Established at Trentham in 1958 and formalised by charter on 5 September 1960, the RNZAOC school’s initial function was to”Conduct courses as directed by Army HQ, to recommend personnel for re-employment within the Corps, to assess and test personnel for star classification (later called Band courses) and to recommend improvements in methods and procedures affecting the Corps.” [1]
Over the years, the school developed into one of the most important units of the Corps, with responsibility for
RNZAOC Supply Training,
RNZAOC Ammunition Training,
Tri-Service IED/EOD Training,
Hosting of major Corps Conferences,
The development and maintenance of the Corps technical publications,
The development and conduct of training in all aspects of Corps activities,
The maintenance of the Corp’s history and heritage.
It is known that two armlets were worn by RNZAOC School Instructors during the school’s existence.
With Instructors of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and Royal New Zealand Engineers approved to wear distinguishing armlets, the Army Dress Committee recommended to the New Zealand Chief of General Staff (CGS), Major General Robin Guy Williams, that permission be granted to allow all instructors of the Army Schools to wear distinguishing armlets. This permission was granted on 9 July 1984, subject to the armlet being a standard size and composition.
On 2 October 1985, the Director of Ordnance Services (DOS), Lieutenant Colonel Terence David McBeth submitted a proposal to the Army Dress Committee that dress regulations be amended to permit the wearing of armlets by RNZAOC School Instructors.
The justification by DOS was that with an instructional staff of fourteen, who as well as working within the environs of the school, were also required to conduct instruction:
At other military units
At civilian institutions
To the personnel of other services
required a distinction such as an armlet to readily distinguish RNZAOC School Instructional staff from not instructional staff.
If approved, the RNZAOC Instructors Armlet was to be
A 100mm red band (later adjusted to a 90mm band) with a 32mm blue stripe sewn centrally around the band, with
An RNZAOC Badge sewn centrally over the blue strip and worn facing outwards.
The manufacturing costs were minimal as the material and tailoring could be provided by RNZAOC Tailors, and the badge provided by the RNZAOC Directorate.[2]
At the meeting of the Army Dress Committee on 6 November 1985, as authority for Army School instructors to wear armlets had already been granted by the CGS in 1984, the committee endorsed the RNZAOC submission and it allowed DOS to arrange production of the armlet.[3]
RNZAOC School Instructors armlet (First Pattern). Malcolm Thomas Collection
Introduced into use by RNZAOC school Instructors, the armlet was worn until 1994, when the RNZAOC School became the Supply and Ammunition wings of the Army Logistic Centre.
With the reorganisation of the RNZAOC School into the Army Logistic Centre in 1994, a new armlet was introduced. Worn by instructors of the Supply and Ammunition wings of the Army Logistic Center, this armlet was the exact dimensions as the original armlet but with the Crest of the Earl of Liverpool in place of the Ordnance Shield. This armet remained in use until RNZAOC was disestablished and the Trade Training School was established as part of the RNZALR.
RNZAOC School Instructors armlet (Second Pattern). Malcolm Thomas Collection
Notes
[1] “Charter for the RNZAOC School,” in Organisation – Policy and General – RNZAOC (Archives New Zealand No R173115371960).
[2] RNZAOC Directorate 18400/12/ord/1 Instructor armlet – RNZAOC School, dated 2 October 1985. “Conferences – Policy and General – NZ Army Dress Committee 1985-86,” Archives New Zealand No R17311895 (1985 – 1986).
[3] Army General Staff, Army 220/5/103 Minutes of a meeting of the Army Dress Committee 6 November 1985.Ibid.
Due to its isolated location at the culmination of international trade routes, New Zealand has become a well-known centre of resourcefulness and innovation, inventing leading-edge and world-changing products. Some notable examples are Disposable syringes and tranquilliser guns, the referee whistle, the eggbeater, the electric fence, jet boats, flexible plastic ear tags for livestock, bungy jumping, flat whites and pavlova. While these products have all had a peaceful intent and provided a valuable contribution to the world, New Zealand’s war experience in the twentieth century has also contributed to military innovation. The Kelsey swivel-stock rifle is discussed here, a New Zealand invention from the 1950s that allowed a Sten Sub Machin Gun to be fired from behind cover and around corners.
Shooting around a corner from cover with he experimental Mk5 Sten “Swivel Butt Carbiner”. Courtesy MoD Pattern Room Library
During the latter stages of the Second World War, based on the lessons learned on the Eastern Front, the German military identified a requirement for aiming and firing weapons around corners and from within Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). The Germans developed the Krummlauf barrel attachment for the Sturmgewehr 44 (StG 44) and Maschinengewehr 42 (MG 42) to meet this requirement.
The Krummlauf was produced in two variants:
The “I” variant for infantry use,
The “P” variant for use in AFVs to provide cover over blind spots to defend against assaulting infantry
The “I” and “P” barrels for the StG 44 and MG 42 were produced with bends of 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°. However, only the “I” 30° Barrell for the StG 44 was produced in quantity.
With a very short lifespan—approximately 300 rounds for the 30° variant and 160 rounds for the 45° variant—the Krummlauf barrel was under great stress. Additionally, due to the barrel bend, bullets shattered as they exited the barrel, producing an unintended shotgun effect. Developed too late in the war for testing and refinement by the Germans, postwar testing by the United States Army resulted in some modifications; however, the Krummlauf remained unreliable despite these modifications. The Soviets also experimented with a curved barrel, producing an Experimental PPSh with a curved barrel. However, with the curved barrel seen as a novelty, interest in the concept was soon lost.
Despite the concept of a bent barrel to allow the firing around corners, proving impracticable, Lieutenant Colonel John Owen Kelsey had seen the need for such a capability during New Zealand’s streetfighting in Italy and set about finding a solution.
Colonel Kelsey was born in New Plymouth in November 1904. Before World War II, he served as an Engineering Officer with the Royal Navy for two years. This engineering background led to his first New Zealand Army Ordnance posting in 1939 as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 13th LAD New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC). Shortly after he arrived in Egypt in 1940, he was promoted to Lieutenant and posted as the Assistant Senior Ordnance Mechanical Engineer (SOME). He became the SOME and was promoted to Temporary Captain a few months later. In November of the same year, he became the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services (Equipment) (DADOS E) HQ 2NZ Division. He was also promoted to Temporary Major while holding this position and, in April and May 1941, took part in the campaigns in Greece and Crete. On return from Crete, he was transferred to the British Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) Deputy Director Ordnance Services(DDOS) office for a few months and then returned to 2NZEF as the Chief Ordnance Mechanical Engineer (COME) in August 1941. His duties were extended a year later when he became the Assistant Director of Ordnance Services (ADOS) and COME 2NZEF.
After forming a separate Corps of New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NZEME) in December 1942, Colonel Kelsey relinquished the appointment of COME and became the ADOS 2NZEF/ADOS 2NZ Division and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel J O Kelsey, MBE August 1943- Ref: DA-04363-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22681005
A temporary promotion to Colonel followed from February to March 1944, when Colonel Kelsey was appointed as the DDOS of a Corps for operations in Italy.
He returned home on well-earned leave in April 1944 after four and a half years away but returned to the Middle East in September 1944. He resumed the ADOS 2NZEF and 2NZ Division appointments and maintained these responsibilities until the war ended, completing six years with the division and participating in every campaign. For distinguished service, Colonel Kelsey was Mentioned in Despatches.
On his discharge, Colonel Kelsey went into business as an accountant at Whakatane but was not very successful. He relocated to Auckland, where he obtained a post in the Public Relations Office but was subsequently asked to leave. Setting up a public relations office in Devonport, where he slept on a couch in the office because he could not afford to board, Colonel Kelsey set to work developing his Sten Gun adapted to fire around corners.
In June 1953, The Press announced that a Sten gun adapted to shoot round corners had been developed by Colonel Kelsey, known as the Kelsey swivel-stock rifle and that the army had tested it at Waiouru Military Camp. Following the success of these tests, the device was sent to the War Office in London for further examination.
Colonel Kelsey had adapted the Sten gun to have a swivel butt and a unique sight. Unlike the wartime Krummlauf, it was not a weapon with a bent barrel but a standard Sten Gun. The weapon could be used in the usual way, with shooting a round left or right corners enabled by simply resetting the butt to 90°to the parrel and sighted using a unique sight. The sight was based on the principle of the periscope, using prisms with exact details placed on the secret list.
With no reply from the War Office by the end of 1953 and confident with his design and that it could be adapted for other firearms, Colonel Kelsey took out world patent rights and intended to fly to England or America to try to sell the invention to armaments firms. However, despite being optimistic about his future, Colonel Kelsey struggled with the toll of adjusting to peacetime life, business failures, financial difficulties, a failed marriage and some unhappy love affairs and was discovered by the police on the floor of his office in Clarence Street, Devonport, at 5.30 pm. on 8 February 1954. Under his body was a .22 calibre rifle, which he appeared to have been holding.
A letter on the table addressed to whom it may concern said he was experimenting “to try to find the reason for dissipation of recoil in a rifle or submachine gun. This is immensely important to me now that the Kelsey swivel-stock rifle has proved successful.” He added “that there was considerable risk in the experiments,” with a footnote adding that the tests were to be made at training grounds near Whenuapai.
After reading some of Colonel Kelsey’s letters in chambers, the Coroner found that there was ample evidence that Colonel Kelsey had many personal difficulties. If he had intended to test the rifle at the time of his death, he would not have needed to write the letters, in one of which Kelsey stated he was “going to die,” The Coroner said he was forced to conclude that the cause of death was suicide by a self-inflicted bullet wound in the head.
With Colonel Kelsey’s passing, the development of the Kelsey swivel-stock rifle progressed no further.
In Leroy Thompson’s 2012 history of the Sten Gun, a variant of the Sten Gun matching Colonel Kelsey’s device is precisely described. This indicates that the weapon was tested and, although never progressing past the prototype stage, a record of its existence, along with some photos, was kept.
L. Thompson, M. Stacey, and A. Gilliland, The Sten Gun (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012).
No other New Zealand Ordnance Officer has held such a variety of appointments on active service. Colonel Kelsey was an OME, SOME, DADOS(Equipment), COME, ADOS, DDOS, and acting CREME. Despite his wartime service and the award of the MBE and Mention in Dispatches, there was no place for Colonel Kelsey in the regular post-war army. Despite his optimistic belief in the success of the Kelsey swivel-stock rifle, Colonel Kelsey struggled to adjust to the post-war world. Without understanding the effects of wartime stress that exist today now, he fell through the gaps and took his own life. Additionally, given the stigma surrounding suicide that has existed for many years, his wartime service and potential achievement as an inventor have never fully been recognised.
Accounts of New Zealand Ordnance Units’ wartime activities are rare, with one of the few accounts from the Second World War found in the wartime publication Prelude to War.
Prelude To Battle was the first of ten surveys on the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (2 NZEF) produced by the New Zealand Army Board during the Second World War to provide short articles on the activities of 2 NZEF.
Prelude To Battle was published by Whitcombe & Tombs, in 1942 and covers the first Libyan Campaign of June -December 1940. Prelude To Battle includes chapters on
the LRDG,
Divisional Signals,
NZASC, 4th NZ Mechanical Transport Company (4RMT), and
New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC), 10 Light Aid Detachment (10 LAD) attached to New Zealand Engineers (NZE), 5 Field Park Company
The chapter Water Supplies covers explicitly the activities 10 LAD during Operation Compass, which was the first significant British military operation of the Western Desert Campaign (1940–1943), during which British, Empire and Commonwealth forces attacked Italian forces in western Egypt and Cyrenaica, the eastern province of Libya, from December 1940 to February 1941.
