Personnel
The strength of the NZAOC on 31st May 1931 was 21 consisting of;[1] [2] [3]
- 2 Officers
- 19 Permanent Other Ranks
Key Appointments
Director of Ordnance Services
- Major Thomas Joseph King, NZAOC
Assistant Chief Ordnance Officer
- Captain W. R. Burge, M.C., NZSC
Main Ordnance Depot
Northern Command Ordnance Officer
Central Command Ordnance Officer
- Lieutenant H. E. Erridge NZAOC.[10]
Southern Command Ordnance Depot
Inspecting Officer Ordnance and Ordnance Mechanical Engineer
- Major W Ivory, RNZA
Assistant Inspecting Ordnance Officer and Ordnance Mechanical Engineer
- Lieutenant I. R. Withell, RNZA
Proof Officer, Small Arms Ammunition
- Lieutenant M.J Lyons
- Captain I. R. Withell, RNZA
NZAOC appropriations year ending 31 March 1931
Mass Retrenchment
With the Depression affecting the New Zealand economy, the NZAOC was forced to retrench many of its staff. This was achieved by using the provisions of section 39 of the Finance Act, 1930 (No. 2) and by transferring staff to the Civil service.[16]
The Finance Act, 1930 (No. 2) authorized the retirement on superannuation of any member of the Permanent Force or the Permanent Staff under the Defence Act, 1909, or of the clerical staff of the Defence Department whose age or length of service was such that if five years was added thereto they would have been enabled as of right or with the consent of the Minister of Defence to have given notice to retire voluntarily. Using this act a total of six officers and Thirty-eight other ranks of the NZAOC were retired on superannuation as from the 31st March 1931. Seventy-four NZAOC staff (excluding officers and artificers) who were not eligible for retirement were transferred to the civil staff to work in the same positions but at a lower rate of pay. [17]
1931 Napier Earthquake Relief
On account of the disastrous earthquake that struck Napier and Hastings on the 3rd February 1931, the NZAOC was called upon at short notice to supply tents, blankets, bedding, cooking and eating utensils, for use in the stricken areas. The total value of the stores issued from the Ordnance Stores at Trentham was £35,000. The Ordnance staff did particularly good work in dispatching these stores and equipment. All members of the military staff in the earthquake area were detailed for relief work, as well as personnel from other centres, and on the 6th March 1931, there were twelve officers and forty-six other ranks employed in connection with the relief camps. All ranks engaged in the relief effort were deserving of great credit for the manner in which they carried out their duties under trying conditions.[18]
Obituary
Staff Sergeant Sydney C. Tennyson of the Burnham Ordnance Depot passed away on 22 July 1930. Born at Peckham, London, in 1892, Staff-sergeant Tennyson enlisted with H Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery in 1906. He saw hard fighting during the Great War, serving with the famous H Battery throughout the campaign. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant fitter in 1917 and gained his discharge from the British Army in 1920, with a total service of 13 years 142 days. Coming to New Zealand, Staff-sergeant Tennyson joined the NZAOC in 1923. SSgt Tennyson was accorded a military funeral.[19]
The funeral of Staff Sergeant S. C. Tennyson, of the N.Z. Army Ordnance Corps, entering the Bromley Cemetery. Members of the firing party lined the pathway leading to the graveside. Christchurch City Libraries
Ordnance Workshops Mount Cook
The Ordnance workshop located at Mount Cook was relocated to Trentham Camp.[20]
Personnel Movements -June 1930 to May 1931
Releases
- 62 Private Frank Jewiss
- 665 Private William Alexander Sammons
- 714 Lance Corporal Kenneth Hoare
- 966 Lance Corporal William Terrington Popple
- 1001 Private Gordon Cumming Bremner
- 75300 Private William Valentine Wood
- 1004 Lance Corporal James Johnston Bolt
- 1009 Lance Corporal John Campbell Myers
- 39 Corporal Simon Alexander Fraser
- 55 Corporal John Francis Hunter
- 111 Corporal John Sawyer
- 19 Sergeant Alfred Charles Butler
- 920 Corporal Gordon James Francis Arenas
- 961 Corporal Edgar Charles Beal Boult
- 965 Corporal Philip Alexander MacKay
- 974 Corporal Henry William Le Comte
- 978 Corporal Earnest John Williams
- 960 Sergeant Frank William Ching
- 968 Sergeant Thomas Alexander Hunter
- 166 Sergeant William John Rabbidge
- 956 Staff Sergeant Saddler George Alexander Carter
- 213 Staff Sergeant William Saul Keegan
- 995 Staff Sergeant Wilfred Robert White
- 268 Staff Quartermaster Sergeant James Alexander Kenning
- 143 Armament Sergeant Major Joseph Warren
- 1018 Sergeant Major James Oliver Pringle Southgate
- Lieutenant Michael Joseph Lyons. [21]
- Captain W. M. Bell. [22] [23]
- Captain F. E. Ford. [24] [25]
- Captain A. R. C. White. [26]
Copyright © Robert McKie 2018
Notes:
[1] “Permanent Forces,” New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20619, 18 July 1930.
