2/4 RNZIR journal 2017 by John Cosgrove

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

the year in review 2017

Journal 2/4 rnzir

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

J O U R N A L THE 2017 YEAR IN REVIEW FOR 2/4 RNZIR

n 2017 both companies of 2/4 RNZIR responded to civil emergencies at the Christchurch fires, Dunedin and Timaru floods. Soldiers deployed operationally to Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit supported youth at risk and deployed the battle honours twice to the battlefield commemorations in Europe. Throughout the unit has supplemented and supported 2/1 RNZIR and the wider Army and Defence Force. The Battalion looks forward to continuing to make a valued impact in 2018. Proud to serve.

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

Table of Contents

Our Unit - who we are

Training wing 2/4 RNZIR, their year in review

2/4 RNZIR steps up to help the police

Twin Peaks ‘17 When a race became an emergency

Ex Southern Katipo preperation

Mud and slime

Army shooting competitions

Our battle honours - Tebaga Gap

CO’s report

Our battle honours - Passchendaele

RSM’s report

Promotions, arrivals and farewells

Headquarters

A year to remember

Alpha Coy

Deployments

Bravo Coy

Port Hill fires

Ex Maleme

Passings

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

Hello & Welcome

s befitting a busy Army Reserve unit, this record of our immediate past year is voluminous, interesting and colourful. Several changes in key personnel, new emphasis, evolving enthusiasm, regenerating – these have all been the hallmarks of 2/4 RNZIR in 2017. I trust you will enjoy this publication, not only as a factual record but also as a memento of your association with us. I also wish to pay tribute to the efforts of the Editor – Major Ian Piercy, the Compositor – Mr John Cosgrove, and all who contributed articles or photos. Thank you. You have done a sterling job … again. Kendall Langston At the units annual camp at West Melton during January, the Battalion paraded it colours to officially hand over command from LTCOL Amanda Jane Brosnan to LTCOL Kendall Langston.

Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Officer 2/4 RNZIR Kia Kaha, Kia Maia

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

Our Unit 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/4 RNZIR) is an Army Reserve unit drawing from throughout the entire South Island. The unit was formed in 2012 through the amalgamation of the 2nd Battalion (Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast) RNZIR, and the 4th Battalion (Otago, Southland) RNZIR. It currently comprises two rifle companies – A Coy based in the upper South Island, and B Coy based in the lower South Island. The third rifle company – C Coy – comprises a number of capabilities that support our wider Army and the NZDF. Our primary mission is to provide sustainment and round-out to our supported unit – the regular force 2nd/1st Battalion, RNZIR, based in Burnham Military Camp. 2/4 RNZIR is also tasked with providing support to any local emergency response in the lower South Island.

Our People Our personnel range in age from 18 years upwards. We have phd’s, post graduate and undergraduate qualifications, and we have senior qualifications in many trades. We are single, married and in relationships. We have regular civilian employment, part-time employment, no regular employment, paid work, unpaid work, retirees and, volunters. We work locally, regionally and even internationally. We play a multitude of sports, but generally in the outdoors, adventurous ones, and are passionate about our national teams in whatever sporting code. We joined for a many reasons, but having joined this team, now strive to participate in and achieve during training which is challenging, progressive and fun. But first and foremost, we are infantry soldiers who are prepared to go into harms way.

Our Community As an Army Reserve unit, we are an integral part of our local communities, and as such, we participate and help out when and where necessary. Assistance with civil defence emergencies, whether it be flooding, fires, or rescuing snow bound motorists. Assistance with youth – Cadets and other youth development or academy schemes. Assistance with our veterans and RSA’s. But our community linkage also goes beyond mere help. It encompasses making our communities stronger just by being there. Stronger because our personnel are self-disciplined, self-starters, positive, committed individuals who know how and have experience in working in teams, often in adverse conditions. Stronger because we know what is right. Stronger because we are to our community as it is to us.

Our Achievements Over the past year, we have had personnel deployed overseas on operational tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sinai. In addition, our personnel have assisted on the Aumangea Course, in training establishments in Waiouru, and with visits to New Zealand by foreign dignitaries. Our personnel have exercised in Australia with elements of the NZ Army, as well as mobilising into 2/1 RNZIR during our own ‘home grown’ major NZDF activity - Exercise SOUTHERN KATIPO 17. And through our efforts, we now have the highest ratio of soldiers throughout all Reserve units in the NZ Army who are deemed to be ‘effective’. Our unit has the highest level of engagement within our formation (regular and reserve) as measured by the NZ Army survey.

Remembering Recently we have had the honour of participating in centenary commemorations in Europe, which have added to our own Anzac Day commemorations here at home. Our linage dates back to the 1840’s. We are conscious of those who have gone before us and established our Ngati Tumatauenga heritage, both on and off the battle field. We acknowledge all those who have volunteered and those who have died in the service of their country. We will remember them.

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COMMANDING OFFICER

The COMMANDING OFFICER, Lieutenant Colonel Kendall Langston, 2/4 RNZIR 2/4 RNZIR Purpose: “Making a Valued Impact Wherever We Serve.”

017 was a busy year for 2/4 RNZIR. I was lucky enough to be handed a unit that was in good shape after the leadership of our previous Commanding Officer and we were one year into executing a strategic plan for the future success of the unit.

operational outputs. Others deployed to Australia and as part of Ex Southern Katipo (63 pers) as part of 2/1 RNZIR. • The relationship with 2/1 RNZIR was top of mind as we move to integrate training with Alpha Company and to make a valued impact as a resource of soldiers, NCO’s and Officers to our sister unit.

Early on in the year I welcomed a number of new staff including our new Executive Officer and a number of cadre staff around the regions. The change over parade also saw our new Honorary Colonel, Colonel Greg Hart pick up the mantle.

• The Colours deployed to Europe twice to 100 year commemorations (France and Belgium) and the unit was fully committed to WW1 commemorations across the South Island.

It was to be a year of change as we started to reshape the unit to deliver the required outputs and expectations of the Army.

• Many of those in command positions attended promotion and training courses and we saw changes in all of our command teams as we set the scene for 2018. In fact some of our people excelled on their courses. 2LT Burnett won the sword of honour at OCS, CPL Gallagher won the leadership award on the SNCO course, LCPL Williamson who was top student on the Reserve Force Section Commanders Course and LCPL Jacob came third in the NZDF Reservist of the Year competition.

Looking back over the year the one thing that stands out for me is the quality in commitment of the men and women who serve the battalion both military and civilian, regular and reserve. Some highlights stand out for me; • Our first combined training activity for 10 years, whilst modest in numbers allowed us to see the benefits of a longer period of continuous training which moving forward will provide a good platform for our culture.

