December 99

• Bill Giles describes how umbrellas and ducks came to be painted on the gun shields of 162 Bty and 163 Bty, respectively, before deployment to Korea
• Matross by Wally Ruffell
• Petardier by Wally Ruffell
• A Gunner's White Christmas, Antarctica 1973 by Mike Subritzky
• The Mortar is updated
• The Search for von Luckner describes the successful re-capture (by RNZA and NZGA) of Cdr von Luckner and other Germans after they escaped from Motuihe Island in 1917. It includes
  • HL Dixon's diary of the search and
  • Carl Singer's account of life aboard von Luckner's ship
• The 163 Battery crest is explained by Maj GS Rooks
• The 163 Battery home page is updated
• New section: Units provides an easier way to find information relating to the multitude of NZ artillery organisations. The menubar on the main pages has been updated to include this.

November 99

• The Mystery of the Origin of the Stonk is revealed by MajGen RDP Hassett and Brig J Burns
• The Development of Artillery Techniques by 2 NZ Divisional Artillery of World War 2 by MajGen RDP Hassett and Brig J Burns
• Jim Ross has written a paper on The Four Fallacies of Defence
• Book Review: Artillery Surveyors, 2NZEF, 1940-45 by RD Munro is one of a series of splendid books about the artillery of World War 2. Several extracts appear scattered throughout this site.
• Tales From The Trails article: On Operation CRUSADER, O-Pip Ack Report by Frank Austin of C Troop, 47 Battery, 5 Field Regiment gives a daily account of a gunner's life in North Africa 1941
• Guns Around NZ is updated by Mike Subritzky as he investigates the Otorohanga Guns
• Update for 5 Field Regiment's home page
• 36 Survey Battery in the Sangro-Orsogna by Ray Munro is added to the 36 Survey Battery home page
• More detail added to home page for 7 Anti-tank Regiment
• The books section has been expanded so that you can now purchase overseas titles through this site. More Books
• A new series from Wally Ruffell begins: The Mortar, describing development from early times to the present
• Home page for 161 Battery provides links to other pages relating to the battery
• RA Harris of 5 Fd Regt reports on an extraordinary incident at Ruweisat Ridge where the gunpit was overrun by birds during a lull in the fighting
• Gracie Field of 5 Fd Regt relates his WW2 experience in Dick's Story

October 99

• Obituary for Ted Willbond
• The Armstrong Gun by Wally Ruffell is concluded
• Personal page for Des O'Connor
• Poem: The Thunder of the Guns
• History article: Properties, Office and Duties of a Gunner by Nicolo Tartaglia, 1588
• Book review: The Soldier Tourist - A Personal Account of WW2 by Joe Brewer of 5 Field Regiment
• Artillery in Auckland 1860-1937
• Early artillery in Wellington
• Artillery in Canterbury and Nelson 1860-1937
• NZ Regt of Vol Arty
• NZ Artillery in the South African War (1st NZ Battery, Rhodesian Field Force Artillery)
• An initial attempt at presenting maps of regions of significance to NZ artillery units.

September 99
We've moved to a new spot. More space. More articles. Gradually, you'll see more pictures appearing in some of the earlier articles.

• Message for Vietnam gunners from Richard Morrow, an American colleague, on the Shrapnel page
• Tales from the Trails: Good Deeds on R&C, A Cautionary Tale for Young Gunners from Rodney Simpson
• Tales from the Trails: Army Schools, Trentham, 1938 by Wally Ruffell
• Artillery in Napier by JG Gilberd and GD Birch
• Coastal artillery in World War 2
• Parts 2 and 3 of Wally Ruffell's account of the Armstrong gun
• Newsletter 103
• Obituary for Dutch Holland
• Index of NZ artillery units that appear on this site
• 3 Field Regiment joins the NZ artillery units section
• Tales from the Trails: With 25 Battery in Yamaguchi, 1945 by Wally Ruffell
• Tony Tustin's photographs of artillery pieces from Picton and Blenheim join the Guns around NZ section
• Photo Gallery has all the images that were removed earlier
• Puzzles page is reinstituted

