NZAOC July 1918 to June 1919

Gazetted by regulations published on 1 February 1917, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps was established as part of the permanent staff of the Defence Forces of New Zealand. It was organized with Ordnance Stores under four District Ordnance Officers based in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, with detachments in Palmerston North and Featherston.[1]

For this article’s purposes, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department and Corps activities during 1918-1923 will be collectively referred to as the NZAOC.

Following the cessation of hostilities in November 1918, the routine work of the four District Ordnance Officers significantly increased. The return of troops necessitated the opening and equipping of hospitals and vocational and educational training schemes, which introduced new and important responsibilities for the Ordnance Corps.

Organisation

During the period of 1918-1919, the strength of the NZAOC increased significantly due to the takeover of camps and the surge in workload following demobilization. Preference was given to returning soldiers when recruiting for the NZAOC. As of 1st June 1919, the total strength of the NZAOC was 486 personnel.;[2]

  • 18 Officers, and
  • 475 Other ranks.

Key Appointments

Directing Staff and Executive Staff

Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores

  • Major T. McCristell, NZAOD.

Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores

  • Temporary Captain T. J. King, NZAOD.

Ordnance Accounting Officer

  • lieutenant James M. Miller, NZAOD.

Ordnance Officer Auckland

  • Captain L.F McNair, NZAOD.

Ordnance Officer Christchurch

  • Honorary Captain A.R.C White, NZAOD.

Ordnance Officer Dunedin

  • Honorary Captain O.F. McGuigan, NZAOD.

Ordnance Officer Wellington

  • Honorary Lieutenant F.E Ford, NZAOD.

Ordnance Officer Featherston Camp

Executive Staff Ordnance Officers

Inspectorial Staff

Inspector of Ordnance Machinery

  • Captain B.G.V Parker, NZAOD.

Inspector of Engineers, Electric Light and Defence Vessels Stores

  • Captain George John Parrell, NZAOD

Proof Officer, Small Arms Ammunition, Auckland

  • Captain A. Duvall, NZAOD.

Chief Armourer

  • Honorary Lieutenant William E. Luckman, NZAOD.

Inspectorial Staff Ordnance Officers

  • Honorary Lieutenant Frederick W. Kibblewhite, NZAOD.
  • Honorary Lieutenant William H Manning, NZAOD.
  • Honorary Lieutenant William Ramsey, NZAOD.

NZAOC appropriations year ending 31 March 1919

Alexandra Barracks, Buckle Street, Wellington

The home of the NZAOC, the Defence complex of Alexandra Barracks included the Central Districts Ordnance Depot, located on the corner of Taranaki and Buckle Street and the Armament Workshop, which was located on the site where the current museum is.

The New Zealand Ordnance Corps 1918, Buckle Street Wellington. RNZAOC School

Central Districts Ordnance Depot

The Ordnance Depot for the Central Districts, it maintained a number of sections including Clerical, Store and Maintenance, with specialist subsections such as Boot (new and repair), Sailmaker (Textile repair) and clothing.[3]

Boot Section

The total quantity of boots received from manufacturers during the 1918/19 period was;

  • 51,693 pairs shoes (deck),
  • 6,552 pairs.

When drafting specifications for the supply of boots in 1918, it became evident that several adjustments were necessary to enhance comfort and durability compared to the 1917 pattern. Special fittings were added to the toes of all military lasts used by manufacturers to provide more room in that area. Short, stout puffs were also introduced to prevent undue pressure on the wearer’s toes. These improvements resulted in no complaints regarding discomfort.

Furthermore, a special tanning process was employed for the sole leather, specifically suited for military use, which proved satisfactory in wear tests. Only 95 pairs of boots were rejected during this period, primarily for minor faults. Notably, there were no instances where manufacturers deliberately deviated from specifications; overall, both workmanship and materials consistently met the required standards.[4]

On account of the shortage of military footwear in England during the 1918/19 period, shipments to England to equip returning members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force before leaving for New Zealand were;

  • boots (ankle) 42,900 pairs,
  • shoes (deck), 14,000 pairs,

To satisfy demands made in New Zealand, the following issues were made

  • Boots (ankle, regulation), 29,886 pairs,
  • boots (light and special), 68 pairs;
  • shoes (deck), 9,845 pairs.

The stock of in store as of June 1919 comprised;

  • boots (ankle, regulation) 5,092 pairs,
  • shoes (deck) 7,684 pairs,

The Central District’s Ordnance Depot also maintained a Boot-repair Factory. During the 1918/19 period, the output of the boot-repair factory had been equal to all demands, with all repairs required for Trentham and Featherston Camps and districts being satisfied. The total quantity of boots repaired from the 1st of June 1918 to the 31st of May 1919 was

  • 12,709 pairs, at an average cost of 5s. Id. per pair.
  • 13 pairs of shoes (deck) at an average cost of Is. 7d. per pair.

All materials used in repairing boots and shoes were of the highest quality obtainable, and the results given in wear proved to be highly satisfactory. The repair process was as follows;

  • Before repairing, all boots are thoroughly disinfected by immersion in a kerol (disinfectant) solution and water.
  • They were then pulled onto perfect-fitting lasts,
  • necessary repairs were carried out,
  • and the sizes stamped on the soles.
  • The next process is cleaning and blocking. This is done in the following manner
    • The boots are pulled on perfect-fitting followers,
    • the uppers thoroughly washed in a mixture of soap and lukewarm water.
    • While the leather is in a mellow state all creases and wrinkles in the uppers are rubbed out,
    • the boots are then put aside for twenty-four hours’ drying.
    • After this period the uppers are thoroughly treated with dubbin, which not only penetrates the pores of the leather (thus rendering them watertight) but also has a mellowing effect upon the uppers, making them equal in pliability to those of new boots.
    • The boots are then taken off the followers and placed in storage-bins ready for use.

After this treatment, the boots were in excellent condition, both from a serviceable and sanitary point of view. As of 30 June 1919, 4,600 pairs of boots had been treated in this manner, and these figures were added to (approximately) at the rate of forty pairs daily until the present stock of boots in store for repairs (estimated, after allowing for rejections, at 4,000 pairs) was exhausted. From 1918, two disabled returned soldiers were trained in boot-repairing and successfully transitioned into civil life. The Repatriation Department sent up three more disabled returned soldiers for similar training.

Miscellaneous stores

With the cessation of hostilities, supplies of miscellaneous stores were reduced to a minimum consistent with estimated requirements. Due to the Influenza, all tentage was placed at the disposal of the Public Health Department.

Clothing

The deliveries of all clothing into the Central District’s Ordnance Depot during the period had been most satisfactory, with practically nil complaints from the various manufacturers for the good work delivered. The condition of stock in the Department was good, with no sign of moth damage visible. Hospital clothing and linen issued to the various hospitals were of very good quality. In obtaining supplies of linen, shirting, pillow-cotton, and Turkey twill towels from New Zealand manufacturers, the NZAOC supplies a good hard-wearing article and saves a great deal in cost as against local purchases. The installation of the power plant in the Sail-makers’ Section was beneficial and allowed a vast quantity of goods, such as sheets, slips (pillow), neckerchiefs, and cloths (table) to be made up.

The NZAOC stock of cholera belts on the cessation of hostilities totalled 19,850, this was essentially dead stock which was re manufactures into shirts (flannel, hospital) and drawers (flannel). The cost of this work is 2s. 6d. per garment. This innovation has proved a success and has enabled the NZAOC to put to good use articles which were considered as useless. Three belts are required to make each flannel shirt, and two belts are required to make each pair of flannel drawers. New flannel shirts cost 10s. 6d. each, and drawers 8s. 6d. each.

It was considered advisable to take steps to protect the Kapok mattresses from damage owing to the wires on beds rusting from perspiration. To this end, the Sailmakers’ Section converted some 1,500 cotton blankets not considered suitable for issue into mattress protectors.

The renovation of Hats (felt) has also been undertaken and put to good use. The cost of the renovation was 3s., which included new leather chin-straps, restocking, and cleaning of the hood. The work was most satisfactorily performed, with some 1,500 hats subjected to renovation, enabling the NZAOC to reissue hats that in the past were not considered suitable.

The work on garment renovation was a complete success during the year. This scheme put to good use articles that formerly would not have been used again. All garments were thoroughly disinfected when being laundered, and all fear of contagion was eliminated.

During this period, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the United Kingdom was supplied from NZAOC stocks with;

  • Jackets, 25,000
  • trousers, 15,040
  • shirts work, 42,952
  • shirts, under, 18,056
  • drawers, pairs, 18,015
  • jerseys, 24,760;
  • socks, pairs, 39,068
  • putties, pairs, 15,096
  • boots, pairs, 42,900
  • shoes, pairs, 14,000.

The Forces in Egypt were supplied with:

  • Jackets, 2,000.

The total value of these articles was £153,600.

Armament Workshop

During the war, components for the repairs of small arms had been hampered by difficulties obtaining spares from England. As a wartime expedient, obsolete MLE rifles, once converted by the Armament Workshops to charger loading and sighted for modern ammunition, were issued to the Trentham and Featherston camps. On the cessation of hostilities, these rifles were refurbished and redistributed to the four districts by the requirements of the Training Branch as follows:[5]

  • Auckland, 753
  • Wellington, 2,163
  • Canterbury, 2,126
  • Otago, 958.

Produce

The NZAOC earned good revenue from the sale of waste products. During the 1918/19, £3,520 was paid into the Public Account regarding produce sales.[6]

Featherston Camp

On the cessation of hostilities, control of the greater part of the administrative work of Featherston Camp came under the jurisdiction of the NZAOC, the satellite camps were closed, and many of the buildings of the Canvas Camp were dismantled and removed to Trentham. Stores on issue to the various schools at Featherston were either transferred to the Schools of Instruction at Trentham, with the balance distributed among the four districts. Outstanding accounts to local vendors were settled and matters placed on a sound commercial basis. Rented areas were cleared and rendered fit for return to the lessors.[7]

Trentham Camp

As with Featherston, administrative control of parts of this camp was placed under the jurisdiction of the NZAOC, and general cleaning up on similar lines to that carried out at Featherston was carried out. A large staff of artisans was employed in the construction of hospital buildings and general alterations to existing buildings.

In both camps, the demobilization of troops and the subsequent cleaning up, stocktaking, and balancing of ledgers.

Trentham Ordnance Workshops

During 1918, the Trentham workshops had been working at full capacity with 16,000 articles, such as coffins and tables manufactured or repaired. This work was carried out in addition to new hospitals and entailed using 344,207 square feet of timber and 25,278 square feet of three-ply. A large quantity of musketry equipment and office furniture was also manufactured in the Trentham workshop, saving the need to purchase from the commercial market at inflated prices. Machinery for a second-class Ordnance workshop has been ordered through the High Commissioner, London.

Hospital and Vocational training infrastructure

On the 9th of January 1919, the NZAOC took the Railways and Works Department responsibilities for Trentham Camp. This responsibility included the maintenance of Trentham. Camp and alterations to several hutments into hospital accommodation. The hospital alterations were as follows: [8]

  • Ten hutments, 22 ft. by 140 ft. Lined and converted into hospital wards, with necessary kitchen, Duty Sister’s room, and lavatory accommodation
  • Four and a half hutments are divided into cubicle accommodation for Sisters, Nurses, and V.A.D.s. There are dining and sitting rooms for Sisters and V.A.D.s, and a self-contained kitchen for the female staff employed in Trentham Military Hospital.

In addition to the above, provision was made for X-ray plant and a plaster-room. Alterations were also affected in the operating-theatre. A new septic tank capable of dealing with the sewerage of 1,000 persons was constructed. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining skilled carpenters and plumbers the progress of the work was somewhat slow. Further works have been carried out for educational and vocational training.

As part of the vocational training scheme for returning servicemen, Huts were fitted out for training in:

  • carpentry,
  • tailoring,
  • boot making,
  • commercial training,
  • book-keeping,
  • basket making,
  • leather-work,
  • surgical boots and splint making, and
  • acetone welding.

The provision was also made to install a hot-water system for the new hospital quarters.

Ordnance Ammunition Section at Fort Ballance

The Ammunition Section at Fort Balance destroyed a large number of B.L. cordite cartridges owing to deterioration but were replaced from stocks of material held by the Ammunition Section. About 3,000 rounds of Q.F. ammunition was made up during the year, and 1,000 rounds altered to conform with later specifications. The annual proof of percussion fuzes, friction tubes, etc was also successfully carried out.[9]

NZAOC as Quartermasters

The accounting, care, and custody of stores by units had generally been unsatisfactory, with units failing to fulfil their responsibilities as outlined in the Regulations of the New Zealand Military Forces. In response, eleven NZAOC Staff Sergeants were seconded as Quartermaster-Sergeants to these units. Their task was to rectify the situation and bring the units’ store accounts up to standard. This initiative proved successful, as subsequent audits revealed few, if any, deficiencies.

