Explore New Zealand’s military history and check out the latest museum news, events and exhibits, plus details of our latest acquisitions.
- Thames Gifted a Piece of Military History
- WWII Silk Escape and Evasion Maps
- More International Expertise for the Museum
- New Collection Technician
- A Special Month in History
- Museum Tanks Support Battle of Cambrai Anniversary
- Canadian Intern Assists Collection Management
- New Collection Expertise
- Family History Fair
- Man Faces Medal Theft Charges
- Rugby Greats Open New Exhibition
- New Display – VE Day
- New Structure for the Army Museum
- Kiwi Gunners Help Turn the Battle at Kap’yong
- Khaki & Black Coming Soon
- A Birthday To Remember
- World War II Prisoner of War Visits Museum
Thames Gifted a Piece of Military History
The 25-pounder was legendary during World War II, considered as possibly the best field gun of the war.
This Ordnance Quick Firing 25-pounder, originally on long term loan to the Thames RSA before it closed down, became the standard field gun for all of the British and Commonwealth Forces during World War II, and was later used by the Kiwis in Korea.
WWII Silk Escape and Evasion Maps
by Tessa Smallwood
More International Expertise for the Museum
Doug comes to the Museum by way of Ottawa, Canada where he is completing his Museological studies with the Applied Museum Studies program at Algonquin College in Nepean.
With both domestic and international experience in the museums field, Doug brings a skill set that includes exhibit design and fabrication as well as the conservation and restoration of obsolete technology from the smallest radio to the largest aircraft.
A former Triumph and Harley Davidson service technician, Doug has contributed technical writings for a variety of magazines and periodicals as well as writing articles on a variety of issues concerning the international museum community.
New Collection Technician
By Tessa Smallwood
This New Year I began working as the new Collections Technician at the Museum. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself and about my new job.
As the Collections Tech, I get to work on all sorts of artefacts from across the Museum’s inspiring Collection. For those who don’t yet know, all the things in the museum are divided between six departments; Heraldry, Textiles, Archives, Social History and Accoutrements, Weaponry and Technology. Each of these is headed by an Assistant Curator who deals with the day to day care of their artefacts and customer enquiries. My role within this ‘Collection’s Team’ involves completing projects that the Museum’s Curators need a little extra help with. So far I am working on two projects; a research one for Heraldry and a practical one, caring for the Silk POW escape maps from the Textiles Collection.
A Special Month in History
In honour of those men who lost their lives in the service of this country, the National Army Museum has chosen December, a month of historical military firsts, to open its brand new Medal Repository.
On 18th December 1899, during the Second Anglo-Boer War, New Zealand’s first ever overseas combat action took place against Boer forces in South Africa, and as a result 29 year old Trooper George Roland Bradford was wounded in action. Ten days later he succumbed to his wounds and became the first New Zealand soldier to be killed on foreign soil.
Museum Tanks Support Battle of Cambrai Anniversary
The National Army Museum supported the 94th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Cambrai on 19th November with a parade of 13 armoured vehicles from its collection.
Canadian Internship Assists Collection Management
Kendrie is the museum’s 9th intern from the “Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage” internship programme and she begins her time in Waiouru working on a project with World War II Prisoner of War identity tags.
Kendrie brings considerable expertise to the Army Museum after completing a Collections and Conservation Management qualification which finished with a conservation internship at the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John, New Brunswick. Kendrie has also worked at the Halton Region Museum as a Collections and Registration Assistant and as a Conservation Technician at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, Ontario.
New Collection Expertise
Family History Fair
Contributed by Carlene Sykes
This popular annual genealogy event was bustling from the time the doors opened at 10am until closing. The National Army Museum’s stand was overwhelmed by eager patrons looking to trace the military records of their family ancestors, many of whom purchased copies of ‘military citations’ and ‘active service record’ certificates.