• Straight off the back of our support in 2016 to the Kaikoura earthquakes, we were soon responding to the first of a number of civil defence emergencies - The Port Hills fires. This was followed by the floods in Otago, South Canterbury and latterly in Greymouth. Our civil defence role is a real operational output for B Company and one we are planning and training for.

• A change of RSM and Adjutant saw us farewell WO1 Nepia and CAPT Soppet and welcome WO1 McClay and CAPT Bolin.

• Our shooting team competed well in the Freyberg competition and I have elevated unit shooting to my core activities. It is my intent to lift our shooting standards across the unit and to be competitive within the Infantry and wider Army.

The unit has remained agile and is adapting to some of the changes that will allow us to make a real impact to the NZ Army and the NZDF in the future and I remain future focussed whilst remembering our proud unit history and honouring those who have gone before us.

• We deployed a number of individuals on operations in Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan as part of our commitment to the NZ Army

I thank you for your service and loyalty and look forward to continuing the journey in 2018.

• We hosted our sister unit 5 Scots for the Twin Peaks Battle Tab event and whilst the event was cancelled due to the civil emergency, we re-established our regimental links.

Kia Kaha, Kia Maia.

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REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR’S REPORT RSM, WO1 Wayne Nepia

017 started in the usual fashion with the successful completion of the MODs for the Unit’s newest soldiers, most if not all, would go on to participate in a full and productive year.

District Council, 1Bde Commander, TRADOC (NZ) Commander, OC SRSC) and of course our own 2/4 RNZIR HQ. In future our next CTA will be in a more benign area if possible?

The Cadre induction provided an introduction for the new Cadre and reaffirmed the Unit’s training principles and procedures for the current. HQ open passage of communications is vital for the successful operation of the Unit, this training is a prerequisite to start the training calendar year.

The mid months of the 2017 training year saw the ’engine room’ exercises grind out the necessities of a soldiers life. ANZAC day highlights to our local communities who we are as well as providing us time to reflect. Twin Peaks 17 became synonymous of our big ticket exercises with it literally becoming a ‘washout’ in the big rain of July, swamping Otago and Dunedin in particular. Another Civil Defence emergency that saw a dramatic switch in focus from task at hand to task required. The classic scenario of what “our plans” were, to what “the universe had planned for us”!

ExerciseYpres, the combined training activity (CTA) provided a means to qualify officers and soldiers in required effective and efficiency compliance, Battle Tasks, and weapons qualifications. Culminating in a tactical component that would provide all rank levels an opportunity to do our core function of soldiering. Having a large contingent of the Unit present provided the opportunity to conduct the handover of Commanding Officers in a regimental capacity, as well as an opportunity to fly the Units colours. A fitting environment to farewell LTCOL A.J. Brosnan and welcome LTCOL K.E.R. Langston to the Unit. This was the first time this type of exercise has been undertaken in a long time and over a large training period, nine days. A new experience for those soldiers new to the Unit and a glimpse of the old AFE days for those more experienced. Training progressed well however in accordance with ‘no plan survives H hr’ the Canterbury fires required a necessary change of focus from training to operations (not the first time a civil defence event would cause a change of plan). Gratitude and appreciation goes to those officers and soldiers that took part in the required actions needed at that time, this comes from a number of civ/mil agencies (Civil Defence HQ, Christchurch Kai

2/4 RNZIR now looks forward to the arrival of WO1 S.M. McClay, a previous Cadre for the unit in days gone by. Note by A/RSM – WO2 P. Houia. It was my honour to be appointed Acting RSM while WO1 Nepia was deployed as the RSM to Op Manawa 6. On behalf of all personnel of 2/4 RNZIR, I thank Mr Nepia for his mentorship, guidance and steady hand. "He tangata tu, he tangata toa, he tangata Rangitira e, Mauri Ora." "He was a man, a hero, a man of the Rangitira and Mauri Ora." In Mr Nepia’s absence I was fortunate to display the Unit’s Colours at the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele. This was the second occasion this year that our colours travelled overseas, the first being the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Messines.”

Kaha,

Kia

Maia

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

Command team formal dinner.

(From left) The CO 2/4 RNZIR LT COL Kendall Langston with the Regimental Colonel COL S. J. Michie, and the CO’s of the four other infantry battalions LT COL’s; A. Shattock (1 RNZIR), O.W. Te Ua (3/6 RNZIR) B. M. G. Jull (5/7 RNZIR) and M. A .Van Welie (2/1 RNZIR).

Woody earns NZDF Volunteer of the Year award. Outgoing Hon Col Cutler presenting outgoing CO of 2/4 RNZIR, Lt Col Brosnan, a farewell gift from the Battalion

Members of 2/4 RNZIR gather before the Formal/Farewell Dinner held in the Officers Club in Christchurch.

"Its always a great privilege to be able to farewell key personnel from the Unit."

CO but also welcome the Comd TRADOC to the dinner. Gifts were exchanged and speeches were held to farewell the outgoing personnel. It was also the first formal dinner of the new Commanding Officer of 2/4 RNZIR, LTCOL Kendall Langston.

2/4 RNZIR held a formal dinner in order to farewell both the Honorary Colonel and the Commanding Officer. Held at the Officers Club in Christchurch, it was a very fitting facility for the occasion. As the Dining President for the evening I had the pleasure to not only farewell the Hon Col and

By MAJ Ian Piercy S5 2/4 RNZIR

At Exercise Southern Katipo 17, our Honorary Colonel, COL Hart (4th from left) met the Chief of the Army MAJ GEN Tim Kelly, with all the other honorary colonels from units from around the country.

Our Sarah is the NZDF Health and Safety Civvie of the year.

Our very own Sarah Robertson, Admin Officer in Battalion HQ, was awarded the NZDF Safety Award for her sterling efforts at promoting safety practice and a safety culture throughout the unit. It was through Sarah’s efforts that 2/4 RNZIR became the first (and at time of printing – only) unit in the entire NZDF which had completed its Personnel Security Requirement (PSR) Survey, of which safety comprises a large part. Pictured (top) is Sarah receiving her award from the CO (on behalf of CDF) while above she guides the XO on safety matters.

Congratulations to MAJ Chris Allan of Christchurch who was named the New Zealand Defence Force Volunteer of the Year. NZDF’s Director of Defence Public Affairs Ms Trudy Warrender, says that the work MAJ Allan does empowering the youth of Christchurch and assisting with aid projects in Vanuatu is an outstanding example of commitment and comradeship within the community. MAJ Allan has been the officer commanding 2/4 RNZIR’s Alpha Company since early 2016. Over the last four years, the Allan family has travelled to Vanuatu to work with the local villagers. MAJ Allan is currently in Vanuatu setting up donated computers, painting local schools and developing a library for one of the local villages.