However, it became evident that many units lacked adequate storage facilities, leaving numerous items vulnerable to theft or damage. As a result, many items had to be transported back to regional Stores Depots for secure storage.[10] [11]

Due to the success of the emergency measures of NZAOC Staff Sergeants into units as Quartermaster-Sergeants, an amendment to Army regulations was published on 3 October 1918 to make the management of Quartermaster Sergeants a NZAOC responsibility. The amendments were as follows;[12]

83. Group and Unit Quartermaster-Sergeants will belong to and be trained by the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, and when posted for duty in districts will be borne as supernumeraries on the establishment of that corps. They will be included in the effective strength of the group or unit in which they are actually serving and will be so accounted for in periodical returns for those groups or units. In so far as the questions of efficiency, leave, and duty are concerned, Quartermaster-Sergeants will be under the direct supervision of the A.Q.M.G. of the district, and will be directly responsible to the Group or Unit Commander, as the case may be, for the performance of their respective duties as Group or Unit Accountants. They will devote the whole of their time to the accounting, care, and custody of public property on issue

Influenza Epidemic

Under the management of the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores, Major Thomas McCristell, the 123 men of the Ordnance Corps equipped the various emergency hospitals with over 300 beds, supplied the stores and supervised the hospital arrangements and general machinery of each establishment  in and about Wellington, so that by 20 November the following hospitals and convalescent hospitals had been established:[13]

Hospitals

  • Normal School, 91 women,
  • Sydney street Schoolroom, 41 men.
  • Missions to Seamen, 65 men.
  • St. John’s Schoolroom, 67 men and women.
  • Alexandra Hall, 20 men.
  • Wellington College, 105 men and women.
  • St. Patrick’s College, 48 men.
  • Brooklyn Hall, 32 men and women.
  • Johnsonville, 23 men and women.
  • Seatoun, 10 men and women.

Convalescent Hospitals

  • St. Thomas’s Hall, 35 men.
  • Wellington Convalescent Home, 24 women.
  • Salvation Army Training College, 16 women.
  • St. Anne’s Hall, 30 men.

Untended Children’s Home

  • Miramar Golf Club, 56 children

The 1916 census listed the population of Wellington as 95235, deaths in Wellington attributed to the influenza were 795 which gave Wellington a death rate of 7.9 per 1000. This rate was slightly higher than Auckland but well below the death rate found in other North Island Locations which was as high as 43 per 1000.[14] It would be optimistic to believe that the work carried out by the Ordnance Corps in establishing emergency hospitals contributed to Wellingtons low death rate.

The Ordnance men were not immune to the effects of the Influenza, and at one stage 7O men were laid up with influenza, placing extraordinary demands onto the very much reduced staff.[15] Private F.W  Maynard, a 35-year-old Ordnance Soldier, died as a result of the complications caused by Influenza on the 28 November.[16]

By December 1918 the influenza epidemic was under control, and the crisis has passed with the emergency hospitals progressively shut down. Much of the credit to the success of the setting up and management of the emergency hospitals were placed directly on Major McCristell and his team from the Ordnance Corps.

Sport

On 23rd September 1918, a rugby team from the NZAOC defeated a team from Base Records by 12 to 5. Later that evening, both teams and other staff members gathered for a smoke concert. Major T. M’Cristell, Director of Army Ordnance and Supplies, chaired the event, which was enjoyed with musical performances and speeches, making for a very pleasant evening.

Another football match took place on Saturday, 12th October, between the NZAOC and Base Records, resulting in a decisive 11 to 3 victory for the NZAOC. Captain King and Private Batchelor scored tries for the NZAOC, with Quartermaster-Sergeant Maclntyre converting one. While both teams displayed good form, the NZAOC forwards proved superior to those of Base Records. Lieutenant Valentine scored a penalty goal for the losing team, and Mr. R. Fordyce officiated as referee.

Ordnance Branch Picnic

The annual picnic of the Ordnance Branch was held at Day’s Bay on 12 February 1919 under altogether favourable conditions. There was an attendance of between three and four hundred, and the presence of so many children prompted General Sir Alfred Robin to remark during the presentation of the sports prizes that such a happy gathering of young folks augured very well for the Ordnance Branch of the future. The picnickers left town by the Duchess at 1015 a.m., picking up the Rarotongan contingent from Somes Island on the way, and engaged in a day’s sport and pleasure. Lieutenants Austin and Miller, with Corporals Flynn and Barnett as judges, supervised the sports arrangements, and Corporal J. Brown was an efficient secretary. A cold luncheon was provided in the pavilion, and later afternoon tea was served on the grass.[17]

Farwell

One of the largest gatherings of members of the Ordnance Staff took place on 19 May 1919, at the Buckle-street depot to bid farewell to Staff Sergeant Major Donald McIntyre, who, after 17 years’ service is severing his connection with the Defence Department to take up duties with the firm of E Morris. Sergeant Major McIntyre joined the service after his return from the Boer War. Major McCristell in making the presentation on behalf of the staff, regretted the loss. of such a loyal and well-respected member. The presentation took the form of a substantial cheque, a silver tea service, a silver rail oak tray, and a silver cake stand. Sergeant-Major McIntyre led last season in the- batting and bowling averages of the cricket, team, and Captain King, on behalf of the members of the team presented him with a bat for his batting record, and a silver hot water jug for his bowling average. He also expressed regret at losing the services of such an excellent member of the team and trusted that Sergeant-Major McIntyre would always keep in touch with them, and become, an honuary member of the sports committee.[18]

Personnel Movements -July 1918 to June 1919

Transfers

  • Lance Corporal Edward McManus Sharpe from Trentham to be Range Warden at Redcliff’s Range, Christchurch.[19] [20]
  • Quartermaster Sergeant Major Quayle to Hawera Defence Office as Group Quartermaster. [21]
  • Lieutenant Albert Austin from the N.Z. Permanent Staff, July 3, 1918.[22]
  • Lieutenant Walter N. Bates, from the N.Z. Permanent Staff, July 3 1918[23]

Promotions

  • Conductor James M. Miller, NZAOC to lieutenant NZAOD 3 July 1918.[24]
  • Conductor William H Manning, NZAOC to be honorary lieutenant. 4 July 1918.[25]
  • Conductor William Ramsey, NZAOC to be honorary lieutenant 4 July 1918.[26]
  • Staff Sergeant-Major William E. Luckman, NZAOC to be honorary lieutenant 4 July 1918.[27]
  • Lieutenant Alfred W. Baldwin, NZAOD appointed camp quartermaster, Featherston Military Camp and is granted the temporary rank of-captain whilst so employed (November 18 1918).[28]

Enlistments

  • 198 Private Daniel Brett
  • 200 Private Alfred Healy de Vere
  • 201 Private Christopher Greeshaw
  • 203 Private Richard Rowe
  • 204 Private Benjamin Studley
  • 206 Private John Sheehan
  • 207 Private Orecchio Natale
  • 209 Private A.K Simpson
  • 211 Cadet John Lines
  • 213 Private William Saul Keegan
  • 215 Private Samuel Victor Forsythe
  • 220 Cadet Frederick Stephen Forster Shell
  • 221 Cadet Harry William Miller
  • 228 Private Thomas Graham Niven
  • 239 Private Edward John Treweek
  • 241 Private Theodore Norris
  • 246 Private Thomas Bowman
  • 253 Private Charles James Gardiner
  • 254 Private James Gorman
  • 263 Private McKenzie Denis Horneman
  • 268 Private James Alexander Kenning
  • 269 Private George Kermode
  • 273 Private Thomas Ellwood Lyle
  • 293 Artificer Michael Scollard
  • 294 Private Richard Brady Simpson
  • 297 Private George Steventon Thompson
  • 299 Private Peter Tulloch
  • 318 Private Frank Joseph Shacklock
  • 329 Private Harold Fraser White
  • 332 Private Hugh Patrick Duffin
  • 343 Private Tom John McGrath
  • 348 Private Leonard Robertshaw
  • 354 Private William Varian Wilson
  • 361 Private Josiah Phethean
  • 366 Private William Henry Murdoch
  • 368 Private James King
  • 381 Private Henry Steele
  • 382 Private George Priestley Smith
  • 392 Private Robert O’Brien
  • 393 Private John Naylor
  • 395 Private Orlando Max Adams
  • 407 Private James Crone
  • 409 Private John de Rungs
  • 414 Private Allen Gibbs
  • 418 Private William Henry McCarthy
  • 424 Private Phillip Thomas Labatt
  • 431 Private John McVean Walker
  • 432 Private Reginald Andrew Ross
  • 436 Private John Raymond Johnson
  • 438 Private Leonard Alexander Tall
  • 441 Private Montagu Spotswood
  • 446 Private Cecil Balcombe Langridge
  • 453 Private Harold Rigby
  • 462 Private William Ernest George
  • 477 Private Lawritz Christopher Jansen
  • 478 Private Andrew Robert Murphy
  • 480 Private James Herbert Turner
  • 493 Private William Parry Mortimore
  • 515 Private Thomas Edward Mills
  • 518 James McEntee
  • 553 Private Martin Joseph Power
  • 555 Private Gray
  • 562 Private Herbert Edward Rogers
  • 563 Artificer Gerald Bridge
  • 574 Artificer Henry James Day
  • 580 Private Robert James Kennedy
  • 589 Private James O’Malley
  • 590 Private Petersen Julius
  • 594 Private James Gordon Sievwright
  • 595 Private Albert Sydney Smith
  • 601 Private James Pritchard
  • 605 Private Walter Edward Cook
  • 617 Private Horace James Richards
  • 634 Private John Morrison
  • 654 Private Lewis Freeman Keys
  • 669 Lance Corporal Thomas William Cooper
  • 675 Private Benjamin Smith
  • 680 Private Egbert Edwin White
  • 687 Private George Quayle
  • 690 Private John Miller
  • 695 Private William Cyril McGill
  • 697 Private William Gibbons
  • 714 Private Kennith Hoare
  • 718 Private Peter Douglas Adamson
  • 948 Lieutenant Michael Joseph Lyons
  • 1001 Private Arthur James Kelly

Releases

  • 211 Cadet John Lines
  • 220 Cadet Frederick Stephen Forster Shell
  • 28 Private Robert James Kennedy
  • 66 Private Harry Stephens Jupp
  • 70 Private Walter Ernest Hamilton Knowles
  • 101 Private Michael Joseph Rees
  • 115 Private Alfred William Sparkes
  • 131 Private George Yates
  • 161 Private Herbert Clarence Martin
  • 170 Private Benjamin Disraeli Wigton
  • 179 Private Paul Ernest Morris
  • 184 Private Frederick Charles Valentine Martinson
  • 188 Private Robert Park
  • 189 Private Percy Deaker Owen
  • 190 Private John Joseph Lynch
  • 191 Private James Laurence Lord
  • 198 Private Daniel Brett
  • 201 Private Christopher Greeshaw
  • 203 Private Richard Rowe
  • 204 Private Benjamin Studley
  • 206 Private John Sheehan
  • 207 Private Orecchio Natale
  • 215 Private Samuel Victor Forsythe
  • 239 Private Edward John Treweek
  • 297 Private George Steventon Thompson
  • 332 Private Hugh Patrick Duffin
  • 361 Private Josiah Phethean
  • 381 Private Henry Steele
  • 382 Private George Priestley Smith
  • 395 Private Orlando Max Adams
  • 414 Private Allen Gibbs
  • 432 Private Reginald Andrew Ross
  • 438 Private Leonard Alexander Tall
  • 562 Private Herbert Edward Rogers
  • 589 Private James O’Malley
  • 594 Private James Gordon Sievwright
  • 595 Private Albert Sydney Smith
  • 654 Private Lewis Freeman Keys
  • 695 Private William Cyril McGill
  • 811 Private Henry Edward Franklin
  • 64728 Private Frederick Maynard
  • 34 Lance Corporal Cecil Martin Ellison
  • 149 Lance Corporal Lionel Bust Foster
  • 37 Corporal James Flynn
  • 67 Corporal Martin Henri Kearney
  • 48 Conductor Mark Leonard Hathaway
  • 137 Sergeant Horace Eugene Waller
  • Captain Robert Vinning Parker
  • Lt. (Hon Capt Temp.) W. T. Beck, DSO posted to the Retired List, with the hon. rank of Capt., and permission to retain his rank and wear the prescribed uniform.[29]

Deaths

  • Frederick William Maynard, Influenza 28 November 1918[30]

Copyright © Robert McKie 2019

Notes:


[1] “New Zealand Army Ordnance Department and New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps Regulations,” New Zealand Gazette, No 95, June 7 1917.

