 |
A Short History of the
|
prev index next |
|
Members of the New Zealand Permanent Force Old Comrades Association never fail to turn out in strength on Anzac Day, or rather that part of it the nation now sees fit to set aside for remembering the fallen. Some years ago one of our members, H.G.C. (Henry) Salt MBE, kindly made for our Headquarters in Takapuna a wreath of permanent materials featuring artificial laurel leaves surrounding a large hand-carved version of the Association's badge suitably coloured. This wreath together with wreaths from other organisations is laid at the foot of she memorial where the Anzac Day service is held. It is usually laid by two members of the Executive. Our rules state that when individual members 'go west' we should endeavour to pay our last respects in the customary manner. However, fifty years ago the Executive took steps to ensure that in addition we should preserve a permanent record of those departed. It first took the form of an 'honours board' on which were inscribed the names of members who had died, and which was displayed at the Headquarters of the Association, at that time the Wellington RSA. The board was unveiled on 20 July 1938 by the late Major General GB Parkinson CBE DSO, then a Lieutenant Colonel holding the appointment of Commander, Royal NZ Artillery. But honours boards fill up, are extended or replaced, and tend to be relegated to a store-room or lost, so in 1952 the Executive decided an 'honours book' would be more fitting. Provided it was large enough, a book would permit more detail to be recorded, would outlast a family of boards, and would be easily portable should the Headquarters move. Such a book was obtained the following year, and the names of the deceased on the existing boards entered into it together with brief details of their service. The book measures 19 x 13 x 131 inches (48 x 33 x 9 cm) and weighs 22 lbs (10 kg) so it is unlikely to be easily lost or misplaced! On the cover embossed in gold are the words 'In Memoriam', the badge, and beneath that 'New Zealand Permanent Force Old Comrades Assn Inc'. In the book are recorded each deceased's regimental number, name, dates of birth (where known). enlistment, discharge or retirement, death, highest rank attained, plus any other relevant details, eg decorations awarded. Inscriptions are made in a modern formal calligraphy expertly penned by one of our Members. At reunions and Annual General Meetings the book lies open for perusal. In 1964 Army sought donations towards a memorial window to be installed in St. Paul 's Cathedral, Wellington, and the Association gave 25 pds ($50) with the proviso the amount be recorded as a grant in memory of Old Comrades of the Permanent Force. The window was unveiled and dedicated on 9 August 1966, and a letter was received from the CGS thanking the Association for assisting in making the provision of the window possible. About this time the Executive gave some thought to commemorating the members of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary who fell during the land wars of the nineteenth century. Few realise that between July 1868 and February 1870 alone no less than 64 AC Officers, NCO's and Constables were killed in action or died of wounds. Not for them the costly monuments of bronze and marble erected to the memory of men who made the supreme sacrifice in later wars. Many still lay in lonely graves, some unmarked, others overgrown with scrub, identities lost through neglect or destruction by vandals, completely forgotten by the government and people they had served so well. The opportunity to do something presented itself in 1969. In that year occurred the centenary of Taupo which a hundred years earlier was a strategic area during operations involving the AC in the central North Island. The Executive therefore proposed that a bronze plaque be erected at the Taupo Courthouse in memory of members of the AC Force who fell during the Land Wars. Approval from the Historic Places Trust was duly obtained, the wording of the plaque to be: 'This tablet commemorates the 64 members of the Armed Constabulary who fell during the Wars of 1867-1872 and was erected in their memory by the New Zealand Permanent Force Old Comrades Association in 1969'. Cast in relief on the top of the plaque were to be the badges of the N.Z. Armed Constabulary and the Royal N.Z. Artillery. In the meantime the Taupo Borough Council suggested an alternative site for the plaque in the entrance hall of the new AC Baths project. a modern facility planned to replace the existing baths built on the site of the originals constructed by the AC over a century earlier. The plaque was unveiled on 24 January 1970, the date 1969 having been changed accordingly. As the baths project had not been completed the plaque was temporarily attached to a large stone on the site. The actual unveiling by the Mayoress, assisted by Captain A.J. (Jack) Baigent MBE,, then President of the Association, was the culminating point of the day's celebrations which included a Taupo Centennial Procession featuring troops in period uniforms, an RF Cadet Guard of Honour, and members of the Old Comrades Association. In a speech to mark the occasion Captain Baigent referred to the connection between the AC and the Old Comrades Association, and the tribute paid to the latter by the playing of the march 'Old Comrades' by the massed bands at the commencement of the ceremony. Upon returning to Taupo members of the Association were royally entertained in the Borough Council chambers by members of the Council. At every annual reunion Old Comrades who have 'passed beyond the veil' are remembered at a Church Parade. Since 1972 annual reunions have been held at Taupo, while divine service, at first conducted by our Padre at the Opepe Military Cemetery (on the Taupo-Napier road), is now conducted in the lounge of the Spa Hotel , on the site of the original Armed Constabulary Depot in Taupo. The lounge is actually a Maori meeting house, itself of great historical interest. More on reunions and the Taupo story will appear in ensuing chapters. .../Reunions previous | index | next | History index | Home | ||