31051 Rupert John (Matt) Crawley  MSM

Matt spent 25 busy years in the artillery. His story is a classic example of a full and exciting career in the service of the guns.

On leaving Carterton District High School, Matt was employed by the OC Army School at Trentham and was a Territorial Force soldier in the Hawkes Bay Regiment for six months before enlisting in the Permanent Force. He was accepted for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Artillery as a Gunner on probation on 14 March 1939 and was sent immediately to the Army School of Instruction. After two months on an All Arms Drill and Weapons course, two months 18-pounder Gun Drill and six weeks regimental signals training, he was posted to the Coast Cadre. He was confirmed in the rank of Gunner on 22 March 1940.

In 1941, Lance Bombardier Crawley was sent to Fiji with the 35th Battery, NZA, as part of the war effort, returning to NZ in July 1942 where he was posted to Papakura. Shortly after his return to NZ, he was sent to Noumea with 37th Battery, 17 Field Regiment, NZA as part of "Kiwi Force" and was promoted WO2. After seven months in New Caledonia and nearly a year in the Solomon Islands, WO2 Crawley returned to New Zealand and was attached to an artillery pool at Napier in July 1944. In November, he transferred to an anti-tank regiment and was posted to the Middle East with the 14th Reinforcements. A week after he arrived in Egypt he was sent to Italy, arriving there in February 1945 where he was posted to 7 Anti-tank Regiment.

In October 1945 Temporary Sergeant Crawley was transferred to 4 Field Regiment NZA and later to 27 Battalion which embarked at Naples for service in Japan with the Occupation Force on 21 February 1946. He returned to NZ in September of that year. With the end of the war effort, Matt was posted to 10 Coast Regiment as a Storeman at Wright's Hill, Wellington and promoted to substantive Sergeant in August 1947. In 1949, Sgt Crawley was sent to the UK for a seven month Radar and Searchlight course at the School of Anti-aircraft Artillery. On his return to NZ in 1950 he became an Instructor at the School of Artillery, Waiouru, and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In 1953, he was promoted WO2 and was later appointed Chief Clerk in HQ RNZA in 4 NZ Division Headquarters, Linton. He was promoted WO1 in 1955 and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military) in 1957. In 1961 WO1 Crawley was posted to the RNZA Directorate in Army General Staff, Wellington. In 1964, Matt was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and retired from the Army to work for the Justice Department.

A keen sportsman, Matt was a life member of the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club and represented the Army at rugby and athletics. He was the Tauranga regional representative, actively recruiting for the Old Comrades' Association, and encouraged all interested parties to join local Gunners for occasional celebrations and commemorations. Matt died in Tauranga on 15 August 2006.

From the Secretary, Graeme Black

Matt and I first met in Sep 1952 when, as a Regular Force Cadet I attended an Anti Aircraft Instructors Course. Being only 17 � Matt became a father figure to me and with his great instructional ability was able to penetrate my head with all the intricacies of radar. He was also a very staunch member of the Old Comrades and carried out the task of Bay of Plenty Area Rep with enjoyment. Matt's recent claim to fame was the almost permanent presenter of the Toast to Absent Friends at the Annual Reunion, a task that he delivered with a degree of solemnity and light heartedness. He will also be sadly missed from our gatherings.

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