Squadron 125 years old

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 305, 19 September 1989, Page 1

Squadron 125 years old

Waiouru's Queen Alexandra's Squadron Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps celebrated their 125th anniversary on Friday. To mark the occasion a bust of Queen Alexandra, sculpted by Wanganui artist Jcan Morrell, was unveiled.

The 140 regular force unit soldiers were joined by, among others, QA Sqn ex-mem-bers' association representatives, Waiouru Army Training Group Commandant Col McGuire, Lt Col Sinclair, Joan Morrell, and representatives of technical supply companies associated with the corps The unit's role is to maintain armoured skills in the New Zealand Army - skills associated with Scorpion tanks and M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers. Artist Joan Morrell explained to those present the technique of making the S7000 bronze, lost-wax method bust, as well as something of the life of Queen Alexandra, aftcr whom the "Alexandra Troop of the Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry" - one of the present day unit's predccessors - was named. Princess Alexandra of Denmark became the Princess of Wales the year before the date the unit was accepted for service - 16 September 1864. The regimcnt remained horse mountcd until 1942, taking part in some major mounted exercised in the early part of World War Two. Ex-members Hec Pcapell and Bill Bowra, who were at last Friday's celebration, were

part of QA Sqn when it was "horsed". They later drove armoured vehicles such as the General Stewart tank which, compared to today's Scorpion tanks, was like looking at a Model A and a 1989 Toyota, according to Hec Peapell. Hec said his day's tank was powered by a Continental radial aviation motor, with about 16 cylinders and fueled with aviation turpentine. Nowadays they run on diesel or •petrol in Jaguar motors and the gearboxes are all automatic. Most things are the same, say the old-boys. "There's no difference in the camaraderie," said Bill Bowra. He and Hec and a 1989 soldier compared notes and found similarities such Turnpage 3

1 25 year sqn

From page 1 as; the weaponry is similar, tracks still pop off their rollers when you least want them to, and everyone still gives way to a tank! The uniform has changed since the horse days though, with the puttees, spurs and riding trousers no longer appropriate. Hec said he was a competent horseman when he joined the unit but that many were not. He remembers grain fed, racehorse-fit animals running amok with brand new riders. Battle honours the unit has earned through its history include serving in South Africa, 1900-1902; in World War One: defence of ANZAC; Egypt 191517; Gaza Beersheba;

Palestine 1918-18. In World War Two: Perano; Cassino I; Italy 1943-45, the South Pacific 1942-44.