Last Post: Bill Weatherhead

My name is Carole Weatherhead and I am the daughter in law of William Weatherhead.

 

Yesterday I received the latest copy of your magazine and realised that whilst I had advised some Gunners of the death of my father in law, I had failed to notify your organisation.

 

Sadly, Bill passed away on 3 January 2009 at Somerfield House in Christchurch. He had been suffering from Alzheimers during that time. He was aged 88 years and a Life Member of your Association.

Our thoughts and condolences to Bill's family; he is well remembered by many of us.

75th Jubilee and Reunion

The members at the AGM decided that this year's reunion would be held on the North Shore to mark 75 years since the Association's founding, at Devonport. We hope you see the Jubilee reunion as a special occasion and turn out in full numbers.

The proposed programme is here, with a request to indicate your likely attendance. You are not being asked to make a firm commitment - yet!

Cheers, Mike

Result!

Quite a while ago, we published an enquiry from Amanda in the UK, and here's the result:

I just wanted to say Thank you.

Through the blog I was contacted by a researcher from Maori Tv. As a result [wait and see] has been traced and he will be brought in to the studio during a day of programs for Anzac Day. He doesn't know why and they will do a live phone link to me to tell my story and they will then present him with [what?] which I have returned to its rightful owner.

I received so many emails and he seems to be someone who was well remembered.

Thank you again

Amanda

Tom O'Reilly in Afghanistan

I would like to pass on my greetings to the Comrades and to thank you for the kind words in the Newsletter on the passing of my brother.

I am now back in Kabul, Afghanistan enjoying the fresh and often freezing breezes off the Hindu Kush mountains. This is my second time here. The Region and this country holds a certain fascination for MORE . . . 

Photos

1: Visit to Afghanistan by NZ Ambassador to Iran. L-R: Brig Nev Reilly, Ambassador, Tom O'Reilly, MAF Rep (2008)

2: Squiring Angelina Jolie around Afghanistan and not a Brad Pitt in sight . . . life is hard (2008)

3: Pashtun Party - Tea with the boys (2008)

4: The USSR's  'Road of Death' - At the summit of the Salang Pass through the Hindu Kush mountains at 13000 ft (2008)

5: With locals in Torkham, Pakistan, entrance to the Khyber Pass

War Disablement and Surviving Spouse Pension Applications

Margaret Snow, RNZRSA Manager Pensions & Welfare, recently had a meeting with the General Manager of Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand to discuss the new War Disablement Pension application forms and how best the RSA could assist with ensuring the speedy and efficient passage of claims for War Disablement Pension through the system. Discussions also included other matters that are causing concern within Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand. The points considered important for all Pensions & Welfare Officers are: MUCH MORE . . .

Danger for Older and At-Risk Veterans

RNZRSA has received a disturbing report of an elderly veteran who attended an out-patient clinic at his local hospital. He had gone to the hospital by taxi and after completing his appointment there, was going to find a taxi to return home. MORE . . . 

FULL MEMBERSHIP LISTING

For the full list of our members as at 15 March 2009, click here.
If you notice any errors or omissions, please email the Secretary to have it corrected.

Hamilton V8 Supercars, 17-19 April

Graeme Black is offering accommodation - a double and a single - if anyone needs a place to stay. Contact Graeme by email or phone 07 843 6473.

Six reasons not to mess with children

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him ".

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill.

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.' 
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."
"Yes," the class said.
"Then why is it that while I a m standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"
A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note and posted it on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

