Enquiry: Graeme Ready?

Bert Hoebee is a retired Australian Infantry Officer graduate of the June 68 OCS Class. He is trying to identify people in some photos he has of his time in SVN with 9 RAR in 1969.
 ---One of these includes a person who may be Graeme Ready, an RNZAC LCpl serving with 161 Bty RNZA as a LBdr. He's the bloke at rear with the pipe in the photo at see earlier post.
---Graeme Ready subsequently graduated to the RNZAC from Portsea in December 1970, and may have retired as a Colonel.
---Anyone able to put Bert in touch with Graeme can email Bert Hoebee, Canberra

To one and all, from Everyone

New Year Honours for two at 16 Field

Our sincere congratulations go to Warrant Officer Class Two John Francis WEEL and Gunner Phillip John MANNING, both of whom have been awarded The Distinguished Service Decoration in the New Year Honours.
---We also congratulate Lt Col (Rtd) Chris MULLANE MBE on his well-earned admission as an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit, for services to Viet Nam veteran's.

Korea: Correcting Ralph Porter

Harry Honnor writes:

I would like to comment on 'The first casualty suffered by Kayforce' in the [New Zealand Gunner] article 'With 16 Fd Regt, Royal New Zealand Artillery, in Korea 1950-51', by the late Col Ralph Porter OBE. It is NOT often that one can find error in one of Ralph's productions, but this one bears little resemblance to the facts. A more correct [statement] could be: MORE . . .

173d ABA donation acknowledged

Chapter 19 of 173d Airborne Brigade Association has made a donation of USD500.00 toward construction of a Memorial to all 173d soldiers who were lost in Viet Nam. The names of Al Don and Jock White will be inscribed on the memorial to reflect our pride in their service and sacrifice.
---To read the  letter acknowledging Chapter 19's donation click here or on the header.
---To make a donation to this cause, send it payable to The RNZA Association, which handles Chapter 19's admin.

Battles of Coral & Balmoral - FO party members?

From Neil Bradley:
As a result of my report about a reunion, I have been asked to write a NZers point of view about the battles of Coral and Balmoral in May 1968 for the NZ Govt history web site. 
---I am trying to put names to the FO party members of Mike Harvey’s (c/s 31), Wally Steward (c/s 33) and Martin Steeds (c/s 34), so that they can be mentioned.  
---I had both Truck Carr and Red Whyte at c/s 32, although Red was replaced by Dick Wharerau towards the end of May.
---I also remember seeing Mike Thornton at Balmoral attached to the armd elements. Was there anyone that we know of with him as perhaps a Bty Sig.
---Any information could you please send direct to me at nbradley@bradleygroup.com.au

Farewell service for Graham Williams

Graham John Williams. Major Retired (Service No. 336978) Vietnam Vet. Passed away peacefully at home, in his sleep, on 27 December 2008 after a short illness.
---Beloved husband of Hazel and dearly loved father of Marie, Jocelyn, Sharon, Graham, Tracey and Ronda.Treasured Grandad of Jean and Sean, Lisa, Zachary and Gabriel, Jason, Samuel and Andy, Kelly Mei, Michael and Kaine, Luke and Emma. Greatgrandad of Jordyn. 
---We will miss your strength, direction and love. A mighty Kauri has fallen. R.I.P. 
---A farewell service will be held at the Birkenhead RSA, Recreation Drive, Birkenhead on Tuesday 30 December, 2008 at 10am followed by a private cremation.
---In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully received by the Birkenhead RSA Welfare Trust.

Secret toll of mental illness

From Neil Bradley:
Reading about the Kapyong Battery going to Townsville and the reasons for its formation from 161 and 163 Bty’s due to 16 Fd Regt personnel being used in Afghanistan and Timor, I recalled this article that I had read about Australian troops suffering mental health problems on return to Australia.
---I guess such problems have always been there and we all know comrades who have suffered in NZ in the past with scant recognition by Defence. Perhaps that is now going to change.

For more, click here or on the header.

Enquiry: Who is that man?

From Bert Hoebee, who writes:
I am scanning some of my old slides from Vietnam days for a picture gallery and anecdotes book my old company, C Coy 9 RAR, is producing. This photo is one of them.
---In trying to identify the individuals in it, I have received this information:
---The bloke with pipe behind Max Knight is a Kiwi bombardier from the artillery battery attached to Charlie Coy. He bunked with me at the Horseshoe I can't remember his name.

---The shot was taken sometime mid-1969, at a FSPB (name?) we established while C Coy was
training the 2/48 ARVN Bn.
---Any chance your NZ gunner net can help me put a name to the face, and to the FSPB?

Contact Bert Hoebee if you can help.

