The Royal New Zealand Artillery
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The Royal New Zealand Artillery Association (Inc) Registered Charity: CC37284 Promoting the fellowship and supporting the wellbeing |
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REGISTER NOW: 89th Annual Gathering & AGM, Fri 27th – Sun 29th October 2023 To Be Held At Trentham Military Camp, Trentham, UPPER HUTT
89th Annual Gathering & AGM, Fri 27th – Sun 29th October 2023 To be held at Trentham Military Camp, Trentham, UPPER HUTT
Date:
Thursday, 24 August, 2023
THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION INC
Fellow Gunners. The 89th Annual Gathering & AGM for the RNZAA will be held in Trentham Camp on Fri 27th to Sun 29th October 2023. Registrations Close on Wednesday 18th October 2023.
Join your comrades-in-arms for a weekend of memories and socialising. Don't let this opportunity slip by – REGISTER NOW.
The organisers have put together a great few days for us. Get together a group of your era comrades for a great catch-up with them.
There are only ten more weeks before the Association’s Reunion and AGM.
Programme Outline and costs:
Reunion Registration Fee
$5 per person (for all attendees regardless of individual events attended).
Friday 27 Oct:
Meet and Greet:
1630hrs – Registration, relax, mix and mingle at WO/SNCO Mess, Trentham Camp. Includes finger food. Cost $10.00 per person. Cash bar.
Saturday 28 Oct:
AGM:
0930hrs - Morning tea/coffee in the WO/SNCO Mess, Trentham Camp. No cost.
1000hrs – Association AGM in the Mess, Trentham Camp.
Saturday Afternoon Activities
The following events are available for attendees (timing and details to be confirmed).
EOD (Explosive Ordnance) Museum Visit. Tour the EOD museum within Trentham Camp. Free of charge.
Fire Support Computer Display. Hirtenberger Defence, the supplier of the new RNZA fire prediction system, will be displaying their technology specifically for the reunion within Trentham Camp. Free of charge.
Self-guided tour of Wellington Artillery sites of interest. Free of charge.
Dinner:
1700 for 1800hrs - Meet at WO/SNCO or Officers Mess (depends on which Mess is open. Both located in same building) for a semi-formal dinner. Dinner in adjoining dining room.
Dress: Gents – Tie, jacket or Mess Kit. Ladies, semi-formal or Mess Kit. Medals/miniatures. Cost $60.00. Includes wine and port with dinner. Cash bar pre and post dinner for other drinks.
Sunday 29 Oct 23:
1000hrs - A brief service at the Trentham Chapel
Accommodation Options
20 single room accommodation has been secured in camp for Friday and/or Saturday night. Linen is provided and this comes as a single bed with breakfast booking. The charge is $10.00 per night per room/person. Breakfast included in the All-Ranks Mess. First in first served basis. One single bed/person per room, so a couple would need 2 rooms. Alternative accommodation options for couples are available within Wellington or the Hutt Valley - google search, booking.com, hotels.com or tripadvisor.co.nz.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW ONLINE.
We do not have a paper registration form this year but if you are unable to register online you can contact the Treasurer to arrange your registration manually –
Chris Pearce - 021918821
Memorial fund raising. Brig. Reg Miles CBE, DSO & bar, MC
Most of you will be aware of the Reg Miles story. Briefly, he was the top graduate of the original graduating class from RMC Duntroon in 1914, with Graduation Certificate No 1. He took the first NZ guns ashore at Gallipoli, was recommended for a VC in France (he got the DSO) and won an MC. He was wounded twice and ended the War as the Brigade Major of the NZ Div artillery, responsible for the fire plans at Messines and Le Quesnay.
In WW2 he was the CRA, commanding all 2 NZ Div’s artillery. He was captured in a slit trench, wounded, and engaging the enemy with a rifle, behind 6 Fd Regt when it was overrun by German Panzers and infantry, at Bel Hamad in Dec 1940.
Imprisoned in the Generals’ camp outside Florence, six senior officers escaped after digging a tunnel under the chapel in the castle walls. The four British escapees were quickly captured; the two NZers got to Switzerland and were interned.
With NZ wanting Miles back in 2 NZ Div, the British secret escape organization got him out of Switzerland, across occupied France and into neutral Spain, where he was to be taken out by submarine from Gibraltar. For his Desert service he was awarded the CBE by NZ, and for his daring escape a second DSO by the British. He was the most senior successful Commonwealth escapee in the war.
Unfortunately, he died in mysterious circumstances in Figueras in Northern Spain in Oct 1943, where he was buried with full military honours by the Spanish, and where he remains.
