The New Zealand Army evolved out of the British troops deployed during the 19th century New Zealand Wars into a unique iwi known as Ngāti Tumatauenga – ‘Tribe of the God of War’. While Ngāti Tumatauenga has an extensive and well-known Whakapapa,[1] less well known is the whakapapa of the New Zealand Army’s supply and warehousing services.

Leading up to 1996, the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC) was the New Zealand Army organisation with the responsibility in peace and war for the provision, storage and distribution of Arms, Ammunition, Rations and Military stores. As the army’s warehousing organisation, the RNZAOC adopted the Pātaka (The New Zealand Māori name for a storehouse) as an integral piece of its traditions and symbology. On 9 December 1996, the warehousing functions of the RNZAOC were assumed by the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR).

Unpacked on this page and on the attached Web Application “the Pātaka of Ngati Tumatauenga” the evolution of New Zealand’s Army’s Ordnance services is examined. From a single storekeeper in1840, the organisation grew through the New Zealand Wars, the World Wars and Cold War into an organisation with global reach providing support to New Zealand Forces in New Zealand and across the globe.

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Description of Ordnance Units

In general terms, Ordnance units can be described as:

• Main/Base Depots– A battalion-sized group, commanded by a lieutenant colonel. Usually a significant stock holding unit, responsible for the distribution of stock to other ordnance installations.
• Central Ordnance Depots/Supply Company– Company-sized units, commanded by a major. Depending on the role of the unit, the following subunits could be included in the organisation:
  • Provision, Control & Accounts
  • Stores sub-depot/platoon
    • Traffic Centre
    • Camp Equipment
    • Technical Stores
    • Expendables
    • Clothing
    • Returned Stores & Disposals
      • Textile Repair
      • Tailors
      • Boot Repair
    • Ammunition Sub-Depot/Platoon
    • Vehicles Sub-Depot/Platoon
    • Services Sub-Depot/Platoon
      • Bath and Shower
      • Laundry
    • Rations Sub-Depot/Platoon (after 1979)
    • Fresh Rations
    • Combat Rations
    • Butchers
    • Petroleum Platoon (after 1979)
    • Vehicle Depots –
  • Workshops Stores Sections – In 1962, RNZAOC Stores Sections carrying specialised spares, assemblies and workshops materials to suit the particular requirement of its parent RNZEME workshops were approved and RNZEME Technical Stores personnel employed in these were transferred to the RNZAOC.[2] [3]
  • Workshops. Before 1947, Equipment repair workshops were part of the Ordnance organisation, types of Workshop included:
    • Main Workshop
    • Field/Mobile Workshop
    • Light Aid Detachments

Unit naming conventions

The naming of Ordnance units within New Zealand was generally based upon the unit locations or function or unit.

Supply Depots were initially named based on the district they belonged to:

• Upper North Island – Northern District Ordnance Depot
• Lower North Island – Central Districts Ordnance Depot
• South Island – Southern Districts Ordnance Depot

In 1968 a regionally based numbering system was adopted

• 1 for Ngaruawahia
• 2 for Linton
• 3 for Burnham
• 4 for Waiouru

Some exceptions were:

• 1 Base Depot and 1st Base Supply Battalion, single battalion-sized unit, the name were based on role, not location.
• 1 Composite Ordnance Company, a unique company-sized group, the name was based on function, not location

When the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps (RNZASC) became the Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport (RNZCT) in 1979, the supply functions were transferred to the RNZAOC with the 1st number signifying the location with the 2nd number been 4 for all Supply Platoons:

• 14 Supply Platoon, Papakura
• 24 Supply Platoon, Linton
• 34 Supply Platoon, Burnham
• 44 Supply Platoon, Waiouru
• 54 Supply Platoon, Trentham

Exceptions were:

• 21 Supply Company – Retained its name as a historical link to the unit’s long history in the RNZASC.
• 47 Petroleum Platoon, originally 7 Petroleum Platoon RNZASC, when Transferred to the RNZAOC, as it was based in Waiouru it added the Waiouru unit designation ‘4’ and became 47 Petroleum Platoon RNZAOC

Unit locations New Zealand, 1907–1996

Alexandra

9 Magazines Operational from 1943, closed1962.

Ardmore

20 Magazines operational from 1943

Auckland

There has been an Ordnance presence in Auckland since the 1840s with the Colonial Storekeeper and Imperial forces. The Northern Districts Ordnance Depot was situated in Mount Eden in the early 1900s. In the 1940s the centre for Ordnance Support for the Northern Districts moved to Ngaruawahia, with a Sub depot remaining at Narrow Neck to provided immediate support.

