New battle honours to be emblazoned onto a Regimental Colour of the New Zealand Army
For the first time in nearly thirty years, the New Zealand Army is gearing up for an historic parade that will see a new and significant chapter written into the history of 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR).
29 October, 2024
On Thursday at Burnham Military Camp, 2/1 RNZIR will be the first battalion since 1997 to be presented with new King’s and Regimental Colours (ceremonial flags). The new Regimental Colour has been emblazoned with eight new battle honours in recognition of former pan-New Zealand infantry battalions that have not previously been recognised in this way.
Six of these battle honours have never been emblazoned onto any other NZ Army infantry Colour. They are HILL 60 (ANZAC) and DELVILLE WOOD, which are unique to Te Hokowhitu a Tū - the New Zealand Maori Contingent and the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion respectively; OLYMPUS PASS and MONASTERY HILL, which are unique to or were uniquely chosen for emblazonment by 28 (Maori) Battalion; and VEVE and SILLARO CROSSING, which are unique to or uniquely chosen for emblazonment by 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion.
The two remaining battle honours, SARI BAIR and SOMME 1916, 18, are inherited from the New Zealand Maori Contingent and the New Zealand Rifle Brigade respectively.
One-hundred-and-two-year-old Doug Reid is the last known surviving member of 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion, something he says he still can’t quite believe.
“I lost a lot of good mates, we had so many good and bad memories from our time. What can you say about war? I made some really great mates in the Battalion.”
NZ Army soldiers have been preparing for a significant ceremony at Burnham Military Camp this week with the presentation of 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment new King’s Colour and Regimental Colour
NZ Army soldiers have been preparing for a significant ceremony at Burnham Military Camp this week with the presentation of 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment new King’s Colour and Regimental Colour
NZ Army soldiers have been preparing for a significant ceremony at Burnham Military Camp this week with the presentation of 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment new King’s Colour and Regimental Colour
He said that the emblazonment of battle honours unique to 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion on the 2/1 RNZIR Regimental Colour was wonderful.
“The main point is that we are being honoured as a battalion, a good battalion, with the machine guns, and we did a lot of good things.
“I think the boys would be really thrilled to be honoured like this.”
Tā Robert ‘Bom’ Gillies, KNZM, is the last surviving member of 28 (Maori) Battalion, and served at the battle of Monastery Hill.
While he says the recognition is years late, he is happy it has finally happened.
“I feel that my fellow comrades would be pleased by this recognition,” Tā Robert said.
“It was a huge responsibility for Māori to volunteer to go to war, we volunteered for six years, and it was a big thing for a small race.
“Our contribution wasn’t huge because we only had a small population, but we went to war because we were good soldiers.”
Chief of Army, Major General Rose King says the addition of these new battle honours is a significant step in recognising the service of former battalions which were drawn from every part of New Zealand.
“I know that 2/1 RNZIR will carry these new battle honours with pride and dignity on behalf of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment,” Major General King said.
“The new colours represent the spirt of the Regiment, which is built on our core values: courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity.”
These are the first Colours presented to the NZDF during the reign of His Majesty King Charles III.
Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand, will present the colours on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III, on 31 October at Burnham Military Camp, 1.30pm.