The room in which he died is now part of a museum. A group of Spanish locals, with the agreement of the Museum, are planning to develop a permanent memorial for Miles in the room, on the 80th anniversary of his death, in late October this year.
We feel that New Zealand needs to also memorialise Miles in the Museum room, and we are calling for donations to raise enough for a suitable bronze plaque to be commissioned and placed with the Spanish memorial, from New Zealand. The alternative is an oil painting of Miles. A bronze is about $6,000, an oil about $4,000.
We have a donor who will match the first $750 raised, dollar for dollar.
Please forward your donation to the RNZA Historic Trust with Miles in the reference field, at BNZ Hutt Central 02-0528-0274552-000.
The trust is a Registered Charity, so donations are deductable for tax purposes. If you require a receipt for tax purposes, please email Barry Dreyer at barryddreyer@gmail.com
Ubique
Barry Dreyer
Association President's message in wake of Cyclone Gabrielle
Fellow Gunners,
In the wake of the weather event in Auckland last month and the impact of Cyclone Gabriel, I am really conscious of the impact that this could have on our members.
For all of you who were affected in some way, our thoughts are with you.
For those of you who have been affected, the Civil Defence website has important information, on how to access help. The Cyclone Gabriel fact sheet has a lot of useful information. Don’t be hesitant in getting the help that is offered.
https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/
In terms of long-term support, don’t forget your local RSA. Although you may not be a member, they can provide access to Veterans’ Affairs’, if you are a Returned Serviceperson, or put you in touch with the local National RSA support person in your area. Any ex member of the NZDF even if not serving overseas is entitled to support from the RSA.
We want you to know that you’re not alone.
Practically, in the immediate aftermath, if you know of a Gunner who needs help, reach out to your network, contact other Gunners – form groups of helpers, in the model of Operation Ubique, to volunteer time and effort where it is needed. With this in mind, if you are willing and able to act as a local coordinator, having the capacity of checking out somebody your network advises you of, or having a network of ex serving gunners available to go to help a gunner in need, could you please drop an email to:
rnza.association@gmail.com
giving your name, location, phone and e,mail. We will act as an overall coordinator to put you in touch with gunners we hear about who need a helping hand.
There are also funds being raised which you could donate money to.
Remember, you are not alone. Help is available if you need it.
Ubique,
Shay Bassett
President
Royal New Zealand Artillery Association.
Book: VIETNAM GUNNERS by Lt Col (Retd) Steve Newman now viewable on Association website
Many thanks to Lt Col (Ret’d) Steve Newman RNZA for his very generous permission to post his 1988 book “Vietnam Gunners” on our RNZA Association Website.
The book is © Copyright Steve Newman, 1988, and is used by The Royal New Zealand Artillery Association with his permission.
We request that readers of the book as posted here use it with discretion, bearing in mind that it remains copyrighted to the author.
Click here to access the book in our Media section of the website.
The Colonel Commandant's Message on the Passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Fellow Gunners,
It is with great sadness that the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery marks the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our Captain General. We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Royal Family and reflect on the many years we served the guns that bear the Royal Arms."
Brigadier (Ret) Paul Southwell,
Colonel Commandant RNZA
The Royal New Zealand Artillery Association 88th Reunion and Annual General Meeting will be held in Christchurch between Thursday/Friday 10/11 November and Sunday 13 November 2022.
Join your comrades-in-arms for a weekend of memories and socialising at The Richmond Club in Christchurch. Don't let this opportunity slip by – REGISTER NOW.
The organisers have put together a great few days for us. Get together a group of your era comrades for a great catch-up with them.
Programme Outline:
Thursday 10 Nov 22: From 1600hrs – Registration open, mix and mingle at Richmond Club
Friday 11 Nov 22:
1050hrs – Armistice Day Service at Bridge of Remembrance
1200-1700hrs – Own arrangements, or
1300-1700hrs – Ripapa Island/Fort Jervois Visit – Liaise directly with Pete Dawson (petedawson1950lytt@gmail.com) for details and bookings.
From 1800hrs – Registration open, mix and mingle at Richmond Club
Saturday 12 Nov 22:
0830-1000hrs - Breakfast available at The Richmond Club
1000hrs – Registration open at Richmond Club
1030 - 1200hrs – Association AGM at The Richmond Club
1300 - 1600hrs – Reunion Formal Luncheon at the Richmond Club
From 1600hrs – Richmond Club facilities available to attendees to mix and mingle
Dress for Luncheon: Gents – Tie, jacket with medals /miniatures.