RNZAOC units that have been accommodated at Auckland have been:

Stores Depot

• Defence Stores Department, District Stores – Albert Barracks 1961-1883
• Defence Stores Department, District Stores – O’Rourke Street, 1883-1903
• Defence Stores Department, District Stores – Goal Reserve, Mount Eden 1903 -1917
• Northern District Ordnance Depot – Goal Reserve, Mount Eden 1917 -1929.[4]
• Northern District Ordnance Depot, Narrow Neck, 1929 to? [5]
• 1 Supply Company, from 1989, Papakura
• 12 Supply Company
• 12 Field Supply Company
• 15 Combat Supplies Platoon, 1 Logistic Regiment
• 52 Supply Platoon, 5 Force Support Company

Vehicle Depot

• Northern Districts Vehicle Depot, Sylvia Park, 1948-1961
• Northern Districts Ordnance Depot, Vehicle Sub Depot, Sylvia Park, 1961 – 1968
• 1 Central Ordnance Depot (1 COD), Vehicle Sub Depot, Sylvia Park, 1968 to 1979
• 1 Supply Company, Vehicle Sub Depot, Sylvia Park, 1979 to 1989

Ammunition Depot

• Mount Eden Magazines – 1873-1929
• Northern Districts Ammunition Depot, Ardmore – 1942 – Present

Other Units

• Bulk Stores Mangere, the 1940s (Part of MOD Trentham)
• DSS Fort Cautley.

Workshops

Located at the Torpedo Yard, North Head

• Ordnance Workshop Devonport, 1925-1941
• No 12 Ordnance Workshop, Devonport, 1941–1946

Workshop Stores Section

• 1 Infantry Workshop, Stores Section, Papakura 1962–1986
• 1 Field Workshop Store Section, Papakura
• 1 Transport Company Workshop, Stores Section, Fort Cautley

Belmont

Operational from 1943

• MOD Trentham, Ammunition Group, Ammunition Section

Burnham

Stores Depot

1921 saw the establishment of a single Command Ordnance Depot to service all military units in the newly organised Southern Military Command. Before this, Ordnance stores had operated from Christchurch and Dunedin. The new Depot (later renamed the Third Central Ordnance Depot) was established in the buildings of the former Industrial School at Burnham. Re-structuring in 1979 brought a change of name to 3 Supply Company.[6] [7] [8]

• Stores Depot titles 1921–1996
  • Area Ordnance Department Burnham, 1920 to 1939,
  • Southern Districts Ordnance Depot, 1939 to 1942,
  • No 3 Sub Depot, 1942 to 1948,
  • Southern Districts Ordnance Depot, 1948 to 1968,
  • 3 Central Ordnance Depot (3 COD), 1968 to 1979, [9]
  • 3 Supply Company, 1979 to 1993,
  • Burnham Supply Center,1993 to 1994,
  • 3 Field Supply Company, 1994 to 1996.

Vehicle Depot

• Southern Districts Vehicle Depot, 1948-1961.

Ammunition Depot

• Southern Districts Vehicle Ammunition 1954-1961.

Other Ordnance Units

• Combat Supplies Platoon. 1979 to 19??,
• Ready Reaction Force Ordnance Support Group (RRF OSG), 19?? To 1992, moved to Linton,
• 32 Field Supply Company (Territorial Force Unit).

Ordnance Field Parks

• 3 Infantry Brigade Group OFP Platoon, 21 October 1948 – 28 June 1955.
• 1 (NZ) Division OFP, Tech Stores Platoon, 28 June 1955 -,

Workshops

• No 14 Ordnance Workshop, until 1946.