[2] “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  (1919).

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] “Defence Stores,” Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 10, 7 October 1918.

[11] “H-19d Conference of Defence Department Officers (Notes by) on Criticisms, Suggestions and Recommendations as Contained in the Report of the Defence Expenditure Commission,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1918).

[12] “Amending the Regulations for the Military Forces of New New Zealand,” New Zealand Gazette No 135  (1918): 3429.

[13] “Revelations,” New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10133, 22 November 1918.

[14] Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage, “North Island Influenza Death Rates, 11 January 2018,”  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/influenza-pandemic/north-island-death-rates.

[15] “Under Control,” New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10131, 20 November 1918.

[16] “Soldiers Deaths,” Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 131, 29 November 1918.

[17] “Ordnance Branch Picnic,” Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 36, 13 February 1919.

[18] “Untitled – Mcintyre,” Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 117, 20 May 1919.

[19] “Personal _ Sharpe,” Dunstan Times, Issue 2962, 7 April 1919.

[20] “Edward Mcmanus          Sharpe,” Personal File, Archives New Zealand  (1914-1918).

[21] “Personal Items,” Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 9 May 1919.

[22] “Ordnance Branch,” Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Ibid.

[27] Ibid.

[28] “New Zealand Army,” Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 90, 10 January 1919.

[29] “Territorial Army,” Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 73 1918.

[30] “Soldiers Deaths.”


George John Parrell

Gazetted by regulations published on 1 February 1917, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department was established as part of the permanent staff of the Defence Forces of New Zealand alongside the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps.

The Gazetted regulations that established the NZAOD laid out the structure of the department, and one of the appointments established was:

  • The Inspector, engineer, electric light and defence vessel stores.

Graded as Ordnance officer, third class (Captain), the foundation member in this role in the new Ordnance organisation was the then Sixty-Year-old George John Parrell.

George John Parrell was born in the Parish of St. Mary’s, London, on 16 February 1857. By occupation, a Clerk, and this appointment in the NZAOD was the culmination of a lengthy career in the British Army.

Royal Engineers

Parrell enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Westminster on 4 October 1873 and was assigned the service number 12261. He was first posted to Chatham, Kent, to complete his initial training. He received his first Good Conduct Badge after two years’ service and was promoted to Lance-Corporal on 29 December 1874, reverting to the rank of Sapper on 20 January 1877. He was posted to Bermuda on 1 November 1877, where he was to spend the next eight years of service, was promoted again to Lance-Corporal on 25 March 1878, gained his second Good Conduct Badge on 6 October 1879, and was promoted to Corporal on 1 July 1880 and Sergeant on 1 March 1885. He also re-engaged while in Bermuda to complete 21 years of service. In December 1885, he and his family took passage to England, where he was on home service for about 15 months before returning to Bermuda on 7 April 1887, continuing to serve there for just over a further five years. He was promoted to Company Sergeant-Major, Foreman of Works, and Sergeant-Major, Storekeeper on 26 April 1887. George Parrell was again promoted, to Quarter Master Sergeant, on 1 April 1892, and in June the same year, he and his family returned to England, where he was awarded his British Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Also, in 1892 Q.M.S. Parrell passed a Submarine Mining Course with a ‘superior’ pass.

His last appointment in the British Army appears to have been as a Stores Accountant with the rank of Company Sergeant-Major, Foreman of Works, and on 5 October 1893, he was discharged from the Coastal Battalion, Royal Engineers at the expiry of his term of service. As a Pensioner, he completed a Submarine Mining Instructor’s Course at H.M.S. Vernon on 31 May 1895 and almost immediately took passage with his family to New Zealand on the S.S. Tainui, which left London on 13 June 1895.

New Zealand Permanent Militia

Sergeant-Major Parrell was enlisted in the New Zealand Permanent Militia as a Submarine Instructor with effect from 13 July 1895, signing his attestation papers at the Permanent Force Depot at Wellington on 10 September 1895. He joined the Torpedo Corps and, on the disbanding of the Torpedo Corps, was transferred to No. 2 Service Company. He was promoted to Regimental Sergeant-Major on 14 October 1898.

Royal New Zealand Engineers

In 1903, General Orders reported the re-engagement of No. 678 Regimental Sergeant-Major George John Parrell (late Royal Engineers) as Submarine Mining Instructor to the Royal New Zealand Engineers for one year from 1 August 1903. The application for the award of his Meritorious Service Medal was dated 29 May 1907, and the approval dated 14 June and recorded in General Orders 212 of 6th July of the same year.

Royal New Zealand Artillery

In October 1907, Regimental Sergeant-Major Parrell was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Army Artillery as the R.N.Z.E. had been absorbed into the Electric Section of the R.N.Z.A. He was appointed Engineer Store Accountant on 17 June 1913 and granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant. This was regularised by the gazetting of the commissioned rank. He was promoted to Quartermaster and Honorary Lieutenant on 17 June 1917.

New Zealand Army Ordnance Department

Transferring into the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department on its establishment on 1 April 1917, Parrell was graded Ordnance Officer 3rd Class with the rank of Captain and held the appointment of Inspector of Engineers, Electric Light, and Defence Vessels Stores. Captain Parrell retired on 30 September 1919 and died in Auckland on 22 July 1936.


Defence Stores Department 1862-1917

In 1917 the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps was formed and 100 years on its immediate predecessor, the Defence Stores Department (also known as the Defence Store Office) has mostly been forgotten. The Defence Stores Department, existing in several iterations between 1862 and 1917, was created due to the Colonial Defence Act of 1862. The 1862 Act authorised the formation of the first Regular Force in New Zealand. The Stores Department to support this nascent Defence Force was established as the Office of the Colonial Storekeeper in 1862 and by 1866 had a permanent staff of Eight:

  • Colonial Storekeeper – Captain John Mitchell
  • Clerk Auckland- John Bloomfield
  • Clerk Auckland – John Price
  • Clerk Wellington – Samuel Anderson
  • Arms Cleaner and Labourer Auckland – William Cook Rockley
  • Arms Cleaner and Labourer Auckland – Charles Phillips
  • Arms Cleaner and Labourer – John Peuligan

In October 1867 the Armed Constabulary Act 1867 disbanded the Colonial Defence Force leading to a reorganisation of the office of the Colonial Storekeeper.

Ordnance Store Auckland
Ordnance Store buildings, Fort Britomart [August 1864]. Alexander Turnbull Library

During this period, the British Forces in New Zealand were maintained by the Military Store Department, which had taken over the responsibilities of the Board of Ordnance which had been disestablished in 1855. With Stores Depots at Fort Britomart in Auckland and Mount Cook in Wellington, the Military Store Department’s primary responsibility was to provide Ordnance support to British units based in New Zealand. The Military Store Department also supported the fledgling Colonial Defence Force, often providing direct support when their units were deployed on operations with Imperial Forces.

With the withdrawal of Imperial Forces from New Zealand in 1869/70, The Military Store Department was one of the last British units to leave New Zealand in July 1870. From then on responsibility for Military Storekeeping became the responsibility of the New Zealand Defence Department.

Responsibility for Military Store Keeping was split between the Armed Constabulary and the Militia and Volunteers. Storekeeping for the Armed Constabulary was managed by Samuel Anderson, who as the Armed Constabulary Storekeeper attended to the needs of the Armed Constabulary Force. Anderson was assisted in the districts by men of the Armed Constabulary who were seconded from their duties to act as Sub-Storekeepers.

The storekeeping needs of the Militia and Volunteers was the responsibility of the Defence Stores, which were managed by the Inspector of Stores, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gorton. The Defence Stores Storekeepers in Auckland and Wellington were supported by Sub-Storekeepers in the districts. Although the Wellington and Auckland posts were permeant and full-time positions, many of the district Sub-Storekeeper positions were dual role positions in which the holders held other positions such as Drill Instructors for the Militia or Sub-Storekeepers for the Public Works Department. In a number of cases Armed Constabulary Sub-Storekeepers also acted as Defence Stores Sub-Storekeepers.

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gorton
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gorton
AC TENDER

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gorton had taken up the appointment of Inspector of Stores on 23 April 1869. Under the auspice of the Public Stores Act of 1867, Gorton assumed control of the Colonial Storekeepers’ office’s in Wellington and Auckland, effectively becoming the head of the Defence Stores. Gorton’s responsibilities increased with the passing of the Public Stores Act of 1871 in which he took responsibility for all of New Zealand’s Government Stores. From 1874 moves began to separate the Defence Stores from the Office of the Inspector of Stores and to merge the responsibilities of the Armed Constabulary and Defence Stores Storekeeper into a single organisation. The change began in1878 with the retirement of Colonel Gorton. Samuel Anderson, the Armed Constabulary Storekeeper, assumed the position of Defence Storekeeper.

The Defence Act (1886) called for the militia functions of the Armed Constabulary to be transferred to the New Zealand Permanent Militia, leading to the Defence Stores Department coming under the control of the Department of the Under Secretary of Defence.

Stores Dept tender 1

Shrinking budgets in 1888 called for the closure and redundancy of the Auckland and Dunedin depots and their staff. All stocks required for the use of the volunteer units were placed under the charge of the local magazine keepers. This left Mount Cook as the Main Stores Depot for New Zealand. By December 1888, the need for a Defence Storekeeper in Auckland was recognised, and Major John William Gascoyne of the New Zealand Permanent Militia was appointed Defence Storekeeper for Auckland.

On 28 September 1899, New Zealand Government committed a New Zealand contingent as part of the Imperial contribution to the South Africa war. Unprepared for rapid mobilisation, the Defence Stores had insufficient equipment and uniforms available for the assembling Mounted infantry contingent. Urgent arrangements for the manufacture or purchase of over 20,000 items of equipment, uniforms, underclothing, horse equipment, saddlery, etc. were placed on the local market. From the 6th to the 21st of October 1899, Captain Anderson and his small staff spent up to 16 hours daily receiving, recording, branding and then dispatching all manner of essential items to the assembled contingent at Karori Camp. With the SS Waiwera due to sail on the 21st of October, most deadlines were achieved, and the 1st New Zealand Contingent to South Africa sailed from Wellington on schedule. Many personal belongings were left behind at the Karori Camp by the members of the Contingent for return to the owner’s home locations. The Defence Stores Department had received lists and directions from the troopers and undertook to see that the things were sent to their homes.

On 7 December 1899, Defence Storekeeper Captain Sam Anderson suddenly passed away. This was at a critical time as the Defence Stores Department which after years of neglect was at breaking point due to the mobilisation. Captain James O’Sullivan, a long-time and experienced member of the Defence Stores, succeeded Anderson as acting Defence Storekeeper.

Defence Stores 1
Fitting out a New Zealand Contingent at the Wellington Defence Stores. Auckland Libraries Heritage Images Collection
Defence Stores 2
Clothing for a New Zealand Contingent being distributed at the Defence Stores, Wellington. Auckland Libraries Heritage Images Collection

Due to the difficulty highlighted in assembling, equipping and deploying the initial South Africa deployment, a Joint Defence (Secret) Committee was convened in 1900 to investigate and make a recommendation on the state of New Zealand Defence. The committee made several recommendations regarding the Defence Stores Department. Changes to the methods of ordering, receiving and issuing military stores were recommended. The most important recommendations were for Mobilisation Stores to be established at the four main volunteer centres. Parliamentary Estimates for the same year provided funds for the erection of the new buildings in each of the main centres;

  • Wellington – a Mobilisation Store to be built at Buckle Street, Mount Cook, completed 1911.
  • Christchurch – a Mobilisation Store to be built at King Edward Barracks, completed 1905.
  • Dunedin – a Mobilisation Store to be built at St Andrew’s Street, completed 1907.
  • Auckland – No finance was allocated for a Mobilisation Store in Auckland because the existing Magazines constructed in 1872 at Mount Eden were considered suitable.
  • Nelson – No finance was allocated for a Mobilisation Store in  Nelson because the existing buildings were considered suitable.

The New Zealand Times of 16 July 1901 reported on the Defence Stores in a positive manner;

“it is evident that there will be no need to make any changes in the personnel of the Defence Stores Office staff. During the whole time, and in the face of exceptional difficulties, Mr J. O’Sullivan, the Defence Storekeeper, ably assisted by his staff, turned out the whole of the officers and men in such a way as to command gratifying encomiums from Lord Roberts and generals who came into contact with them In South Africa it was universally agreed that our, men were the “best dressed, and equipped’’ of all the colonial troops in the field.”