Ladies, semi-formal.
Sunday 13 Nov 22:
0830-1000hrs - Breakfast available at The Richmond Club
1030hrs – A brief Church Service
Registration
The Registration Desk will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (see schedule for timings) within the Richmond Club, 75 London Street, Richmond, Christchurch 8013.
Vaccination Requirements
Please note that under the current Government Traffic Light system, all attendees must be vaccinated.
Accommodation Options
Own arrangements, but the Christchurch Committee have included a list of suggested accommodation. Please Click here to get a list of Accommodation in the Christchurch area.
Register Now
Please Click here to go to the Registration form. You can either use the On-line Website form, or download and print the paper version and send that. If possible, could you please use the on-line version.
WARNING ORDER!
The Royal New Zealand Artillery Association Annual Reunion and Annual General Meeting 10-13 November 2022
Dates:
Thursday 10/11 to Sunday 3/11
Venue:
Richmond Club, London St, Christchurch
Programme:
Thursday 10/11
Early arrival registration and Happy Hour (17:00 onwards)
Friday 11/11
· Christchurch Armistice Day Parade (10:50): Bridge of Remembrance
· Boat visit to inspect Fort Jervois disappearing guns 13:00: Lyttelton launch trip
· Happy Hour and Ode 17:00: With Christchurch RSA
Saturday 12/11
· Annual General Meeting 10:30
· Formal Regt Luncheon 13:30
· Happy Hour 17:00
Sunday 13/11
· Remembrance Service
· Dispersal to home Locs
Costs, registration process and full details will be advised shortly.
RNZAA Committee
2021 AGM UPDATE RNZAA
The RNZAA committee has been monitoring the current COVID-19 levels across NZ in the knowledge that Trentham Camp can only host our AGM weekend if Wellington is at COVID-19 Alert Level 1. We also note that a number of key committee members, and members in general, reside in Auckland, and their ability to attend the AGM also needs consideration.
The Association committee reviewed this position today (decision D Day) and determined that the likelihood of NZ being at COVID-19 Alert Level 1 on 30 October with unrestricted travel nationally was not high. A decision has, therefore, been made to cancel the RNZAA AGM weekend scheduled for 29–31 October 2021.
The AGM meeting itself will instead be conducted as a virtual meeting in order to fulfil the Association’s constitutional requirements.
The virtual AGM will be held on Saturday 30 October 2021 at 1100hrs.
The committee is now working on the mechanics of this meeting and advice on how to join this meeting will be circulated once planning is complete. An agenda and accounts will be circulated by email to the membership for review no later than 23 October 2021.
Should there be any committee member nominations, motions, or general business for inclusion in the AGM agenda, please email these to me by 16 October.
I appreciate the advice above is very disappointing, but we look forward to being able to come together for regional and national events in 2022.
Regards
Chris Pearce
Secretary RNZA Association
rnza.association@gmail.com
Change of font for website
In case some website visitors are puzzled by the website looking a little different from 22/10/2020, we have updated the look of it slightly with a different font.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN. RNZA Association 86th AGM/Annual Reunion 2020, Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October, Trentham Military Camp, Upper Hutt.
Join your comrades-in-arms for a weekend of memories and socialising.
Don't let this opportunity slip by – REGISTER NOW.
Click here for further information and registration link.
The Horowhenua Artillery Association have postponed their "Celebrate 60 years" events that were due to be held on 23rd May 2020. This is postponed until October’s El Alamein luncheon.
Warning Order: RNZA Association AGM/Annual Reunion 2020. Weekend 16-18 October 2020 at Trentham Camp, Upper Hutt
Remember the Association welcomes anyone who has served the Guns for 3 months or more, so get together a group of your era comrades for a great catchup.
Martin Coomber (Area Rep Wgtn) will head the organizing c`ttee.
Draft Timetable; developed with the Camp staff at Trentham;
Fri 16 Oct, 16.30 Happy Hour WOs and Sgts Mess
Sat 17 Oct,
10.30-12.00 AGM, SNCOs Ante Room. (Timing for the AGM can be moved to accommodate activities)
12.00-17.00, Organised afternoon activities in/around Wellington area. TBA.
18.00 for 19.00 Semi formal dinner, Combined dining room.
Sun 18 Oct, 10.00am Commemorative Service. Trentham Chapel.
Accomodation. Barracks accomodation will likely be available for up to 50 pers, at a low cost, which may include breakfast in camp. Details and cost to be confirmed later.