Graham Williams

From John Campbell, Immediate Past President RNZRSA:
I personally, and the RSA movement, owe a great deal to Graham and I would like to express my deep sadness and condolences to his family – and to acknowledge the great debt we all owe him – the world is a much poorer place for his passing.

From Tracey, Graham's daughter, to John Campbell:

I am pleased that you have blessed my father's life. It has been a blessing that he left this world earlier rather than later considering his illness. The world absolutely is much poorer without my father. Thank you so much for your thoughts.

Graham Williams remembered

From Leon Orange:

Another good man leaves us. Please record my condolences to Graham's family, I am a past member of Birkenhead RSA and knew Graham well over the years. A man's man if you know what I mean, he enjoyed a beer with the best of us. Rest in peace Graham.

Last Post: Maj G J Williams RNZA

Hazel phoned this morning to say that Graham passed away overnight. His funeral arrangements are expected to be published in the NZ Herald on Monday and I will post them here as soon as I have them.
---Messages may be sent to 68 Archers Road, Glenfield, North Shore 0629 or email Hazel and family
---Graham was 161 Bty's first GPO on deployment in Viet Nam in 1965. He served as President of the Birkenhead RSA for 14 years, a time that saw the RSA go through a period of remarkable growth.

Enquiry: Hugo Foster RNZA c1940-52

Brian Jerry Meyer has an enquiry for info about Hugo Foster RNZA. He is thought to have served in WW2, with 10 Coast Regt 1948-52, then to Stratford as Cadre NCO before taking his release to work for NZ Railways. He died in the early 1970s.
Contact Jerry 

And they're not talking about bribes!

Artillery gun kickback

Army News and Jimmy Page

• Kapyong Battery, 16 Fd Regt RNZA, goes to Townsville for Exercise Long Guns .
  
• Get fit or exhausted learning about Exercise Tasman Gunner.
  
• And from the archives, a reminder of an amazing man, admired by all who knew him: Jimmy Page.
  
• There's more to read in the NZ Army News #394.
  

An offer that's hard to refuse

paul and bev mooney say "We have a house & pool in Redcliffe Queensland, that needs someone to have a holiday in while we have a holiday in NZ, from the end of January through to the middle of March or something in between. It has three bedrooms, a big rumpus, an office with broadband, cable TV etc."

"Anyone interested????????"

If you are interested, contact Paul at his email.

Season's Greetings

Yes, folk, it's that time of the year and the Festive Season is right upon us. Greetings have come in from:

• Mae and Charlie Purcell - 'All the very best for the coming festivities and for a great New Year.'
  
• Gail and Roley Flutey - A Christmas letter
• And Frank Parry - A Christmas Card
  

Thanks to all of you who have sent good wishes. I've enjoyed this year so much (in retrospect, if not at the time!) The highlight has been renewing old friendships and making many new ones.

Only seven more sleeps, so try to be good!

Armstrong BL gun, post-1858

Ordnance abbreviations:
BL = Breech Loading (either rifled or smooth bored)
RBL = Rifled Breech Loading
RML = Rifled Muzzle Loading

From 1858, Armstrong Guns are all rifled - some were Muzzle Loaded others were Breech Loaded. A gun prefixed by Armstrong after 1858 will be rifled as no Armstrong Guns from 1858 were smooth bored.
Some  guns made from c1350 were breech loaded smooth bores, but most were muzzle loaded smooth bored. Armstrong introduced Rifling to Cannon in 1858.
The guns should be described as Armstrong RBL Gun or Armstrong RML Gun but most Historians, when talking about post-1858 Armstrong Guns, assume that everyone knows they were rifled so they are only identified as BL or ML.
John Osborne replies to an enquiry - thanks, John.

Room for one more?

Thanks to Neil Bradley: Click to enlarge

Frontline images of war today

Twenty-seven images of US and Canadian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Proposed Rules Amendments: SGM

Your committee has called a Special General Meeting on 15 January 2009 to discuss and resolve proposals to amend our Rules. In brief, this is recommended by the committee to:

• Become a registered charity
• Simplify and strengthen audit and management procedures
• Clarify and extend membership rules
• Tidy up some administrative matters.

Click here or on the header to read more 

Police notice to all firearms users, importers etc

A number of firearms and/or their parts have been intercepted at the border by Customs with the labelling, declaration and or description of those firearms and/or their parts not accurately describing what is within the package. This is evidence of illicit trafficking of firearms and/or their parts. 

To read the full notice from NZ Police, click here or on the heading.

Leading up to the not-so-silly Season

Frank Parry has pointed us to an enthralling exhibition of billiards and dominoes - click here or on the header.

St Barbara's Day in Christchurch

Pete Dawson says it was quite hazy when he wrote this on the morning after the night before:

I have to admit that my compass was not calibrated correctly and that my home loc was not quite where I thought it was.

