57 Years, 7 months – A lifetime of Naval Service

My time is up, says Warrant Officer Seaman Combat Specialist Reece Golding MNZM, MSM. In sincere gratitude to the service he values, and to the wider NZDF, WOSCS Golding pens his farewell to his Navy community.

My naval service commenced on completion of 4 th form year at Putaruru High School, and finishes with my retirement as a Warrant Officer, MNZM, MSM at HMNZS NGAPONA sub-unit (Tauranga).

In reflection, our family were all engaged in the NZ Armed Forces; both Grandfathers serving in Gallipoli and the Western Front respectively. In World War 2, my father was a WO2 serving in Greece, North Africa and Italy with 26 Battalion, NZEF and 8 th Army. There was an uncle in the RNZAF, serving in the Pacific theatre on Bougainville. In modern times, I have had a brother in the RNZN, a son with the RNZAF and elder son who is still serving as a Navy Captain. Collectively we are a family who has significantly contributed to the NZDF.

Looking back, I have had many highlights, starting with a family day at sea in 1958 in HMNZS ROYALIST. I was 12 years old at the time. The cruiser ventured out into the Hauraki Gulf for a day and conducted as I remember, many evolutions as well as live firing the stag anti-aircraft guns. However, it was the quality of food at time that attracted me to the Navy; it was awesome and still is throughout the Navy. I recall I was like Oliver Twist, please sir, can I have some more.

Joining the RNZN in 1963, the final winter intake on Motuihe Island (The Rock) was a challenging experience. I took aboard the advice from a ‘sea dad’ to “zip it up and keep your head down” and was rewarded for my endurance by receiving the Cleland

Challenge Cup, awarded for the best all-round Seaman Boy. After a period of sea time in HMNZS PUKAKI, I went on to top my Basic Branch Training (BBT) as a Underwater Weapons specialist (UW – mines, torpedoes and demolitions) which set me on course to success – Commander Auckland at the time posted all high flyers to Whitby-class frigates. I was posted to HMNZS OTAGO where I remained for the next six years, deploying to Pearl Harbor for ship and crew battle assessment, before entering the Indonesia Confrontation (1963-66) as part of the Commonwealth Forces. One could say I was thrown in the deep end as a relative youngster. However, the Navy family ensured nurturing, training and a wide range of recreational programmes were available to balance the serious side of why we were there. In my case, boys grew up quickly and came home to New Zealand as men, with wideranging life skills.

Typical of evolving technology, my branch choice was made redundant. I was provided with the option to either return home to retrain as a Weapon Mechanic (WM), or remain on board OTAGO and be trained a gunner. Having previously experienced what serving in a ship had to offer, I stayed on board and eventually ended up in the Gunnery Branch. I was just breaking into the ship’s 1 st XV Rugby Team, was a member of the Māori Concert Party and later in Singapore I passed my Diving Course to become a member of the ship’s Dive Team.

Life was great, with travel, new experiences, sport, while developing skills as a leader, especially around seamanship where I eventually became the Chief Bosuns Mate (Buffer) of the ship for the final commission. Overall, I spent 13.5 years in OTAGO, The Mighty “O”.

I served in a range of ships in New Zealand coastal waters, including HMNZS LACHLAN. As a temporary Petty Officer, lowering six-ton survey boats by hand, in the northern extremities of Chart NZ 41, under the watchful eye of CBM Soul Whaanga, (Uncle Soul) was formidable. If there were ever a need for clear concise orders and team work, that proved to be the most testing situation.

Fishery Protection, Search and Rescue roles and other tasks ordered by the government provided a wide range of deployment in minesweepers HMNZS KIAMA and HMNZS INVERELL, where I held senior management positions (CBM), with a brief posting to HMNZS WAIKATO as Whole Ship Coordinator (WSC) before taking shore-based employment as a Recruiter in Tauranga. The area covered the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Central Plateau and Gisborne East Cape area. Through my previous experiences at sea, I was able to sell

the Navy dream with conviction; that passion still remains although the Navy has changed from my day. The ethos is the same, working in teams at sea, lots of laughter, fun and travel.