The immediate post-war period brought little respite for the Defence Stores Department, new Rifles and Machines Guns had been ordered from the United Kingdom, and Khaki had been adopted as the new colour of the uniform. As the new stores and equipment arrived, they had to be inspected, marked and then distributed to units. Concurrently as new stores and equipment were received by units, old equipment was back-loaded to the Defence Stores for further inspection, grading, repair and maintenance and either disposal or redistribution to other units such as school cadets.

Early in 1907, a Defence Council was created as part of a major command reorganisation of the Defence Forces. Under the control of the Defence Council were two distinctive positions with the responsibility for Ordnance Stores

  • Director of Artillery Services (Ordnance): Responsible for:
    • Artillery armament,
    • Fixed coast defences, and
    • Supplies for ordnance.
  • Director of Stores: Responsible for:
    • Clothing and personal equipment,
    • Accoutrements,
    • Saddlery,
    • Harness,
    • Small-Arms
    • Machine Guns
    • Small-arms and Machine gun ammunition,
    • Material,
    • Transport,
    • Vehicles,
    • Camp Equipment,
    • All other stores required for the Defence Forces.

On 27 December 1907, James O’Sullivan was confirmed as the Director of Stores, with the Rank of Honorary Captain in the New Zealand Staff Corps. The authorisation for permanent District Storekeepers was also authorised, with the following appointments made:

  • Mr William Thomas Beck – District Storekeeper, Auckland
  • Mr Arthur Rumbold Carter White – District Storekeeper, Christchurch
  • Mr Owen Paul McGuigan – District Storekeeper, Dunedin

Records indicate that the structure of the Defence Stores department at the end of 1907 was;

DSD 1907
Defence Stores Department Organisation 1907

1909 brought significant changes to the Defence Forces of New Zealand. The Defence Act 1909 replaced the Volunteer forces with the Territorial Army, and compulsory military training was instituted. The New Zealand Army Service Corps was initiated in 1910, and discussions started on creating a New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps. Early in 1911, the Director of Stores title was changed to Director of Equipment and Stores, and Captain O’Sullivan was promoted to Major.

James O'Sullivan
CAPTAIN O’SULLIVAN (Storekeeper Defence Department, Wellington).,NZ Truth, Issue 304, 22 April 1911

1911 Regulations (Provisional) for the Military Forces of New Zealand

Published in the New Zealand Gazette of 5 May 1911 updated Regulations (Provisional) for the Military Forces of New Zealand were promogulated detailing the division of responsibilities between the Quartermaster Generals Branch, (to whom the Defence Stores was subordinate) and the Director of Ordnance and Artillery.  Note: although not yet established, responsibility for the organization and training of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps was vested with the Director of Ordnance and Artillery.

1911 Regulations (Provisional) for the Military Forces of New Zealand

With the continuing division of stores and duties between the Artillery and the Defence Stores Department, the Director of Artillery(Ordnance) assumed overall responsibility for managing Artillery stores on 2 August 1911. This resulted in Major O’Sullivan’s deputy, Honorary Lieutenant Frederick Silver, being formally transferred to the staff of the Director of Artillery Services (Ordnance) as the Artillery Stores Accountant along with ledgers previously held by the Defence Stores Department. In 1946 the RNZA Ammunition and Equipment Section based in Army Headquarters handed over responsibility for artillery ammunition, explosives, coast artillery and specialist equipment and stores including some manpower to the NZAOC.

Quartermaster Training

As the Defence Forces of New Zealand transitioned to the Territorial Army system, it was soon realised the care, maintenance and responsibility of equipment were lacking, and the current Regimental Quartermaster Sergeants were not up to the task, and a professional Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant cadre was required. Late in 1911, thirty young men selected from the various military districts spent three weeks at the Defence Stores Department in Wellington. Undergoing practical and theoretical instruction in the duties of the office of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant with instruction conducted under the supervision of Major O’Sullivan, utilising the senior staff of the Defence Stores Department as instructors. The course was thorough with instruction provided by;

  • The Armourers provided instruction on weapon storage, inspection, maintenance and accounting,
  • The Saddler provided instruction on the correct storage methods, inspection and maintenance of leather items such as horse saddlery and harnesses.
  • The Sail-maker provided instruction on the correct methods of storage, inspection and maintenance of canvas and fabric items such as tents, other camp canvas and fabric camp equipment.
  • The Stores Foreman provided instruction on the Packing of stores.
  • The ledger-keeper provided instruction with the keeping of accounts and maintenance of documentation used throughout all the departments.

Examinations were held on the various subjects in which instruction had been given. Records show that at least 18 of the 30 candidates passed the exams successfully and were appointed Quartermaster Sergeants in the New Zealand Permanent Staff under General Order 112/10.

20170901_071842

This course of instruction was notable as although an Army School of Instruction had been established in 1886 with Musketry courses the primary focus. Instruction in Tactics and Staff duties were also offered, but this course in the duties of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeants was probably the first dedicated stores’ trade-related course conducted in New Zealand.

Armourers

From the early day of the Defence Stores there had always been individuals fulfilling the role of Armourers, but with the advent of more modern and complicated weapons, the need for professional Armourers was identified at the end of the 19th century. To fill the immediate experience shortfall and provide experience and skill base to train New Zealand Armourers, two Armourer Sergeants from the British Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) were seconded to the New Zealand Defence Stores in 1900 with a third employed in 1903.  In 1912 General Order 118 was promulgated that as of the 1st of May 1912, all Armourers were to be posted to the New Zealand Ordnance Corps, with its approved establishment detailed in the same order.

1912 armoures John Boyce
New Zealand Defence Forces General Order 118, 1 May 1912

Camp Equipment

As the Territorial Force Army became organised and exercising on a regular basis, the Defence Stores Department was starting to feel the strain of having to provide camp equipment and other stores to each camp. Although each regiment was issued with it core equipment such as weapons. Camp equipment had been centralised and was provided on request to regiments based on their perceived requirements as required, not against a set scale based on the units strength or role.

In 1911 there were 2937 tents (circular) in New Zealand, which had been in service for many years:

  • 16 for seventeen years
  • 311 for thirteen years,
  • 782 for twelve years,
  • 542 for five years, and
  • the balance from one to three years.

Observations by the Defence Stores Department had determined that much of the stock of tents was not suitable for future camps, The same applied for much of the inventory of Camp Equipment, meaning that insufficient tents and camp equipment were available to accommodate the entire Territorial Army if camping at once. To enable more efficient forecasting, management and distribution of camp equipment, ensuring excessive stores were not demanded by units and also to allow the Defence Stores Department to manage individual items on an Army-wide basis, the following scales were developed and introduced for use in the 1913 camps.

1913 block scale
1913 Camp Equipment Scale

Annual Camp Temporary Ordnance Stores Depots

As the Defence Stores Department was primarily a civilian organisation with limited manpower, it was decided that for the annual camps of 1913 to test the new management system for Camp Equipment stores. Temporary Ordnance Stores Depots were established to enable the management of the stores’ functions in the lead-up to, during and after Annual Camps. The Defence Stores Department assembled stores based upon units strength and role and dispatched them to the location by train for receipt by the temporary Ordnance Stores Depots. The nucleus of these Ordnance Stores Depots was formed by the training of selected personnel from within the Territorial Army in the required store’s procedures required to control the receipt and issue of ordnance stores in the camps. As with the Training of the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeants in 1911 the selected personnel were provided with a fortnight’s course of instruction in their duties, under the Director of Equipment and Stores.

For the 1913 camps, all camp equipment was issued to the Regimental Quartermaster-sergeants direct from the temporary Ordnance Depot which had been established before the start of the camps. This negated loss by direct consignment or doubt as to quantities taken into use. On the termination of the camps, all camp equipment in use by the units assembled was returned to the temporary Ordnance Depot, and the necessary arrangements as to deficiencies made without any delay. Regimental Quartermaster-sergeants were instructed to remain on the departure of their regiments until accounts for equipment had been checked and adjusted. Camp equipment was then returned from the temporary Ordnance Depot to the regional mobilisation stores.

The establishment of the temporary Ordnance Depots for the 1913 camp was;

  • Ordnance officer
  • Two clerks
  • Four issuers

The temporary Ordnance Depot concept was repeated at the 1914 divisional camps with the Regional Defence Storekeepers acting as the Ordnance Officers and with an increased ordnance staff of 6 clerks and 12 issuers.

The Acid test of the temporary Ordnance Depot came within weeks of the First World War been declared in August 1914. The Defence Stores Department was at the forefront of the mobilisation efforts, supplying as much as possible for the equipping of the Expeditionary Forces. The four existing Mobilisation Stores, (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) were provided with additional stocks, and the additional Mobilisation Store that was established in Palmerston North was also provisioned to enable it to carry out its role. By 1916 storage space and manpower was at a premium and Finance was approved to extend the Defence Stores building in Buckle Street and additional storage space had been leased at Te Aro, Taranaki Street and the Wellington docks.

1914 Regulations for the Military Forces of the Dominion of New Zealand

Published in the New Zealand Gazette of 27 January 1914, the updated Regulations for the Military Forces of the Dominion of New Zealand revoked the 1911 regulations and again detailed the division of responsibilities between the Quartermaster Generals Branch, (to whom the Defence Stores was subordinate) and the Director of Ordnance and Artillery.  Responsibility for the organization and training of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps was shifted from the Director of Ordnance to the Quartermaster Generals branch.

1914 Regulations for the Military Forces of the Dominion of New Zealand.

The move to militarisation

The Director of Stores assumed the military designation of Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores in 1916, and the District Storekeepers were designated “Assistant Directors of Equipment and Ordnance Stores.” On 8 April 1916, Captain Thomas McCristell the Trentham Camp Quartermaster was appointed to succeed Major O’Sullivan as Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores. Major O’Sullivan moved on to the role of Inspector of Ordnance Stores.

McCristell
Major Thomas James McCristell, Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores, 10 April 1916 – 20 January 1920.

The formation of an Ordnance Corps had been under discussion as early as 1902 with little forward momentum apart from the establishment of the New Zealand Ordnance Corps to manage Armourers in 1912 and the Temporary Ordnance Depots in 1913 and 1914. Given the work of the Defence Stores Department since the start of the war, a vast improvement was noticeable in the methods of accounting, care and custody of arms, equipment, and stores throughout New Zealand. As of March 1916, the civilian staff of the Defence Stores Department consisted of :

Auckland

  • Honorary Captain W.T Beck. DSO – Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores
  • A.C Bulter – Storeman
  • J Maher  – Arms-cleaner
  • F Jewiss – Arms-cleaner and Labourer
  • E Key –  Labourer
  • R.J Felton – Assistant Ammunition Factory
  • B.E Lambert – Assistant Ammunition Factory

Wellington

  • Honorary Captain F.E Ford – Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores
  • D McIntyre – Foreman
  • W.W Dalby – Storeman
  • A.P Williams – Shorthand-writer and Typist
  • R.A.C Frederic – Magazine Keeper, Kaiwara
  • J.A Sloane – AssistantvMagazine Keeper, Kaiwara
  • H McComish – Saddler
  • J Hunter – Carpenter
  • H.A Stephens – Sailmaker and Tentmaker
  • D Fitzgerald – Arms-cleaner and Labourer\
  • J Monahan – Arms-cleaner and Labourer

Christchurch

  • Honorary Captain A.R.C White – Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores
  • H.F McKay – StoreKeeper Assistant
  • T Riordan -Magazine Keeper
  • H.T Rodgers -Saddler

Dunedin

  • Honorary Captain O.P McGuigan – Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores
  • J Woods – StoreKeeper Assistant
  • W Sanderson – StoreKeeper Assistant

Ordnance Corps

As of 1 February 1917, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) and the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD) were gazetted, replacing the Defence Stores Department.

The first soldiers of various trades and ranks who joined the NZAOC were transferred from the Permanent Forces on the 15th of March 1917, with Defence Stores Department civilian Staff who had been selected for militarisation, starting to transfer into the NZAOC on July 1917. This placed the Defence Stores staff who were handling military equipment and stores in the districts and training camps onto a military footing.

The Defence Stores Department had served the Defence Forces as a mostly civilian government department since 1862, and the abnormality of having civilians in the army who are really outside it and are not subject to military discipline and control ended. Defence Stores staff and others doing the same work in the districts have been under the control of the Public Service, wore civilian clothes and now had purely military status, and wore uniforms as members of the NZAOC.

