Personnel

The strength of the NZAOC between June 1931 and May 1932 was;[1]

• 2 Officers
• 18 Permanent Other Ranks

Key Appointments

Director of Ordnance Services

• Major Thomas Joseph King, NZAOC

Assistant Chief Ordnance Officer Trentham Camp

• Captain W. R. Burge, M.C., NZSC

Main Ordnance Depot

• Captain E.L.G Bown, NZSC.

Northern Command Ordnance Officer

• Lieutenant J. W. Barry, N.Z. Staff Corps

 Central Command Ordnance Officer

• Captain W.R Burge, MC, NZSC

Southern Command Ordnance Depot

• Lieutenant H. E. Erridge, NZAOC.[2]

• Lieutenant D. Nicol, NZAOC.[3]

Inspecting Officer Ordnance and Ordnance Mechanical Engineer

• Major W Ivory, RNZA

Assistant Inspecting Ordnance Officer and Ordnance Mechanical Engineer

• Captain I. R. Withell, RNZA

Proof Officer, Small Arms Ammunition, Auckland

• Captain I. R. Withell, RNZA
• Honorary Lieutenant J.W Fletcher, NZPS.[4]

NZAOC appropriations year ending March 1932

Obituary

Mr W Ramsy a former member of the NZAOC passed away at New Plymouth after a brief illness on 15 May 1932. The late Mr Ramsay was a native of Glasgow, and before coming to New Zealand had seen service with the British Army in various parts of the world. He attained the rank of sergeant-major in the 18th. Hussars and later was stationed with the Army- Service Corps in Malta. Shortly after’ his arrival’ in Wellington, the war broke out, and almost immediately he joined up with the Defence Department staff. Transferring into the NZAOC on it formation as a Conductor, Ramsey was soon promoted to Lieutenant, taking his release when reaching the retiring age for his rank in 1920.[5]

Copyright © Robert McKie 2019

Notes:

[1] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces June 1931 to May 1932,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1932).

[2] John J. Storey and J. Halket Millar, March Past: A Review of the First Fifty Years of Burnham Camp (Christchurch, N.Z.: Pegasus Press, 1973, 1974 printing, 1973), Non-fiction, 118.

[3] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces June 1933 to May 1934,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1934): 1.

[4] Appointed 1 Sept 1931 NZ General Order 353/1931

[5] “Obituary Ramsey,” Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1932.