Hugh Vercoe on the Charter Parade

The Charter Parade will involve 6Hau with their sub unit Waikato Mounted Rifles, and 3 Auck North being the controlling body for 11/4 Battery. The involvement for the gunners has largely been managed by 3 Auck North as Ollie Te Ua the current BC has been away training pending his departure to Bosnia.
----Two guns will be positioned outside Hamilton City Council representing our Colours. The actual march will include 3 Auck North parading their Colours, as well as 6 Hau with their Colours. Included in the march will be a couple of LAVs and probably only a single gun. Gunners on parade will probably only be around 25. The RNZA band will lead the parade.
----Those taking part will form up at 0630 at Te Rapa and do some rehearsals before assembling at Grantham Street where the march commences at 1030. The route is Grantham to Victoria, to Knox to Alexandra to City square. The official party at the square includes the Minister,  Mayor Bob Simcock, the 2 x Col Coms (Inf) the 2 x  Cos and other dignatories. Retired gunner presence at the official party will be John Valintine, David Mannering, Ian Johnston, Frank Hopkinson and me. Graham Birch was invited but apologises as he is in the South Island.
----At the square there are a couple of awards being presented. It is also intended to issue new Charters representing the current unit names i.e. 11/4 Battery will receive the new Charter replacing that issued to 4 Medium Regt in the 1960s. 
----After the official part outside the square the parade marches off to Victoria St where Bob Simcock will take the salute. The parade continues to Rostrevor Street where it stands down and the participants return for light lunch at Hamilton City reception lounge.
----While there has been talk for some time now about 11/4 having a section based in Hamilton and under command of 16 Field this still has no timings. I will be pushing this issue with the Minister on Saturday and try and move it forward.
----Please feel free to forward this update to the wider gunner network but note that the above is my understanding from talking with various people today. I have not seen anything in writing so the above is simply as I currently understand it.
Thanks Hugh.

Charter Parade, Hamilton, Saturday 14 March

The Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery will be prominent in the Charter Parade through Hamilton this weekend, together with six armoured light operational vehicles, four Unimog trucks and 150 army personnel. The troops will march through central Hamilton as part of an Army Charter Parade this Saturday, 14 March.

Starting from Grantham Street at 10.35am, the parade will move north along Victoria Street, before turning left onto Collingwood Street and right onto Alexandra Street where the units will receive a challenge from the NZ Police. 
The Charters will then be re-affirmed to allow the parade to continue through on to Civic Square in Garden Place at 10.45am. 
There the formal parade proceedings will occur and will include a parade inspection by Mr Simcock and Parade Commander Colonel Broadly, and speech by Minister of Defence Hon Dr Wayne Mapp. MORE . . .

161 Bty M2A2 film footage wanted

Can you help, please? 

I was with 102 Field Battery at Coral. There is currently a doco being produced by Leone Jones from the University of Southern Queensland which will go to air hopefully in May with either the ABC or the history channel with Foxtel.

The reason I am contacting you is to see if any of your members has film footage of 161 showing the M2A2 artillery piece. The only footage we can find is of the L5 pack howitzer.

There is a sense of urgency as we need this ASAP. Many thanks, I hope you can help.
Ian Ryan

Contact Ian by email: ianryan@hotmail.com

Tax refund for you?

From Graeme Black:

It could be worth your while looking into this website which advises if you are due any tax refund. I have just been calculated as being owed $160.00 from 2004. The site has been widely mentioned on TV. Hi ho Silver, not Lotto but very welcome. Click on taxrefunds.co.nz.

Correction

Paul Gregg puts me right:

Your caption and explanatory for "things that go bump in the night" (24 Feb 09) are incorrect. It is not a AC130 gunship with 40mm as written but Apache Attack Helicopters AH64 that conduct the action. The full version of the incident can be located on website Military.Com in the "Shock and Awe" sub folder.

Thanks, Paul.

The New Zealand Society of Gunsmiths advises that is has prepared a draft submission to ERMA, on the control of explosive substances - read about it here .

CMT reunion? Anyone?

Murray Wilton says:
I am an old CMT gunner in RNZA 12 HAA Regiment (121 Battery) and remained in the territorials for seven years. Recently I caught a snippet of news on local radio indicating that there was to be a CMT 60th anniversary reunion. Unfortunately I was driving when I heard it (Community Noticeboard on Newstalk ZB) and didn't get a chance to write down the details.
I wonder if you know anything about this reunion and if so would you be able to tell me who to contact to register.
If you're in the know, contact Murray Wilton by email.