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ALPHA COMPANY 2/4 RNZIR THEIR YEAR IN PICTURES

BRAVO COMPANY 2/4 RNZIR THEIR YEAR IN PICTURES

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TRAINING WING What a year Team! 2017 has proven to be a lively & dynamic year filled with twists & turns, exercises, activities, competitions, climatic emergencies and even a bit of training thrown in.

WOs points: The geographical displacement of Te Waipounamu makes for a hard unified working environment. The responsibility therefore falls to you that maybe reading this… that’s right YOU. The success or failure of this Unit sits squarely on the shoulders of officers and soldiers of 2/4 RNZIR. You can be unified & figuratively ‘hoea te waka’ (row the boat) or you can hide & be attendance only. As the old saying goes “you get out of it what you put in to it”, so get stuck in, a guide to success: •

Meet deployment criteria (check ESS for this)

•

Be effective = 20 days, RFL, LOAC, CIED, Wpns AWQ

•

Attend Unit exercises

Sadly my tenure as the Unit Training Warrant Officer has come to a close. I have appreciated my time in our fantastic unit and it truly has been a privilege & pleasure to have served with you. In closing I would like to remind you ‘change is the only constant’ we adapt and improve or stagnate and be left behind, your choice. Kia Kaha, Kia Maia…… ONWARD CPL GALLAGHER:

This year has been busy in relation to Operational Deployment opportunities and Ceremonial Support overseas. We have managed to get a number of pers on a variety of deployments such as Farad (Egypt), Manawa (Iraq), and Rua (Afghan). We have also sent pers to represent the unit at the Commerations of The Battle of Messines and Passchendaele.

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Nelson and Sergeant Darren Ryan in Invercargill. Of major significance was the changing of our training calendar to mirror the Training/ Army Financial Planning year, July-June. This enables the Training Wing to ensure pers get the most activities and opportunities within a training year to qualify.

TRADOC.We also helped to get pers away on various trips overseas in support of the Regular Force, something which will continue next year. Major events of note were the preparation for the Reservist of the Year (thanks to Corporal Fraser for prepping our team and congratulations to Private Jacob for coming third) and the unit’s participation as part of Exercise Southern Katipo.

Thanks to OC A, we have managed to get a great proportion of unit personnel qualified which will enable them to train with other units and participate in live field firing. We are eagerly expecting the new rifles (MARS-L) from January. We have helped to plot and plan unit training and maintained our links with 2/1 RNZIR and

Well, after four years in the unit it is time for me to move on, enjoy the training, (it continues to improve and develop), enjoy the new weapons systems, keep deployable and keep training. The amount of opportunities to deploy is increasing.

CPL PRESTON: DID YOU KNOW?? That every officer and soldier is able to log on to the Defence INTRANET and search for upcoming courses in order to be proactive in their own career and better plan the year ahead that works for you. You will have to go through your chain of command but the Find a Course page will have all the details (in the Course Data Sheet CDS) you need to know, dates – prerequisites – noms open – where etc. Not every course will be acceptable to attend as the Bn HQ can only finance certain ones – but give it a try and see what you can get on. Next year with so many pers shuffling into new positions is a year that for you to be more proactive rather than reactive. Don’t wait for the call out for pers to go on a course and then try and squeeze in the prereqs for a last minute nomination. Seek out opportunities and push to get the most benefit from the Defence.

(From left) CPL Myko Gallagher, CAPT Aaron Soppet, WO2 Pani Houia and CPL Honor Preston.

Action from the units combined training activity held at West Melton in Frebruary Ex Ypres '17.

CAPT AARON SOPPET:

It has a busy year for us all. It has started with a full on CTA that morphed into aid to the Civil Power thanks to the Port Hills Fire. Well done to those pers that assisted with that, in particular LT Friend. A solid effort from everyone involved for such a quick change of mind-set. This was followed up with Twin Peaks becoming a Civil Defence supported activity due to the flooding. Again our pers stepped up and did what needed to be done.

Well another big training year completed! I was moved from the Adjutant to the Training Officer (S3/7) to help coordinate the cell and enable implementation of new initiatives and training. Having to complete a promotion course in Wellington, I joined Training Wing in April post the Combined Training Activity and the Port Hill Fires. We also had two new cadres join the unit, Staff Sergeant Peter Pivac in

Ex Ypres '17.

Alpha Coy 2/4 RNZIR taking part in soldier training at Burnham

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TWIN PEAKS BATTLE TAB 2017 HOW A RACE TURNED INTO A RESCUE MISSION Photos by John Cosgrove, CPL Stu Adlam and Callum Bradley

he 15th running of the annual Twin Peaks Battle Tab started with a massive splash on Friday afternoon when a major weather event made the journey south to Dunedin fraught with danger for many of the participants. A heavy rain warning was issued by MetService on the 20th of July for up to 200 mm. Teams from Auckland only became aware when their aircraft was turned back only moments from landing and forced to return to Auckland because of the heavy rain and strong wind conditions. For the reception staff at Bravo Company 2/4 RNZIR’s HQ at KAH logging in teams as they arrived on site, their night was soon filled with tales of miraculous escapes from the rising waters on the roads from Christchurch, Central Otago and Invercargill. A number of teams had fortuitously travelled into Dunedin earlier in the day but as the rains came down outside, later arriving competitors were soon eagerly regaling tales of rapidly rising river levels, flooding bridges and the main highways, of team vans carefully picking their way through the torrents of muddy water swirling past them and one team even finding their numbers had halved after one of their vans made it through a flooded area only to find their following van was now blocked by a road closure, stranding them in Lawrence. One 2/4 RNZIR team travelling up from Invercargill stopped to help recover a flood stranded motorist.Over the next few hours the Commanding Officer of 2/4 RNZIR, LT COL Kendall Langston and his headquarters staff onsite were carefully monitoring the changing conditions outside and the developing civil emergency as more competitors and teams arrived at KAH. At 1930hrs on Friday evening the Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull declared a state of emergency for the city.The developing emergency situation now beyond the resources of the regions emergency services to handle alone. Dunedin’s situation mirrored the rapidly changing conditions being experienced further north in Timaru, Oamaru and Ashburton as the weather system made its way south. DCC contractors had even run out of flood warning road signs due to the high number of incidents reported in the first few hours of the storm. Nationally the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) quickly mobilized 20 soldiers and several vehicles from Burnham to travel down to assist in the flood aid work in Timaru while down in Dunedin, 10 Unimogs, several Pinzgauers, an ambulance, a large number of rental vans and about 100 soldiers, airmen and sailors plus nine soldiers from ‘the Highlanders’ the 4th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 Scots) British Army, were all placed on standby. The OC of Bravo Company 2/4 RNZIR MAJ Keryn Robertson quickly established an embedded Liaison Officer position at the DCC Civil