Workshop Stores Section

• Southern Districts Workshop, Stores Section,
• 3 Field Workshop, Store Section.

Christchurch

Stores Depot

• Canterbury and Nelson Military District Stores Depot, King Edwards Barracks, Christchurch, 1907 to 1921.

Workshop Stores Section

• Southern Districts Workshop, Stores Section, Addington,
• 3 Infantry Brigade Workshop, Stores Section, Addington,
• 3 Transport Company Workshop, Stores Section, Addington.

Devonport

Ordnance Workshop – Located at the Torpedo Yard, North Head

• Ordnance Workshop Devonport, 1925-1941
• No 12 Ordnance Workshop, Devonport, 1941–1946

Dunedin

Stores Depot

• Otago and Southland Military Districts Stores Depot, 1907 to 1921

Fairlie

Nine magazines Operational 1943.

Featherston

Featherston Camp was New Zealand’s largest training camp during the First World War, where around 60,000 young men trained for overseas service between 1916 – 1918. An Ordnance Detachment was maintained in Featherston until 1927 when it functions were transferred to Northern Districts Ordnance Depot, Ngaruawahia.[10]

Glen Tunnel

16 magazines Operational from 1943

Hamilton

Proof Office, Small Arms Ammunition Factory, 1943-1946

Kelms Road

55 Magazines Operational from 1943 to 1976

Linton Camp

RNZAOC units that have been accommodated at Linton have been;

Stores Depot

• No 2 Ordnance Depot, 1 October 1946  to 1948,
• Central Districts Ordnance Depot,  1948 to 1968,
• 2 Central Ordnance Depot (2 COD), 1968 to 16 Oct 1978,[11]
• 2 Supply Company,  16 October 1978 to 1985,
  • Static Depot
    • Tech Stores Section
  • Field Force
    • 22 Ordnance Field Park
      • General Stores
      • Bath Section
• 5 Composite Supply Company, 1985 to 1990.

• 21 Field Supply Company 1990 to 1996

Vehicle Depot

• Central Districts Vehicle Depot, 1957-1961

Ammunition Depot

Ordnance Field Parks

• 2nd Infantry Brigade Ordnance Field Park Platoon 1948-48
• 22 Ordnance Field Park

Workshop Stores Section

• 1 General Troops Workshop, Stores Section
• Linton Area Workshop, Stores Section
• 5 Engineer Workshop, Store Section

Other Ordnance Units

• 24 Supply Platoon
• 23 Combat Supplies Platoon
• 47 Petroleum Platoon 1984 to 1996
• Ready Reaction Force Ordnance Support Group (RRF OSG), from Burnham in 1992 absorbed into 21 Field Supply Company. [12]

Lower Hutt

Ordnance Field Parks

• 1 (NZ) Division OFP, Tech Stores Platoon, 28 June 1955 –

Mangaroa

First used as a tented camp during the First World War and in the Second World War Mangaroa was the site of an RNZAF Stores Depot from 1943. The depot with a storage capacity of 25,000 sq ft in 8 ‘Adams type’ Buildings was Handed over to the NZ Army by 1949.[13] The units that have been accommodated at Mangaroa have been:

Supply Depot

• Main Ordnance Depot,1949–1968,
• 1 Base Ordnance Depot, 1968–1979,
• 1st Base Supply Battalion,
  • ACE(Artillery and Camp Equipment) Group
  • 5 Composite Supply Company, 1978 – Dec 1979

Ordnance Field Parks

• 2nd Infantry Brigade Ordnance Field Park Platoon, 1950–1963,
• 1 Infantry Brigade Group, OFP, 1963–1968,
• 1st Composite Ordnance Company (1 Comp Ord Coy), 1964–1977,
  1 Comp Ord Coy was the Ordnance Bulk Holding unit for the field force units supporting the Combat Brigade Group and the Logistic Support Group and held 60–90 days war reserve stock. 1 Comp Ord Coy was made up of the following subunits: [14]
  • Coy HQ
  • 1 Platoon, General Stores
  • 2 Platoon, Technical Stores
  • 3 Platoon, Vehicles
  • 4 Platoon, Ammo (located at Makomako)
  • 5 Platoon, Laundry
  • 6 Platoon, Bath