10 LAD was one of 11 LADs, numbered 9 to 19, raised as part of the NZOC in late 1939 to render assistance and repair mechanic transport and the anti-tank units of 2 NZEF. Raised at Hopuhopu Camp, 10 LAD was commanded by Second Lieutenant George D Pollock, and attached to 5 Field Park Company, NZE. 10 LAD sailed as part of the Main Body of 2 NZEF in January 1940, Disembarking in Egypt in February 1940.
In late 1940 New Zealand units, including the Fifth Field Park Company, with 10 LAD attached, Divisional Signals, 4 RMT and other specialist troops, had been seconded to General Archibald Wavell for Operation Compass. The official War History New Zealand Engineers, Middle East states, “but beyond guarding the water pipeline and establishing water points and forward dumps at Charing Cross, the Company was not much affected. The British Army seemed to do very well without its assistance”. However, as this Prelude To Battle chapter describes, 10 LAD played a critical role in ensuring water supply to the advancing allied units.
A Light Aid Detachment, Water Colour by Captain Peter McIntyre
The Prelude to Battle chapter, Water Supplies, reads:
Concerned with the maintenance of water plants to supply the troops advancing into Cyrenaica and the servicing of Royal Engineers’ equipment, the 10th Light Aid Detachment of the New Zealand Ordnance Corps entered each town almost immediately after its capture to attend to the water installations and pumping appliances.
Before the British assumed the offensive, the 10th LAD has succeeded in drawing water from about ten feet below the surface at Burbeita and in the sandhills at Baggush. When Fort Nibeiwa was attacked on 8 December, the 10th LAD were in caves in the escarpment at Charing Cross, several miles inland from Mersa Matruh. As soon as the last of the Sisi Barrano forts was captured, Major G. D. Pollock, who commanded the 10th LAD went to Sidi Barrani to attend to the water works there. He found in perfect order a Fiat diesel pumping engine capable of 250 litres an hour and a plant for distilling salt water. The remainder of the 10th LAD entered Sidi Barrani two days later. The Italians also left a large pumping station almost at Buqbuq, half way between Sidi Barrani and Sollum .
As the Australians concentrated for the Battle of Bardia, the 10th LAD were filling and working water wagons for Sollim. At this stage they began to operate closely with the 5th Field Park Company and on 10 January they moved with them to the harbour at Bardia. A fortnight later they were in Tobruk at work on the large distilling plant. After the Battle of Derna and the subsequent Italian withdrawal towards Benghazi, the 10th LAD were given a special job. The British command had made the decision to cut across the plateau south of Benghazi: the success of this plan depended on getting a supply of water quickly to Msus, some 500 miles south-west of Derna. it was the responsibility of the 1Oth LAD to have ninety-five tons of water at this point for the armoured division. This was accomplished. The operation succeeded, Benghazi fell, and the whole of Cyrenaica was subsequently occupied. In northern Cyrenaica, the water problem ceased. West of Derna lies a region of small streams, trees and green countryside decorated with fresh white buildings. When the British consolidated in this area in February 1941 the work of the 10th LAD ended and they followed the New Zealand signallers. Transport driver and engineers back to Helwan, where the New Zealand Division had taken up its station preparatory to its departure for Greece.
Prelude to Battle Page 32-34
Following this brief excursion into Libya, 10 LAD continued to be attached to 5 Field Park, NZE for the remainder of the war. In November 1942, the New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NZEME) was formed as part of 2 NZEF and 10 LAD transferred from the NZOC to the NZEME. 10 LAD was disestablished in late 1945.
The appointment of Colonel-in-Chief is a traditional ceremonial position in common usage across several Commonwealth armies. The Colonel-in-Chief is the royal patron of a regiment, and while not an operational appointment, the role is one centred on fidelity and tradition, creating a personal link between the regiment and the monarchy.
The colonel-in-chief of 16 British Army Regiments and Corps, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was also the Colonel-in-Chief of the following New Zealand Regiments and Corps:
1953 – 2022: Captain-General of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.
1953 – 2022: Captain-General of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps.
1953 – 2022: Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers.
1953 – 1964: Colonel-in-Chief of the Countess of Ranfurly’s Own Auckland Regiment
1953 – 1964: Colonel-in-Chief of the Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington’s Own)
1964 – 2022: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
1977 – 1996: Colonel-in-Chief Royal of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II assumed the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief, Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC) in 1977, an appointment that had its origins in 1921.
In January 1921, His Majesty King George V appointed HRH, The Duke of York, as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC). From the beginning, the new Colonel-in-Chief took a great personal interest in all RAOC activities and achievements, with Brigadier A.H Fernyhough noting in A History of the RAOC 1920-1945 that the RAOC was “beginning to be recognised as an important element in the efficiency of any modern army.”[1]
On the Duke of York’s accession to the throne as George VI in 1936, he held the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief of the RAOC until his death in 1952.
On the eve of her coronation, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graciously consented to continue her late father’s appointment as the Colonel-in-Chief of the RAOC.
The Ordnance Corps of Australia, Canada and New Zealand had established formal alliances with the RAOC in 1920, leading to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II accepting the appointments of Colonel-of-Chief of The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC) in 1953 and Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC) in 1958. However, the RNZAOC was to have a longer wait, while the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps (RNZASC) and Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME) gained Colonels-in-Chiefs.
In 1954, HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, took up the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief RNZASC. On his death in 1974, his widow Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, assumed the RNZASC Colonel-in-Chief appointment. Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, continued as the Colonel-in-Chief on the disestablishment of the RNZASC and the Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport (RNZCT) formation in 1979.[2]
Discussions for the appointment of a Colonel-in-Chief for the RNZEME had begun in the mid-1960s with HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, appointed as Colonel-in-Chief in 1971.[3]
The anomaly of the RNZAOC not having a Colonel-in-Chief was rectified on 2 June 1977 with the Governor-General announcing that on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second had graciously accepted the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief, RNZAOC.[4]
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Silver Jubliee 1977
For the next nineteen years, in her role as RNZAOC Colonel-in-Chief, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth took great interest in the activities of the RNZAOC and, during royal visits, provided the RNZAOC the honour of mounting Royal Guards for their Colonel-in-Chief.
With the amalgamation of the RNZCT, RNAZOC and the RNZEME into the Royal New Zealand Logistic Regiment on 8 December 1996, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be the Colonel-in-Chief of the RNZAOC.
Concurrently HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, also ceased being the Colonels-in-Chiefs of their respective Corps.
Notes
[1] Brigadier A.H Fernyhough C.B.E. M.C., A short history of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (London: RAOC, 1965), 27.
[2] Julia Millen, Salute to service: a history of the Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport and its predecessors, 1860-1996 (Wellington: Victoria University Press, 1997, 1997), 422.
[3] Peter Cooke, Warrior Craftsmen, RNZEME 1942-1996 (Wellington: Defense of New Zealand Study Group, 2017), 263-64.
In the New Zealand Army realm, there exists a group of exceptional individuals known as Ammunition Technical Officers (ATOs) and Ammunition Technicians (ATs). These brave men and women have adored a distinctive emblem since 1971—the Flaming “A” Badge—a symbol that embodies their trade’s hazardous and highly skilled nature. But this badge represents far more than just a visual representation of their profession. It is a tribute, recognising their trade’s extensive and illustrious heritage.
What began as the management of powder magazines in the 19th century has evolved into a responsibility encompassing the entire spectrum of ammunition and explosives available to the modern New Zealand Army. The AT trade has adapted and grown, keeping pace with the changing times and technologies. And since 1971, the Flaming “A” Badge has remained a constant, a badge of honour that signifies the dangerous nature of their work and the expertise required to execute it with precision.
Beyond its symbolism, the Flaming “A” Badge is a profound acknowledgement to those who wear it—a testament to the long and proud whakapapa (genealogy) of their trade. It is a reminder of the individuals who came before them, laying the foundation and forging the path they now tread. Each wearer of the badge carries the weight of history, embodying the spirit and dedication that has defined the AT trade over the years.
.
During the early colonial period in New Zealand, importing ammunition and explosives from the United Kingdom and Australia was necessary. Powder magazines were established at Mount Cook in Wellington and Mount Albert in Auckland to store and distribute these essential supplies safely. The responsibility of handling and storing these stocks fell upon qualified individuals from the British Military Stores Department and Royal Artillery and Engineer officers.
As the Imperial Forces gradually withdrew from New Zealand in 1870, the full responsibility for the country’s magazines and ammunition transferred to the Defence Stores Department. Subsequently, new facilities were constructed at Mount Eden in Auckland and Kaiwharawhara in Wellington, replacing the previous powder magazines at Mount Albert and Mount Cook. These new sites remained in use until the 1920s. Additionally, magazines were maintained by the Defence Stores Department in various provincial centres to support the dispersed Militia and Volunteer Forces.
In 1884, the permanent Garrison Artillery was formed, and two experienced individuals, Frederick Silver and Robert George Vinning Parker, were transferred from the Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Garrison Artillery to serve as instructors. Their expertise proved invaluable in mounting New Zealand’s Garrison Artillery, as they compiled books and manuals and managed artillery ammunition stocks in collaboration with the Defence Storekeeper.
Capitalizing on the government’s support, Major John Whitney established Whitney & Sons as an ammunition manufacturing company in Auckland. Later, with additional investors, the company evolved into the Colonial Ammunition Company (CAC) in 1888—the first ammunition manufacturer in New Zealand and Australasia. The CAC contracted with the New Zealand Government to produce Small Arms Ammunition (SAA). The agreement stipulated that the government supplied the powder while the CAC provided the components to manufacture complete cartridges. Each batch underwent government inspection and quality control checks before acceptance by the New Zealand Forces. The testing process involved firing a small percentage of the batch to determine its performance and whether it met the required standards.
By 1890, the production of .577 Snyder Ball Ammunition was underway, and the initial batches underwent testing, inspection, and acceptance under the supervision of Major John Pirie of the New Zealand Militia. Major Pirie, a former Major in the Guernsey Militia, had immigrated to New Zealand and assumed the Auckland District Musketry Instructor role in 1881. He continued to inspect manufactured ammunition until July 1891 when Major Goring, Officer Commanding the Auckland District, took over the responsibility. Lieutenant J E Hume of the Permanent Militia assumed the ammunition examination duties from 1893 while concurrently handling other responsibilities.
On 6 February 1898, a formal request was made to the United Kingdom to recruit a suitable Warrant Officer from the Royal Artillery to oversee the testing operations and supervise the manufacture of Small Arms Ammunition. Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor Arthur Duvall from the Artillery College in the Royal Garrison Artillery was selected as the Small Arms Testing Officer for the New Zealand Forces. Upon appointment, he was promoted to 3rd Class Master Gunner and engaged for three years at a rate of Nine Shillings per day, along with free quarters or a housing allowance of £50 per annum. Duvall arrived in New Zealand in July 1898 and began his work at the CAC premises in Mount Eden, Auckland. He extended his engagement every three years and completed twenty years of service with the British Army in 1911. Duvall then took his discharge in New Zealand, immediately enlisting in the New Permanent Staff as an Honorary Lieutenant on 26 April 1912, followed by a promotion to Honorary Captain on 1 April 1914.