Defence Control centre in Dunedin and started to organise the staffing of it and a CP back at KAH to process all tasking requests. While many of the race competitor’s retired to sleep, outside KAH record rainfalls and rapidly rising river levels forced the evacuation overnight of many hundreds of homes in the Taieri Plains areas of Outrum and Henley south of Dunedin and also in low lying areas of Dunedin and Mosgiel. Others were forced from their homes on the Dunedin hillsides after mud slides and land slips threatened their safety. Race support staff spent the night on standby, watching and waiting as the growing emergency situation developed. Up in the CP the OC Bravo 2/4 RNZIR MAJ Robertson, the XO 2/4 RNZIR MAJ Neil Bleasdale and the race organiser SSGT Gareth Manson manned the phones all night long, closely monitoring the developing situation out on the plains as a plan for the possible rapid evacuation the Outrum township should a nearby flood bank fail was mooted by civil defence. Soon drivers from Dunedin were in

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demand, tasked firstly with helping to transport relief materials and sandbags plus a number of firefighters north to Oamaru late on the Friday night, before another Unimog was involved in rescuing nine people trapped in and on top of their cars on State Highway 87 in the early hours of Saturday morning near Mosgiel. Reveille was at 0500 on Saturday and eager competitors gathered enmasse at KAH to await the verdict on whether the race was still being run. Shortly after 0600 the OIC of the TPBT, MAJ Ian Piercy, made the announcement “that sadly because of the State of Emergency the organisers had regrettably cancelled the 15th running of race.” He then handed the mike over to LT COL Langston who advised all personnel that they were now part of the civil aid operation OP. AWHINA. "The state of emergency and tasks completed during Friday night by B Coy 2/4 RNZIR meant that to continue with the event was not going to be possible,” said LT COL Langston, “ Our assets were likely to be needed in a worsening situation and we needed to rest drivers and those doing tasks." Senior NCO’s and Officers from amongst all the race participants and support teams were identified and tasked with new roles supporting the organisation of support. “There was a lot of experience on hand and the CP was quickly enhanced with officers, ops NCOs and sigs. I was really proud of the way everyone adapted and got on with what needed to be done,” added LT COL Langston. “We saw the NZ Army culture in action whereby the situation changed, our support was needed and everyone just got on with the job. We also saw the strong relationships and ongoing training 2/4 RNZIR does with civil defence pay off as we were all able to quickly regroup and reorganise after the initial disappointment of the race cancellation.” Calling into KAH later in the morning to support the operation and undertake several other planned official duties over the weekend in Dunedin, was the Chief of Army, Major General Peter Kelly, who chatted with many of the NZDF and international personnel present at KAH. While The Highlanders Rugby team finally managed to get a flight north to Christchurch to play their semi-final against the Crusaders, the other Highlanders in Dunedin were soon tasked with

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

assisting Police operations out on the Taieri Plains. Captain Mathew Rupasinha, Platoon Commander of the reconnaissance team from the Highlanders (4 Scots) and his squad joined junior officers and soldiers from 2/4 RNZIR to make their way safely through the flood waters to go door to door advising all the home owners and farmers in an area below one of the Taieri River pumping stations south of Mosgiel that,they were to quickly evacuate the area due to a developing high priority risk problem with the nearby flood bank that was starting to breech.Sandbagging became the order of the day for this group of soldiers as they soon moved further westwards along the river bank to spend the next couple of hours filling and laying sand bags around threatened farm houses. Later that evening as rains in the region were finally easing and river levels were starting to stabilise, back at KAH, race organiser SSGT Manson was keeping the mood light and again the staff of 3CSSB turned on a great meal for all participants who, despite having a weekend that hadn’t gone the way they had planned it too, all vowed to come back next year and run the race again. LT COL Langston thanked all who were involved for their efforts and commended them all on the way they had approached the situation. “2/4 RNZIR looks forward to hosting teams in 2018 so they can take on the Twin Peaks.” He added, also thanking TRADOC and Joint Forces HQ for their support over the weekend.

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EX MALEME Bravo Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close country exercise at Milton 24 - 26 March 2017

A patrol looks out for the enemy The company heads off on a route march

With the exceptionally steep native bush environment, going was tough. To further increase the challenge of this exercise was the constant threat of an active OPFOR seeking the whereabouts of the B Coy pers. Overall this exercise was a success, achieving outstanding development of everyone involved.

Ambush defeated! the soldiers of Bravo Company look for the next task.

Patrolling as a main platoon body with a recon detachment, the focus for the weekend was on section to platoon level tactics. In order to achieve this, the individual soldiering skills needed to be and remain sharp.

Blank firing throughout the duration of the exercise enabled command to simulate realistic contact drills and maneuvres.

Contact! return fire and sort out what happened.

xercise Malame 2017 was a dismounted close country exercise in the Mt Misery area just south of Milton, Otago. This three day exercise was carried out during the 24 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26 of March with a total of 49 personnel attending.

Checking to see if the 'enemy' are still a threat.

Bravo Company conducted a training weekend at Outram to prepare troops for attending the NZ Army’s biggest field exercise Ex. Southern Katipo in November 2017

Outram, played by retired former army officer MAJ Lance Nicholas. Mr Nicholas, the former Officer Commanding Bravo Company, 2/4 RNZIR, said the appearance of the troops raised few eyebrows in Outram. “There were some surprised looks and a lot of interest but no alarm what so ever,” MAJ Nicholas said. Some locals did however come out to get a quick selfie with the soldiers on the main street of Outram. While others like Ariki Mains, a former soldier, came out to chat with the soldiers. Once the patrol was finished the soldiers then relocated to the Chain Hills area before moving over to the hills up behind the Dunedin stadium for the rest of the training exercise which involved a night patrol and ambush exercise.

Setting up above Dunedins stadium for a long night.

t was all quiet on that Saturday morning, only barking dogs and early morning coffee hounds were out and about when New Zealand Army Reserve Force soldiers from Dunedin conducted a patrol exercise on the streets of Outram early in November. When approached the young soldiers from Bravo Company 2/4 RNZIR soldiers had a ready answer for any questions. “We are conducting a patrol exercise out here at Outram looking for some people that haven’t quite accepted the new parliament changes.” They were oonducting a training exercise to prepare them for taking part in the NZ Defence Forces biggest exercise of the year, Southern Katipo ‘17. The aim of Saturday’s training was for the soldiers to scout around the town, locate and then interview the notional mayor of

A early morning wake up for Outrum.

EX SOUTHERN KATIPO

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

The people of Outrum turned out to see what the army was doing.

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MUD, WIND AND SLIME Bravo Company’s participation in the annual Clutha Mud Trudge during September 2017.

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ARMY SHOOTING COACHES CSE The Shooting Coaches Course for the Army Reserves ran from 3-12 February 2017 in Waiouru. 20 students from 2/4, 3/6 and 5/7 battalions learnt the skills and knowledge needed to safely coach soldiers on the IW Steyr and light machine gun weapon systems. Weapon proficiency and accuracy is a key skill for all soldiers to master.

