During World War Two, New Zealand traditionally relied on the United Kingdom for its military equipment. However, the rapid expansion of New Zealand’s military and the looming threat of invasion by Japan necessitated a shift in strategy. New Zealand needed substantial war material, and the United States became a crucial source of support. As the post-war era unfolded, the New Zealand Army underwent reorganisation. It soon became evident that the country’s military warehouses and ammunition depots were overflowing with surplus war material. In a strategic move aimed at bolstering New Zealand’s national security and supporting its allies in their efforts to contain Communism in Southeast Asia, New Zealand decided to transfer a significant number of surplus arms and ammunition held in RNZAOC Depots across the country to the French authorities in Indochina. This transfer was free of charge and represented New Zealand’s commitment to international efforts during the Cold War era.

In the post-World War II era, the NZ Army, shaped by the 2nd NZEF of WW2, comprised an Infantry Division with integrated Artillery, Armoured, and Logistics elements. The strategic thinking of the time envisioned the deployment of an NZ Division to the Middle East alongside British formations.
Despite relying on the United States for war material during the previous conflict and having significant stock of American equipment in storage, the NZ Army maintained its armament and equipment aligned with British patterns, including weapons, uniforms, and gear[1].
By 1952, France was facing challenges in retaining control over Indochina. Despite receiving a monthly supply of 7200 tons of material from the United States, it still fell short of meeting its requirements[2]. Recognizing the existence of substantial stockpiles of surplus British and American equipment across Asia and Australasia, the French initiated purchasing missions to acquire this surplus equipment.[3]

In response to French requests, New Zealand announced in September 1952 that it would provide, at no cost, weapons and ammunition of American origin, which differed in calibre from those used by New Zealand forces. This shipment comprised lend-lease weapons urgently supplied to New Zealand in 1942. These arms had been utilized by the Home Guard and some New Zealand units in the Pacific, especially in conjunction with RNZAF units co-located with American Forces. Permission for the transfer had been sought and obtained from the United States.
T. C. Webb, the Minister of External Affairs, confirmed that a significant portion of this consignment was delivered to Singapore aboard HMNZS Bellona and subsequently shipped to French Indochina.[4]This initial shipment included:[5]

• • 13,000 Springfield M1903 rifles in .30-inch calibre
• • 700 machine guns in .30-inch calibre
• • 670,000 rounds of small arms ammunition in .30-inch calibre (SAA)

In early 1953, Major General Gentry, the Chief of the NZ General Staff, met with General Henri Navarre, the French Commander-in-Chief, in Saigon to discuss the transfer of surplus military equipment. Following Gentry’s report on this meeting, the New Zealand Government offered surplus equipment to the French authorities. As the situation in Indochina, notably, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, was deteriorating for the French, a French Military mission comprising Lieutenant-Colonel Cathala and Captain Mugg arrived in Auckland on September 10, 1953, for a two-week visit to inspect the equipment and assess its suitability for use in Indochina.[6]

After final inspections, the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham consolidated the identified equipment and loaded it onto a British vessel at Wellington in early March 1954.[7] The equipment dispatched to Indochina included:[8]

• 500 Revolvers,
• 3000 .30inch calibre Springfield M1903 rifles
• 750 .30inch calibre Machine Guns,
• 50 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns and ammunition,
• 10000 round of 37m armour-piercing shot,
• Wireless Sets
• Field Telephones,
• Charging Sets
• Assorted Uniform Items
• 670000 rounds of .30inch calibre SAA

After the French surrendered at Dien Bien Phu on 7 May 1954, and the final withdrawal of French Forces from Vietnam was completed by April 1956, it is doubtful that the small New Zealand contribution of weapons and equipment provided any significant assistance to the French. Nevertheless, this equipment might have found utility in the newly formed nation of South Vietnam or on other French colonial battlefields.

Despite the modest quantity of material supplied, Mr. Noel Henry, the French Minister to New Zealand, expressed the French Government’s gratitude to New Zealand. He acknowledged that New Zealand had done all it could within its limited means.[9]

Notes

[1] Damien Fenton, A False Sense of Security: The Force Structure of the New Zealand Army 1946-1978, Occasional Paper / Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand: No. 1 (Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington, 1998), Bibliographies, Non-fiction.

[2]N.S. Nash, Logistics in the Vietnam Wars, 1945-1975 (Pen & Sword Military, 2020), 63.

[3] Charles R. Shrader, A War of Logistics: Parachutes and Porters in Indochina, 1945-1954, Foreign Military Studies (University Press of Kentucky, 2015), Non-fiction, 134.

[4] “NZ Gives Arms to French,” Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26838, 17 September 1952.

[5] New Zealand Foreign Policy: Statements and Documents 1943-1957, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wellington: Government Printer 1972).

[6] “Arms for Indo China,” Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27192, 9 November 1953.

[7] “Arms Aid for Indo-China,” Press, Volume XC, Issue 27332, 24 April 1954.

[8] Roberto Giorgio Rabel, New Zealand and the Vietnam War: Politics and Diplomacy (Auckland University Press, 2005), Bibliographies, Non-fiction.

[9]“Arms Aid for Indo-China.”