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161 Battery and the Town of Raglan | ||
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In 1965, 161 Battery RNZA deployed to Vietnam amid political controversy and huge public opposition. Service personnel and their families were subjected to abuse from acquantainces and strangers. When rotations returned to NZ after 12 month tours of duty, it was common for the plane to land at a military airbase in the dead of night with no civic reception. Servicemen were discouraged from appearing in public in uniform. In 19?? the Battery paraded down Queen Street (the main road of the largest city) and were spat on by members of the public; others threw blood.
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 Catafalque Party, Anzac Day 1972 |
 Anzac Day 1986 |
 1972 |
Through all this, the people of the small seaside town of Raglan in the Waikato supported the Battery and their families. Encouraged by Mr Doug Arter, they sent letters, food parcels and other small comforts to every member of the Battery on active service in Vietnam. In 1972, the Battery formally adopted part of Lord Raglan's coat of arms as their Battery Emblem. (