In 1902, Frederick Silver transitioned from the Artillery and took on the role of Assistant Defence Storekeeper. While fulfilling his duties in this position, Silver managed all Artillery stores and ammunition. After implementing the Defence Act 1909 and subsequent reorganization, Silver transferred from the Defence Stores to the office of the Director of Artillery. He was appointed Quartermaster (Honorary Lieutenant) as Artillery Stores Accountant, retaining his responsibilities overseeing Artillery stores and ammunition. Silver retired in June 1913, and Robert George Vinning Parker succeeded him as Artillery Stores Accountant after being promoted from Warrant Officer to Quartermaster (Honorary Lieutenant).
Although the Colonial Ammunition Company (CAC) in Auckland provided self-sufficiency in Small Arms Ammunition (SAA) production, the same could not be said for artillery ammunition, which still had to be imported. Parker conducted a cost-benefit analysis and concluded that significant annual savings of £3,333 (2022 NZD$ 633,605) could be achieved by cleaning and refilling casings, inspecting and refurbishing propellant bags, and manufacturing new ones as needed. To realize these savings, Parker recommended the establishment of a specialized Royal New Zealand Artillery Ordnance Corps Section responsible for manufacturing and modifying ammunition. General Godley approved the proposal in mid-1914, and on 1 March 1915, under New Zealand Defence Forces General Order 90, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Section was authorized and established from 1 April 1915.
On 31 May 1917, regulations were approved and published, constituting the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD) and New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC), with retroactive effect from 1 February 1917. This marked the end of the forty-eight-year service the Defence Stores Department provided. Administrative control of the New Zealand Artillery Ordnance Section was transferred to the NZAOC, and Parker was commissioned as Captain in the NZAOD, serving as the Inspector of Ordnance Machinery. However, Parker’s tenure in this position was brief, as he retired on 30 September 1919.
On 10 January 1918, Arthur Duvall was transferred from the Permanent Staff to the NZAOD, assuming the role of Proof Officer SAA with the rank of Captain. The post of Proof Officer SAA would continue to be a continuous appointment in the New Zealand Army’s ammunition supply chain until 1968, when the CAC relocated its operations to Australia, concluding its longstanding association with the New Zealand Army.
The experiences of World War I emphasized the need for specialized officers with technical knowledge of ammunition. Captain William Ivory, RNZA, returned to New Zealand in 1919 after completing several courses of instruction in the United Kingdom and assumed the position of Inspecting Ordnance Officer (IOO). Lieutenant A de T Nevill, RNZA, served as Acting IOO in 1925, allowing Ivory to fulfil regimental duties within the RNZA. Ivory resumed the position of IOO on 2 January 1927. Upon Ivory’s retirement in 1933, Lieutenant Ivan Roberts Withell, RNZA, succeeded him as IOO, a role he held until his passing on 31 August 1946.
In 1917, the Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) Ordnance Section at Fort Ballance came under NZAOC control upon the formation of the NZAOC. The section continued its responsibilities for storing, repairing, and refurbishing ammunition under the supervision of the RNZA. With the closure of the Kaiwharawhara Magazines in the early 1920s, Watts Peninsula on the north end of Wellington’s Miramar Peninsula became the primary ammunition depot of the NZAOC. This depot consisted of 19 magazines, one store, and a laboratory spread across Shelly Bay, Kau Point, Mahanaga Bay, Fort Ballance, and Fort Gordon. These facilities were repurposed submarine mining and coastal artillery fortifications dating back to the 1880s. The large six- and eight-inch disappearing guns had been removed in the early 1920s, and the gun pits were converted into makeshift magazines. However, these accommodations were not ideal as they lacked proper temperature and moisture control, posing potential risks to ammunition stocks.
A smaller Ammunition section was also maintained at Mount Eden in Auckland until 1929 when, along with some staff from Fort Ballance, the Mount Eden Ammunition Section was transferred to New Magazines at Hopuhopu Camp. Intended to serve as the principal ammunition depot for New Zealand, between 1925 and 1927, eleven magazines and a laboratory were constructed at Hopuhopu Camp. The magazines, built into the hillside to contain any blasts, were made of concrete with double walls, creating an inspecting chamber. The purpose of the inspecting chamber was to enable sentries to monitor thermometers and adjust ventilation to maintain the optimal temperature of the stocks by consulting a chart.
In 1931, the NZAOC Ammunition sections underwent civilianization, transferring nearly all the NZAOC military staff to the Public Service as civilian employees, usually at lower pay rates or placing them on superannuation due to government budgetary constraints.
When New Zealand entered the Second World War in September 1939, the responsibility for ammunition was shared between the RNZA and the NZAOC.
The Director of Artillery was responsible to the General Officer Commanding for.
The provision and allocation of gun ammunition,
The receipt, storage, and issue of gun ammunition and explosives other than small-arms ammunition
The Director of Ordnance Services, assisted by the IOO and the SAA Proof Officer, were responsible to the Quartermaster-General for.
The inspection and repair of gun ammunition,
The provision, receipt, storage and distribution of small arms ammunition.
NZAOC Ammunition facilities and personnel shared by the RNZA and NZAOC in September 1939 consisted of.
The IOO, Captain I.R Withell, RNZA
The Proof Officer, SAA Mount Eden Auckland, Honorary Lieutenant J.W Fletcher, NZPS
19 Magazines, 1 Store, and an Ammunition Laboratory at Fort Ballance managed by
an RNZA WO1 seconded to the NZAOC
five members of the NZAOC civilian staff
11 Magazines and an Ammunition Laboratory at Hopuhopu Camp managed by
an RNZA WO1 seconded to the NZAOC and
two members of the NZAOC civilian staff.
Single SAA Magazines at Trentham and Burnham Camps.
From 1940 as the New Zealand Army moved from a peacetime to a wartime footing, the Ammunition trade grew exponentially as new infrastructure was constructed to accommodate the extensive range of ammunition required for training and home defence, with Modern Explosive Store Houses built at.
Burnham – 8 Magazines
Ohakea – 6 Magazine
Papakura (Ardmore)- 28 Magazines
Hopuhopu and Kelms Road – 55 Magazines
Waiouru – 45 Magazines
Makomako – 39 Magazines
Trentham (Kuku Valley) – 22 Magazines
Belmont – 62 Magazines
Glen Tunnel – 16
Mount Somers – 10
Fairlie – 9
Alexandra – 9
In 1942 a conference of the QMG, DQMG2, AQMG5, COO, DCOO and IOO reset the wartime policy and organisation of New Zealand Military Ammunition services in which,
The COO and the Ordnance Ammunition Group were responsible for the management and storage of ammunition
the Chief IOO (CIOO) was responsible for all technical management and inspection of ammunition.
With the role of the IOO branch now defined, from January 1943, the establishment of the IOO Branch was steadily increased to more robust levels.
From mid-1945, discussions started taking place on the post-war shape of the NZAOC. Some thought was given to returning the NZAOC to its pre-war status as a predominantly civilian organisation. Reality prevailed, and the future of the NZAOC was assured as a permanent component of the post-war Army.
The Proposed establishment of NZAOC Ammunition units saw the first widespread use of Ammunition Examiner (AE) as the ammunition trade name. AEs had existed in the British Army since 1923, evolving from the trade of Military Laboratory Foreman that had been established in 1886. Although the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) authorised the use of a specialist AE badge consisting of an ‘AE in Wreath’ in 1942, permission to wear this badge was not granted to New Zealand AEs.
RAOC Ammunition Examiner Trade Badge 1942 to 1950 with ‘homemade’ Brass Version.
The first New Zealand AE were in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary (2NZEF), where New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC) AEs were included as part of the 2nd New Zealand Division NZASC Ammunition Company establishment. Little information is known about the 2NZEF AEs. They were likely recruited from within 2NZEF, given some rudimentary training by the RAOC and set to work.
From 1 June 1945, the Artillery Headquarters element responsible for managing Gun Ammunition, the Ammunition and Equipment Section, was transferred to the control of the Chief Ordnance Officer (COO), ending the RNZA roles in the management of ammunition that had existed since the 1880s and the employment of Parker and Silver. As a result of the transfer, 11 Officers and 175 Other Ranks of the Royal New Zealand Artillery were absorbed into the NZAOC establishment.
On 15 November 1945, the QMG directed that the care, maintenance, accounting and storage of all ammunition and explosives was the responsibility of the COO. Under the COO, these duties were to be undertaken by
The IOO Section
The NZAOC Ammunition Section
Under the CIOO, the IOO Section was responsible for.
The control of all work on ammunition for all purposes other than accounting and storage,
Maintenance of Ammunition and explosives in stock in a serviceable condition and ready for use,
Provision of personnel for inspection and repair and for working parties to carry out repairs,
Provision of all equipment and stores required for the inspection and repair of ammunition,
Provision and accounting for Motor Transport necessary for the transport of stock for inspection and repair,
Administration and control of Repair Depot Trentham,
Maintenance of buildings at Repair Depot Trentham.
The NZAOC Ammunition Section was responsible for.
The accounting, storage and care of ammunition and explosives,
Maintenance or magazines areas and of buildings and services connected with the storage of ammunition and explosives,
Administration of personnel of the IOO Section, while attached to ammunition depots concerning pay, rations, quarters, clothing and discipline,
Transport arrangements for the movement of ammunition not connected with the inspection and repair of ammunition at depots.
The provision of suitably trained personnel was a constant problem for the CIOO. A course for IOOs was conducted over November/December 1945 to provide sufficient Officers to fill the IOO establishment.
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; from the ranks, two Warrant Officers Class I, a Staff Sergeant, a Sergeant, a Corporal, and a Private qualified as Ammunition Examiners.
On 1 September 1946, Army Headquarters “Q” Branch underwent a significant reorganisation that established the New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NZEME). New Zealand’s Ordnance Services were also restructured under the Director of Army Equipment (DAE), who became the senior NZAOC position.
The reorganisation led to the division of Ordnance Services under the DAE into the following roles:
COO: This role oversaw Headquarters New Zealand Ordnance Services, including the Provision Group.
CIOO: This role held responsibility for the IOO Group.
Following the retirement of Lieutenant Colonel C.S.J. Duff, DSO, RNZA, who served as the incumbent DAE, on 3 July 1947, the position was renamed Director of Ordnance Services (DOS). Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Huia Andrews, RNZAOC, assumed the role as the first post-war DOS on 1 October 1947.
By 1949 the Ammunition organisation had further evolved, combining the IOO and NZAOC Section into a single ammunition organisation, with
The CIOO and staff providing DOS with the required technical advice on ammunition
District IOOs appointed to each District Headquarters as the Ammo advisor to the District DADOS
District Ammunition Sections now renamed as
Northern District Ammunition Depot
Central District Ammunition Depot
Southern District Ammunition Depot
Army Ammunition Repair Depot
Army Ammunition Supply Depot
To facilitate the further reorganisation and refinement of the Ammunition functions, the DOS hosted the first conference of Senior Ammunition Officers at Trentham Camp from 21-24 June 1949.