Mako Mako

39 magazines operational from 1943

• MOD Trentham, Ammunition Group, Ammunition Section
• 2 COD Ammunition Section

Mount Eden

Defence Stores/Ordnance Depot, 1871-1927

• Defence Stores Department Powder Magazines 1871
• Defence Stores Department, District Stores – Goal Reserve, Mount Eden 1903 -1917
• Northern District Ordnance Depot – Goal Reserve, Mount Eden 1917 -1929.[4]

Proof Office, Small Arms Ammunition Factory, 1898-1967

Mount Somers

10 Magazines operational from 1943, closed 1969

Ngaruawahia

Ngaruawahia also was known as Hopu Hopu was established in 1927, [15] and allowed the closure of Featherston Ordnance Depot and the Auckland Ordnance Depot and was intended to service the northern regions. During construction, Ngaruawahia was described by the Auckland Star as “Probably the greatest Ordnance Depot”[16] Ngaruawahia closed down in 1989, and its Ordnance functions moved to Papakura and Mount Wellington.
RNZAOC units that have been accommodated at Ngaruawahia have been:

Stores Depot

• Area Ngaruawahia Ordnance Department 1927 to 1940,
• Northern District Ordnance Depot, 1940 to 1942,
• No 1 Ordnance Sub Depot, 1942 to 1948, In addition to the main stores at Ngaruawahia Camp, No 1 Ordnance Sub Depot also maintained Sub-Depots at the following locations:
  • Bulk Store at Federal Street, Auckland
  • Clothing and Boot Store at Mills Lane, Auckland
  • Clothing Store at Glyde Rink, Kyber Pass/Park Rd, Auckland
  • The Ray Boot Store, Frankton
  • Area 4 Ordnance store, Hamilton.
  • Pukekohe Show Grounds Buildings
• Northern District Ordnance Depot, 1948 to 1968,
• 1 Central Ordnance Depot (1 COD), 1968 to 1979,
• 1 Supply Company, 1979 to 1989,
• 1 Field Supply Company, 1984, from 1989, Papakura.  [17]

Ammunition Depot

25 Storehouses

• Thirteen Constructed 1927-29
• Twelve Constructed 1942-45

Ordnance Field Parks

• 1st Infantry Brigade Ordnance Field Park Platoon, 1948 to 1955
• 1 Infantry Brigade Group, Ordnance Field Park(OFP), 1968 to 1979, support to Combat Brigade Group

Workshop Stores Section

• 1 Infantry Brigade Group LAD, Stores Section

Other Ordnance Units

• Northern Districts Ammunition Depot, Kelms Road

 Palmerston North

• Palmerston North Detachment, NZAOC, 1914 to 1921.[18] [19] [20]
• Depot Closed and stocks moved to Trentham.
• Ordnance Store, 327 Main Street Circa 1917-1921.[21]
• No 2 Ordnance Sub Depot, Palmerston North showgrounds, 1942 to 1946 when depot moved to Linton.

Trentham

Stores Depot

• Main Ordnance Depot (MOD), 1920 to 1968
• Base Ordnance Depot (BOD), 1968 to 1979
• 1st Base Supply Battalion (1BSB), 1979 to 1993
• 5 Logistic Regiment (5LR), 1993 to 8 December 1996 when Transferred to the RNZALR.