2/4 Personnel were at the forefront of the coaching staff seen here on the 25m mound.

he annual Clutha Mud Trudge lived up to its name and delivered a race chock-full of freezing cold water hazards, slippery mud filled bogs and lots of sticky slime for NZ Army Reserve Force soldiers and race competitors alike. Two mixed teams from Dunedin’s Bravo Company 2/4 RNZIR joined 180 runners who raced over the 5.5km adventure circuit created along the banks of the Clutha River near Balclutha, on Saturday September 9. The two Bravo company teams eventually came in second and third overall in the team’s category with times of 45.5 minutes and 45.75 minutes respectively. All competitors faced the prospect of wading through ponds of freezing river water or skips full of gooey slime, climbing over man-made obstacles, traversing slippery pontoons, sliding down a water slide soaked by the local volunteer fire brigade or crawling through muddy bogs with deep traps in them to trip up over confident participants. Competitors then had to slither under barbed wire tunnels and climb over barriers mounted on a pair of NZ Army Unimogs before they

reached the hot showers at the end of the course. The race was part of the annual fundraising appeal for the Clutha Valley St John Ambulance Service. Many of the competitors entered as either work or sporting teams, some even dressing up as Elvis, bumble bees or the mullet mafia for the occasion.

Coaching sessions held on the 200m mound.

Following the race PTE Oliver Shivnan said it had been a really good race with lots of water and fun. PTE Matthew Graham said despite the cold, he enjoyed getting down and dirty out on the circuit, while PTE Christopher Starr found the water sections fun and said it was “Great getting out there with the other competitors.” Dunedin Nurse OCDT Alex Manson, enjoyed the team environment and camaraderie between her team mates as they ran the race. Otago University student PTE Phoebe Pegg “Loved it” and found her team mates were so supportive when the combination of cold wet clothing and icy cold winds started to bite late in the race. “They kept me going, but the water slide was the most fun and some of the crawling bits had a few surprises in them when they suddenly became a lot deeper than they looked,” PTE Pegg said.

2/4 personnel conducting the CQB training session.

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OUR BATTLE HONOURS

Tebaga Gap March 1943

Tebaga Gap 1943

ollowing the breakthrough at El Alamein the New Zealand Division reached the Libyan border by 10 November 1942. It seized Halfaya Pass, taking 600 prisoners in the process, before being pulled out of the line. After recuperating near Bardia, it moved forward to the front at El Agheila in December. The New Zealanders made a series of attacks inland in an to attempt to cut off the Afrika Korps but Rommel’s forces managed to slip away on each occasion.

The long route the kiwi's undertook, the so-called left hook.

Our last operation in the Western Desert Theatre of Operations

Recorded on the battalion colours of both 2 Cants NMWC and 4 O South is the battle honours for the Tebaga Gap fought early in 1943. Soldiers originating from towns and communities in the South Island fought in WW2 under the colours of the 23rd and 26th Infantry Battalions, 2nd NZ Division, 2nd NZEF. The battle for Tebaga Gap was their last operation in the Western Desert Theatre of Operations in late March of 1943.

By January 1943 Axis forces had fallen back into Tunisia, taking up defensive positions along the Mareth Line on the TunisianLibyan border. The New Zealand Division entered Tripoli on 23 January. As soon as engineers and naval forces cleared the devastated port, men from the division helped unload supply ships carrying food and equipment needed for the 8th Army’s advance.

On 6 March New Zealand artillery help stop a German counter-attack at Medenine. This would be Rommel’s last action in North Africa – three days later he returned to Germany on sick leave, replaced by General Hans-Jurgen von Arnim. The 8th Army now prepared to attack the Mareth Line. Montgomery’s plan was for the recently formed New Zealand Corps, reinforced by British and French units, to push south to Tebaga Gap and encircle the German-Italian forces busy fighting the main Allied assault on the Mareth Line. The New Zealanders reached Tebaga Gap on the night of 20 March. While they managed to capture several Italian positions a cautious Freyberg did not press home the assault immediately and the opportunity for a quick victory was lost. The stalemate was broken with a carefully planned and well-executed attack on 26 March.

NZ machine gunners, from 27 NZ Battalion, in position at dawn near Azizia, Libya, some 30 miles less to south of Tripoli during World War II. Taken while the NZ Division makes its flanking advance on Tripoli, combined with the main advance of the 8th Army along the coast of Tripolitania in January. Photograph taken on 27 January 1943 by PTE H G Paton.

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

On 30 March, 1943 Montgomery sent the following message to Freyberg.

PASSCHENDAELE

My very best congratulations to NZ Corps and 10 Corps on splendid results achieved by the left hook. These results have led to the complete disintegration of the enemy resistance and the whole Mareth position. Give my congratulations to all your officers and men, and tell them how pleased I am with all they have done. http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Bard-c11-9.html#n248

Operation Supercharge II began with a combined artillery barrage and low-level air attack. An infantry and armoured assault then shattered the enemy defences at Tebaga Gap. Despite the breakthrough, savage fighting continued to the south around Point 209, where the 28th (Maori) Battalion were positioned. It was here that 23-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu won a posthumous Victoria Cross (VC) – the first by a Maori serving with the New Zealand forces.

Stack of German bombs found abandoned near Azizia (now known as Al Aziziyah), Libya, during the advance on Tripoli during World War 2. New Zealand soldier C H Workman stands alongside. Photo: by PTE H G Paton, 10 February, 1943.

by 2LT Hugo Bloor

n the 12th of October, the New Zealand Division advanced on the high ground at Belluvue Spur, to control the ridges south and east of the Belgium City of Ypres. Known as the Passchendaele offensive during the Third Battle of Ypres, the renewed offensive followed earlier success at Gravenstafel Spur and a push by British High Command to continue its momentum. Drizzle turned to driving rain on the day, in an area where artillery had destroyed drainage channels and any vegetation. The Otago Regiment led the first wave of the assault and were exposed to German machine-gun fire from both the front and the flank. Adequate artillery support was not available, which struggled in the mud and the haste of the offensive. Many were caught in the mud and wire, in front of German pill boxes which enfiladed the New Zealand positions. In a matter of hours, 2700 New Zealand casualties resulted, and 843 men failed to return home. In late 2017, A New Zealand Defence Force contingent went to Belgium for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 4th Otago and Southland Battalion has a battle honour for this offensive, following New Zealand’s ‘darkest day.’ Our colours were taken back to Belgium for the commemorations, with the colour party consisting WO2 Houia (2/4 RNZIR HQ), 2LT Bloor, Sgt Atkinson and Sgt Brown (B Coy). Three services were performed at Tyne Cot, the Buttes New British Cemetery at

Polygon Wood and the Menin Gate; in addition to paying our respects at both allied and axis cemeteries and undertaking historical tours of the battlefield. In an area which has long returned to normal life, the scale and number of cemeteries across Belgium and France is overwhelming. Land would be gained over a few metres, at the loss of thousands of men, in an era where such losses were accepted and planned for. The brutalities of this war and its infliction on human life are hard to imagine, in a conflict the world promised not to repeat again. Whilst you cannot visualise soldiers drowning in the quagmire at Passchendaele, each cemetery tells a story across the battlefield. These include the headstones of soldiers who died as young as 16; a father and son buried side by side after falling on the same day and the promotion of men to notable ranks at young ages. It was a privilege to take the colours back to Belgium; to pay our respects to the fallen and to share our story to the rest of the world. I will never forget the ceremonies we undertook, due to their uniqueness; the attention to detail and resourcing that was given to them and the professionalism of our Defence Force. Furthermore, I encourage more members of the unit to understand the history of our unit, and how our decisions today have been influenced by what has happened in the past.