The day was packed with interesting stories and memories of past. One gentleman enquiring about his grandfather, candidly stated he knew his grandfather had served in World War I and that he received a Military Cross. After researching the family member, Lucy the museum’s librarian, was able to hand him a copy of his grandfather’s citation for receiving this medal, which in turn brought tears to this gentleman’s eyes. During the History Fair, a World War I canvas sleeping bag and a web belt were also kindly donated.
Man Faces Medal Theft Charges
The National Army Museum has been left both devastated and disappointed by the recent discovery of missing medals.
The missing medals were discovered as part of improvements the museum made to its systems and processes, and once Police were notified museum staff have been working closely with them.
This is a historic theft which happened up to sixteen years ago and prior to the theft of the Victoria Cross medals. The charges do not involve anyone currently employed at the National Army Museum.
Rugby Greats Open New Exhibition
Two of only four remaining rugby players of the famous 1945-46 “Kiwis” Army Rugby Team, legends Bob Scott and Stan Young opened our latest exhibition, Khaki & Black – New Zealand’s Rugby Supremacy in Times of War, on Saturday 20th August.
Bob Scott is arguably one of the very best fullbacks to have worn the All Black jersey as confirmed a couple of weeks ago when legend Sir Fred Allen named him as fullback in his top 15 All Blacks of all time. Commentator Winston McCarthy wrote, “For me there will never be anyone as great as Scott”. Star South African No. 8 Hennie Muller described him as, “Altogether, the greatest footballer I’ve ever played against in any position”.
New Display – VE Day
The National Army Museum now features a new Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) display case that tells the story of the end of World War II both on the home front and at the frontline.
The new case uses many interesting objects to highlight the story, including a never displayed before full bottle of VE Day champagne that a kiwi soldier bought home from the war.
Assistant Curator Chris Rapley, who designed the case, said the story of the end of the war was riveting because it was a true turning point in history.
New Structure for the Army Museum
The National Army Museum has a new Trust Board which collectively brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and business acumen to the Museum.
In October last year, on the advice of the Auditor General, the National Army Museum structure changed with the disbandment of its Trust Board, headed by the Chief of Army, and its working Executive Management Committee.
This change came about because the Auditor General was concerned that there may be a conflict of interest in having the Chief of Army holding the appointment as the Chairman of the Museum Trust Board.
Kiwi gunners help turn the battle at Kap’yong
The story of how Kiwi gunners proved their worth in the Korean War during the hard fought battle of Kap’yong is one of the stories currently being told at the National Army Museum.
Artillery fire from the Kiwi gunners was instrumental in beating back the repeated Chinese attacks on the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade during the struggle at Kap’yong.
The Australian and Canadians – although vastly outnumbered – held the valley at Kap’yong grimly against repeated Chinese attacks often with bitter hand to hand fighting.
Khaki & black coming soon
Rugby is religion for many New Zealanders and our soldiers found time to play the national game when they weren’t fighting in the trenches.
During World War One many of New Zealand’s rugby players signed up to serve their country at a time when rugby was suspended at both club and national level in most countries. From war there emerged a great rugby team; the New Zealand Army Team.
A Birthday to remember
It was a very special 95th birthday for World War II veteran Arnold Kimber when he came face to face with a fellow veteran; the National Army Museum’s Sherman Tank.
Trooper Kimber served as a Sherman driver during the war and travelled to the museum to see the only Sherman tank on public display in New Zealand.
Together with his son John, Kimber flew up from Blenheim to Taupo and then drove down to spend several hours viewing the different displays and exhibitions at the National Army Museum.
World War II Prisoner of War Visits Museum
A new signature has been added to the National Army Museum’s wall in the museum’s popular Prisoner of War display.
The wall contains signatures of New Zealand POWs from all services, including those of Charles Upham VC and Jack Hinton VC. Last week the National Army Museum was lucky enough to have added that of Ross Lynneberg (# OSAKA14/619).
Ninety-two year old Ross Lynneberg served in the Pacific with the Royal NZ Navy before being transferred to the Royal Navy. He arrived in Hong Kong the day before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, the same day they bombed Hong Kong. Like many others Lynneberg was captured by the Japanese in Hong Kong on Christmas Day, 1941.