Ordnance School

• RNZAOC School, 1958 to 1994
• Supply/Quartermaster Wing and Ammunition Wing, Trade Training School 1994 to 1996. [21]

Workshops

• Main Ordnance Workshop, 1917 to 1946.[22]

Workshop Stores Section

• 1 Base Workshop, Stores Section

Ordnance Field Parks

• 4(NZ) Division Ordnance Field Park(OFP), 1950–1963

Vehicle Depot

• Central Districts Vehicle Depot, 1948 – 1957

Ammunition Units

• HQ Ammunition Group, sections at Belmont, Makomako, Kuku Valley, Waiouru
• Ammunition Proof and Experimental Centre, Kuku Valley
• Central Military District Ammunition Repair Depot, Kuku Valley

Waiouru

Ordnance Sub Depots were established at Waiouru in 1940, which eventually grew into a stand-alone Supply Company.[23]

RNZAOC units that have supported Waiouru have been;

Stores Depot

• Main Ordnance Depot, Waiouru Sub-Depot, 1940–1946, Initially managed as a Sub-Depot of the Main Ordnance Depot in Trentham, Ordnance units in Waiouru consisted of:
  • Artillery Sub Depot
  • Bulk Stores Depot
  • Ammunition Section
• Central Districts Ordnance Depot, Waiouru Sub Depot (1946–1976).[24] In 1946 Waiouru became a Sub-Depot of the Central Districts Ordnance Depot in Linton, consisting of:
  • Ammo Group
  • Vehicle Group
  • Camp Equipment Group.
• 4 Central Ordnance Deport, (1976–1979) On 1 April 1976 became a stand-alone Depot in its own right. [25]
• 4 Supply Company, (1979–1989)
  when the RNZASC was disbanded in 1979 and its supply functions transferred to the RNZAOC, 4 Supply gained the following RNZASC units:[26]
  • HQ 21 Supply Company,(TF element)(1979–1984)
    21 Supply Company was retained as a Territorial unit for training and exercise purposes and was capable of providing a Supply Company Headquarter capable of commanding up to five subunits.
  • 47 Petroleum Platoon (1979–1984)
  • 44 Supply Platoon

• Central Q, (1989–1993)
• 4 Field Supply Company, (1993–1994)
• Distribution Company, 4 Logistic Regiment, (1994–1996)

Workshop Stores Section

• Waiouru Workshop, Stores Section
• 4 ATG Workshop, Stores Section
• 1 Armoured Workshop, Store Section
• QAMR Workshop, Store Section

Wellington

The Board of Ordnance originally had a warehouse in Manners Street, but after the 1850 earthquake severely damaged this building, 13 acres of Mount Cook was granted to the Board of Ordnance, starting a long Ordnance association with the Wellington area.

Stores Depot

• Defence Stores Department, Lower Mount Cook Barracks, 1869 – 1917
• Central Districts Ordnance Depot, Mount Cook, 1917 to 1920.[27]

 Workshops

• Armament Workshop, Alexandra Military Depot.[29]

Ammunition Storage

• Mount Cook, Powder Magazine,  1847 – 1879
• Kaiwharrawharra Powder Magazines, 1879-1920
• NZAOC Ammunition Section, Fort Ballance Magazine Area, 1920 -1943

Ammunition Inspection and Repair

• New Zealand Ordnance Corps Section, RNZA, Fort Ballance, Wellington, 1915 to 1917.[28]

Unit locations overseas, 1914–1920

Few records trace with any accuracy New Zealand Ordnance units that served overseas in the First World War. Although the NZAOC was not officially created until 1917.[30] The New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps was constituted as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in 1914 for overseas service only and in 1919 its members demobilised, returned to their parent units or mustered into the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (Officers) or New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (other Ranks) on their return to New Zealand.

Egypt

• Ordnance Depot, Zeitoun Camp, 1914-16
• Ordnance Depot Alexandra, 1915-16
  • 12 Rue de la, Porte Rosette, Alexandria. [31]
  • New Zealand Ordnance Store, Shed 43, Alexandria Docks.[32]
• NZ Ordnance Section, NZEF Headquarters in Egypt
  • Qasr El Nil Barracks, Cairo.[33]

Fiji

• NZAOC Detachment, Fiji Expeditionary Force, Suva – February- April 1920

Germany

• Ordnance Depot, Mulheim, Cologne

 Greece

• Ordnance Depot, Sapri Camp, Lemnos Island, October – December 1915

Samoa

• 1 Base Depot

 Turkey

• Ordnance Depot, ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, April – Dec 1915

 United Kingdom

• New Zealand Ordnance Base Depot Farringdon Street, London
• Ordnance Depot, Cosford Camp