Vic Johnson

From Rod Simpson:

Many of the lads know Vic well, he wasn't Artillery but has done huge work from the beginning re Agent Orange, some of which was at a big personal cost to himself. Vic now lives in Hamilton where he has business interests. Lately his health has not been good and he sent me this yesterday.
Was expected to be in hospital from 19 Feb to approx 24/25 Feb. Everything turned to custard during the operation because of an equipment failure, known as a 'stapling gun', surgery turned into 7 hours on the table.
Following that the bowel failed to function, took 11 days for that to kick in. In the meantime ended up in High Dependency Care Unit due to high fever and complications with a haematoma.
Discharged last Friday and have had limited mobility with more bed time than up time.
You might like to wish Vic well. His email address is: v.r.johnson@xtra.co.nz

Just cruising along

From Frank Hopkinson:
The future of Air Observation (if you can keep your eyes open). Click here

A Phoenix from the Ashes

From Frank Parry:
What happened to the steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Centre after 9/11? See it here . . . 

Medals: NZOSM

From Jack Hayes, Medals Policy Adviser at NZDF:

NZDF wants to promote the entitlement of the NZ Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) to all our members and their families - this has been around since 2002 but Gunners  still appear on parade not wearing it. It is free (including the miniature).

Follow this link to see who is entitled to wear it. If it's you and you don't have it yet, or the next-of-kin want to claim it for a deceased veteran, contact Jack: jack.hayes@nzdf.mil.nz

See our permanent link to the medals website, in the right-hand column.

Competition for the air travel dollar heats up

As airlines lower fares, they look for new ways to cover their costs, too . . . click here

Military weekend at Motat

A military weekend will run at Motat, Auckland, this Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Visitors can watch re-enactments of famous World War Two and Vietnam battles at 11.30am and 1.30pm, or a test fire with machine guns at 10.30am.

Entry for war veterans is free. Call 0800-688-286 for information or go online to www.motat. org.nz.

Thanks to Rod Simpson

RNZRSA pensions submission to the Law Commission

Robin Klitscher, President of RNZRSA advises:

Last December we forwarded to the Law Commission our submission on the War Pensions Act re-write, but only in interim form. The timing of the Law Commission's "roadshow" and the complexity of the issues meant we had no opportunity to obtain the internal constitutional approvals that would be necessary before we went public.
But that has now been done. Since January our interim document has been under consideration by our Affiliates, by the large Steering Group we set up, and by the NEC. At its meeting on 23-24 February 2009, NEC approved it unanimously.
I am very pleased therefore to be able to publish the document.

This document is 40 pages long but you do need to read it so you know what's heading your way . . . READ IT NOW

Bill Norman RA, WW2

Chris Keyworth asks:

Could you help me trace information with regards to my uncle Bill who was a batman with 5 Field Regiment RA in WW2? His full name was William Norman and he was captured in Burma. I know he spent some time in NZ after the war but other than that I know very little about him except that he was awarded some money by the Japanese govenment as compensation about a year or so before he died. Bill was reluctant to talk about his experiences in the POW camps but we would like to know what he was subjected to. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

If you can help Chris, email him at swampfox241274@aol.com

161 Bty RNZA final parade in Viet Nam

John King, who served with 86 Transport Platoon RAASC in Viet Nam in

1970-71, has kindly sent these two photos of 161 Battery's final parade.

Click to enlarge.

Capt Charles T R McLean MBE RNZA

Ayleth has asked for help with research into her grandfather's military career. 

Here is her original request, posted in January, with a photo of several gunners who have just received their MBEs or other honour from the Duke of Windsor, in May 1937.

She is curious about an incident where a warning shot was fired at a vessel that did not heave-to. The shot passed through the wheelhouse, killing a crewman. Charles McLean may have been connected to that incident - and we'd all like to have the story if you know it.

If you can help Ayleth, please contact her by email.