20190510_074517-1585761419.jpg
NZ Army Ordnance Corps badge 1917-1937. Robert McKie Collection

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017


NZAOC June 1946 to May 1947

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

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

Until 1946, the Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) managed ammunition, explosives, Coast Artillery stores, and specialist equipment through the Ammunition and Equipment Section at Army Headquarters. Over the course of that year, this responsibility—together with some personnel—was transferred to the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC).

The Inspecting Ordnance Officer’s Branch continued to inspect ammunition of all calibres, classify it, service it where required, and prepare it for long-term storage.

In April 1946, approximately 200 tons of chemical shells were disposed of at sea. Loaded at Auckland onto the hulk Rosomund, the shells were towed by the tug Maui Pomare to the 100-fathom line in the Hauraki Gulf and scuttled.

.

Inspection Ordnance Officers Course

In December 1945, the results for No. 2 Course of Instruction—Inspection Ordnance Officers—were published. Of the thirty-five officers and other ranks who sat the written examination, eighteen achieved the qualifying mark of 50 per cent or better. Twelve officers were duly appointed as Inspection Ordnance Officers (IOO); from the ranks, two Warrant Officers Class I, a Staff Sergeant, a Sergeant, a Corporal, and a Private qualified as Ammunition Examiners (AE). In 1961, these trades were reclassified as Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) and Ammunition Technician (AT), respectively.

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

  •  

No 2 Sub Depot -Palmerston North, 1942-45

It is well-documented that the Palmerston North Showgrounds served as a military facility during the Second World War. Perhaps its most renowned occupants were the Māori Battalion, who conducted their initial assembly and training at this location. However, throughout the wartime period, the Palmerston North Showgrounds also accommodated several other military units, including the Manawatu Mounted Rifles, HQ 2 Brigade, HQ 4 Division, 2 ASC Coy, and notably, No 2 Sub Depot, NZAOC, which is the focus of our discussion here.

The wartime NZAOC

During the Second World War, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) efficiently organised its supply functions within the country. The central hub of this operation was the Main Ordnance Depot located at Trentham, which oversaw various subunits positioned both within and outside Trentham. These included:

  • HQ Ammunition Section in Belmont
  • Ammunition Sections situated at Makomako and Waiouru
  • Bulk Stores at Linton and Mangere
  • Artillery Sub Depot in Waiouru
  • Inspection Ordnance Officer Section in the Central Military District (Palmerston North)
  • Ammunition Repair Depot in Kuku Valley

Furthermore, the NZAOC established Ordnance Sub Depots in each military district:

  • Northern Military District, No 1 Sub Depot operated at Hopuhopu Military Camp.
  • Central Military District, No 2 Sub Depot was situated at the Palmerston North Show Grounds.
  • ISouthern Military District, No 3 Sub Depot was established at Burnham Camp.

(Note: Up to 20 August 1942, the District Ordnance Depots were known as Northern, Central and Southern District Ordnance Depots) 

At the commencement of the war, both the Northern District Ordnance Depot (No 1 Sub Depot) and the Southern District Ordnance Depot (No 3 Sub Depot) stood as firmly established Ordnance Depots, albeit with distinct histories and infrastructure.

The Northern District Ordnance Depot, situated at Hopuhopu Military Camp in the picturesque Waikato region, had been commissioned in 1927 as a purpose-built Ordnance Depot, well-prepared to support wartime operations.

In contrast, the Southern District Ordnance Depot, established in 1921, underwent a significant transformation in the early 1940s when modern facilities were added, enhancing its capacity to meet the evolving demands of the war effort.

While records indicate the existence of a Palmerston North Ordnance Detachment during the First World War, historical documentation is scarce regarding a lasting Ordnance presence in Palmerston North during the interwar years. In a cost-effective approach, logistical support to units in the lower North Island was streamlined, with direct supply channels emanating from Trentham.

Upon the mobilisation of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2nd NZEF), Home Defence Forces, and Territorial Forces, a significant development occurred in early 1942 with the establishment of the Central Districts Ordnance Depot, located at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. This pivotal move saw the appointment of Lieutenant William Saul Keegan from the New Zealand Temporary Staff (NZTS) to the crucial roles of Ordnance Officer for the Central Military District and Officer Commanding of the Palmerston North Detachment within the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) and New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC). This appointment officially took effect on 1 March 1942, marking a significant moment in the wartime logistics effort.

No 2 Sub Depot

The choice of the Palmerston North Showgrounds as the location for the Central Districts Ordnance Depot was a well-thought-out decision. Positioned strategically between Featherston, Waldegrave, Pascal, and Cuba Streets, these showgrounds were ideally situated just a stone’s throw away from the Palmerston North Railway yards, which, during that time, were situated in what is now the Railway Reserve on Pioneer Highway. This strategic location facilitated the smooth flow of goods, not only from the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham but also from various suppliers across the country. It also made it convenient for dispatching goods to subordinate units throughout the lower North Island via both rail and road networks.

The showgrounds boasted some of the largest covered spaces in the region, featuring five exhibition halls all under one expansive roof. Additionally, there was ample hardstanding space available for vehicles and other defense stores. To accommodate units such as the Māori Battalion and others, facilities like cookhouses, dining halls, accommodation (including huts and tents), and ablutions were thoughtfully established.

Initially, in the early years of the war, the occupation of the showgrounds was seen as a temporary arrangement, with the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association retaining partial use of the facility. However, as the threat of war with Japan became increasingly real by late 1941, a crucial decision was made to allocate full occupancy of the showgrounds to the military for the duration of the conflict. This shift marked a significant step in ensuring the efficient and exclusive use of the facility for wartime purposes.

pnorth showgrounds 2

Palmerston North Showgrounds, Cuba Street, 1939. Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services

Following the 20th of August 1942, a significant transformation took place at the Central Districts Ordnance Depot, which was subsequently renamed as No 2 Sub Depot. It found its new home on the Waldergrave Street side of the showgrounds, housed within the expansive complex of five interconnected exhibition halls all under one roof. Each hall had its distinct purpose:

  • Hall 1: This hall was dedicated to the storage of an extensive array of clothing items, including boots, tunics, greatcoats, and underwear.
  • Hall 2: Here, an impressive inventory of tools, spare parts, and expendable stores was meticulously organized. This included an abundance of hardware, such as nails, wire, rope, paint, thinners, and linseed oil, surpassing the combined stock of all merchants in Palmerston North.
  • Hall 3: Hall 3 was stocked with an assortment of camp fittings, crockery, cutlery, sheets, blankets, and various household linens, numbering in the thousands.
  • Halls 4 and 5: These two halls were the repository for every conceivable type of Army equipment, including rifles and machine-guns.

Flammable materials like paints, turpentine, and kerosene, initially stored within the main buildings, saw improved storage conditions in 1943 when dedicated structures with concrete floors and iron walls and roofs were provided.

Explosives and ammunition were also housed at the showgrounds until 1943 when the construction of the Makomako ammunition area was completed. With the buildings often filled to their capacity, sometimes with stock stacked to the ceilings, two nightwatchmen were employed to ensure security and act as a fire picket during the quiet nighttime hours. Stringent fire safety measures were in place, including regular inspections in coordination with the Fire Brigade. The Army maintained a well-equipped first aid inventory, comprising buckets, bucket pumps, hoses, and fire extinguishers.

The storage method employed was designed to minimize fire risks, with flammable goods strategically positioned between non-flammable products to create firebreaks in case of an emergency. The Fire Brigade provided valuable recommendations for further reducing fire hazards, all of which were diligently implemented. Despite the heightened precautions, the installation of an automatic alarm system was not deemed necessary by the fire brigade, as the measures in place were considered sufficient.

Beyond the showgrounds, No 2 Depot extended its operational reach with surge accommodation, including Part Worn Clothing stores located in Rangitikei and Church Streets, as well as engineer dumps at two Fielding locations. The cumulative value of all stock at the depot by the end of December 1944 amounted to a substantial £1,100,000 (equivalent to approximately $NZ 90,845,402.49 in today’s currency), underscoring the depot’s critical role in supporting wartime logistics and readiness.

Depot Establishment

As of the 17 of August 1942, the formation of No 2 Depot was officially constituted with a complement of 3 officers and 81 Other ranks, organised in the following structure.

17 Aug 1942

Owing to the constraints on manpower during the wartime period, the posted strength of personnel was never fully reached in accordance with the established numbers. This shortage of personnel was a consequence of the pressing demands of the wartime context.

February 1943

Posted strength was One Officer and 66 Other ranks.

30th of October 1943

the establishment had been increased to 3 Officers and 95 Other ranks, with a posted strength of 2 Officer and 88 Other ranks.

29 February 1944

the establishment had been increased on 1 November 1943 to 3 Officers and 92 Other ranks, with a posted strength of 2 Officer and 83 Other ranks.

29 Feb 1944

5 April 1944

5 April 1944 No2 Sub Depot

Unknown Military Unit 2
No 2 Ordnance Sub Depot. Group of soldiers – Elmar Studios, 459 Main Street, Palmerston North circa 1942 to circa 1945, No Known Restrictions

The big blaze

On the 31st of December 1944, Mr. Milverton, the superintendent of the Palmerston North fire brigade, was investigating faults in the city’s general fire alarm system. He traced the fault to the Show Grounds and determined that it resulted from vibrations caused by heavy motor traffic. As a temporary measure until the fault could be rectified, it was decided to disconnect the Show Grounds loop from the alarm system. The military authorities were informed of this action, and the alarm boxes at the Show Grounds were marked as ‘Out of order.’

Around 9:30 PM, Sergeant W. C. Luffman, the Senior NCO of the Showgrounds guard, conducted his patrol and found nothing unusual. However, during his next scheduled patrol at 10:30 AM in the cookhouse, he discovered an empty and red-hot copper used for heating water, with the gas underneath it ignited. This had caused a piece of wood on the wall to catch fire. Sgt. Luffman promptly turned off the gas, then went to the main gate and enlisted the assistance of Private Wagstaff. Together, they used a stirrup pump to extinguish the burning timber. After ensuring that the fire was out, Private Wagstaff filled the copper with cold water and checked the iron around the fire site, confirming it was cool. They refilled the stirrup pump and left it near the copper as a precaution.

During another patrol at 11:35 AM, Privates Wagstaff and Collins, the Ordnance night watchman, were instructed to examine the wall in the neighboring Ordnance Store, opposite where the earlier fire had occurred. Meanwhile, Sergeant Luffman returned to the kitchen, finding everything in order and no signs of fire. Satisfied with the situation, he returned to the guard house around 11:55 AM.

While waiting at the guard house until midnight, Sgt. Luffman noticed a glow in the sky near the Ordnance Depot. Uncertain if it was coming from the Ordnance Depot, he hurried into the guard house to call the fire brigade. Unfortunately, there was no response as the alarms had been disconnected earlier in the day due to the fault.

Fortunately, local citizens had spotted the fire and alerted the fire brigade. Sgt. Luffman soon heard the sirens of the approaching fire engines. Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered that the fire had engulfed the building beyond the cookhouse, which was the Ordnance Store. It was well ablaze, with flames breaking through the roof. Eventually, three motor engines responded, and it wasn’t until midday that the last embers were finally extinguished.

While the row of six dwellings facing Waldegrave Street, which backed onto the showgrounds, was saved, it required tons of water to prevent them from catching fire. Additionally, the administrative offices of the A&P Association were spared but not without significant effort. Unfortunately, Halls 1, 2, and 3 were lost, but Halls 4 and 5 remained intact. At that time, it was the most substantial fire that the Palmerston North Fire Brigade had ever tackled.

pnorth showgrounds
The aftermath of Dec 1944 Showground fire. Evening Post

Aftermath

Evidence presented during the inquiry conducted in March 1945 by Captain William Saul Keegan, the Ordnance Officer in charge of the Ordnance Depot, estimated the loss resulting from the fire at £225,700 (equivalent to $18,639,824.86 in today’s value). It’s worth noting that a significant portion of the stock could be salvaged. Although substantial quantities of clothing and general stores were destroyed, the evidence does not support the assertion that the majority of Charlton rifles were lost in the fire. The enduring belief that most Charltons were destroyed at Palmerston North appears to stem from later secondary accounts rather than the contemporary record.

Initially, there were suspicions that the fire might have been intentionally set to conceal thefts from the depot. However, Captain Keegan dismissed these suspicions. He stated that the total value of all stock at the depot at the end of December 1944 was £1,100,000 ($90,845,402.49). Thefts from the Depot up to the time of the fire were minimal, and most of the overall deficiencies were attributed to miscounting. Over a span of two years and nine months, losses from all sources amounted to £627 ($51,781.88). During the same period, there were surpluses valued at £1,600 ($132,138.77). Thus, surpluses exceeded shortages by approximately £1,000 ($82,586.73). Captain Keegan provided a detailed account of the accounting system for goods, and based on his knowledge of the store, there was no indication that the fire was started to conceal shortages.