RNZAOC IOOs and AEs 1949
As the role of Inspection Ordnance Officers and Ammunition Examiners became integrated into the structure of the New Zealand Army, the Ammunition trade continued to face challenges due to limited resources, despite operating at a high tempo. Throughout the 1950s, the trade supported various activities, including:
Continuous inspection of wartime ammunition held in depots.
Disposal of surplus and obsolete ammunition through methods such as dumping at sea, destruction within depots, sale to the public (SAA natures), and transfer to allied nations.
The Supply of ammunition to support Compulsory Military Training.
The Disposal of blinds and unexploded ammunition discovered in wartime training areas.
The conduct of trials and introduction of new types of ammunition into service.
The provision of technical ammunition support to the Fiji Military Forces.
Meanwhile, an exciting development occurred in the United Kingdom in 1948 when a competition was held to design a new badge for RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps) Ammunition Examiners. Major Leonard Thomas Herbert Phelps submitted a design that was eventually accepted. The badge featured a 3″ x 2″ Flaming Grenade in red, black, and gold, with the letter “A” incorporated within the grenade. This symbolised the AE trade’s status as an “A” Class trade and became the British Army’s first three-colour trade badge. There were rumours that the Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics Company logo inspired the design.
.
Elizabeth Arden lipstick
The year 1950 marked a significant milestone as the British Army Dress Committee granted permission for Ammunition Examiners (AEs) with the rank of Sergeant and above to wear the esteemed ‘Flaming A’ Trade Badge as a distinguished ‘Badge of Appointment’. Although this recognition was granted, it took some time for the approval to extend to the Ammunition Trades within New Zealand. Nonetheless, the journey was underway to officially embrace the ‘Flaming A’ Badge within the ranks of New Zealand’s Ammunition Trades..
In 1959, a thorough evaluation of army dress embellishments was undertaken to establish a clear policy regarding the wear of various embellishments, including:
Shoulder titles
Formation Patches
Service Badges
Badges of Appointment
Instructors Badges
Skill-at-Arms Badges
Tradesmen’s badges
During the review of Badges of Appointment, it was noted that specific badges worn by the British Army were also authorised for wear by the New Zealand Army. These badges, such as the Gun for RNZE, Grenade for RNZA, Hammer and Pincers for RNZEME, and Lyre for Bandsmen, were worn by Warrant Officers, Staff Sergeants, and Sergeants in their respective units. Regarding the flaming “A” badge of the RAOC AE, it was recognised that it held significance and merit for adoption by the ammunition trades of the RNZAOC. Consequently, the adoption of the flaming “A” badge was recommended.
Despite the numerous recommendations during the army dress embellishment review, only decisions regarding shoulder titles and formation patches were made. The Army Dress Committee requested the Adjutant General to prepare a paper on dress embellishments and develop a policy specifically addressing Badges of Appointment, Instructors Badges, Skill-at-Arms Badges, and Tradesmen’s badges. Unfortunately, the wait for a badge for AEs was set to continue.
As the RNZAOC organisation matured in the late 1950s, it became apparent that the system in place of having separate Ordnance, Vehicle and Ammunition Depots located in the same locations but under different command arrangements was impracticable and not an efficient use of resources. Starting in 1961, a reorganisation was undertaken to consolidate administrative, accounting and store functions under one headquarters. The restructuring resulted in only one RNZAOC depot in each district, which consisting of,
Headquarters,
Stores Sub-Depot,
Ammunition Sub-Depot,
Vehicle Sub-Depot
Traffic Centre.
To achieve this, all the existing District Ammunition Depots became sub-depots of a District Ordnance Depot, designated as.
In 1960 the RAOC renamed their Ammunition Trades, and concurrent with the 1961 reorganisation, the RNZAOC decided to align the Ammunition Trade with the RAOC and adopt the same trade names, making the following changes.
Chief Inspecting Ordnance Officer became Chief Ammunition Technical Officer
Senior Inspecting Ordnance Officer became Senior Ammunition Technical Officer
District Inspecting Ordnance Officer became District Ammunition Technical Officer
Inspecting Ordnance Officer became Ammunition Technical Officer
Ammunition Examiner became Ammunition Technician
Up to 1961, Ammunition Technical Officers (ATOs) were usually only employed in Ammunition-related duties. However, as a result of this reorganisation, ATOs were now used across all of the RNZAOC and, as such, were required to balance their regular duties with their Ammunition responsibilities.
1968 saw further reorganisation with the Main Ordnance Depot at Trentham was renamed 1 Base Ordnance Depot and the District Ordnance Depots renamed
Northern District Ordnance Depot to 1 Central Ordnance Depot
Central District Ordnance Depot to 2 Central Ordnance Depot
Southern District Ordnance Depot to 3 Central Ordnance Depot
A significant aspect of the 1968 reorganisation was the Disestablishment of The Small Arms and Proof Office co-located at Mount Eden when the CAC closed down, ending the ammunition trades’ long relationship with the CAA. Additionally, the Ammunition Proof and Experimental Centre operations at Kuku Valley was closed down, and its operations moved to the new Joint Services Proof Establishment at Kauri Point in Auckland.
Keen to provide the Ammunition trade with a suitable trade identifier Major D.H Rollo, the CATO, sent a message to the New Zealand Defence Liaison Staff in London in September 1968 requesting the following information from the UK Chief Inspector of Land Service Ammunition (CILSA) on the RAOC AT Badge
Do other ranks and officers wear it
Conditions of entitlement to wear
Cost of badge
Possibility of procuring samples
Any other pertinent details which may guide in adopting a similar badge
By the end of November 1968, through the New Zealand Defence Liaison Staff, the UK CILSA provided the following information on the RAOC AT badge to the New Zealand CATO,
Worn by all Ammunition Technicians on No 1 and No2 Dress. It is not worn with any other form of dress.
Price
No1 Dress – 7/6d each,
No 2 Dress – 5.1/4d each
Samples of each badge to be provided
In April 1969, CATO submitted a proposal to the 77th meeting of the Army Dress Committee, seeking approval to introduce the Flaming “A” badge for New Zealand Ammunition Technicians (ATs). However, the submission was deemed insufficient and was ultimately declined, citing the following reasons:
Equality among trades: It was argued that other trades within the Army equally deserved a similar badge, and singling out ATs may not be justified.
Lower qualification standards: Concerns were raised regarding the perceived lower standards required to qualify for the badge than other trade badges.
The Dress Committee agreed to revisit the matter if additional justification could be provided.
During the same period, developments in the United Kingdom and the ongoing troubles in Northern Ireland led to the unofficially wearing of the RAOC AT badge by Ammunition Technical Officers (ATOs). Subsequently, in June 1971, an ATO badge was introduced through the DOS (Director of Ordnance Services) Bulletin. This badge featured a small ‘Flaming Circle’ without the superimposed letter A, distinguishing it from the badge worn by ATs.
Moving forward from Major Rollo’s initial submission, New Zealand’s CATO, Major Bob Duggan, reconsidered the earlier proposal and, on 13 July 1970, through the DOS, submitted the following for a combined AT/ATO Badge,
CONSIDERATIONS
6. R & SO Vol II provides for the wearing of qualification badges, and a study of that publication reveals that a large proportion of Army Corps already have these. Many badges require less effort for qualification than would the exacting trade of Ammunition Technician. In addition, and supporting the acceptance of an ATO/AT Badge, these technicians are frequently required to deal with other services and members of the public.
7. The low standard required to qualify for this badge has been reconsidered in light of information obtained on similar standards received from overseas. In addition, it was never the intention to cheapen the significance of this badge in the RNZAOC or those of any other Corps. The standard required to qualify for the ATO/AT badge would now be as follows:
a. Technical Officers who have practised for a minimum of one year.
b. All Ammunition Technicians, regardless of rank, who have qualified in all ways for four stars in their trade.
8. The Public Relations side of the duties of ATO/Ats, as mentioned in paragraph 6 above, is further explained. This aspect concerns the collection and disposal of stray ammunition and explosives as well as involvement with the Police and other Government Departments in bomb scares. The average annual number of items, all natures and types of stray ammunition which have been collected over the last three years is 5750, which represents approximately 450 calls by ATOs or four-star ATs. ATO/ATs are requested by Police Stations throughout New Zealand
a. To visit many private homes to identify-stray ammunition.
b. Assess whether or not the items are in a dangerous state, and
c. Remove such items for disposal. If an item is in an armed state, it could mean disposal in situ’.
9. The request is therefore not for a trade badge, but one of recognition and identification as to the dangerous and skilful nature of their specialist work.
With the Support of the Army Q Branch, the Army Dress committee approved the introduction of the AT Badge for qualified RNZAOC ATOs and ATs on 31 May 1971
The New Zealand AT badge adopted in 1971 was identical to the RAOC AT Badge. The criteria for being awarded was for Officers to have completed one year of practical experience after graduating from the ATOs Course in Australia or the United Kingdom. For ATs to qualify, they were required to be qualified in all aspects of the trade, which could take up to six years.
The New Zealand AT Badge was approved to be worn with the following orders of dress;
No 2 Dress Mess Kit, No 3 Dress Summer Mess Kit. On the left lower sleeve, 165mm above the bottom of the cuff
.No 4A Dress Service Dress. On the left lower sleeve, 165mm above the bottom of the cuff, except with warrant officers, it was worn immediately above the badge of rank on the left sleeve.
The United Kingdom continues to maintain different ATO and AT badges. The Australian Army utilises an RAOC style, ATO badge with a stylised Wattle for ATOs and ATs.
Australian Army Ammunition Technical Officer/Ammunition Technician Badge. Robert McKie Collection
Examples of New Zealand ATO/AT Badges
1st pattern Ammunition Technician Badge. Robert McKie Collection
On 24 May 1985, the Army Dress Committee endorsed a proposal that all New Zealand Army Qualification Badges eventually conform to a common heraldic motif as an initiative to develop insignia with a unique New Zealand flavour. The common heraldic motif consisted of the qualification badge surrounded by fern fronds providing a badge with a distinct national character.
Although a scroll could be included, if this was not necessary, the fronds continued and stopped just short of the centre point.
Approved for adoption by the CGS on 6 November 1985, the request went out to trade sponsors to prepare drawings of the current qualification badges encompassing a surround of fern fronds for consideration by the Army Dress Committee.
Although tasked with providing a design of the AT badge incorporating the common motif, on 1 April 1987, CATO provided a submission including the current AT Badge with the common motif, as well as an alternative design in keeping with the requirement to ‘New Zealandise’ qualification badges.
Design provided by CATO of current badge with fern fronds
Alternative design provided by CATO
At the Army Dress Committee meeting on 12 May 1987, it was agreed that to ensure uniformity of design, the AT badge design incorporating the fern fronds was recommended for approval by CGS. This badge was introduced into service in 1988.
In April 1987, the New Zealand AT Badge was approved for wear with Summer Dress (Dacrons) on the left arm 50mm below the point of the shoulder.
2nd pattern Ammunition Technician Badge. Robert McKie Collection2nd pattern Ammunition Technician Badge. Robert McKie Collection2nd pattern Ammunition Technician Badge. Robert McKie Collection
2nd pattern Ammunition Technician Badge. Robert McKie Collection
2nd pattern Ammunition Technician Badge. Robert McKie Collection
New Zealand ATOs and ATs matured into a highly specialised trade that, on the amalgamation of the RNZAOC into the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR) in 1996, had a wide range of responsibilities, including
The inspection, storage and maintenance of all ammunition and explosives used by the Army
The conduct of technical trials on new ammunition,
The conduct investigations into ammunition incidents and accidents,
The disposal of unserviceable or obsolete ammunition,
The management of Explosive Ordnance Devices and Improvised Explosive Devices.