Sport is essential for wellbeing in the Navy. I was selected as a Combined Services Representative in Sailing and Harriers (Cross Country) and this feat has to be one of my highlights. Any sports code participation, whether competitive or for fun, is desirable. I eventually ran marathons in favour of team sports, contributing in two RNZN Fundraising (RNZN Marae & Charity Club) relays the length and breadth of New Zealand.

My posting to HMNZS MONOWAI as conversion and delivery management team to Scott Lithgow shipyards in Scotland was a highlight, primarily because I was working as part of a commercial contract ship build, where everyone in the advanced party had an integral part in delivering new hydrographic technology and capability for the Navy.

My service career would have been cut short had I not taken a position in Wellington – Naval Staff. The analogy of trading a marlinspike for a pen was certainly a big step up, but I soon learnt that senior officers in Naval

Staff were human and they provided encouragement in order to learn policy. For me, the most interesting – but also challenging – was managing the Defence Commitments Program for the RNZN. During that time, I was fortunate to visit the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal Navy (RN) training establishments, setting up development courses for RNZN personnel. I was also privileged to represent the RNZN at the 50 th Anniversary of D-Day, landing at Arromanche Beach (Gold) from HMS FEARLESS’ helicopter before being driven to Omaha Beach, Normandy where the formal commemoration took place. Managing the Mutual Aid Program (MAP) and RNZN Antarctica Program provided the opportunity to visit the southern-most continent in USCG Cutter POLAR SEA. A truly spiritual place.

I returned to recruiting towards the end of my Regular Force naval career, and while never brilliant at public speaking, had a real passion in what I believed to be a career less ordinary, that offered opportunity. During my tenure I managed to convince many that service in the Navy was noble, rewarding and for some, could be long-lasting.

“ I credit my learnings and development in the RNZN for being able to fulfil these demanding roles.”

For many sailors when their time is up, especially those who through no fault of their own have given everything to the service they love, they can find the transition into civilian life traumatic. There is a fear of failure and trepidation to take the next step.

By joining the RNZN Volunteer Reserves (RNZNVR), that organisation offered me a seamless transition into civilian employment while maintaining a positive relationship with the Navy. When MV RENA grounded on Astrolabe Reef, creating a maritime catastrophe by spilling oil along the pristine shoreline in the wider Bay of Plenty and beyond, a successful application to Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) resulted in my appointment as Incident Command Centre (ICC) Manager. Four months later once the MV RENA emergency was over, as RENA Response Advisor (Tauranga), I provided vessel salvage regulatory oversight to MNZ in Wellington. I credit my learnings and development in the RNZN for being able to fulfil these demanding roles.

When the international salvage companies completed their tasks, a NZ salvage company was engaged (NZ Diving & Salvage) to complete the fine cleaning of the reef. What started out as a 4-month temporary job, ended up lasting 4.5 years.

During that time, I paraded with NGAPONA (Tauranga), a sub-unit of HMNZS NGAPONA. Looking back on my nine years’ service with the Tauranga Unit, it gave me a platform to continue with the organisation I cherish, in which hopefully I contributed positively and enjoyed the professionalism and camaraderie of the Tauranga team, the wider NGAPONA group and RNZNVR Officers and Sailors.

Now my time is up. I completed 49 years Regular Navy service and nine years and seven months in the RNZNVR. I know that I owe the RNZN so much for the boy I was in 1963, to the person l am now. I have given back as much as I could and through my passion, innovation and endeavour, have helped provide many of the Navy’s fresh faces, good people, people with the same passion as I myself. No doubt their contribution will endure.

Never the “Old Salt” but nonetheless long-serving, I have been guided by the Navy values throughout my career: Courage, Commitment, Comradeship and Integrity.

Haere rā, farewell, good bye; My life is certainly richer for my RNZN experience.