Detective F. Quin of the New Zealand Police testified about the extensive and thorough investigations into the possible causes of the fire but was unable to provide any additional pertinent information that had not already been presented to the Court. No evidence was discovered of sabotage, incendiary devices, or any other form of interference. No individual could be identified as the one who ignited the copper found burning by Sergeant Luffman.

It was fortunate that the fire occurred in 1944, by which time the threat of invasion had subsided, and the majority of the Territorial Army, Home Guard, and other home defense forces had been demobilized. Consequently, the loss of the stores had negligible impact on the ongoing operations of the Army.

Post War Reorganisation

In October 1941, the New Zealand Government acquired land in Linton to establish a Military Camp. The initial units began occupying the camp in February 1942, and within a remarkably swift six months, the first prefabricated huts were erected. Subsequently, over the following years, more permanent accommodations were constructed.

The Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham swiftly established a satellite Bulk Store at Linton. This Bulk Store operated independently of No 2 Sub Depot, serving the logistical needs of the military units based in the Linton camp.

No 2 Sub Depot continued its operations at the Palmerston North showgrounds until December 14, 1945. At this point, its functions were transferred to the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham, marking the conclusion of its presence at the showgrounds.

Reestablishment at Linton

On the 1st of October 1946, the Bulk Stores of the Main Ordnance Depot, situated within Linton Camp, underwent a formal transformation and was redesignated as No 2 Ordnance Depot. This newly established depot not only took on the responsibility for units stationed in the Linton area but also assumed the oversight of the Main Ordnance Depot Subunits located at Waiouru Camp.

The proposed establishment for this new configuration as of September 1946 was as follows:

Sept 1946 No2 Sub Depot

Over the course of the subsequent four decades, No 2 Ordnance Sub-Depot stood as the enduring Ordnance unit situated within Linton Camp. During this prolonged period, it underwent a series of name changes until the eventual disestablishment of the RNZAOC in 1996. These transitions in nomenclature and their respective durations were as follows:

  • Central Districts Ordnance Depot: 1948 to 1968
  • 2 Central Ordnance Depot: 1968 to 1979
  • 2 Supply Company: 1979 to 1985
  • 5 Composite Supply Company: 1985 to 1990
  • 21 Field Supply Company: 1990 to 1996

Today, known as 21 Supply Company within the Royal New Zealand Logistic Regiment, it holds the distinction of being the longest-standing resident unit in Linton Camp, an honor it has upheld over the years.

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017


Forgotten Ordnance

Ordnance Depots in the New Zealand Army had a reasonably well-recorded history from the late 1920s when they were maintained in Trentham (The central depot), Ngaruawahia, Linton and later Waiouru in the North Island and Burnham in the South Island. These depots served the Army through the fiscally challenged 1930s, the war years through to the 1990s.  Falling victim to progress, including the introduction of computerised systems, which allowed many supplies to be sourced by units directly from commercial suppliers, and the converting of military posts due to the international Tail to Teeth doctrinal trend. Depots were stripped of military manpower and traditional functions, leading to the full commercialisation of some and the shrinking of the regional Depots to mere shadows of what they were in their heyday.

The forgotten early days of New Zealand Ordnance

Before the formation of the Ordnance Corps in 1917, responsibility for the provision of Ordnance stores was shared between the Staff of the Permanent Forces and the Civil Service-run Defence Stores Department, with the Defence Stores Department having Mobilisation Stores at:

  • Mount Eden in Auckland
  • Alexandra Barracks, Mount Cook, Wellington
  • King Edward Barracks, Christchurch
  • St Andrews St, Dunedin

Although discussed as early as 1902, New Zealand did not make substantial moves to creating an Ordnance Corps until 1912, when a small cadre of officers and men were trained in providing Ordnance services for the 1913 and 1914 annual camps. (2 Clerks and 4 Issuers in 1913, 6 Clerks and 12 issuers in 1914)

There is some evidence suggesting that as a result of the lessons learnt during the 1913 and 14 annual camps, a nascent Ordnance Corps was established. This hypothesis is supported by the New Zealand Defence Forces Annual Report for the Period 1 July 1922 to 30 June 1923, which shows that as at 30 June 1914, there were 14 Other Ranks in the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps.

ord corp 1923
The comparative strength of NZ Permanent Forces. New Zealand Defence Forces Annual Report for the Period 1 July 1922 to 30 June 1923

With war declared in August 1914 and mobilisation and equipping of the force the priority, the formation of an Ordnance Corps was most likely put on hold until the timing was right. Although no Ordnance Corps was formed, Ordnance Depots were still created to manage the stores required for the mobilisation, these were operated by a combination of staff from the civil service-run Defence Stores Department and individual soldiers seconded from military units (most likely the individuals trained in Ordnance duties for the annual camps).  

An example of this is Norman Levien, who in Oct 1914 enlisted into the Auckland Regiment and was then transferred into Ordnance as a temporary Sergeant as the IC of Stores and Equipment. Embarking with the main body and serving with the NZEF for the duration of the war, Levien later became a Major and the Chief Ordnance Officer in the NZAOC in the UK.

1914 ord dept

Initially, the original Ordnance Depots were operating in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, with Featherson and Palmerston North added as the training tempo increased. Their existence is mostly forgotten, with few, if any, records remaining. Fortunately, an article in the January 1972 issue of the RNZAOC Pataka Magazine May 1972 describes in some detail the discovery in the 3 Supply Company strong room of an old ledger book from 1917, and the article describes some of the items and locations that items were issued to.

The following has been copied from the original 1972 Pataka magazine article.

Annals from a forgotten Ordnance Depot
(Author unknown)

An old and battered ledger

old ledger

An old and battered ledger, lying obscurely in a dim corner of the Depot strong room, catches the eye. Accustomed the drab and shoddy stationary of the present day, as we are, the magnificence of the old book stands out. The thick, leather covered binding in brown, blue and rich maroon with gilt linings, covers vast pages of smooth lined paper.

Battered and subjected to decades of dust, it is still impressive. Made in the age of the Czars and gas lit trains it has survived, redundant, like a pensioner, into the time of computers and commissars.

Sadly but inevitably many of its pages have been thoughtlessly ripped out to serve some temporary purposes. Thus its record of clothing transactions in a forgotten Ordnance Depot is like an old man’s memory – not like it use to be.

 

1917 – and all that

The volume opens onto the glorious first of June, 1917. World War 1 then was only but 18 months to run, though nobody could have realised it. In fact at that time the tide seemed to be running in favour of Germany and the decrepit powers bobbing about in her turbulent wake – Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria.
The USA came into the war in 1917, but, being unprepared tool little toll of Germany until the following year. In 1917 the U-Boats came close to knocking Britain out of the war by reducing stocks of food and war materials to some 2 weeks reserve.  In one week of that year the writers grandmother was reduced to feeding her family on turnips boiled with sugar. Old Russia was about to collapse that year from the combined effects of hunger and the terrible casualties sustained in three years of war along a vast front. Organised for the 18th century, her structure could not sustain a 20th-century war. This collapse gave Germany relief of fighting on one front and bringing her eastern armies across to join the western ones.  The combatant on the western front were by this time like punch-drunk boxers, trading senseless blows each day, each blow represented by hundreds even thousands of lives. Such losses were born to gain a few yards of territory either way, maybe up to a quarter mile of shell-pocked mud and soggy trenches. The most expensive winding strip running from the North Sea across France to Switzerland.

Away from all this fury, from the blood and the mud, this forgotten Ordnance Depot faithfully carried out its tasks as only one tiny cog in the lurching juggernaut of the war effort. No generals memoirs illuminate its role, gloss over its weaknesses, embellish its success or cast blame on the next man up or down on the promotional ladder. no famous war movies have brought the Depot to public fame or public scandal. 

Only the fading ink of a fraction of its past transactions is left to show that the place ever existed at all! The humble ledger book has proved more enduring than the Depot it once was part of, more enduring than the those who wrote in it and those who so thoughtlessly ripped out some of its pages for their own forgotten reasons.

Badges, Buttons and Balaclavas

In the remaining pages, a great many lines of stock are recorded. Most have their equivalent today, others have passed into disuse as the nature of warfare has changed.

On 1 Jun 1917 the following stocks are shown as being brought forward among many items:

  • Jacket SD  1605
  • Trouser SD 1144
  • Jackets Denim 1076
  • Trousers Denim 985
  • Pantaloons 307
  • Bags Kit  732
  • Greatcoats Dismounted  2303
  • Greatcoats Mounted 659
  • Balaclavas  294
  • Puggarees:
    • NZ Staff Corps 244
    • NZ Engineers  Nil
    • NZASC  122
    • Veterinary Corps  19
    • Medical Corps  48
    • NZRB 102
  • Titles Brass;
    • NZ Rifles  299
    • NZ Mtd rifles  100
    • NZMP  Nil
    • NZAOC  Nil
    • NZ P&T  Nil
    • NZ Pay Corps  Nil

Other items recorded in the ledger include:

  • Buttons Brass RNZA Vest
  • Buttons Bone
  • Buttons Brass NZ Staff Corps
  • Buttons Imperial
  • Badges Cap (also collar), for
    • 4 Regt
    • 5 Regt
    • 7 Regt
    • 8 Regt
    • 10 Regt
    • 12 Regt
    • Veterinary Corps
  • Badges Armlet
    • Provost Marshal
    • Umpire
    • Stretcher Bearer
    • Blue – Hospital
    • Geneva Cross
  • Breeches Riding
  • Links Split button
  • Gloves, Mechanical transport
  • Hose
  • Puttees
  • Covers Mess tin, Infantry
  • Badges Arm Brass
    • Armourer
    • Driver
    • Saddler
    • Farrier

What went where?

On 27 June 1917 the QM of troopship No 75 was vouchered the following items. (IV 248)

  • Jackets SD – 248
  • Trouser SD – 207
  • Jacket Denim –  47
  • Pantaloons –  47
  • Bags Kit – 9
  • Caps SD – 20
  • Greatcoats DS patt – 238
  • Hats Felt – 32
troopships-departing-nz
Troopships departing from Lyttelton. Alexander Turnbull Library

The QMs of Troopships Nos 74 and 77 were vouchered similar items and qtys on July 7 and 14 of that year. The troopship “MARUA” returned qty 7 Jackets SD on 28 July though being issued with another 80 plus 50 denim jackets etc., etc.
Issues to troopships appear quite often, on 6 Nov 1917 various items were issued under IV 252 to the transport “Devon” then lying at Port Chalmers. On 18 Jan 1918, qty 820 Kit Bags went on board HMS MARAMA.

Turning to the more usual area of army clothing issues, the rate of issues to individuals appears very high. In those days it is likely that clothing issues were made by Ordnance in Camps and thus the wheel has nearly turned full circle to what it was fifty years ago.

An officer known as the DofE&OS or DEOS appears most frequently of all among the recorded issues. DEOS was located in Wellington. What did these initials mean? Director of Equipment and Ordnance Services seems most likely, but then again the same page refers to issues made to the Director of Ordnance Services at Trentham.

Other issues, large and small, went to Home Service Store ST KILDA (IV 295 of 21 Nov 17) and OC Guards, QUARANTINE ISLAND (IV 520 of 12 Mar 18). Captain Von Luckner of the Reichmarine was a famous prisoner on this island in Lyttelton Harbour. Citizens of Germany and Austria-Hungary and their merchant seamen lucky enough to be in New Zealand at the outbreak of war were interned and many were kept on this island.

The list of “customers” is quite lengthy, but is worth recording as it shows the types of units which existed then. Some of the same type exist now; others have vanished.

  • OC RNZA Home Service
  • NZAOC Dunedin
  • 8 Medical Board
  • 7 Medical Board (In’gill)
  • 8th Regt (In’gill)
  • 10 Regt (Oamaru)
  • 5th Mtd Rifles (Dunedin)
  • 4th Regt (Kensington)
  • HQ Otago Military District
  • OC Railway Engr Unit (Oamaru)
  • OC Post & Telegraph Coy (Dun)
  • ADMS Dunedin
  • Vocational Officer (Dunedin)
  • OC Sth Island Railways Bn (Christchurch)
  • DOS Trentham
  • Ordnance Officer (Palm Nth)
  • C Bty Invercargill
  • Director Base Records (Wn)
  • 2 Fd Amb
  • 7 Fd Amb
  • OC Group 12 (In’gill)
  • 2 Coy NZE
  • 7th Mtd Rifles
  • OC Group 16 (Milton)
  • EL Sect (?) RNZA (Dunedin)
  • 2 Coy NZGA
  • OC Coast Defence
  • 6 Coy NZASC (In’gill)
  • 2 Dist Sigs Coy
  • Ordnance Officer Featherston
  • Ordnance officer Trentham
  • Chief OO Wellington 
  • OC Army Pay Corps (Dunedin)
  • Ordnance Officer Burnham
  • OC Sick & Wounded (Dunedin)
  • Ordnance Officer (Auckland)
  • Camp QM Awapuni
  • OC Sales Depot (Dunedin)

and the most intriguing unit of them all ….