When you go home, tell them of us and say for their tomorrow, we gave our today. Edmonds (1944)

New Zealander G J Lewis (Otago) holding the dog named Trip Trip, the unit pet. Photograph taken in Tripolitania, Libya, on 9 March 1943 by PTE H G Paton.

German field gun, and a German SDkfz 7 half-tracked tractor, knocked out by New Zealand Artillery during World War 2. Photograph taken near Gabes, Tunisia, by PTE H G Paton.

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

PROMOTIONS, ARRIVALS AND FAREWELLS PROMOTIONS 2017 Regt No. Rank Name

Coy

E1051472 Y1014598 D1023411 X1018116 U764837 H994366 W1022508 Y1017795 Q1002929 X53558 E1033026 Y1022970 U1005670 W1014619 T1030693 N1027192 Y1053100

A A B B A HQ B A A A A A B HQ A B A

CHCH LCPL TIM A/CPL DUN LCPL DUN CPL NEL A/WO2 BUN A/MAJ DUN CPL CHCH CPL CHCH A/SSGT NEL WO1 NEL LCPL CHCH LT DUN A/MAJ BMC LT TIM CPL DUN CPL CHCH LCPL

Burnett Bloor Palmer Toder

B B B B

DUN DUN DUN DUN

PTE LCPL PTE LCPL SSGT CAPT LCPL LCPL SGT WO2 PTE 2LT CAPT 2LT LCPL LCPL PTE

Baker R. Bay Cairns Dickson Flack Maddaford McBride Newton Norgate Quigley Rees Robertson Robertson Romanes Swatridge Williamson Wilson

NEW RANK WEF 09 Sep 17 17 Jun 17 24 May 17 30 Aug 17 16 Aug 17 31 Jul 17 30 Aug 17 7 Aug 17 06 Jul 17 12 Aug 17 04 May 17 17 Feb 17 06 May 17 07 May 17 27 Aug 17 30 Aug 17 09 Sep 17

We welcome WO1 McClay in as the RSM of 2/4 RNZIR.

COMMISSIONED IN 2017 T1051255 K1034273 N1051250 T1053026

2LT 2LT 2LT 2LT

25 Feb 17 25 Feb 17 25 Feb 17 25 Feb 17

LT Duncan McEwen takes over charge of Bravo Company.

STRFEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in 2017 P1032046 N186220 Q1053023 N1030435 P1001157

LCPL SGT PTE LT SGT

De Ridder Hill Musgrave Roy Sanders

B B B A B

INV DUN DUN CHCH CROM

pd 1 Jul 17 - 1 Jul 18 with 2/1 RNZIR RF wef 19 Mar - 22 Dec 17 - 2/1 RNZIR RF wef 8 Feb 17 - 8 Feb 19 - Demo Squad RF wef 1 May 17 - 21 Dec 19 - 2/1 RNZIR RF wef 16 Jan - Dec 18

D1012233 S1023700 F1006209 A1007331 V771301

SSGT CAPT SGT SSGT WO1

Bristow Hayward Matthews Witchall Williams

B A B B A

DUN CHCH DUN DUN NEL

RF wef 12 Mar 17 - 7 Jan 18 - Op Farad 13 Aug 17 - 29 Jun 18 - Op Farad 2/17 RF wef 12 Mar 17 - 20 Jun 18 - Op Rua RF wef 20 Feb 17 - 7 Jan 18 - Op Manawa RF wef 20 Feb 17 - 7 Jan 18 - Op Manawa Our outgoing Training Wing OC and resident Invictus games competitor CAPT Aaron Soppet heads over to Capability branch. We wish him every success for the future.

COL Ian McDonald CMDR TRADOC Reserve congratulates LTCOL Kendall Langston on his promotion.

WELCOMED INTO THE UNIT OFF MOD 3, 2017 U1055051 F1055061 T1055372 S1055371 X1055376 B1055057 C1055173 A1055056 E1055060 R1055370 X1055353 U1055350 J1055386 W1055352 N1055390 B1055356

PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE

Appilla-Chakravarthi Baxter Butler Glass Goodman (released) Harman Johnson Lochhead Mikulic (released) Nelson Nolan Pegg Shivnan Smith Starr Tiseli

POSTED INTERNAL Regt No. Rank Name L1051386 V996954 W1054869 D1055174 B1051400 G1052762 B1051170 T763410 U1005670 Q999203 W1010387 K55324 H1050325

PTE CPL PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE MAJ A/MAJ WO2 SSGT WO1 CAPT

B B A A B B B A B B A B B A B A

DUN DUN CHCH CHCH INVR DUN DUN NEL DUN INVR CHCH DUN DUN CHCH DUN CHCH

Coy AO

Downie-MelroseB DUN Fair A CHCH Matthews B DUN Collier B DUN Keenan B DUN Nolan A CHCH Kidd A CHCH Davis HQ BMC Robertson B DUN Beker HQ Teepa HQ McClay HQ Bolin HQ

TO WEF 5/7 Bn 20 Apr 17 3CSSB 31 Mar 17 5/7 Bn 12 May 17 5/7 Bn 12 May 17 5/7 Bn 16 May 17 5/7 Bn 6 Jun 17 3/6 Bn 19 Jun 17 5/7 Bn 18 Sep 17 DHO 13 Nov 17 BMC 11-Dec-17 BMC 11-Dec-17 BMC 11-Dec-17 BMC 11 Dec 17

POSTED OUT TO OTHER UNITS Regt No. Rank Name

Coy

U1034259 T1051255 K1006581 S1026483 C1025986 E990982 N1053113 C1055173 X1053352 K1025257 S1053094 P1053390 R55284 V1032696 N1030412 L1029076 Q1053161 P1007528

B B A A B HQ B B A B B B HQ A B B B HQ

Inver 5/7 Bn Dun 5/7 Bn Nel 5/7 Bn Nel 5/7 Bn DUN 5/7 Bn BMC CMBSch Dun 3/6 Bn Dun 3/6 Bn CHCH 1 SigSqn Crom 3/6 Bn DUN 3/6 Bn Dun 3/6 Bn BMC CHCH 3/6 Bn DUN 3/6 Bn Crom 5/7 Bn Dun 5/7 Bn BMC CAPBR

PTE 2LT LCPL LT LCPL W02 PTE PTE PTE LCPL PTE PTE WO1 PTE 2LT LCPL PTE CAPT

Appleton Burnett Foote Hall Henderson Houia Ibbs Johnson Kay Long McDonald McMaster Nepia Parker Paterson Payne Rose G. Soppet

LT COL Kendall Langston congratulates MAJ K Maddaford on his promotion to OC Alpha 2/4 RNZIR.