Further details to follow later in the year closer to when registration/booking is opened.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN. RNZA Association 85th AGM/Annual Reunion 2019, Friday 8th – Sunday 10th November, TAUPO.
Join your comrades-in-arms for a weekend of memories and socialising.
Don't let this opportunity slip by – REGISTER NOW.
The organiser in Taupo, Peter Miles, has put together a great weekend for us. Thank you Peter.
Remember the Association welcomes anyone who has served the Guns for 3 months or more, so get together a group of your era comrades for a great catchup.
Click here for Details
or
Click here to Register Online.
or
Click Here to Download/Print paper registration form.
The Royal New Zealand Artillery Association Port
0Torlesse Reserve Old Tawny
The Royal NZ Artillery Association have arranged a special label and a price
exclusive to members of $26 per bottle.
Winemakers Comments
The wine style is operated on a solera system started in 1992 where the barrels are nev-er emptied. Each bottling is taken from the original 5 barrels which are half emptied, then topped with the next oldest wine.
This wine has been matured in barrels for an average of 10 years, the base wine is a blend of red grapes fortified with high strength alcohol. As the wine matures the colour gradually takes on a tawny colour and develops a sweet nutty character.
Much of the wines development has already occurred in the barrel so this wine is ready to drink but can be cellared for many more years. The wine is complex and shows the typical rancio character of a good tawny port, and is an excellent way to end any good meal, or entertainment. To be enjoyed in moderation. This wine can be stored after opening in a decanter for months with no adverse effects.
To order:
Christchurch delivery to a specific address is freight free. Orders to other areas will incur a freight charge,
The wine can be ordered by contacting Torlesse Wines on email:
winery@torlesse.co.nz or phone 03 3146929 or 021758441
Easiest method of payment is by credit card but they can do direct debit as well with an invoice.
Public Address: Freemasonry in War and Peace. Nelson, Wed 7 Nov 2018. Click here for more information.
Funeral of 37221 Sgt Alastair "Al" Don, Military Merit Medal (SVN), Cross of Gallantry with Palm (SVN), 161 Bty RNZA, killed in action on 14th September 1965 in South Vietnam. 1400 hrs Tuesday 21st August 2018. Click here for location and details.
REGISTER NOW - RNZA Association AGM/Annual Reunion 2018, Labour Weekend, Friday 19th – Sunday 21st October, Dunedin.
Join your comrades-in-arms for a weekend of memories and socialising.
Don't let this opportunity slip by – Register NOW.
The organising team in Dunedin, led by Robbie Gardiner, are putting together a great weekend for us. Thank you Robbie and team.
Remember the Association welcomes anyone who has served the Guns for 3 months or more, so get together a group of your era comrades for a great catchup.
The great looking DRAFT program is below, as are accommodation suggestions from the Dunedin team. More details, cost, and registration forms will follow later once the program has been finalised and confirmed.
Click here to register online OR Click here to download/print paper registration form.
Click here to see Accommodation suggestions from the Dunedin team.
Gunners Day Events, Saturday 26th May 2018
Auckland/Northern Semi-Formal Dinner, Evening of Saturday May 26th 2018. Point Chevalier Memorial RSA, Auckland. Click here for more details and registration.
Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Coromandel gunners casual get together and dinner 2pm-7pm, Te Aroha RSA, Saturday May 26th 2017. Click here for more details.
Wellington, Service at National War Memorial and casual lunch. Click here for Details.
Christchurch Gunners Day 2018. A "Formal'ish" Dinner (with partners & friends invited) on Sat 26 May. Click here for Details.
BATTLE OF CORAL – 50TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND
The Battle of Coral 50th Anniversary Weekend will be held from the 11th to 13th May 2018 in Canberra, coinciding with the National Coral Gunner Dinner to be held on Saturday evening the 12th May 2018.
Click Here for full details about the Anniversary Weekend and to register your attendance online at the dedicated webpage on the RAAHC website.
This is going to be one big event!
Regards,
Graham Hampton,
Australian Artillery Association
WARNING ORDER.
THE VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION RE-UNION
QUEENS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND 1 – 4 JUNE 2018 WAIOURU MILITARY CAMP
The Ex Vietnam Services Association Inc.
Click Here for further information and a downloadable/printable registration form for the reunion.
December 2017 NZ Gunner issue 179
Dear fellow Gunners,
Happy New Year to you all.
I would like to welcome Woody Barrett on board as our new editor. I am very sorry that we havent been in a position to send out the December 17 edition earlier, but we have now got things sorted and we look forward to lots of contributions from ALL interested members for future editions. Contributions can be submitted to Woody via email at editor.rnzaa@gmail.com.
