Published History of the New Zealand Artillery

Introduction | Structure | How we can help | Contact details

Introduction

Much of the history of the New Zealand artillery is recorded on the Old Comrades' web-site. Work is now well underway on a complementary project that will produce a published history of the regiment.

Alan Henderson, of the Historical Branch, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, is currently researching the history of the artillery (both RNZA and NZA). The project is being carried out under contract to the Chief of General Staff and will produce a book of over 500 pages with around 200 photographs. The book will provide a record of the artillery from 1840 to the present day. It will serve as a work of reference, but must also aim to provide a readable and lively narrative so as to appeal to a wide audience, including not only gunners and retired gunners, but also interested members of the general public.
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Structure

The outline structure of the book is as follows:

• Chapter 1: Introduction
  Artillery in Concept and Practice (mainly 1700-1900)
  Est. 4,000 words
• Chapter 2: Origins of New Zealand Artillery (mainly 1845-85)
  Est. 9,000 words
• Chapter 3: Coast Defences (1878-1902)
  Est. 10,000 words
• Chapter 4: Preparing for Imperial War (mainly 1899-1914)
  Est. 8,000 words
• Chapter 5: First World War (1914-18)
  Est. 25,000 words
• Chapter 6: Between the Wars (1919-39)
  Est. 9,000 words
• Chapter 7: Second World War: Middle East and Italy (1939-45)
  Est. 25,000 words
• Chapter 8: Second World War: Pacific, including home defence and J-Force (1941-49)
  Est. 20,000 words
• Chapter 9: Preparing for 'Hot' War, including CMT and National Service (1949-1972)
  Est. 10,000 words
• Chapter 10: Cold-war Conflicts - Korea and Vietnam (1950-72)
  Est. 14,000 words
• Chapter 11: Towards a New Concept (1972-2000)
  Est. 8,000 words
• Chapter 12: The Modern RNZA
  Est. 5,000 words
• Conclusion and Overview
  Est. 3,000 words
• Proposed Appendices:
  • I: Sample organisation charts of artillery formations at different points in the Army's history.
  • II: A summarised lineage list of the artillery units within the Army; along with lists of key office-holders.
  • III: Major decorations and awards won by artillery personnel.
  • IV: Basic details on the weapons employed by the artillery (this may instead be provided in side-bar or boxed sections at appropriate intervals within the main text).

Over the past year Alan has carried out much of the primary and secondary research for the book, particularly for the lengthy middle chapters, and is now writing the chapters covering the period 1919-49. Alan has already interviewed a number of retired gunners and gained many valuable insights from them. Later in the year he will conduct the interviews for the chapters covering Korea and Vietnam, and the years of CMT and National Service, as well as further interviews covering the Second World War. Alan is planning to visit Auckland in mid-July and Christchurch and possibly other South Island centres in September.

He we will be contacting a number of retired RNZA and NZA personnel whose names have been suggested to him, but no doubt there will be others who have information or anecdotes that it would be helpful for him to hear.

The interviews are quite informal. They are usually taped, unless the person being interviewed prefers not to be taped. They are usually carried out face-to-face, but sometimes telephone interviews are also worthwhile, particularly when they involve the clarification of specific points of detail.

So if you have stories that you think Alan should know about, please contact him at one of the addresses below.
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Contact details

Note: The Historical Branch, originally the War History Branch, was transferred from the Department of Internal Affairs to the new Ministry for Culture and Heritage with effect from 1 July 2000. For a transitional period the Branch will remain at its present street address, but the postal address has changed. Alan's new contact details are set out below:

Alan can be contacted on (04) 494 0628 or by fax at 495 7212 (i.e. the phone numbers are unchanged for now).

His e-mail address (from 3 July 2000) is [email protected] but the old address - [email protected] - will also be valid for a transitional period of a few months.

E-mail Alan

The new postal address is:

Alan Henderson
Historical Branch
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
P.O. Box 5364
WELLINGTON

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