Unit locations overseas, 1939–1946

Egypt

Headquarters

• Office of the DDOS 2NZEF, 22 Aig 1941 to Sept 1942
• Office of the ADOS 2NZEF, Sept 1942 to 1 Sept 1945

Base Units

Supply

• New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot, Maadi, 1940 to 19 Feb 1944
• No 1 New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot,  16 Feb 1944 to 1946

Workshops (until Sept 1942 when transferred to NZEME)

• NZ Base Ordnance Workshop

Laundry

• NZ Base Laundry, 30 Sept 1942 – 30 Sept 1943

Training

• Engineer and Ordnance Training Depot, Maadi Camp

Field Units

Supply

• 2 NZ Divisional Ordnance Field Park, 28 Jul 1941 – 29 Dec 1945
• NZ Divisional Mobile Bath Unit, 6 Sept 1941  –  30 Sept 1942
• NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry & Decontamination Unit, 22 Sept 1941 – 27 Mar 1942
• NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry, 27 Mar 1942 – 30 Sept 1942
• NZ Salvage Unit, 16 Aug 1941 – 20 Oct 1942

Workshops (until Sept 1942 when transferred to NZEME)

• 2 NZ Divisional Ordnance Workshops
• 1 NZ Field Workshop
• 2 NZ Field Workshop
• 3 NZ Field Workshop
• 14 NZ Anti-Aircraft Workshop Section
• 9 NZ Light Aid Detachment (attached 4 Fd Regt)
• 10 NZ LAD (attached 5 Fd Pk Coy)
• 11 NZ LAD (attached HQ 4 NZ Inf Bde)
• 12 NZ LAD (attached 27 NZ (MG) Bn) Disbanded 15 Oct 1942
• 13 NZ LAD (attached 2 NZ Div Cav)
• 14 NZ LAD (attached 2 NZ Div Sigs)
• 15 NZ LAD (attached 7 NZ A Tk Regt)
• 16 NZ LAD (attached HQ 5 Fd Regt)
• 17 NZ LAD (attached HQ 5 NZ Inf Bde)
• 18 NZ LAD (attached 6 NZ Fd Regt)
• 19 NZ LAD (attached HQ 6 NZ Inf Bde)

Greece

• 2 Independent (NZ) Brigade Group Workshop.[34]
• 5 Independent (NZ) Brigade Group Workshop. [35]
• Light Aid Detachments x 11
• 1 Ordnance Field Park (British OFP attached to NZ Division).[36]

Italy

Headquarters

• Office of the ADOS 2NZEF, 6 Jun 1945 to 1 Sept 1945

Base units

• No 2 New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot, Bari, 16 Feb 1944 – 2 Feb 1946.[37]
  •  Advanced Section of Base Depot, Senegallia, Sept 44 – Feb 46.
• NZ Advanced Ordnance Depot,   1943- 14 Feb 1944 (Absorbed into OFP)

Field units

• NZ Division Ordnance Field Park OFP, – 29 Dec 1945
• NZ Advanced Ordnance Depot, 27 Oct 1945- 1 Feb 1946
• NZ Mobile Laundry Unit, 1 Oct 1943 – 16 Feb 1944
• NZ Mobile Bath Unit, 18 Oct 1943 – 16 Feb 1944
• MZ Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit, 16 Feb 1944 – 8 Dec 1945
• NZ Vehicle and Stores Reception Depot, 27 Oct 1944 – 1 Feb 1946
  • Vehicle Depot, Assisi, 27 Oct 1945 – Jan 1946.[38]
  • Stores Depot, Perugia, 27 Oct 1945 – Feb 1946.[39]

Fiji

• Divisional Ordnance Headquarters
• Base Ordnance Depot
• Division Ordnance Workshop
• ‘A’ Workshop Section
• ‘B Workshop Section
• 20th Light Aid Detachment
• 36th Light Aid Detachment
• 37th Light Aid Detachment

New Caledonia

• Base Ordnance Depot
• Division Ordnance Workshop
• 20th Light Aid Detachment
• 36th Light Aid Detachment
• 37th Light Aid Detachment
• 42 Light Aid Detachment
• 64 Light Aid Detachment
• 65 Light Aid Detachment
• 67 Light Aid Detachment

Solomon Islands

• Advanced Ordnance Depot, Guadalcanal. Officer Commanding and Chief Ordnance Officer, Captain Noel McCarthy.