[2] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces June 1930 to May 1931,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1 January 1941 (1931): 6.
[3] “B-07 Appropriations Chargeable on the Consolidated Fund and Other Accounts for the Year Ending 31 March 1931,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives (1931).
[4]relinquished appointment of OO Main Depot 15 December 1930 “Appointment, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers from the NZ Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 27 (1931): 969.
[5] Appointed Ordnance Officer Main Ordnance Depot 22 April 1931. “Appointment, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers from the NZ Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 40 (1931): 1549.
[6] Relinquished appointment of OO Northern Command 30 Jan 1931 “Appointment, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers from the NZ Forces,” 969.
[7] Released 30 January 1931 “Defence Cuts,” Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1931.
[8] Seconded for Service with NZAOC as Ordnance Officer Northern Command 31 January 1931. “Appointments, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers of the NZ Forces “, New Zealand Gazette No 16 (1931).
[9] Appointed Officer in Charge Waikato Camp, Ngaruawahia in addition to appointment of OO Northern Command. “Appointment, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers from the NZ Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 73 (1931): 2154.
[10] Relinquished appointment of OO Main Ordnance Depot 20 December 1930″Appointment, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers from the NZ Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 16 (1931): 515.
[11] Relinquished appointment of OO Southern Command 19 December 1930. “Appointment, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers from the NZ Forces,” 969.
[12] Released 19 December 1930 “Defence Cuts.”
[13] Appointed Ordnance Officer Southern Command 31 January 1931 “Appointments, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers of the NZ Forces “.
[14] Appointed Officer in Charge Burnham Camp in addition to Ordnance Officer Appointment 20 December 1930. “Appointment, Promotions, Transfers and Retirements of Officers from the NZ Forces,” New Zealand Gazette No 70 (1931).
[15],from December 20 1930 John J. Storey and J. Halket Millar, March Past : A Review of the First Fifty Years of Burnham Camp (Christchurch, N.Z. : Pegasus Press, 1973, 1974 printing, 1973), Non-fiction, 118.
[16] “Attitude of Members “, New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20644, 16 August 1930.
[17] “Big Cut in Defence Force,” Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 144,, 16 December 1930.
[18] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Annual Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces June 1930 to May 1931.”
[19] “Obituary Ssgt Tennyson,” Evening Star, Issue 20543, 23 July 1930.
[20] “Mount Cook Barracks,” Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 105, , 31 October 1930.
[21] “Defence Cuts.”
[22] “Big Cut in Defence Force.”
[23] “Defence Cuts.”
[24] “Big Cut in Defence Force.”
[25] “Defence Cuts.”
[26] Ibid.
The sale of surplus stores through a central depot in Wellington had been continuous since the establishment of the depot and had proved successful in every way. The sales average approximately £1,000 per week, and the prices obtained are much higher than could be achieved by any other method. To enable a considerable surplus of khaki service uniform jackets to be sold, a dying contract had been arranged, and supplies of those garments, dyed dark blue, were on the market. Khaki trousers were being, similarly stained to provide complete suits. The contract is very advantageous to the NZAOC since faded garments of little sale value were restored to excellent condition and are saleable at very satisfactory prices. On completion of each training-year large quantities of uniform, clothing was withdrawn from Territorials who have completed their service. To enable this clothing to be reissued it was thoroughly cleaned and renovated under a contract dry-cleaning process. The resultant savings were very considerable. For the six months ended 31st March 1923, the figures were as follows
