New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot

New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot
Active 1974–89
Country  New Zealand
Branch New Zealand Army
Type Logistics
Size 25 military and 75 civilian staff
Part of HQ NZFORSEA
Garrison/HQ Singapore

The ANZUK Ordnance Depot was established in 1971 to provide logistical support to Australian, New Zealand and British forces stationed in Singapore and Malaysia as part of ANZUK Force.[1] It was commanded by a Royal Army Ordnance Corps officer of the rank of lieutenant colonel and staffed by Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom personnel and Locally Employed Civilians. This organisation operated for only a short period. Australia changed Government in 1972 and the incoming Labor Government decided to withdraw Australia’s commitment to the region. This took effect in 1974 and was followed later by the withdrawal of the British forces.[2] It was then decided that New Zealand should form its own Advanced Ordnance Depot, designated the New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot (NZAOD). This was the start of a commitment which was to last until December 1989.

Formation and personnel

The NZAOD came into being to support the New Zealand Force which was to remain behind after the withdrawal of Australian and British forces from Singapore. It was a self-contained and independent depot with all the normal Ordnance supply functions. It was the first such depot raised by New Zealand since World War II. Although Australia was leaving the region, at the outset it was planned that the United Kingdom would also remain and as a result there was intense competition between New Zealand and the United Kingdom for stock, locally employed personnel (LECs), plant and materials handling equipment and warehouse accommodation of ANZUK Ordnance Depot. The creation of the two forces developed a working rivalry between the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps personnel. However, before the first of the NZAOD staff had completed their full tour, the RAOC personnel returned to the United Kingdom following the confirmation of the British withdrawal from Singapore.

The main units NZAOD had to support consisted of headquarters New Zealand Force South East Asia (HQ NZFORSEA)[3] and the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR). In addition, there were a host of supporting units. Initially these had been scattered all over Singapore Island but they were then concentrated in the Sembawang area in the former Royal Navy Singapore Naval Base, leaving 1 RNZIR in Dieppe Barracks located next to Sembawang Airbase.

NZFORSEA undertook a wide range of training exercises, exchanges, formal functions, as well as assistance to the Singapore and Malaysian Armed Forces. There were also New Zealand Government non-military requests such as logistic assistance to trade delegations, the attendance of the band at receptions, support to the local school and a host of sporting engagements. NZAOD support to the force developed over the years and at its peak the strength of the depot was over 100 personnel. This number was made up of approximately 25 military personnel, including a small group of female staff, and more than 75 civilians. The majority of the LECs came direct from service with the British forces, and they brought with them a lot of experience. Only a few hundred civilian employees were required, though, and as a result of the withdrawal of the British and the Australians many thousands of Singaporeans were made redundant.

Organisation

The organisation of the depot was based on a New Zealand Ordnance Depot with a few additions to meet the needs of the force.

Operations

Although the size of the NZAOD remained small, the Force HQ also conducted many training exercises at various levels and supplied manpower assistance to fill enemy party positions and provide umpires, logistic backup in refuelling or rationing, and staff appointments for Command Post exercises.

Withdrawal

As part of Operation Kupe, the withdrawal of New Zealand forces from Singapore in 1989, and the NZAOD was disbanded.[6][7]

Officers Commanding NZAOD

Rank Name Start date Finish Date
Major T.D McBeth 1 October 1974 23 April 1976
Major R.L Cross 24 April 1976 16 May 1978
Major C.M Corkin 17 May 1978 15 May 1980
Major P.Te.T Puohataua 16 May 1980 20 May 1982
Major J.S Bolton 21 May 1982 10 May 1984
Major B.L Crafts 11 May 1984 21 August 1986
Major I.J Juno 26 August 1986 25 May 1988
Major D.H Watmuff 26 May 1986 10 Dec 1989

Dress Distinctions

Example of uniform worn by NZAOD soldier, 1989

NZ Army personnel posted to NZAOD wore the following dress distinctions:

NZ epaulette flash
RNZAOC Garter tabs

DOAZN Club

Established during Major Cross's tenure as officer commanding, the DOAZN Club was established in vacant area of the NZAOD warehouse as the focal point for all NZAOD social activities. the Club not only catered for the military staff but also for the LEC members of NZAOD Over the years the club hosted RNZAOC Corps day, Christmas and Waitangi day functions, hosted regular and impromptu happy hours and as the NZAOD was a multi ethnic workplace many function to celebrate all of the local holidays and festivals.

Billy Beck Club

Main article: Billy Beck

Unlike other RNZAOC units a Henry Tucker Club did not exist, as NZAOD was over the water and there was no real affiliation with the first colonial Storekeeper. As Billy Beck was the first New Zealand Ordnance soldier to set foot on a foreign land operationally, his name was chosen for the Club for all RNZAOC military members posted to Singapore.[8]

See also

References

  1. McGibbon, Ian (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. Oxford Press. p. 31. ISBN 0195583760.
  2. "ANZUK". Digger History. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  3. McGibbon, Ian (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. Oxford. p. 369. ISBN 0195583760.
  4. "NCR Product Line Brochure 1963." (PDF). NCR Archive. Retrieved 6 Sep 2016.
  5. Millen, Julia (1997). Salute to Service. Victoria University Press. p. 415. ISBN 0864733240.
  6. McGibbon, Ian (2000). The Oxford Campanion to New Zealand Military History. Oxford Press. p. 369.
  7. NZFORSEA Yearbook. Singapore: Print N Publis Pte Ltd. 1988.
  8. RNZAOC Pataka Magazine. Dec 1986. p. 38.
Bibliography

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/11/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.