Tonga

• 16 Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park
• 16 Brigade Group Workshop

Unit locations overseas, 1945–1996

Japan

• Base Ordnance Depot, Kure (RAOC unit, NZAOC personnel attached)
• 4 New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot, November 1945.
• 4 New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot, November 1946.
• 4 New Zealand Ordnance Field Park – August 1947 to July 1948 when closed.

Korea

No Standalone units but individual RNZAOC personnel served in 4 Ordnance Composite Depot (4 OCD) RAOC.

Malaya

No standalone RNZAOC units, but individual RNZAOC personnel may have served in the following British and Commonwealth Ordnance units:

• 3 Base Ordnance Depot, RAOC, Singapore
• 28 Commonwealth Brigade Ordnance Field Park, Terendak, Malaysia.

Singapore

Stores Depot

• 5 Advanced Ordnance Depot, 1970–1971
  5 Advanced Ordnance Depot (5 AOD) was a short-lived Bi-National Ordnance Depot operated by the RAAOC and RNZAOC in Singapore, 1970 to 1971.
• ANZUK Ordnance Depot, 1971–1974
  ANZUK Ordnance Depot was the Tri-National Ordnance Depot supporting the short-lived ANZUK Force. Staffed by service personnel from the RAOC, RAAOC and RNZAOC with locally Employed Civilians (LEC) performing the basic clerical, warehousing and driving tasks. It was part of the ANZUK Support Group supporting ANZUK Force in Singapore between 1971 to 1974. ANZUK Ordnance Depot was formed from the Australian/NZ 5 AOD and UK 3BOD and consisted of:
  • Stores Sub Depot
  • Vehicle Sub Depot
  • Ammunition Sub Depot
  • Barrack Services Unit
  • Forward Ordnance Depot(FOD)
• New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot, 1974–1989
  From 1974 to 1989 the RNZAOC maintained the New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot(NZAOD) in Singapore as part of New Zealand Force South East Asia (NZFORSEA).

Workshops Stores Section

• New Zealand Workshops, RNZAOC Stores Section
• 1RNZIR, Light Aid Detachment Stores Section

Somalia

The RNZAOC (with RNZCT, RNZEME, RNZSig, RNZMC specialist attachments) contributed to the New Zealand Governments commitment to the International and United Nations Operation in Somalia(UNOSOM) efforts in Somalia with:

• Supply Detachment, Dec 1992 to June 1993
• Supply Platoon x 2 rotations, July 1993 to July 1994 (reinforced with RNZIR Infantry Section)
• RNZAOC officers to UNOSOM headquarters, 1992 to 1995.[40]

South Vietnam

During New Zealand’s commitment to the war in South Vietnam (29 June 1964 – 21 December 1972). The Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps did not contribute a standalone unit but provided individuals to serve in New Zealand Headquarters units, Composite Logistic units or as part of Australian Ordnance Units including:

• Headquarters Vietnam Force (HQ V Force)
• 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF)
• 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG)
• 161 Battery Attachments (161 Bty Attached)
• New Zealand Rifle Companies
• 161st (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight

Copyright © Robert McKie 2018

Notes

[1] Whakapapa is a taxonomic framework that links all animate and inanimate, known and unknown phenomena in the terrestrial and spiritual worlds. Whakapapa, therefore, binds all things. It maps relationships so that mythology, legend, history, knowledge, Tikanga (custom), philosophies and spiritualities are organised, preserved and transmitted from one generation to the next. “Rāwiri Taonui, ‘Whakapapa – Genealogy – What Is Whakapapa?’, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Http://Www.Teara.Govt.Nz/En/Whakapapa-Genealogy/Page-1 (Accessed 3 June 2019).”