New Zealand’s Ammunition trade has progressed from storing and managing black powder magazines in the 19th century to managing the many modern ammunition natures available to the 21st century New Zealand Army. Although introduced in 1971 to recognise and identify the specialist, dangerous and skilful nature of the Ammunition trade, the flaming “A” badge is a fitting symbol of the trade’s progress.
From 1912 to 1958, the sight of New Zealand Soldiers in felt slouch hats was commonplace. In addition to providing a practical form of headdress, the use of a coloured headband known as a Puggaree allowed easy identification of the Regiment or Corps of the wearer.
Origins
The Puggaree origins lay in the Hindu word, ‘Pagri,’ which is used to describe a wide range of traditional headwear worn by men and women throughout the Indian Sub-Continent, one of the most recognisable being the Dustaar or Sikh turban.
Soldiers, by their nature, are creatures of innovation and British troops serving India soon found that by wrapping a thin scarf of muslin around their headdress, not only could additional protection from sword blows be provided, but the thin cloth scarf could also be unravelled to provide insulation from the heat of the sun. Like many Indian words, “Pagri” became anglicised into Puggaree.
By the 1870s, the practical use of the Puggaree had become secondary, and the Puggaree evolved into a decorative item on British Army headdress, which, when used with a combination of colours, could be used to distinguish regiments and corps. First used by New Zealanders in the South African war, the use of Puggaree on slouch hats was formalised in the New Zealand Army 1912 Dress Regulations. These regulations detailed the colours of the distinctive Puggaree used to indicate different service branches. Although not stated in the 1912 regulations, the design of New Zealand puggarees was based on three pleats of Khaki/Branch colour/Khaki. The exception was the Artillery puggaree. The puggaree colours detailed in the 1912 regulations were
When first New Zealand troops went overseas in 1914, the NZ Slouch hat was a headdress that had been first used in the South Africa War and had a crease running down the crown from front to rear. From 1914 the Wellington Battalion wore their hats with the crown peaked, and after a short period where cork helmets were also worn, General Godley issued a directive that all troops, other than the Mounted Rifles, would wear the slouch hat with the crown peaked, in what became known as the “Lemon Squeezer”.[2]
Worn with both the Mounted Rifles Slouch hat and the Lemon Squeezer, the Puggaree became a distinctive mark of the New Zealand soldier, identifying them as distinct from soldiers from other parts of the Empire, although Australian and Canada would both use coloured Puggaree on their respective headdress, it was not to the same extent as New Zealand.[3] From 1917 the New Zealand puggaree also proved helpful in distinguishing New Zealand troops from the Americans, who wore headwear similar to the New Zealand Lemon Squeezer hat.[4]
Following the First World War, Dress regulations published in 1923 detailed an increased range of puggarees available to identify the other corps added to the army establishment during the war.
A common feature of military dress embellishments was that often there was a high-quality version made for officers and a lesser quality version for the Rank and file, with puggarees also adhering to this practice. Requestions for puggarees from 1943 indicate that the following corps and regiments utilised officer puggarees.
Artillery
Engineers
Infantry
Army Service Corps
Medical Corps
Example of Infantry Officers Puggaree (Top) and Infantry Rank and File Puggaree (Bottom)
The felt slouch hat and Puggaree would remain a fixture of the New Zealand Army until 1958, when the Lemon Squeezer was withdrawn from services and replaced with a new and unpopular Battle Dress cap. The lemon squeezer style felt hat returned serviced in 1977 as a ceremonial item with a plain red puggaree. The Mounted Rifles style slouch hat returned to service with Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles (QAMR) in 1993 with the traditional Mounted Rifles khaki/green/khaki puggaree.
The Mounted Rifles hat with the Mounted Rifles khaki/green/khaki puggaree was adopted as headwear across the New Zealand Army from 1998 to 2012. However, corps puggarees were not reintroduced, becoming the standard army puggaree, with some units utilising coloured patches affixed to the Puggaree as unit identifiers.
In the forty-six years from 1912 to 1958 that puggarees were utilised as a uniform item, each corps adopted different coloured combinations. However, this article focuses on the use and history of Puggarees by New Zealand’s Logistic Corps,
• The Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps
• The Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps,
• The Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and
• The Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment.
Puggarees of the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps
The origins of the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps (RNZASC) puggarees are established in the Regulations of 1912. The RNZASC wore the Khaki/White/Khaki puggarees through the First World War and into the interbellum period.
New Zealand Army Service Corps Puggaree. Robert McKie collection
On 1 June 1924, the NZASC was split into the New Zealand Permanent Army Service Corps, consisting of the Regular ASC NCOs and soldiers, and the NZASC consisting of the Territorial Officers, NCOs and Soldiers.[6] The only uniform difference between the NZPASC and NZASC were their respective brass shoulder titles, with both branches retaining the Khaki/White/Khaki Puggaree
During the Second World War, the NZASC Khaki/White/Khaki remained in use throughout the war
In late 1942, 2NZEF placed a requisition on New Zealand to manufacture 50,000 Officer and Rank and File hat bands (puggarees) for all the different units of the NZEF. As the 3rd Division was in the process of standing up in New Zealand, the Ministry of Supply increased the requestion to 60,100, including
In early 1944 the decision was made by 2NZEF to replace the lemon squeezer hat with more practical forms of dress, and the requirement for puggarees was adjusted. Considering puggarees already manufactured and the requirement for puggarees by forces in New Zealand and the Pacific, 14590 puggarees from the original order of 61,100 were cancelled.[8] 760 Rank and files NZASC puggarees had already been manufactured, so based on revised calculations, the NZASC order was reduced to 6000 Rank and file and 300 Officer puggarees. [9]
The NZPASC and NZASC were reconstituted on 12 January 1947 and a combined regular and Territorial NZASC, retaining the use of the Khaki/White/Khaki puggaree.[10]
The NZASC was granted royal status on 12 July 1947, becoming the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps.[11]
Puggarees of the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps
The New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) was formed as a unit of the NZEF in early 1915 and established as a unit of the New Zealand Permanent Forces in 1917. It is assumed that as a new unit, a distinctive puggaree was adopted for the NZAOC, but the limited photographs of NZAOC personnel are black and white, making identification of colours difficult.
A Newspaper article from December 1918 does provide evidence that an Ordnance puggaree of red/blue/red existed. The article published in the Press on 5 December 1918 stated, “There are only two units in the New Zealand Division with red in the puggaree. They are the Artillery and Ordnance, and in both units, the colours are red and blue”. This sentence identifies that the Ordnance Puggaree was red and blue.[12]
Ordnance Puggaree, RNZAOC 1947-53 Badge. Robert McKie collection
The NZAOC red/blue/red Puggaree was formalised as the Puggaree of the NZAOC in 1923 when the New Zealand Army updated its Dress Regulations for the first time since 1912.[13]
By October 1939, the expansion of the NZAOC and formation of the New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC) for service with the 2nd NZEF created a requirement for NZAOC puggarees that could not be satisfied from stocks held by the Main Ordnance Depot. An urgent order was raised for 288 NZAOC puggarees
As part of the 2NZEF requestion of 1942, orders to manufacture 2200 NZAOC puggarees were raised.
NZAOC Puggaree Size Ranges ordered 1943
By 1944, 270 NZAOC puggarees had been manufactured and delivered, and despite the order quantities for other corps being reduced, some adjustment was made to the size range required, and the remaining 1930 NZAOC puggarees were manufactured.
Puggarees of the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The youngest of the three New Zealand logistic corps, the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME), progressively evolved into a corps from 1942 in three stages.
The New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NZEME) formed as a unit of the 2nd NZEF in November 1942.[14]
The formation of the NZEME as a new unit of New Zealand’s Permanent Forces on 1 September 1946, amalgamating and co-ordinating ordnance workshops, mechanical transport workshops, and armourers’ workshops, which in the past have been under separate command.[15]
The granting of “Royal” status on 12 July 1947.[16]
As the RNZEME established itself as a Corps, it utilised three types of Puggaree.
Red/Blue/Red Puggaree
As a corps predominantly drawn from the NZAOC, on its establishment in 1946, the NZEME adopted the existing NZAOC Red/Blue/Red Puggaree and NZOC badge. This was a temporary measure until NZEME Puggaree and badges were manufactured.[17]
NZ Ordnance Puggaree with NZOC Badge
Red/Green/Red Puggaree
By 1948 a distinctive Red/Green/Red puggaree with its origins in the NZEME of 2NZEF had replaced the NZAOC Puggaree.
NZEME pattern Puggaree. Robert.McKie Collection
As part of the 2NZEF requestion of 1942, orders were raised for 3000 puggarees for the NZEME.[18]
NZAOC Puggaree Size Ranges ordered 1943
As the NZEME puggaree was a new pattern, its design was described
Shades of red material as per Kaiapoi pattern range 7443x (as used in Artillery and Infantry bands).
Shades of green material as per Kaiapoi pattern range 18153B 9 (as used in NZMR bands).
The NZEME puggarees were not included in the reduction and cancellation of the 1943 order, and it can be assumed that the complete order of 3000 was manufactured and placed into storage at the Main Ordnance Depot. [19] A 1945 report places the cost of a dozen NZEME puggarees at £1.3.0 (2022 NZD $107.07).[20]
Blue/Yellow/ Red Puggaree
By 1948 the RNZEME decided to update their Puggaree with one that reflected their corps colours of blue, yellow and red, with an order for 4000 placed on the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company. With competing manufacturing demands, the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company could not satisfy this order but could provide the required materials. In June 1949, the War Asset Realisation Board District Officer in Auckland selected a Mrs V.I Banton of 117 Lynwood Road, New Lynn, to manufacture the RNZEME puggarees. At the cost of 1/6 each (2022 NZD $6.65). [21]
RNZEME Puggaree. Robert McKie collection
With the initial order for 4000 paced in June 1949, it was not until January 1950 that Mrs Banton provided suitable samples that met the required specifications to allow her to begin production, with the first batch of 704 provided in April 1950.
With the new RNZEME puggaree becoming available, the question of how to dispose of the 1800 red/green/red pattern NZEME puggarees in the Ordnance clothing stores was raised.
It would not be a case of a new pattern in, old pattern out, but one where the old pattern was to be progressively wasted out as stocks of the new pattern became available. The priority was to be RNZEME Territorials Force units first, then distributed to RNZEME Regular Forces units.[22] Photographic evidence suggests that the transition from the NZEME puggaree to the RNZEME Puggaree had been completed by 1951.
Farewell to the Puggaree
A 1947 survey of New Zealand Soldiers found that the Lemon Squeezer was the most popular form of headdress utilised by the New Zealand Army.[23] However, it was not the most suitable type of headdress, and for many of the same reasons 2NZEF discontinued its use during the war, the army began to look for a replacement.