The XO 2/4 RNZIR MAJ N Bleasdale congratulates SGT R Brown receiving his Efficiency Decoration.

WEF 31 Mar 17 18 Oct 17 10 May 17 10 Apr 17 3 Apr 17 11 Dec 17 18 Oct 17 20 Nov 17 1Jun 17 18 Jul 17 22 Mar 17 2 Nov 17 5 Oct 17 31 Mar 17 17 Nov 17 13 Apr 17 18 Oct 17 11 Dec 17

The CO 2/4 RNZIR LT COL Kendall Langston presents WO2 S Cassidy with his 25 Year Bayonet and 20 Year Certificate.

LT COL Kendall Langston congratulates WO1 D Quigley on his promotion.

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

Released in 2017 Regt No.

Rank Name

Coy

K1051293 R1053392 E1036576 F1034292 N1030665 K1034296 A1053124 J1053615 U1013237 X1055379 M1029031 G1036524 N1032137 R1050632 V1054868 S1016616 Y1018117 X1053099 J1027188 W1054869 E1055060 M1052859 M1051249 X186528 T1032142 H1016469 R1051437 E772942 V1036560 L1030272 W1030328 W1006109 N1029699 L1036643

PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE CAPT PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE LCPL PTE PTE LCPL PTE PTE PTE PTE CPL PTE LCPL PTE A/SGT PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE PTE

A B B B A A A B A A B B A B B B A A B B B B B B B A B A B A A B A B

CHCH DUN DUN DUN NEL CHCH CHCH CROM NEL NEL DUN DUN CHCH DUN INVR INVR CHCH CHCH DUN DUN DUN CROM DUN CRO DUN CHCH DUN CHCH DUN NEL CHCH DUN CHCH DUN

Barclay Cameron A Chamberlain Cunningham Davidson Donovan Findlay Gabbusch Glubb Goodman Hall m. Hanna Hansby Harding Henwood Latham Lazaro Lines-Smith Lodge Matthews Mikulic Mokomoko Murray Perrett Ramsay Rangiuia Robison Savage Shields Soper Swan Tither Tonkin Walker S

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

2017: A YEAR OF REMEMBRANCE Soldiers from 2/4 RNZIR traveled far and wide in 2017 to represent their country at commemorative ceremonies across Europe, 2/4 RNZIR HQ received a copy of the official NZ Govt report into the recent Messines Commemoration, at which our Regimental Colours were paraded. Amongst other favourable comments, the following is an extract from this report:

Our former XO MAJ Ian Lattimore has moved from RF to Ares.

Our former RSM WO1 Wayne Nepia has moved over to our sister unit 2/1 RNZIR.

Former OC Bravo MAJ Keryn Robertson moves over to take command of DHO.

Former TWO W02 Houia has moved over to Combat School.

M1010930 PTE Ward A1051468 PTE Warner E1053243 PTE Whitmore U1035869 PTE Wilson C E1026310 PTE Winders A1052549 PTE Yaxley

B A A B B B

ARes to RF in 2017

“… the New Zealand sunset service was the ‘best I’ve been to in 25 years of politics. I am very happy’. The New Zealand Defence Force heritage team deserves great credit for planning and executing a unique and moving service”.

DUN NEL CHCH DUN DUN DUN The 2nd Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Regimental Colour is marched on at the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial Messines.

B Coy, 2/4 RNZIR NCOs and officer represent NZ Army proudly in Belgium for the commemoration of the battle of Passchendaele where 843 New Zealanders were killed on the 12 Oct 1917.

Bravo Coy 2/4 RNZIR nco's conduct a parade rehersal parade at the Tyne Cot memorial for New Zealanders killed at Ypres in Belguim.

SGT Royden Brown plays the bagpipes as the NZDF Contingent visits Ypres Reservoir Cemetery to pay their respects at the grave of Lieutenant Colonel George King and to place "Ngā Tapuwae" tributes at the graves of all New Zealanders in the cemetery.

Regt No. Rank Name Coy AO WEF U1017768 CPL Herewini A CHCH 20 Jan 17 to 2/1 Bn U1051371 PTE Ellender-Nottage A TIM 13 Fe 17 to 384 Basic RF to ARes in 2017 Regt No. Rank Name Coy AO WEF S49857 MAJ Lattimore A CHCH RF to Ares 2 Mar 17 K1029696 LCPL Hensen A CHCH from 2/1 RNZIR 1 Jul 17 C1027274 LCPL Hopcroft A CHCH from 2/1 RNZIR 21 Jul 17 P1014681 CPL Logan A CHCH from YDU 1 Sep 17 L1035838 PTE Puke B DUN from 2/1 RNZIR 28 Oct 17 G1056741 PTE Ennis A CHCH from RF Basic to ARes 13 Nov 17 P1014681 CPL Logan A CHCH from YDU 1 Sep 17

MEMBERS OF THE CANTERBURY MOUNTED RIFLES TRUST

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

OPERATION RENOVATION

DEPLOYMENTS

2/4 RNZIR steps up to help the NZ Police

On OP FARAD by CAPT Catherine Hayward Senior Instructor, Force Training Team Multinational Force and Observers

s I write this I’m just over 1/3 of the way through my 6 month deployment to the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. We are deployed here as part of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), which is engineered to ensure the adherence of the security conditions of the 1979 Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt.

except here it’s covered in sand and has a beach. Most of the time we have the freedom to leave camp, explore Sharm-el-Sheikh, go diving, or go out for dinner. This is in complete contrast to being up in Northern Sinai, which is the primary area insurgent groups are operating. Spending time in FOB-N, as it is known militarily, carrying loaded weapons and hearing the firing outside the wire every night is a reminder that you are on deployment in an unstable environment.

As the names states, the MFO is a truly multinational force with troops from 12 nations, in addition to civilian contractors. This makes for an interesting work environment. There can be significant language barriers at times, with hand signals becoming a common form of communication. Living and working in South Camp, where most of us are located, is not dissimilar to being posted within New Zealand,

Deploying to the MFO is a unique experience. There is no other organisation like it, and I would recommend any TF person wanting to deploy to look for a chance to get here. You will work with people from all over the world in a successful peace-keeping force that is constantly evolving.