August 99

• Personal page for Brian Hewitt
• CD review from Rod Simpson
• Part 1 of Wally Ruffell's account of the Armstrong gun
• The Story of the 25 Pounder is updated
• Lots of new links, including 16 Fd Regt, RNZA

July 99

• Newsletter 102
• The departure of guns from the South Island is noted on the Shrapnel Page
• History article update: The Gun continued
• The carronade - its development and role in naval and garrison artillery, by Wally Ruffell
• Book review: The Armed Forces of New Zealand by James Rolfe analyses the defence capabilities of our armed forces
• Cosmetic changes to the main pages. Replacement of the green buttons with a menu bar will save storage space and allow more articles to be included.

June 99
 
The Association notes with regret the death of Lt Gen Sir Leonard Thornton KCB CBE. The funeral took place at St Pauls Anglican Cathedral, Wellington, with full military honours, on Tuesday 15th June at 12:30pm. Maj Gen Ron Hassett gave the Eulogy. 16th Field Regiment coordinated the funeral arrangements and provided the bearer party, firing party and part of the tri-service guard.

• 5 Field Regiment from embarkation to victory at Tripoli, World War 2
• The light gun v. the 25-pounder by Wally Ruffell compares the 25-pounder with its replacement
• Puzzles and some photos have been removed (temporarily) to conserve space
• Photo gallery has images from the Gunners' Day Dinner at Papakura
• New personal page for Neil Moros
• Definitions used in articles referring to artillery equipments
• Poem from Mike Subritzky, 161 Bty, 16 Fd Regt

May 99

• Nebelwerfers at Cassino, 1944, Owen Raskin
• The Story of The 25-Pounder by Wally Ruffell traces the development, use and eventual replacement of the 25-pr
• Poem from Lin Rowell, 'A' Troop, 27 Bty, 5th Field
• There is a new puzzle behind the perpetual gun on the Main Page
• History article, Boot and Saddle by Jim Gilberd, is complete
• World War 2 Air Defence of Auckland by Martin Blampied
• Headquarters Divisional Artillery by LtGen Sir Leonard Thornton, KCB, CBE
• Letter from Tripoli by Alan Boyd
• A Gunner's Recollections of Sidi Aziez by WP Brown
• 47 Battery at Bel Hamid by Allan Jackson

Apr 99

• Wally Ruffell solves the mystery of the unknown gun on the Shrapnel Page.
• Personal page for Jim Gilberd
• Newsletter No. 1 !!
• Tales from the Trails articles:
  • R&R: Two ex-members of 161 Bty, RNZA re-visit Vietnam by Rod Baldwin and Ron Turner
  • A Gunner Subaltern's Recollections of the Italian Campaign by Les Wright
• History articles:
  • 17th Century gun drill
  • Guns around New Zealand
  • History of 14 NZ LAA Regt NZA by LtGen Sir Leonard Thornton
  • Young Men who went off to War (4Fd Regt) by Des O'Connor
  • A brief overview of artillery units in New Zealand. This is being added to as more items are contributed.

Mar 99

• Tales from the Trails section of anecdotes, ditties and tales from members.
• Personal page for Rod Simpson
• Jigsaw puzzle
• Four pages of Ex Hellfire photos
• Obituary for David Jones
• Book review section showing books by, about or of interest to members
• Personal page for Tony Tustin and an anecdote from him
• New links
• History article: The day I joined 161 Battery by Mike Subritzky
• Public highlights of Newsletter 101
• History article update: The Gun continued
• Printable and downloadable application forms

Feb 99
Well, this page, for a start!
Also:

• the photo gallery - it will be added to as time permits.
• history article: The New Zealand Permanent Force - traces the development of artillery in New Zealand from an 1846 armed constabulary to 1947.
• 163 Bty RNZA - a go-ahead group with a "can do" attitude.
• history article: Association History
• personal pages for Jim Ross, Wally Ruffell and Shay Bassett.
• cosmetic changes including the buttons on the main pages. This will allow more buttons to be added as members come up with ever more ideas.
• Obituary page altered to become the In Memoriam page. Older names will be added.
• removal of the random pictures behind the perpetual gun on the main home page.

Keep those suggestions rolling in.