Waiouru welcomes 16 Field Regiment

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 478, 23 March 1993, Page 7

Waiouru welcomes 16 Field Regiment

Regimental history

On 29 August 1950, the men destined to become 16 Field Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery entered training camps in New Zealand. Basic training was completed in these camps and in early October the regiment was concentrated at Waiouru to begin corps training. The commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel J.W. Moodie DSO, ED. The regimental sergeant major was WOl T.N. Vine. The main body of the regiment left Wellington on 10 December 1950 and arrived in Pusan, South Korea on New Year's Eve. From the first round fired by 163 Battallion on 29 January 1951 until the truce on 27 July 1953, 16 Field Regiment fired over 800,000 rounds from its 24 guns - the highest total for any field regiment based in Korea. The regiment's first Tum to page 8

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From page 7 major battle came in April 1951 at Kapyong when the Chinese attacked in great strength. For four days the regiment was to fire almost without pause. During the 30 hours preceeding the dawn of ANZAC 1951, the regiment fired 10,000 rounds at ranges from 3,000 to 10,000 yards. Eleven gunners from 163 battery were killed or wounded as a direct result of enemy infantry action. Following the action 16 Field Regiment was awarded the Korean Presidential Citation by the Korean Minister of i National Defence. I During the two and a half years the regiment was stationed in Korea j the firing average was 830 rounds per day. Of the 54 New Zealand soldiers who died in the Korean conflict, 24 were from 16 Field Regiment. Honours Meritorious conduct by the soldiers of 16 Field Regiment was rewarded with a long list of medals and honours. These included four Distinguished Service Orders (DSO). five Medals of the British Empire (MBE), 11 Military Cross (MC),

one Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), seven Military Medals (MM), two British Empire Medals (BEM), with another 30 soldiers mentioned in dispatches. From the truce in July 1953 until October 1954 the regiment remained in Korea as part of the occupation force. On its return to New Zealand in November 1954 the 16 Field Regiment was disbanded. The regiment was reactivated on 8 August 1958 as a two-gun Battery Regiment, with RHQ, a small HQ battery, and 161 Battery in Papakura and 163 Battery in Burnham. In late 1962, 163 Battery moved to Waiouru for about a year. At the end of 1963 the battery moved to Papakura and was disbanded. The regiment , performed many duties in the following years, one being to provide the guards for Buckingham Palace and Tower of London for six days in November 1964. In July 1965, 161 Battery, 16 Field Regiment deployed to South Vietnam. 161 Battery stayed in Vietnam until May 1971. During its almost six

years on continuous active service in Vietnam four members were killed in action and sixteen wounded. The decorations and awards won by the men of 161 Battery amount to seven MBE, one MC, four BEM, one Queen's Commendation for Bravery and four sol-

diers mentioned in dispatches, three US Presidential Unit Citations and one Vietnamese Presidential Citation. 16 Field Regiment remained in Papakura for another 24 years, becoming the only Artillery Headquarters for the five territorial force batteries throughout New Zealand. In November 1991, 161 Battery moved to Linton Camp in Palmerston North to come under the command of the Ready Reaction Force. In December of the same year 16 Field Regiment consisting of RHQ, HQ Battery and the Light Aid Detachment (LAD) moved to Mt Wellington Barracks where it stayed until March 1993. Presented A "re-balancing" of New Zealand 's Armed Forces sees 16 Field Regiment relocated to Waiouru. Regimental Sergeant Major Ian Foster said the move was welcome, with personnel previously required to travel to Waiouru for training ex-

ercises, often meaning lengthy absences from families. Personnel number 55, with a further 21 Basic trainees joining 16 Field Regiment this week. Ranks will be swelled later this year with the arrival of two Regular Force gun batteries, 161 and 163 Batteries. Personnel undergo a selection process before becoming assignated gun numbers, signallers or command post operators. Proficiency is gained through core training and exercises with armoured and infantry companies.

Commanding Officer . is Colonel Graeme ■ Williams, joining the | regiment after a two-year 1 1 posting as a tactical in- ■ structor at the Australian ! Land Warfare Centre, I Queensland. Waimarino residents | are invited to join the . ranks of 16 Field ' Regiment as a member of | the Territorial forces, | with positions as com- . puter operators, survey- ■ ors and signallers avail- | able. Those interested g should contact Sergeant - Major Hopkinson by ■ ringing the camp, (06) | 387 6111. I