The soldiers worked methodically as they searched the rubbish dump.

The task involved working alongside police officers, raking through non-industrial rubbish looking for specific items, most of which were quite small, thereby necessitating opening up and exposing the contents of any package or container. Pleasant? No, but you soon became immune to the unpleasantness. Physically taxing? Not really. But surprisingly, it was mentally taxing - to keep focused on the task while performing a repetitive action over and over again. The PPE the police issued us with consisted of a white, disposable onesie, safety gumboots, eye protection, safety helmet and multiple layers of

The police had intelligence over the items they were looking for, and through the GPS records maintained by the management of the landfill (Canterbury Waste Services) were able to pinpoint the area where we were to undertake our search. This was one of the eye openers for those involved – the landfill was efficiently run and the standards they employed in everything they did (including our 30 min long induction safety briefing) were first class. It is little wonder that this landfill is one of the top four in the world. So what did we achieve? After sorting 270 tonnes of domestic rubbish, whilst some supporting and possibly prosecution evidence was found, the main 'items of interest' were not located. But we did unexpectedly find some other interesting objects, and I’ll leave it to the team to ‘fill you in‘ on those.

Sunrise over the Red Sea and South Camp Some of NZCON and the dive crew after a day diving the Red Sea

This response was supporting police who were investigating the disappearance of a Christchurch man who was a self-employer painter-decorator, and known locally as a DIY renovator (hence the police operational name).

gloves. The end result was that we all looked alike, and it was hard to know who you were working alongside … until they spoke.

(Left) Outside the FTT Office, FOB-N.

ver three days in June, seventeen soldiers from throughout the unit assisted NZ Police in searching for “items of interest” at the Kate Valley Landfill in northern Canterbury.

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

PORT HILLS FIRES

PASSINGS

2/4 RNZIR were tasked with helping support operations at the disaterious Port Hills fires.

After a civil emegency was declared 2/4 RNZIR soldiers helped out at the many check points and command stations surrounding the huge fire base along the Port Hills.

The 2017 Port Hills fires started as two separate fires, several kilometres apart, on Monday 13 February. But by Wednesday night, the fires had combined to one large area. Sadly these fires will be remember for the tragic accident involving Christchurch pilot and former NZ SAS soldier Steve Askin, whose helicopter crashed while helping to fight the fires. Nine houses were destroyed and a further two were significantly damaged by the fires, and hundreds of residents were evacuated.

s Canterbury burned from 13 to 20 February, 2017, a number of soldiers from 2/4 RNZIR joined a large contingent of NZDF personnel assigned to help civil authorities manage a number of major and minor fires in the region.

Congratulations to LCPL Williamson (left) of 2/4 RNZIR for achieving the Top Student Award of the Reserve Force Rifle Section Commanders Course. Also a firm hand shake to LCPL Wright of 3/6 RNZIR for gaining the Peers Choice Award.

The 2/4 RNZIR S5 MAJ Ian Piercy, makes it onto the front page of the Wanaka Mirror prior to ANZAC day as it detailed his long career in uniform and the work he undertakes as he leads the annual ANZAC day parades through the resort town.

Major General W.B. (Sandy) Thomas, DSO, MC and Bar, Silver Star

n 10 November 2017, the CO, RSM, SWI and Nelson Cadre represented the NZ Army at the funeral of MAJ GEN Thomas. MAJ GEN Thomas, from Motueka in the Tasman Province, enlisted as a Territorial soldier on 1 July 1935, mobilising for war some four years later in 23rd Battalion of the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force. LT Thomas was awarded his first MC for action during the initial German parachute landing at Maleme, and subsequent the bayonet charge at Galatos in Crete, where he was severely wounded and captured. His second MC followed soon after his fourth (and ultimately successful) escape attempt from a POW camp in Salonika, Greece. After “borrowing” a boat, he crossed the Aegean Sea to Turkey where after an 1800km journey he was reunited with 2(NZ)Div based at Aleppo in Syria. During the battle for Takrouna in Tunisia, North Africa in April of 1943, temporary MAJ Thomas assumed command of 23rd Battalion when the CO Lt COL R. E. Romans was wounded by gunfire early in the engagement against Rommel’s Afrika Corp tenaciously holding onto the high ground, for which he was awarded the DSO. “By his personal example and splendid leadership [he] quickly had the battalion reorganised and making its way forward in fierce close fighting.” LT COL Thomas continued to lead the 23rd Bn up through Italy, where due to his actions at the River Santerno he was awarded the Silver Star (US). “[He] led his battalion on the west bank of the River Santerno with such conspicuous gallantry that a dangerous situation turned into a complete success.” LT COL Thomas was the youngest ever CO of a New Zealand

infantry battalion involved in sustained operations, and it was MAJ GEN Freyberg who wrote of him as follows: “I have watched him develop from a very young 2nd Lieutenant through all the ranks, until in the last year of the [Second World] War he became one of the most dashing and seasoned commanding officers of infantry in the New Zealand Army”. LT COL Thomas resigned from the NZ Army in 1946 and immediate joined the British Army as a Lieutenant. During the remaining 32 years of service, he was involved in campaigns in Kenya, Malaya, and Aden, as well as postings to Austria, Australia, West Germany and finally Singapore, where he attained the rank of Major General as General Officer Commanding Far East Land Forces. MAJ GEN Thomas retired to the Australian Gold Coast were he authored two books – Dare to be Free, and Pathway to Adventure – the former of which is a good read for anyone interested in delving deeper into the history of 23rd Battalion. Although most of his career was spent in the British Army, he was a son of New Zealand and a very successful leader of New Zealanders in combat. 23rd Battalion is one of the forebears of 2/4 RNZIR, and it is for this reason that we remember him as a gentleman, a leader, a man of action, and above all, a great New Zealander. In November 2017, MAJ GEN ‘Sandy’ Thomas’ ashes were interred in the family plot in Riwaka, at which 2/4 RNZIR provided the firing party. May he rest in peace. Onward.

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL 2017

2/4 RNZIR JOURNAL January to De ce m b e r 2017 This

journal is p u b lishe d b y

2/4 RNZIR, Burn ham Cam p , Chris tchurch , Ne w Ze aland . All Rights

re s e rve d

Office r in charge of Journal p roduction : MAJ Ian Pie rcy, 2/4 RNZIR De s ign

and

Layou t: John G Cos grove

Con trib u tors and Photograp he rs : LT COL Kendall Langston, WO1 Andrew Bain, CPL Stu Adlam and Callum Bradley. Prin cip al Photograp hy : John G Cos grove 2/4 RNZIR Unit Vis ual His torian The 2/4 RNZIR Journal is annually b y

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