  • OC Jaw Hospital, Dunedin where qty 14 Veterinary Corps Puggarees went under IV 319 of 25 July 1919!

As the present building occupied by 3 COD and formerly SDOD at Burnham were not built until shortly before and during World War II, and as the unit supplied include an Ordnance officer Burnham, it is likely that the Ordnance Depot or Store was located in Christchurch, the most probable place being King Edward Barracks. 

So, once again, the old ledger is closed and is returned to the dark corner of the strong room. Outside pass the files and the teleprints whilst in a nearby room the transactions whirr and clatter on electronic machines. Nearly 55 years have passed since the ledger was bright and new and in 55 years time it will be 2017. The younger soldiers of the Corps now will be drawing their superannuation and the older ones will have marched off to join those of 1917. It is unlikely that the MD310s of 1972 will be around to tell their story in 2027, but the old ledger of 1917 may last. Who can tell?

Some Analysis of the 1972 Article

Where was the Depot?

The author believes that the Ledger was from the Ordnance Stores for the Canterbury and Nelson District, which before 1921 was located in King Edward Barracks in Christchurch, which was commanded by Captain A.R.C White and the known military staff included:

  • NZAOC 92 Private Hector Finch McKay
  • NZAOC 103 Private Thomas Riordan
  • NZAOC 183 Sergeant Robert Walter Baker Gale

On reading the article, it is clear the ledger described is actually from the Dunedin Ordnance Depot, which was located in St Andrews Street, Dunedin and was commanded by Captain O.P McGuigan and the known military staff included:

  • NZAOC  23 Armt Sgt Maj (WO) William Carroll, MSM
  • NZAOC 90 Staff Sergeant D McIntyre
  • NZAOC 130 Private Joseph Woods
  • NZAOC 151 Private Arthur Pidduck
  • NZAOC 181 Private Peter James Innes
  • NZAOC 203 Private Richard Rowe
mob store Dunedin
Dunedin Mobilisation Stores, St Andrews Street, Dunedin. Google Maps/ Public Domain

Due to a reorganisation in 1921, both the Canterbury and Nelson Military District and the Otago and Southland Military Districts were combined into the Southern Military Command. As a result, the Ordnance Depots located at King Edward Barracks and the Dunedin Ordnance Depot situated in St Andrews Street, Dunedin, were relocated to Burnham Camp as the Southern Command Ordnance Depot.

Captain McGuigan and 5 staff were also relocated from Dunedin to Burnham, along with the Dunedin stock and records, including the ledger book described in the article.

The Southern Command Ordnance Depot was commanded by Captain White from 20 June 1921 until 19 Dec 1930, during which time he also doubled as the Burnham Camp Commandant.

A.R.C WHITE
Captain A.R.C White NZAOC. M.Dart/Public Domain

Badges, Buttons and Balaclavas

Many of the items on the list are easy to identify, but most people will immediately ask, “what the hell are Pantaloons?”   Pantaloons were a type of trouser issued during WW1 to Mounted soldiers. They seem to be similar in appearance to riding breeches ( also mentioned in the ledger). The only difference I can see is that Pantaloons only go to the knee, whereas the Riding knockers go to the ankles.

Pantaloons
Pantaloons. Imperial War Museum

Issues to ships

One of the interesting aspects of the article is the issues to the troopships. They have all been entered into the ledger at least 4 months after the troopship’s actual sailing date;

  • Troopship No 75 was the “Waitemata” sailed on the 19th of Jan 1917 carrying the 21st Reinforcements, 13th Maori Contingent.  IV 248 entered into the Ledger on 27 June 1917.
  • Troopship No 74 was the ” Ulimaroa” that sailed on the 21st of Jan 1917, carrying the 21st Reinforcements, 13th Maori Contingent.  IV entered into the Ledger on 7 July 1917.
  • Troopship No 77 was the “Mokoia” sailed on the 13th of Feb 1917, carrying the 22nd Reinforcements – E.F.G. Companies. IV entered into the Ledger on 14 July 1917
  • No record of a troopship “Marau”
  • Troopship No 81 was the “Devon” Sailed on 5 April 1917, carrying the 24th Reinforcements. IV entered into the Ledger on 6 Nov 1917.
  • Hospital Ship “Marama” was in Port Chalmers 30 Dec – 31 Jan 1918, IV entered into Ledger on 18 Jan 1918.
ulimaroa
ULIMAROA

As the entry dates into the ledger roughly match up with the ship’s return to New Zealand several months later, the time lag from the issue being carried out and the Ledger update could be the result of some quirk in the accounting system for troopships in place at the time. The Issues for the Hospital Ship “Marama” seem to have been carried out before the ship’s departure.

DofE&OS or DEOS

The Author is unsure of the meaning of the abbreviation DofE&OS or DEOS but is partly right in his assumption that the initials mean ”Director of Equipment and Ordnance Services” the correct designation was “Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores”. At the time was Major Thomas McCristell, who had previously been the head of the Defence Stores Department from April 1916, becoming the head of the NZAOC & NZAOD in March 1917. Remaining in the role until January 1920, when the position was renamed to “Director of Ordnance Services” and Lt Col H.E Pilkington became the incumbent.

McCristell
Major Thomas James McCristell, Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores, 10 April 1916 – 20 January 1920.

Quarantine Island

The Author assuming that the Depot was in Christchurch, has confused Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua with Ripa Island (Fort Jervois) in Lyttelton Harbour. During the period 1915-1919, the Otago Quarantine Station was converted into a specialised military hospital treating both soldiers recruited in NZ and some NZ soldiers returned from overseas for VD, mainly gonorrhoea.

p-13029-atl
Quarantine Island, Port Chalmers. Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa

List of Customers

The list of customers provides a real insight into the range of units supported by the Dunedin depot and also identify s the other Ordnance units around the country at the time; these were:

  • DOS Trentham, Possibly after 1920 when the DOS appointment came into use.
  • Ordnance Officer (Palm Nth).
  • Ordnance Officer Featherston.
  • Ordnance Officer Trentham.
  • Chief Ordnance Officer Wellington.
  • Ordnance Officer Burnham from the time when the Depot in King Edward Barracks moved to Burnham, but before the Dunedin depot relocated to Burnham.
  • Ordnance Officer (Auckland).
  • Camp QM Awapuni indicates that there was no Ordnance Depot at Awapuni and the Camp QM was issuing and receiving goods directly from the Dunedin Depot, especially as Awapuni was the main training camp for the Medical Corps during WW1 and Otago was the location of several Medial facilities.

The Author highlights an issue to the OC Jaw Hospital in 1919; not sure the story behind this issue,  but the Jaw Hospital itself is an interesting topic.  Henry Pickerill who along with fellow New Zealander Harold Gillies was a pioneer and world leader in reconstructive plastic surgery, together, they developed groundbreaking techniques for treating some of the horrific injuries inflicted on soldiers during WW1, and many of their methods are still the standard 100 years on.  The connection to the Jaw Hospital is that Pickerill, his team and 59 patients returned to New Zealand in 1919, where treatment continued at the facial and jaw department of Dunedin Hospital.  Harold Gillies went on to develop Gender reassignment surgery.

What happened to the Ledger?

The Pataka article is the only mention of the ledger I have been able to find. Although the building in question is still occupied by the Army, I very much doubt that it remains there. Wouldn’t it be great if it still was?

3 Supply warehouse

3 Supply Company Main Warehouse C1972

3 Supply HQ
3 Supply Company Headquarters C1972

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017


The First Cohort – Ordnance Soldiers of 1917

Who were the first Ordnance Soldiers on the formation of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps in 1917?  The names of the original New Zealand Ordnance Officers are well recorded; Major McCristell, Captains King, Beck and White are names familiar to those knowledgeable in the History of the RNZAOC, but who were the original men of the Permanent Force NZAOC that came into life in 1917?

Not to be confused with New Zealand Expeditionary Force NZAOC, which was formed in 1915/16 as a unit of the NZEF. The formation of the Permanent Force NZAOC had been under discussion since 1904 and was finally established by regulations published in the NZ Gazette on 1 February 1917 and continued to serve the nation until 1996, when its successor, the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, was absorbed into the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment,

The NZAOC was to be organised to completely replace the existing Civil Service-run Defence Stores Department, additionally incorporating many of the Ordnance functions carried out by the New Zealand Permanent Forces. Using Ordnance personnel records held by Archives New Zealand, I have reconstructed the 1917 NZAOC nominal roll. This identifies information about the soldiers, their previous military service, dates they were transferred if already serving, or attested into the NZAOC if previously a civilian and a raft of other information on promotions, postings, and discipline issues. These records are not complete but do provide enough information when combined with other sources to build a picture of the events of 1917.

Once the regulations authorising the formation of the NZAOC were published in the NZ Gazette on 1 February 1917, I am of no doubt that much of the planning for the establishment of the new Corps had already been undertaken. Between March and November 1917, approximately 140 men were either transferred or recruited directly into the NZAOC from four manpower pools consisting of:

  • Serving soldiers of the Permanent Forces,
  • Members of civil service employed by the existing Defence Stores Department and other Government departments,
  • Returned servicemen from the NZEF who had to be returned to New Zealand as unfit for overseas service but suitable for home service, and
  • Direct Entries from civilian occupations.

The available records indicate that the men initially required to form the NZAOC were identified in February/March 1917. The first cohort of men was drawn from the Permanent Force and transferred into the NZAOD starting on the 15th of March 1917, followed by the Defence Stores Department Civilian Staff who had been selected for militarisation, beginning in July 1917.

For the Men of the new NZAOC apart from some administrative changes, new cap badges for the serving soldiers and uniforms, military rules, and regulations for the civilian staff, there probably was not much change to their daily routine, just a change in names and appointments. The NZAOC was organised into Clerical, Stores, Ammunition and Maintenance sections located at:

  • Wellington; with NZAOC Headquarters, Stores and Workshops at Alexandra Barracks. Stores Depots at Te Aro, Taranaki Street and Trentham. Ammunition Section at Fort Ballance at Mahanga Bay.
  • Auckland, Mt Eden and Narrowneck
  • Palmerston North,
  • Featherston Camp,
  • King Edwards Barracks, Christchurch and
  • Dunedin, Otago Districts Stores Depot, St Andrews Street.

So, who were the first Ordnance Soldiers?

The first 10 Soldiers of various trades and ranks who joined the NZAOC were transferred from the Permanent Forces on the 15th of March 1917; they were:

  • Auckland
    • NZAOC No 17 Quartermaster Sergeant Artificer George Bush, Armaments Artificer.
    • NZAOC No 20 Armament Sergeant Major (WO) Thomas Edward Bryce, Armaments Artificer.
  • Palmerston North
    • NZAOC No 132 Armourer Staff Sergeant Andrew Archibald Young, Armaments Artificer.
  • Wellington
    • NZAOC No 1 Private Hugh John Adams, Ammunition Section.
    • NZAOC No 58 Staff Sergeant Artificer Thomas Reid Inch, Armaments Artificer.
    • NZAOC No 68 Private Patrick Keeshan, Ammunition Section.
    • NZAOC No 75 Private Charles William Marshall, Ammunition Section.
    • NZAOC No 82 Artificer Sergeant Major (WO) William Edward Moore, Armaments Artificer.
    • NZAOC No 100 Conductor William Ramsey.
    • Conductor William Henry Manning
  • Dunedin
    • NZAOC No 23 Armament Sergeant Major (WO) William Carroll, Fitter.

Many of these men had served in the Permanent Force for some years, some as far back as the days of the Army Constabulary. Some reached retiring age in a few years, while some continued to serve into the early 1940s, but although advanced in years, they provided a strong experience base in not only trade but also military experience for the fledgeling Corps.

Dress Embellishments

The NZAOC was authorised to wear the following dress embellishments.

  • Cap and Collar Badges.  The home service NZAOC badge was based on the UK Army Ordnance Department badge. The New Zealand version modified the UK AOD badge by Having the letters NZ replace the centre cannonball in the top panel of the shield and with the inscriptions Army Ordnance Department on the scroll beneath the shield. The New Zealand Pattern Ordnance Corps Badge is unique in the world as it is one of the few Ordnance cap badges where the cannons face in the opposite direction to all other ordnance badges. Current evidence indicates that this badge was produced in Brass and Bronze
    The Collar badge was a simple version of the Cap badge without the scroll with the cannons facing inwards.