[2] Major J.S Bolton, A History of the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (Trentham: RNZAOC, 1992).

[3] A.J. Polaschek and Medals Research Christchurch, The Complete New Zealand Distinguished Conduct Medal: Being an Account of the New Zealand Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal from the Earliest Times of the South African War to the Present Time, Together with Brief Biographical Notes and Details of Their Entitlement to Other Medals, Orders and Decorations (Medals Research Christchurch, 1983).

[4] “Dismantling of Buildings at Mt Eden and Reassembling at Narrow Neck,” New Zealand Herald, vol. LXVI, p. 5, 2 February 1929.

[5] “The Narrow Neck Camp,” New Zealand Herald, vol. LVIII, no. 17815, p. 6, 23 June 1921.

[6] 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.

[7] “Camp at Burnham,” Star, no. 16298, p. 8, 13 December 1920.

[8] “RNZAOC Triennial Conference,” in Handbook – RNZAOC Triennial Conference, Wellington,”  (1981).

[9][9] “NZ P106 Dos Procedure Instructions, Part 1 Static Support Force. Annex F to Chapter 1, Rnzaoc Director of Ordnance Services,”  (1978).

[10] ” Featherston Military Training Camp and the First World War, 1915–27,”  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/featherston-camp.

[11] “NZ P106 Dos Procedure Instructions, Part 1 Static Support Force. Annex F to Chapter 1, Rnzaoc Director of Ordnance Services.”

[12] “Stockholding for Operationally Deployable Stockholding Units,” NZ Army General Staff, Wellington  (1993.).

[13] L Clifton, Aerodrome Services, ed. Aerodrome Services Branch of the Public Works Department War History (Wellington1947).

[14] “1 Comp Ord Coy,” Pataka Magazine, February 1979.

[15] “D-01 Public Works Statement by the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1 January,”  (1925).

[16] “Great Military Camp,” The Auckland Star, vol. LVI, no. 83, p. 5, 8 April 1925.

[17] “1st Field Supply Company Standing Operating Procedures, 1st Supply Company Training Wing, Dec “,  (1984).

[18] W.H. Cunningham and C.A.L. Treadwell, Wellington Regiment: N. Z. E. F 1914-1918 (Naval & Military Press, 2003).

[19] “Defence Re-Organisation,” Manawatu Times, vol. XLII, no. 1808, p. 5, 5 May  1921.

[20] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces from 25th June 1914 to 26th June, 1915.,” “, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1915).

[21] “NZ Army Ordnance Stores, ,”  https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/c7681d2d-c440-4d58-81ad-227fc31efebf.

[22] “Pataka Magazine. RNZAOC, P. 52,,”  (1994).

[23] “Waiouru Camp  “, Ellesmere Guardian, vol. LXI, no. 90, p. 2, 12 November 1940

[24] Bolton, A History of the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Ibid.

[27] “Ordnance Stores,” Evening Post, vol. c, no. 95, p. 8, 19 October 1920.

[28] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces from 25th June 1914 to 26th June 1915.”

“, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1915).

[29] “H-19 Defence Forces of New Zealand, Report of the General Officer Commanding the Forces, from 1st June 1916 to 31st May 1917,” Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives  (1917).

[30] “Colonel Rhodes,” Dominion, vol. 9, no. 2718, p. 9, 13 March 1916. .

[31] Ibid.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Glyn Harper, Johnny Enzed: The New Zealand Soldier in the First World War 1914-1918, First World War Centenary History (Titirangi, Auckland, New Zealand: Exisle Publishing, 2015

[Limited Leather Bound Edition], 2015), Bibliographies, Non-fiction.

[34] A.H. Fernyhough, History of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps 1920-1945 (Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1958).

[35] Ibid.

[36] Ibid.

[37] New Zealand War Histories – Italy Volume Ii : From Cassino to Trieste,  (Victoria University of Wellington, 1967).

[38] Ibid.

[39] Ibid.

[40] “Somalia: 1992 – 1995,” NZ Army,” http://www.army.mil.nz/about-us/what-we-do/deployments/previous-deployments/somalia/default.htm.