New Waiouru battery on parade

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 515, 7 December 1993, Page 1

New Waiouru battery on parade

The newly reformed 163 Battery of the Royal New Zealand Artillery joined the ranks of 16th Field Regiment last Saturday in a symbolic march from the Waiouru train station to the QEII Army Memorial Museum. A large gathering turned out to see the parade, including many veterans from the old 1 63 Battery which was formed in 1950 to go to the Korean War. In commemoration of 163 Battery 's involvement in Korea, especially at the famous battle of Kapyong, the people of Kapyong County sent a piece of Korean stone to be laid at Waiouru to mark the occasion. The stone was transported from Korea in the personal luggage of New Zealand' s Ambassador to Korea, Mr Chris Butler. The Korean Ambassador, Mr Yoon, and his wife also attended the parade and in his speech the Ambassador spoke of the bravery of the young Kiwis at Kapyong and the tremendous role they played in securing a safe future for South Korea, which at the time of the Korean War was on the brink of fading away, he said. The Colonel Commandant of the Royal New Zealand

Artillery also made a speech at the parade in which he noted, "that in the face of sizeable defence cuts occurring at the moment the fact that the 16th Field Regiment is increasing is a true measure of our place in the sun." A prayer and blessing closed the parade and the names of the 41 New Zealanders killed in Korea were read out.