     

20190510_074517-1585761419.jpg
NZ Army Ordnance Corps badge 1917-1937. Robert McKie Collection
  • Brass Shoulder Titles. Although not authorised for wear until 1923, there is some photographic evidence showing that the brass NZAOC shoulder titles were worn as early as 1918.
  • NZAOC STAB
    NZAOC Brass Shoulder Titles. Robert McKie Collection
    • Puggaree with Ordnance Flash. The Puggaree worn at the time was Black/Khaki/Black. (The Red/Blue/Red Ordnance Puggaree was not adopted until 1923) Soldiers of the NZAOC wore this with the Ordnance badge and a 1.5 Inch x 1.5-inch blue and red distinguishing patch on the left-hand side of the hat. Due to a shortage of Lemon Squeezer hats in early 1918, forage caps were substituted.
    NZAOC HOME SERVICE PATCH
    NZAOC Home service patch (Reproduction). Robert McKie Collection

    Soldier Profile

    One member of the original cohort who I have decided to profile is the soldier who was allocated NZAOC Service Number 1.

    NZAOC No 1 Private Hugh John Adams

    Although technically not the first member of the NZAOC, but as a member of the first cohort to join the NZAOC and having NZAOC Service Number 1, it could be said that NZAOC No 1 Private Hugh John Adams was the first New Zealand Ordnance soldier and one of the first Ammunition Technicians.

    Hugh Adams was the son of Irish/Scottish immigrants Adams was born at Lyttleton on the 21st of July 1874. Adams only completed school up to Standard Four (today’s year 6) and was working as a labourer in Blenheim at around 1892 when at 18 years of age, he enlisted in the Blenheim Rifles Volunteers (B Company of the First Battalion of the Nelson Infantry Volunteers.

    Serving in the volunteers for five years, Adams resigned from the Blenheim Rifles in March 1897, moved to Wellington and was attested for service as a Gunner 3rd class into the Wellington Detachment of No 1 Company of the New Zealand Permanent Forces, Based at Fort Balance at Mahanga Bay Wellington.

    Over the next few years, Adams consolidated himself in the Artillery earning promotion to Gunner 2nd Class on 1 Sept 1899 and then promotion to Gunner 1st Class on 11 March 1901.

    Around 1900 Adams married Ada Charlotte McKenzie, with whom he had three children May, Cyril and Lyall.

    1902 saw the reorganisation of the New Zealand Forces when, on the 15th of October, the Wellington Detachment of No 1 Company of the New Zealand Permanent Forces became the Wellington Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery.

    As a measure to assure some self-sufficiency in the inspection and supply of Artillery Ammunition the decision was made in 1914 to create as part of the Royal New Zealand Artillery an Ordnance Section to inspect and manufacture artillery ammunition. On 1 April 1915, authority was granted under New Zealand Defence Forces General Order 90 to raise the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps Section.

    The section was small, and Adams, along with seven other members of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, were the foundation members whose primary duties were the assembling of ammunition components for the artillery.  With the creation of the NZAOC in 1917, the responsibility for the Ordnance Section passed from the Royal New Zealand Artillery to the NZAOC with Adam and the other members becoming Ordnance soldiers.

    The immediate post-war years into the mid-1920s were a busy time for the NZAOC. Substantial amounts of equipment from mobilisation camps in New Zealand and returned from Europe as the NZEF was demobilised needed to be sorted, graded, repaired, disposed of, redistributed, or placed into storage. For the Ammunition Section based at Mahanga Bay, it was a time of expansion. The Kaiwharawhara Magazine close to the city was closed, and the Mahanga Bay facilities expanded from the original magazine and laboratory building on the foreshore to include Fort Balance, Fort Gordon, and the Kau Point Battery, as these were decommissioned. Their armaments were removed, and gun pits were covered over with roofs and turned into additional magazines. The area went from being Wellington’s premier Defensive location to quite possibly the 1st large-scale ammunition depot of the NZAOC, a role it filled until the 1940s when purpose-built facilities were constructed at Belmont and Kuku Valley.

    mahanga-bay-miramar-wellington-ca-1910c
    Mahanga Bay, Miramar, Wellington, c1910 (Colourised) Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand

    Adams remained employed in the Ammunition Section and was primarily the 2IC of the Section during the busy years of the early 1920s, his duties included making up ammunition, and he was responsible for the care of the magazines and surrounding areas. In a 1921 review of the Ammunition Section, Adams was deemed necessary for the operation.

    Few if any photographs exist of the work carried out by Adams and the Ammunition Section at Mahanga Bay, but these examples from the Australian War Museum provide some perspective.

    newington_laboratory_1949_b

    Removing primer from a round of fixed QF ammunition. Australian War Memorial

    cordite_bundling_001636
    RAN personnel inspecting cordite and then tying it into bundles. Australian War Memorial
    newington_laboratory_1949_a
    Base fuse or plug being removed from or replaced in a large calibre BL projectile. Australian War Memorial

    Reaching the retirement age of 55, Adams retired on 21 Feb 1929 after 31 years and 343 Days of service.

    Remaining in the rank of Private all his career, due to his lack of education past standard 4, Adams was recognised as a competent soldier in his role in the Ammunition Section and was no novice when handling explosives. Adams was awarded the following medals:

    • Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal, and the

    • New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal

    Adams Group
    NZAOC No 1 Private Hugh John Adams, Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal and New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal

    Adams passed away in August 1955, aged 81 years and is buried at the Karori cemetery in Wellington.

    Copyright © Robert McKie 2017


    Palmerston North Detachment – NZAOC

    This interesting picture held in the  Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services is of the Palmerston North Ordnance Store. Titled as being located at  327 Main Street, opposite the Empire Hotel ( The Cobb to those familiar with Palmerston North).  The occupants of this location are now Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) at what is now 527 Main Street.

    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. Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services

    The building was initially known as the Lyceum Hall and, in 1914, used by the Boy Scouts as their hall.

    butler postingsThe Palmerston North Ordnance Store was established early in the war to service the growing mobilisation camps in the Manawatu region, with records showing that Alfred Butler, a civilian employee of the Defence Stores Department, was transferred into the Palmerston North Ordnance Store in February 1915. Private Butler was attested in the NZAOC on its formation in 1917. Mr Frank Edwin Ford, formerly the Mobilisation Storekeeper at Nelson, was appointed district storekeeper, Wellington. Military District. Ford commenced duty and took charge of the Defence Stores, Palmerston North, on 2l June 1915.

    At some stage in the early years of the war, the building was taken over by the Defence Stores Department and, by 1917, was utilised as an Ordnance Store. On 1 July 1917, many of the Defence Stores Department staff were attested for service into the newly formed New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, with the Palmerston North Ordnance Store designation renamed “Palmerston North Detachment – NZAOC”.

    Under the command of Captain F.E Ford NZAOD, the Ordnance Officer Wellington, between 1 July 1917 and 14 Dec 1921, the Palmerston North Detachment – NZAOC consisted of the following staff drawn from the New Zealand Permanent Staff, Militarised Defence Stores Department staff and returned servicemen from the NZEF.

    • NZAOC  No 132. Armourer Staff Sergeant Andrew Archibald Young, MSM.
    • NZAOC  No 209. Sergeant A.K Simpson.
    • NZAOC  No 617, Private James Richards Horace.
    • NZAOC  No 80, Private Wilfred John Mitchinson.
    • NZAOC  No 838, Lance Corporal William Robert McMinn.
    • NZAOC No 19, Private Alfred Charles Butler.
    • NZAOC  No 44, Private George Henry Gedson.
    • NZAOC  No 53, Private H Houton.
    • NZAOC  No 163, Private William Alexander Larkin.

    It is unknown if this building was occupied by all the Ordnance Staff or if they were employed in different locations, but what is known is that by 1921 as the Army demobilised and wartime facilities closed. Up to its closure in 1921, the Palmerston North Detachment was primarily concerned with transferring stores to Featherston Camp and conditioning many auctions and tenders for surplus Camp Equipment and Clothing.

    The Building was advertised for let by Headquarters, Central Military Command in June 1921, and by September 1921, the building had been taken over by  Universal Secondhand Depot, who at the time claimed to have in stock the most extensive supply of Modern Secondhand Furniture in the District.

    Records show that by December 1921, the Palmerston North Detachment – NZAOC staff had either been posted to Featherston or Trentham Camps or had been demobilised, and it seems that with little ceremony, the  Palmerston North Detachment – NZAOC faded into History with only a single photo to remember its existence.


    New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (Home Service), 1917-1924

    Before the 1st World War, there was no military Ordnance Organisation in New Zealand. Responsibility for Ordnance Services was split between the Defence Stores Department and the Royal New Zealand Artillery. Need for an Ordnance Organisation has been identified as early as 1901 [1] and again in 1907 [2], but it wasn’t until 1917 that a formal Ordnance organisation was established in New Zealand.

    Based on the British Ordnance model (which itself was abolished on 28 November 1918 with the formation of the RAOC) [3] [4], two separate organisations were established for the supply, maintenance and repair of equipment, small arms and all stores required for the Defence Force.

    • An Ordnance Department for Officers, and
    • An Ordnance Corps for Warrant Officers, SNCO’s and Other ranks

    Establishment

    The regulations establishing the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) were published in the New Zealand Gazette on the 7th of June 1917. Established under the authority of the Defence Act,1909 the NZAOC was constituted and created as part of the Permanent Staff of the Defence Forces of New Zealand as of the 1st of February 1917.  Superseding the New Zealand Defence Stores Department, absorbing its existing staff and those handling military equipment and stores in the districts and training camps. Previously the Defence Stores Department had been under the control of the Public Service Commission, the NZAOC was now under the direction of the Quartermaster General. The establishment of the new Ordnance organisations, ended the anomaly of having civilians in the army who are outside it, and were not subject to military discipline and control, and placed staff who had worn civilian clothes into uniform and under army discipline [5] [6].

    Organisation

    The Gazetted regulations that established the NZAOC laid out the foundation of the Corps, the same Gazette also detailed the establishment of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department, which was a separate organisation made up only of Officers.

    NZAOC 1917

    The NZAOC Establishment as of 7 June 1917 was [7]:

    1917 ESTAB

    Stores Regulations

    To complement the creation of the new Ordnance Services, new regulations for the management of the equipment of the New Zealand Military Forces were published in the New Zealand Gazette on the 14th of June 1917 [8].

    Operations

    The NZAOC in conjunction with the NZAOD in New Zealand and the NZEF NZAOC, continued to support New Zealand’s war effort up to the end of the war, and then play a significant role in the demobilisation of New Zealand’s Forces, and the return inspection, repair, and redistribution of equipment. As the NZEF demobilised, the NZAOC absorbed some of the men who had served with the NZEF NZAOC providing much operation experience which became invaluable as both the NZAOD and NZAOC consolidated their position and started to centralise themselves as an organisation in Trentham, Burnham and Auckland.

    Badges

    20190510_074517-1585761419.jpg

    NZ Army Ordnance Corps badge 1917-1937. Robert McKie Collection

    Reconstitution

    On 27th of June 1924, the regulations establishing the NZAOD and NZAOC on the 7th of June 1917 were revoked, and the NZAOD was reconstituted as part of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps resulting in one Ordnance organisation for the New Zealand Permanent Forces [9].

    References

    [1] J. Babington, “Defence Forces of New Zealand,” House of Representatives, Wellington, 1904.
    [2] J. Ward, “Defence Forces of New Zealand,” House of Representatives, Wellington, 1907.
    [3] F. Steer, To The Warrior his Arms, Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books, 2005.
    [4] A. Fernyhough, A short history of the RAOC, London: C B Printers Ltd, 1965.
    [5] J. Bolton, A History of the RNZAOC, Wellington: RNZAOC, 1992.
    [6] “Defence Stores,” Otago Daily Times, no. 17033, p. 6, 18 June 1917.
    [7] New Zealand Gazette, p. 2292, 7 June 1917.
    [8] “Regulations for the Equipment of the New Zealand Military Forces,” New Zealand Gazette, no. 99, pp. 2369-2498, 14 June 1917.
    [9] “NZAOD and NZAOC,” New Zealand Gazette, p. 1605, 3 July 1924.
    [10] “New Zealand Army,” Evening Post, vol. XCIV, no. 24, p. 7, 28 July 1917.
    [11] “Ordnance Services,” Evening Post, vol. XCIX, no. 38, p. 5, 14 February February 1920.

    Copyright © Robert McKie 2017