Please make a note that the 2018 Reunion/AGM will be held in Dunedin over Labour Weekend 19-21 October 18. Lets get in behind Robbie Gardiner and the boys from the deep south. There will be a very full and interesting program of activities so book early.
Your elected committee have already had their first meeting and we are working towards four major objectives:
1. Maintain contact with previous generations of Assn flag holders, in particular our Vietnam era of Gunners.
2. Provide a strengthened base for the development of the esprit de corps of our TF Batteries (established and non-established)
3. Develop stronger relations with the post Vietnam era (1972-present) of Gunners, with emphasis on operational deployment groupings.
4. Strengthen our relationship with the serving soldiers of 16 Fd Regt.
These objectives require a team effort to achieve, so if anyone thinks they may be able to contribute in any way, please let us know. Colin Jansen's Op Ubique, which gathers Gunners together to maintain equipments around the country, is a wonderful example of how we may meet our objectives and achieve our comradeship goals.
My best wishes for a great 2018 for you all
Click this link to read or download The New Zealand Gunner Issue 179.
Ubique
Tony McLeod
President
RNZA AssociationVodafone Email Address Shutdown.
With the shut down last week of all Vodafone NZ email addresses, which affects all email addresses ending with the suffixes in the list below, the Royal NZ Artillery Association is concerned that we could potentially lose contact with some members who have been using those addresses, so this is a reminder to all association members who are changing their email address as a result of this change, to please send an email to the secretary of the association at rnza.association@gmail.com letting the association know what your new email address is.
@clear.net.nz
@es.co.nz
@ihug.co.nz
@paradise.net.nz
@pcconnect.co.nz
@quik.co.nz
@vodafone.co.nz
@vodafone.net.nz
@wave.co.nz
Ubique.
Registration now open forThe Royal NZ Artillery Association Inc 83rd Annual Gathering - AGM. 29TH September - 1st October 2017. Palmerston North
To be held at the Palmerston North Cosmopolitan Club, 29th September - 1st October 2017, 22 Linton Street, Palmerston North.
Click here for more details.
June 2017 Issue NZ Gunner issue 174
Many thanks to new Editor Mike Dakin.
As the seasons change, so do the way we do things in the Association, to ensure that we keep current with the times.
Therefore, it is intended to trial a new electronic format for our Quarterly Newsletter, which is accessible from the clickable link at the end of this message. We will be trialing this over the next four issues, and we welcome any feedback that you may have.
The Editor is always on the outlook for contributions - please send to : editor.rnzaa@gmail.com.
Once you have the newsletter open simply click on the clickable part of any of the articles/images that feature on the Main page of the newsletter, which will lead you to the article/item in full. Don't forget to read ALL of them.
Click here to view issue 174
March 2017 Issue NZ Gunner issue 173
Click here to view issue 173
Potential Employment Opportunity for ex-service personnel
Ritchies Transport are short of bus drivers in Auckland (in fact Nationwide and not only Ritchies). On the Shore they could do with 20 extra drivers of various availability.
There must be ex-servicemen and women who are semi-retired or retired and in good health that still have a Class 2 licence.
Click here for more details
Fellow Gunners, Warning Order. 163 Bty will perform the 1812 Overture with the NZ Army Band this Saturday 3 Dec at the Palmerston North Square from 1730 to 1800 hrs (a first I believe).
We are expecting a big turn-out not just from the families of 163 Bty soldiers but all the RNZA family and the wider public. This event is associated with the Charter Parade that will occur earlier in the day. Click here for Flyer with full details.
December Issue NZ Gunner issue 172
Click here to view issue 172
September Issue NZ Gunner Issue 171
Click here to view issue 171
Details of the AGM/Reunion 2016 & Registration Form
Click here to see more
RA Rugby match due to have been held on Tuesday 8 March at Trentham has been CANCELLED
Click here to view more details
Ubique 300, Queens Baton and RA Rugby Team
Click here to see more
RNZAA Submission; VSA 14
Click here to view it
Added Editions 114-120 of News Letter
Click here to view
New Zealand Gunner Newest Edition - are there now
Click here to view issues 167 & 168
RNZA Bumper Stickers now in Q Store
Click here to see details
REGISTER your Association membership online NOW!
Find out why . . .
Auckland Gunners
- Click here to see what's on and what's coming up.
Wellington Gunners
- Click here to see what's on and what's coming up.
Canterbury
- Click here to see what's on and what's coming up.
16 Field Regiment - Regimental Activities
- Awaiting input . . .