 15 March 1929 was also Officer in Charge Trentham Military Camp. “Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces,”  1761.

[7] “New Zealand Army.”

[8] Appointed 14 May 1929.”Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces,”  1761.

[9] “New Zealand Army.”

[10] “Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 25, 11 April 1929.

[11] “Personal Items,” New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19840, 10 January 1928.

[12] Appointed 14 May 1929.”Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces,”  1761.

[13] “New Zealand Army.”

[14] Appointed Command Ordnance Officer 18 April 1929. The War Office, The Monthly Army List, February 1939 (London: His Majestys Stationary Office, 1939).

[15] Appointed 16 May 1929 “Appointments, Promotions, Resignations and Transfer of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces,”  1761.

[16] “New Zealand Army.”

[17] “”H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces. June 1928 to May 1929.”

[18] “Large Miitary Camp,” New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20093, 2 November 1928.

[19] “”H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces. June 1928 to May 1929.”

[20] “Tenders,” Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 28, Page 7 Advertisements Column 2, 2 February 1929.

[21] “”H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces. June 1928 to May 1929.”

[22] Ibid.

[23] “New Zealand Army.”

[24] Ibid.

[25] “Personal,” Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16908, 23 March 1929.

[26] “New Zealand Army.”

[27] “Navy and Army Gossip,” Evening Star, Issue 20176, 16 May 1929.

[28] “New Zealand Army.”