In 1954 the Cap Battledress (Cap BD), commonly referred to as the Ski Cap, was introduced into service. The Cap BD progressively replaced the Lemon squeezer so that by 1960 except for its use by the New Zealand Artillery Band, the Lemon squeezer ceased to be an official uniform item of the New Zealand Army.[24]
NZ Army Cap Battledress (Cap BD), introduced in 1954, was withdrawn from service in 1964. Robert Mckie Collection
With several thousand unused puggarees sitting in Ordnance Depots as now dead stock, unlikely to ever be issued, Army HQ issued instructions that except for 150 RNZA Puggarees of a balanced size range, all other stocks were to be destroyed.[25] By August 1961, all stocks of puggarees had been destroyed.[26]
The Lemon Squeezer was reintroduced as a ceremonial headdress in 1977, utilising the red Puggaree utilised by the Staff Corps, Permanent Staff and 1953 Coronation Contingent.
Puggaree of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment
The Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR) was established in 1996 by amalgamating the Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport, RNZAOC and RNZEME while also absorbing all the All Arms Quartermaster Storekeepers from every corps of the New Zealand Army. A diverse regiment of officers and soldiers from across the army, a means to shape the regiment’s heritage and acknowledge the importance of its and predecessors’ role, was required. An opportunity to coalesce the RNZALR was provided in 1998.
In 1998, the RNZALR was presented with a banner providing a regimental focal point. Several unique dress items, including a puggaree, were introduced to provide the RNZALR Banner escort party with distinctive RNZALR dress embellishments. Missing the opportunity to adopt a new puggaree that reflected the role that the RNZALR’s predecessors had performed with courage and resilience in the past, the leadership of the RNZALR took the cautious and lazy option of adopting a Puggaree with no connection to the legacy corps. The Puggaree adopted was a blue puggaree, last been utilised by the NZ Provosts in the First World War.
Also, in 1998 the New Zealand Army reintroduced the Mounted Rifles Felt hat as an item of headdress across the army. Already in service with QAMR since 1993, the Mounted Rifles hat retained the Mounted Rifles Khaki/Green/Khaki puggaree. The reintroduction of the Mounted Rifles hat could also be considered a missed opportunity by the leadership of the RNZALR for not advocating the adoption of a unique RNZALR puggaree to be worn by RNZALR units. A compromise was provided through the adoption of a unit flashed affixed to the left side of the Puggaree. While retained by QAMR, the Mounted Rifles hat was withdrawn from general army use in 2012.
In conclusion, the demise of the coloured Puggaree in 1958 removed a valuable means of identifying soldiers and their units. It was an embellishment that by 1970 was missed, and to fill the gap, some corps lobbied for the introduction of corps lanyards while others introduced regimental stable belts. The opportunity was open to reintroducing regimental Puggarees between 1998 and 2022. However, this was missed. Today Puggarres are a reminder of a time of more colourful uniform embellishments and a curiosity for collectors of militaria.
[2] D. A. Corbett, The regimental badges of New Zealand: an illustrated history of the badges and insignia worn by the New Zealand Army (Auckland, NZ: Ray Richards, 1980 Revised enl. edition, 1980), Non-fiction, 47-48.
[10] “Formation of New Unit and Corps, Constitution of Generals’ List and Colonels’ List, Amalgamation, Redesignation, and· Disbanding of Corps, New Zealand Military Forces.”
[24] Malcolm Thomas and Cliff Lord, New Zealand Army distinguishing patches, 1911-1991 (Wellington, N.Z. : M. Thomas and C. Lord, 1995, 1995), Bibliographies, Non-fiction, 128-29.
[25] Army 213/15/1/OS3, dated 1 April 1961.”Clothing: Felt Hats, Bands: Provision.”
Of all the photos published on this website, this photo is one of the most significant. First published in the New Zealand Graphic on 29 November 1911, the picture is titled ”. This photo is significant in that it is
A photographic record of the first batch of New Zealand regular soldiers to be trained explicitly in Quartermaster duties, providing one of the foundation legs of the modern Supply Technician Trade of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment.
It is the only know photo capturing the images of the principal staff of the Defence Stores Department, who in 1917 became the foundation officers of New Zealand’s Army Ordnance Services.
Following the South Africa War, New Zealand’s military forces began to undertake a transformation into a force better trained and equipped to participate in the Imperial Defence Scheme. Uniforms, weapons and equipment were standardised, and following the Defence Act of 1909, the Volunteer forces were replaced with a robust Territorial force maintained by Compulsory Military Training.
In 1910, Field Marshall Lord Kitchener, the British Empire’s foremost soldier, reviewed New Zealand’s military forces and made several recommendations, including establishing the New Zealand Staff Corps (NZSC) and the New Zealand Permanent Staff (NZPS). Established in 1911, the NZSC and NZPS were to provide a professional cadre of officers (NZSC) and men (NZPS) able to provide guidance and administration to the units of the Territorial Force.
Since the 1860s, the Defence Stores Department provided storekeeping and maintenance support to New Zealand’s military forces from its main Depot in Wellington, supported by District Stores in Auckland, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin. Since the 1880s, duties had been separated between the Defence Stores and the Permanent Militia, with the Artillery maintaining Artificers and Storekeepers to manage guns, stores and ammunition of New Zealand’s Garrison and Field Artillery units. Prior to implementing the Defence Act of 1909 and the transition to the territorial army, volunteer units had maintained Quartermaster Staff to receive and manage stores issued from the Defence Stores. However, in many units, quartermaster positions were elected and varied in the value they added to the maintenance and custody of military stores under their care. As the military transitioned from Volunteer Force to Territorial Army, the existing cadre of quartermaster staff inherited from the volunteer system was identified as not up to the task, and the need for a professional quartermaster cadre was identified.
Establishing a professional quartermaster cadre with the required knowledge became a priority. By late 1911, 29 soldiers with the right qualities from the Territorial Army and Permanent Forces had been selected for training in Quartermaster duties. Reporting to the Defence Stores Department, Buckle Street Depot in Wellington in November 1911, these soldiers undertook three weeks of practical and theoretical instruction in Quartermaster duties under the Director of Stores, Honorary Major James O’Sullivan and the senior staff of the Defence Stores Department.
The course curriculum included instruction on,
Weapon storage, inspection, maintenance and accounting, supervised by Chief Armourer of the New Zealand military forces, Armourer Sergeant Major William Luckman.
The correct storage methods, inspection and maintenance of leather items such as horse saddlery and harnesses were conducted by the Defence Stores Department Saddler Mr H McComish.
The correct storage methods, inspection and maintenance of canvas and fabric items such as tents, other camp canvas, and fabric camp equipment, conducted by the Defence Stores Department Sailmaker.
Stores Packing, provided by the Defence Stores Department Foreman, Mr D McIntyre.
Keeping accounts and maintaining documentation used throughout all the departments, conducted by the Defence Stores Department Accountant Mr R.H Williams and Defence Stores Department Clerks Mr C.P Hulbert and Mr J Hopkinson
The course was not just an attendance course but one where all students were required to complete examinations on all the subjects covered.
Records indicated that all candidates completed the examinations and, under General Order 112/10, were appointed as Quartermaster Sergeants in the NZPS and posted to each various regiments of the territorial army.
“Staff of the Quarter-master General—men who passed as Quarter-master instructors and are being drafted to the various districts, Colourised by Rairty Colour
The training graduates are the soldiers standing in the three rows behind the QMG and Defence Stores Staff sitting in the front row.
4th Row (Rear) Left to Right
Quartermaster Sergeant G.C Black – 5th Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars)
Quartermaster Sergeant J.D Stewart – 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles
Quartermaster Sergeant A Collins – 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles)
Quartermaster Sergeant B.E Adams – 15th (North Auckland) Regiment
Mr H McComish – Saddler, Defence Stores Department
1st Row (Front)
– Clerk Defence Stores Department
Lieutenant A.R.C White – District Storekeeper, Defence Stores Department, Christchurch
Lieutenant O.P McGuigan – District Storekeeper, Defence Stores Department, Dunedin
Mr E.P Coady – Assistant Director of Stores, Defence Stores Department
Major J. O’Sullivan – Director of Stores, Defence Stores Department
Colonel H.O Knox, QMG
Captain H.H Browne – AQMG and Director of Supply and Transport
Lieutenant W.T Beck – District Storekeeper, Auckland
Mr F.E Ford – Assistant Defence Storekeeper, Nelson
Mr R.H Williams – Accountant Defence Stores Department
Significant foundation members of New Zealand’s Ordnance Services
Lieutenant Arthur Rumbold Carter White – District Storekeeper, Defence Stores Department, Christchurch
Served in the Permanent Militia from 1897 to 1907
appointed as the Defence Storekeeper for the Canterbury District in 1906
granted the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant September 1911
Reclassified as the Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores Canterbury Military District as an Honorary Captain in the NZSC in February 1916
Commissioned as Captain in the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD) in 1917.
1921 Transferred the Canterbury Ordnance Stores from King Edward Barracks, Christchurch, to Burnham Camp, establishing the Southern Districts Ordnance Depot.
First Camp Commandant of Burnham Camp from 20 June 1921 until his retirement on 19 December 1930
Lieutenant Owen Paul McGuigan – District Storekeeper, Defence Stores Department, Dunedin
McGuigan was a West Coaster of considerable administrative ability, served in the Permanent Artillery from 1896 to 1908
Appointed as the District Storekeeper in Dunedin in 1908
Granted the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant in September 1911.
Reclassified as the Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores Otago Military District as an Honorary Captain in the NZSC in February 1916,
Commissioned as Captain in the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD) in 1917.
Closed the Dunedin Ordnance Depot in 1921, transferring with its staff and stores to Burnham Camp.
Retired 15 October 1922
Major James O’Sullivan – Director of Stores, Defence Stores Department
Enlisted into the Armed Constabulary in 1878,
Transferred into the Defence Store as a clerk in 1884
Appointed as Defence Stores Chief Clerk in March 1886
Appointed as Defence Storekeeper in 1900
Confirmed as the Director of Stores in New Zealand’s military forces headquarters staff as Quartermaster and an Honorary Captain in the New Zealand Militia in 1906.
Promoted to Honorary Major as the Director of Equipment and Stores in September 1911 as a subordinate of the Quartermaster General
Appointment in the Quartermasters General department retitled as QMG-3
Appointed as Deputy Inspector, Equipment and Ordnance Stores in March 1916
Retired in January 1917
Lieutenant William Thomas Beck – District Storekeeper, Auckland
Entered the Torpedo Corps on 5 March 1891 and continued to serve in the Permanent Militia until 23 December 1903
Placed in charge of the Auckland Defence Stores in 1903
Appointed as the District Storekeeper in Auckland in 1908
Granted the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant in September 1911
Seconded to the NZEF as the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services in 1914 and sailed with the main body to Egypt
Was the first New Zealander of Godley’s force ashore at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915
Evacuated from Gallipoli and Repatriated to New Zealand in August 1915
Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the DSO for his services in Gallipoli
Reclassified as the Assistant Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores Auckland Military District as an Honorary Captain in the NZSC in February 1916
Commissioned as Captain in the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD) in 1917.
Retired from the NZAOC in March 1918.
Mr Frank Edwin Ford – Storekeepers Assistant, Nelson
Served in the Permanent Artillery from 1901 to 1908
Appointed as the Mobilisation Storekeeper Nelson in 1908
Reclassified as the Assistant Defence Storekeeper, Nelson in 1911
Appointed as District Storekeeper Wellington Military District, Palmerston North in 1915
Attached to the NZSC Corps as an Honorary Lieutenant on 13 February 1916,
Commissioned as Captain in the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD) in 1917.