---We celebrated our Saint last night at the Chch RSA and it was a great turnout. I understand (although my memory is suspect) that the big red marine spiders (supplied courtesy of one of our seagoing gunner mates) went down very well. Big buggers they were too!

---We did the toasts at least once but possibly more often as our mates arrived and it was a bloody great night.

---We decided that we should do this more often but St B's day and Gunners' Day aren't enough so we have now agreed that Southern Gunners will meet for social intercourse, cheap chat, and any other stuff that we might wish to discuss, on the first Thursday of each month at the Chch RSA from 16:00hrs onwards, starting Thursday 5 February 2009.

---We hope that we'll see you there if you can make it.

What's up, Jock? If you have ever wondered -

If you would be embarrassed to be in the men's locker room, don't go here. Otherwise, it's quite a revelation.

Greetings from our Col Comdt and Australia's

I have received St Barbara's Day greetings from Maj Gen Tim Ford, the Representative Col Comdt, RAA. I have reciprocated witth greetings from the Regiment in NZ.

And on my own behalf, fraternal warm greetings and best wishes to all NZ gunners and their families on this day.
Ubique,
Graham Birch,
Brigadier (Retired)
Colonel Commandant, Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
Click here or on the header to read the greetings from Australia.

Greetings to Gunners everywhere

On this St Barbara's day, 2008, the President and members of the Royal New Zealand Artillery Association extend fraternal greetings to New Zealand's own Gunners, and to Gunners of every nation, wherever they may be.

Greetings from the Royal Artillery

Lt Col Nick Gillard, CO 16 Field Regt RNZA advises that he has received a fax from Lt Col John Boswell at NZ High Commission that reads:

The Master Gunner St James's Park, Director Royal Artillery and all ranks of the Royal Regiment of Artillery.Best wishes and fraternal greetings on the occasion of Saint Barbara's Day 2008 to the Colonel Commandant, Director and all ranks of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.

Ubique.

Greetings from Timor Leste

WO2 John Garton, from Timor Leste:

A Happy St Barbara’s Day from the Gunners currently deployed to Timor Leste.
---The association may not be aware that over 80 personnel from 16 Fd Regt deployed to Timor over the period 20–27 Nov for a six month tour. They have been rounded out to a Infantry Coy size group by territorial personnel from throughout the North Island. We are operating as Infantry platoons patrolling around the capital city Dili. 
---We will be celebrating with the Aussie Air Defence Bty (here as Infantry too) deployed with 5 RAR, the current Battle Group HQ. Col Graeme Williams RNZA will be joining us. He is currently the Chief Military Observer in Timor.

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date with news of the day, John. Our best wishes to you guys too. Any photos will be very welcome!

Graham Williams

I visited Graham and Hazel today to see how he is getting on - not at all well. He is noticeably worse than when I saw him in June, when he had tumour removed from his throat. 

---He thought then that it was all clear but, after radiation, it spread to his right lymph nodes and into his lungs. He has a prominent lymphoedema on his left cheek and jaw. Graham is unable to have further surgery or radiation and, I'm sad to say, his condition is terminal.

---He can't speak and communicates by writing, but doesn't have a lot of strength for that. I asked him if he is OK to receive text messages but that's too painful to manage. Hazel said he has been really pleased to have cards and letters, so do a good deed: 68 Archers Road, Glenfield, North Shore 0629.

---He said he would be glad to see close friends for short visits, but phone Hazel first - 09 418 4548.

---Graham was 161 Bty's first GPO on deployment in Viet Nam in 1965, and he is in his 15th year as President of the Birkenhead RSA.

Rod Baldwin & Neil Bradley: Coral & Balmoral 40th

Gareth Phipps, Viet Nam Oral History Project, Ministry of Culture & Heritage, advises that Rod Baldwin's and Neil Bradley’s  reports on the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Battles of Coral and Balmoral are now available on-line.

5.5" BL gun rescue

Warwick Thorpe is setting out to rescue a 5.5 from the elements. It's in private hands but sat in a paddock so it needs help to avoid decay. He will appreciate any technical material anyone is willing to share. Copies are fine as he wants them for practical rather than collector purposes.

---He writes: 'The picture is myself and compadre on the L5, Armistice Day at Cambridge, doing Vietnam tribute battle. The light gun crews watching were jealous of our blanks apparently - well, we just hoped any vets watching appreciated seeing the L5 in action again.' 

---Can you help? Email Warwick at wakazz@paradise.net.nz

Amazing technology from Japan . . .

From Alan Taylor:
You will not know what's ahead of you until you have seen at least four pictures and read the explanation of what they are. Incredible! 

Well, yes, it's gawping good, but the dratted link failed. If  you would like to see a huge technology leap, send an email and I'll return Alan's original to you.

The price of progress

If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.--------- Robert Cringely