Closed the Palmerston North Ordnance Depot and appointed as the Ordnance Officer Featherston Camp in 1921
The NZAOD was reconstituted into the NZAOC in 1924
Appointed as Ordnance Officer Northern Command at Mount Eden on 12 September 1926
Transferred the Norther Command Ordnance Depot from Mount Eden to Hopuhopu camp In the Waikato in1927
Remained as the first Commandant of Hopuhopu Camp until his retirement on 30 January 1931
Quartermaster General of New Zealand’s Military Forces, Colonel Henry Owen Knox.
Although an Army Service Corps Officer, Knox through his position as Quartermaster General influenced the development of New Zealand’s Army Ordnance Services. Knox was a British Army Service Corps officer seconded to New Zealand in 1911 to organise the New Zealand Army Service Corps (NZASC). Appointed as the first Director of Supply and Transport (DS&T), over the next three years, Knox laid the foundations of the NZASC so that by 1914 the NZASC was able to field ten companies and be in a position to provide a significant contribution to the NZEF. At New Zealand’s military reorganised in 1912, the position of Adjutant General and Quartermaster General was split with Knox in addition to his DS&T duties and assumed the role of Quartermaster General of New Zealand’s Military Forces.
Knox concluded his New Zealand secondment in April 1914, returning to the United Kingdom and retiring in August 1917. Still on the Reserve list, Knox was recalled for war service and was appointed as the AQMG for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during the Gallipoli Campaign, where he was responsible for the supply arrangement (Rations, Fuel and Forage) of the ANZAC Corps.
Following the Gallipoli Campaign, Knox served in several roles in the British Army ASC for the remainder of the war, attaining the rank of Honorary Brigadier General.
Many thanks to the relatives of Lieutenant Owen Paul McGuigan who provided me with the links to the original photo.
New Zealand’s military usage of lanyards has been practical, with lanyards used for securing pistols, compasses and whistles to a person. Aside from the practical use of lanyards, there are also examples where lanyards have been adopted as a coloured uniform accoutrement by some New Zealand Regiments and Corps, some examples being:
The Regular Force Cadets’ red lanyard
The New Zealand Provost and Military Police white lanyard
The Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport blue and gold lanyard
Almost included in this short list of New Zealand Army regimental lanyards was the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC), which applied for permission to adopt a regimental lanyard in the 1960s.
The word lanyard originates from the French word ‘lanière’, which means ‘strap’, with accounts from the late 15th century French describing how soldiers and privateers utilised ropes and cords found on ships to keep their swords, cutlasses and pistols close at hand whilst working in ships’ rigging and during combat.
As with any functional military kit, lanyards evolved, with French Cuirassiers using a braided lanyard to hold their swords in place, with adoption by most militaries following. In British use, lanyards became common, used to attach pistols to uniforms, and Gunners used them to fire artillery. In widespread use for practical purposes, the adoption of lanyards as a decorative uniform item soon followed, with coloured lanyards denoting regiments and corps and gold lanyards used to identify senior officers.
In 1941 the British Army introduced coloured ‘Arms of Service’ (AoS) strips to be worn on both arms of the Battle Dress uniform with the primary colour facing forward. The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC), AoS strip was initially a Dark Blue AoS strip which was hard to see, and in early 1943 it was changed to a Red/Blue/Red strip, which remained in use for the rest of the war. The RAOC adopted the AoS colours for the RAOC lanyard, which was approved for wear by all ranks on 2 June 1950.[1] In 1960 the RAOC Lanyard was formalised for use with the 1960 Pattern No2 Dress, and within a short time, the RNZAOC applied for a similar dress distinction.
On 24 July 1962, the Colonel Commandant of the RNZAOC, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Reid, submitted a proposal to the New Zealand Army Dress Committee to adopt a unique dress embellishment for specific Regular Force RNZAOC personnel. The submission reads:
1. R&SO Vol II paras 3359 refers
2. I wish to refer the following proposal submitted by 4 Inf Bde Gp OFP, for consideration for the adoption of a special embellishment to the dress for specific Regular Force RNZAOC personnel.
3. The proposal is that personnel posted to field force units, ie, 4 Inf Bde Gp OFP and 4 Inf Wksps Stores Sec be permitted to wear a lanyard on the left shoulder, with all orders of dress other than numbers 1, 4 and 5.
4. The proposed lanyard has three cords, twisted, two scarlet and one blue, with a loop at each end. A suggested sample is enclosed.
5. The reasons for this proposal are as follows:-
4 Inf Bde Gp OFP and 4 Inf Wksps Stores Sec are new RNZAOC RF units, in fact, it is the first time these types of units have been formed within the Regular Force in the NZ Army. The personnel have been drawn from the older District Ordnance Depots and many of them continue to think in District terms. It is considered that an embellishment such as the lanyard, would create a high unit feeling and help to raise and maintain high morale in these RNZAOC units within the field force.
It is anticipated that the employment of personnel in these units will occasionally be by assisting RNZAOC static depots. Under these circumstances the embellishment would maintain a unit feeling when the personnel are mixed with other RNZAOC units.
During Bde Gp concentrations, when summer dress is worn and thus corps shoulder titles are not worn, the lanyard would further foster unit spirit within the formation.
6. The purchase of these lanyards, if approved, would be undertaken entirely from Unit resources, with Public Funds not being involved in any way.
7. I strongly recommend this proposal and forward it for your favourable consideration.[1]
[1] RNZAOC Colonel Commandant, “Request to adopt special embellishment to dress,” Archives New Zealand No R17187826 (24 July 1962).
Replying to the RNZAOC Colonel Commandant on 10 October 1962, the Army Dress committed agreed to the desirability of having a unique dress embellishment to identify Regular Force Field Force Personnel. However, as a universal shoulder patch for all Field Force personnel was under consideration by the Army Clothing Development Section, approval was not granted for an RNZAOC-specific lanyard. However, the proviso was set that if shoulder patches were rejected as a dress embellishment, further consideration of lanyards was possible, and the Dress Committee welcomed the re-submission of the proposal for an RNZAOC lanyard. The Sample provided to Lt Col Reid was returned.[3]
It would take a few more years, but on 10 September 1964, approval was given for the wearing of Formation Patches by all ranks, other than 1 RNZIR and 1 Bn Depot, who continued to wear the red diamond. The approved patches were circular 11/2 inch in diameter and dived by operational grouping,
Combat Brigade Group – Black
Logistic Support Group, 3 NZEF and Base Units – Red
Combat Reserve Brigade Troops – Green
All others – Blue
The blue Formation patch for other units was discontinued on 3 December 1968. Approval for the wearing of the remaining patches was withdrawn on 6 August 1971.[4]
Regardless of this initial setback, the idea of an RNZAOC lanyard remained popular within the RNZAOC. In November 1969, the DADOS(D), on behalf of the RNZAOC, pitched to the Army Dress Committee the desire of the RNZAOC to have a lanyard as a distinctive dress distinction. By 1969 the corps had been reorganised and instead of a lanyard being an item of dress for those Regular Force personnel posted to Field Force units, it was intended to issue lanyards to all RNZAOC personnel. By 1969 Stable belts were starting to become a popular addition to the range of army dress accoutrements. However, wearing Stable belts was limited by the dress orders available, leading the RNZAOC to favour a lanyard as a dress distinction with broader utility. As in 1962, a sample was again provided.
The chairman of the Dress Committee was not in favour of lanyards as he wished to avoid a proliferation of dress embellishments. However, based on the argument put forward by the DADOS(A), he reserved his decision until a future meeting of the Army Dress Committee and invited the DOS to attend to support this item on the agenda.[5]
The next meeting of the Army Dress Committee with the discussion on an RNZAOC Lanyard was on 1 March 1971. In this meeting, the DOS again proposed an RNZAOC lanyard, mentioning that most other Corps of the NZ Army had adopted some form of distinctive dress, for example, Stable belts. However, the RNZAOC remained in favour of an RNZAOC lanyard.
The proposed lanyard was not to be purchased at public expense and was to be worn on the left shoulder of no 2,3,6 (except 6D) and 7 orders of dress. The majority approved the proposal of members of the Army Dress Committee. However, the chairman again reserved his decision until a clear policy directive on Corps Dress Distinctions was issued from Army HQ, as again, he felt that an introduction of an RNZAOC lanyard “might open the door form other corps submissions”.[6]
The proposal for an RNZAOC lanyard was not approved. In 1972 the RNZAOC reconsidered its position on Stable belts and, following a submission to the Army Dress Committee, was granted permission to adopt an RNZAOC specific Stable belt in April 1972.[7]
The sample lanyards were returned to the DOS and eventually found their way into the RNZAOC School memorabilia collection as a reminder of what could have been. Following the disestablishment of the RNZAOC in 1996, the RNZAOC School memorabilia collection was handed over to the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR) for safekeeping and future preservation. Unfortunately, as a nondescript item whose story had been forgotten and a lack of a robust management policy led these lanyards and many other RNZAOC items to find their way to the open market.
Notes
[1] Len Whittaker, “Lanyards,” The Military Historical Society (November 1985).
[2] RNZAOC Colonel Commandant, “Request to adopt special embellishment to dress,” Archives New Zealand No R17187826 (24 July 1962).
[3] “Army 220/5/103/AAC Army Dress Committee Meeting 1 March 1971,” Archives New Zealand No R9753141 (July 1971).
[4] “Clothing – Dress Embellishments: General 1960-1976,” Archives New Zealand No R17187826 (1960).
[5] “Army 220/5/103/AAC Army Dress Committee Meeting 1 March 1971.”
[6] “Army 220/5/103/AAC Army Dress Committee Meeting 1 March 1971.”
[7] “Army 220/5/103/AAC Army Dress Committee Meeting 1 March 1971.”
Brigadier Allan Huia Andrews, CBE, was born on 11 January 1912 in New Plymouth, New Zealand. His journey through life encompassed significant achievements and contributions to his country and the world of sports.
Education and Early Career
Andrews studied at Thames and New Plymouth Boys’ High School before pursuing higher education at Canterbury University. There, he successfully earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree. Alongside his academic pursuits, Andrews also displayed immense talent in rugby. He even earned the opportunity to represent Canterbury and was on the cusp of selection as an All-Black in 1934. However, he chose to prioritise his studies, making the difficult decision to forgo his promising rugby career and complete his degree.
Military Service
Brigadier Andrews embarked on his military journey on 7 April 1936, when he joined the New Zealand Army Permanent Force as a cadet. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant into the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (NZAOC) on 17 June 1936. Due to the absence of the Officer in Charge of the Ordnance Workshops, Lieutenant S.B. Wallace, who was on a course in England, Andrews took on the responsibility of leading the Ordnance Workshops. In September 1937, he was appointed Temporary Ordnance Mechanical Engineer (OME), holding this position until Wallace’s return in June 1938. Afterwards, Andrews assumed the role of Assistant Ordnance Officer at the Main Ordnance Depot (MOD), where he began work on updating equipment scales and developing plans to equip and support an expeditionary force.
On 11 December 1939, Andrews was seconded to the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) as the Senior OME (SOME) and promoted to Captain. That very day, he embarked on active service. His dedication led to promotions, with him becoming Deputy Assistant Director Ordnance Services (DADOS) for 2 NZEF in August 1940, followed by his appointment as Assistant Director Ordnance Services (ADOS) for 2 NZ Division in January 1941.
Upon Colonel King’s appointment as the Deputy Director of Ordnance Services (DDOS) Lines of Communication (L of C) for the 8th Army, Andrews took on the responsibilities of ADOS for 2 NZEF. When the New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NZEME) was formed as a unit of 2NZEF on 1 December 1942, Andrews was appointed as the Commander EME (CEME) for 2 NZ Division.
Returning to New Zealand in July 1943, Andrews was appointed Chief Ordnance Mechanical Engineer (COME) at MOD Trentham and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Drawing from his experience in the Middle East, he introduced All Arms Military training into the schedule of the MOD Ordnance Workshops.
Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Allan Huia Andrews, Auckland Weekly News, 31 March 1943. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19430331-19-2. Image has no known copyright restrictions.
In early 1944, Andrews undertook a tour of duty with 3 NZ Division in the Pacific, and in May of that year, he was once again posted back to 2NZEF (Middle East). There, he served as CEME for 2 NZ Division.
Management of The Kiwis Rugby Team
During the early stages of World War II, General Freyberg had handpicked Andrews to manage the 2nd NZEF Rugby Team after hostilities ceased.
In 1945, fulfilling General Freyberg’s vision and under Andrews’ adept leadership, a team was assembled, famously known as “The Kiwis.” This exceptional squad consisted of men who had completed active service in North Africa and Italy, with some having endured prolonged periods in prisoner-of-war camps in Italy, Austria and Germany.
“The Kiwis” embarked on a remarkable tour across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and France, where they participated in 33 matches. Their outstanding record included 29 victories, two draws, and only two losses. Their exceptional performance earned widespread recognition, as they triumphed over formidable international opponents, including England, Wales, and France. The complete tour results were:
07 October 1945 Swansea v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 22-6
30 October 1945 Llanelli v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 18-8
03 November 1945 Neath v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 22 – 15
10 November 1945 Northern Services v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 14-7
14 November 1945 Ulster v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 10-9
17 November 1945 Leinster v New Zealand Army – Draw 10-10
24 November 1945 England v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 18-3
01 December 1945 British Army v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 25-5
08 December 1945 RAF v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 11-0
15 December 1945 Royal Navy v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 6-3
22 December 1945 London Clubs v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 30-0
26 December 1945 Cardiff v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 3-0
29 December 1945 Newport v New Zealand Army – Draw 3-3
05 January 1946 Wales v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 11-3
12 January 1946 Combined Services v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 31-0
19 January 1946 Scotland v New Zealand Army – NZEF Loss 11-6
24 January 1946 Scottish Universities v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 57-3
26 January 1946 North Midlands v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 24-9
31 January 1946 East Midlands v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 14-0
02 February 1946 Northern Counties v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 25-8
09 February 1946 Lancs, Cheshire & Yorks v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 41-0
14 February 1946 Oxford University v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 31-9
16 February 1946 Devon & Cornwall v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 11-3
20 February 1946 Cambridge University v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 15-7
23 February 1946 Gloucs & Somerset v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 11-0
27 February 1946 Monmouthshire v New Zealand Army – NZEF Loss 0-15
02 March 1946 Aberavon v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 17-4
10 March 1946 France v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 14-9
13 March 1946 BAOR v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 12-0
16 March 1946 Combined Services v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 20-3
24 March 1946 France v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 13-10
27 March 1946 France A v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 38-9
31 March 1946 Ile De France v New Zealand Army – NZEF Win 24-13
Later Career and Retirement
Upon completing his role as The Kiwis’ manager, Andrews returned to New Zealand in July 1946 and took up the appointment of Chief Ordnance Officer (COO) at MOD Trentham. He was promoted to Colonel during this period. On 1 October 1947, Andrew was appointed as the first post-war Director of Ordnance Services (DOS). After relinquishing the DOS position on 11 November 1949, Andrews attended the Joint Services Command College (JSSC) in the United Kingdom.
Upon returning to New Zealand, he assumed the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (DAQMG) role at Army HQ. His career continued to advance, and in 1953, he was posted to Waiouru as the Camp Commandant.
In 1955, Andrews was promoted to Brigadier and took up the position of Commander of the Central Military District. Subsequently, he embarked on another overseas assignment, becoming the Senior Army Liaison Officer at the New Zealand Embassy in London in late 1956. He returned to New Zealand in 1960 and was appointed Commander of the Southern Military District.
Wellington College cadet Corporal C A Beyer receiving the Berry Cup from Brigadier A H Andrews, OBE, for being the outstanding battalion shot. Photographed by an Evening Post staff photographer on 16 November 1955.
In January 1963, Andrews took up the position of Adjutant General at Army HQ, a role he held until his retirement in 1967. Following his retirement, he maintained a strong interest in the activities of the RNZAOC and authored his autobiography, “Allan Huia Andrews: A Distinguished Career,” in 2002.
Brigadier Allan Huia Andrews, CBE, passed away on 28 October 2002 and was laid to rest at Okato Cemetery, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Throughout his military career, he earned several accolades, including Mentioned in Dispatches while serving with 2 NZ Division and receiving the OBE in 1943. In the 1964 New Year’s honours, the CBE further recognised him for his exceptional contributions to the military and rugby.
Lt Col A.H Andrews. OBE, RNZAOC Director of Ordnance Services, 1 Oct 1947 – 11 Nov 1949. RNZAOC School
The passing of the Defence Act 1909 heralded a transformation of the Defence Forces of New Zealand, establishing a military system that influenced the organisation, training and recruitment of the New Zealand Army into the early 1970s. Coming into effect on 28 February 1910, The Act abolished the existing Volunteer system, in its place creating a citizen-based Territorial Army from the units, regiments and Corps of the Volunteer Army.[1] The Territorial Army’s personnel needs would be maintained by a system of Compulsory Military Training (CMT), requiring the registration of all boys and men between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one years of age.[2] The challenge for Captain James O’Sullivan and the staff of the Defence Stores, an organisation already markedly transformed since 1900, was to meet the material need needs of the growing citizen army that New Zealand was creating.
At Buckle Street, Wellington, during the 1913 waterfront strike. Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972: Photographs of New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-048786-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22820606
The following article published in the New Zealand Times on 8 December 1911 provides an eyewitness account of the activities of the Defence Stores in support of the growing citizen army.[3]
While politicians are prating about the cost of the defence scheme, and its more direct enemies are peregrinating from street corner to street corner with soap boxes, the scheme itself is being steadily proceeded with. Some people probably fail to realise what it means to inaugurate an entirely new system of military defence. The necessary legislation came first, then the mapping out of the requirements in men and money, then the excitement of enrolling, and now there is proceeding the part, of which the public see little and hear little, but which perhaps is the most troublesome of all, and materially the most important, viz., the arming and the equipment of themen.
This task is being carried out at the Defence Stores in Buckle Street, Wellington. It requires a visit there to realise the thought, the work, the experience, that are necessary to carry out a big work of this description. When you enter the Buckle Street stores and see the busy toilers and the preparations for the distribution of arms and clothing over the Dominion, you realise that a big work is in progress.
For instance, the uniforms for the territorials have for the past week or two been arriving. So far the outfits for about nine thousand men in a more or less state of completion, have come, to hand. These all have to be sorted out and shelved. They are in graded in sizes, an ingenious system of measurement, the product of the brain of Captain O’Sullivan, Director of Defence Stores, has been applied, whereby almost any sized youth be fitted. Measuring has been proceeding in the various centres. A form is filled up by the regimental quartermaster for each recruit, and these forms are now arriving at the depot. Next weak commences the task of sending out the uniforms. Each man also gets an overcoat, a felt hat, and a forage cap. Every branch of the service will wear putties instead of leggings. The uniforms in hand at present fill multitudes of shelves—indeed, the place wears the appearance of a busy warehouse. Every article of clothing is the product of New Zealand mills. There is a absolute uniformity of colour, so that the whole New Zealand defence force, from the North Cape to the Bluff, will on mobilisation, present no spectacle of detached units, but one uniform whole. Distinguishing colour badges and trouser stripes will mark the branches of the service, green denoting the mounted, men, and red the infantry. The senior cadets will have neat blouses and long trousers. So far the uniforms in stock comprise only a small portion of what yet remains to be handled. A new brick building is in the later stages of completion for their safer storage. The felt hats are the product of the National Hat Mills, Wellington, and are really a very excellent article. Many large packing cases are stacked in the yards waiting to be dispatched with these goods to the territorial centres.
But this is only one branch of the industry. In other sheds are stacked camp paraphernalia, tents, marching outfits of the latest pattern, containing, in addition to bayonet, water-bottle, overcoat, etc., a handy trenching tool, bandoliers, field outfits, including telephones and heliographs; much leather goods; service boots, which the department is selling, at option, to the men at a low fee, and many other requisites. Outside in the yard is a new pontoon bridge, lately come to hand, a rather bulky apparatus that has not yet been used. Elsewhere are stored transit water tanks, a sample transport waggon (from which others will be manufactured in the Dominion). Necessary appliances for the eighteen-pounder guns have also been coming to hand, though the guns themselves have not yet arrived.
In other sheds are many large black cases. These contain the service rifles. It is not permitted that the public should know what stock of these is kept. It is a state secret that not even an Opposition order for a “return” could cause to be divulged. Recently, however, ten thousand were added to the stock. Just at present workmen are spending busy hours cleaning up and inspecting the rifles that have been received from the old volunteer corps. Every Government arm in the Dominion has been called in, and as a result every, man will have issued to him a nice clean rifle. It will be a new start over the whole Dominion. It would grieve the heart of the military enthusiast to see the condition in which some of the rifles have been sent In. There is undoubtedly great need for the new quartermasters in the various regiments, to see that this sort of thing does not recur. Some of the Wellington corps have been rather bad offenders. The comparatively slow process of cleaning these arms has been the cause of the delay in their reissue. Every rifle has 104 parts, and these parts are stocked in large quantities.
Of the Dominion’s ammunition store, also, the outsider can know nothing. This much, however, is for public information, that every Saturday morning the Director of the Defence Stores produces his ammunition balance book, to the Commandant, who then known from glancing over the pages exactly how every packet has been distributed and how each part of the Dominion is served.
The Buckle Street stores do not yet present the aspect of a Woolwich Arsenal, but things are very busy there; the will of the people is being given effect to at as rapid a rate as opportunity will permit; evidences are offered of the effective defence scheme now in active operation; and pleasing, indeed, is the outstanding fact that local industries are benefiting to an enormous degree from a new departure in defence that after all, is an admitted necessity.
Arms and Uniforms,” New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7978, 8 December 1911
Former Defence Stores Compound, Buckle Street, Wellington The building on the right of the photo is the original 1911 Defence Stores building. The building on the left is the 1916 extension.
Former Defence Stores Compound, Buckle Street, Wellington.
Former Defence Stores Compound, Buckle Street, Wellington The building on the right of photo is the original 1911 Defence Stores building. The building on the left is the 1916 extension.
Notes
[1] Peter Cooke and John Crawford, The Territorials (Wellington: Random House New Zealand Ltd, 2011), 153.
[2] I. C. McGibbon and Paul William Goldstone, The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History (Auckland; Melbourne; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, 2000), Bibliographies, Non-fiction, 109-10.
[3] “Arms and Uniforms,” New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7978, 8 December 1911.
