Archive for New Zealand

New Zealand Postal Cinderella

Posted in Stamps with tags , on April 10, 2023 by The Dude

A simple little item that has been sitting unloved by me in a drawer. This is a 1938 cinderella, a postal item that was affixed to the envelope that usually contained a message that supported some sort of public program. This one is for the Territorial Force as evidenced by the message “Help Your Territorials – Home Defence Only”.

New Zealand 1905 Pattern Mounted Rifles Bandolier

Posted in Ammo & Magazine Pouches with tags , , , on November 10, 2018 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis item, produced in 1942, is the 1905 pattern 50 round ammunition bandolier, issued to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles regiments. Unique to New Zealand, it was intended to provide additional ammunition in case of extended reconnaissance patrols and was popular because of the ability to sling these over the necks of the horses.

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NZMR hero 13/129 Corporal Sinclair Chapman Reid – North Auckland Mounted Rifles. Wearing the lightweight desert uniform. First known rank corporal rose to Lieutenant by wars end. During WWII held the rank of Major. Recipient of the Military Cross. Sinclair Reid had the distinction of being a combatant at both the attack on Chunuk Bair on the 8th August 1915 during the Gallipoli Campaign and the attack at Ayun Kara on the 14th November 1917 in Turkish Palestine. These actions were the most deadly engagements experienced by the NZMR during WWI.

New Zealand Manufactured .303 Ammo

Posted in Ammunition & Fusing with tags , , , on September 30, 2018 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandSimple little item, a ten round package of .303 rifle ammunition, intended for the Enfield infantry rifle and similar vintage weapons. This pack of ten is dated 1941 and manufactured by CAC, the Colonial Ammunition Company of New Zealand. This was the first ammunition company established in Australasia.

WW1 Canadian Hate Belt

Posted in Belts & Belt Buckles with tags , , , , , , , , , , on August 5, 2017 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomFlag_of_AustraliaFlag_of_New_ZealandFlag_of_CanadaFlag_of_the_United_StatesFlag_of_FranceFlag_of_the_German_EmpireNice simple pickup last weekend at the local antique fair. This is a souvenir belt put together from a Prussian infantry belt and the tunic buttons from a wide range of Allied and German units. This example has a predominance of Canadian buttons so I am guessing that it was Canadian in origin. The rest are French, Australian, New Zealand, German and one single U.S. General Service button. You see these in all sorts of configurations, some on Allied belts, some with cap badges and other oddments. The legend is that these were put together from souvenirs taken from dead bodies but that sounds overly complex to me and likely nonsense. More likely most of the buttons were swapped at rear area camps between bored soldiers making up a souvenir. The U.S. button suggests a late war job, 1917-19. The Empire buttons make sense as often these units found themselves together in the line. The Canadian Regiments are from different divisions so that’s why I think this is a rear area put together. Still, a great belt, in fine condition and worth it just for the buttons and belt IMHO.

Japanese Surrender Documents

Posted in Paper with tags , , , , , , , , , , on January 1, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_Japan.svgThis booklet, dating from 1946, is a facsimile of the surrender documents signed on the USS Missouri, in Tokyo Bay, on the 2nd September 1945. These were produced by the National Archives in the US for distribution to institutions and individuals in education. I have the German ones here.


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New Zealand Post Commemorative Issue

Posted in Stamps with tags , on January 17, 2015 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is a set of commemorative stamps issued by New Zealand Post in 2014. The event was the 2014 Anzac Day anniversary, 100 years since the outbreak of WW1. The issue took the form of a set of period propaganda posters issued by the NZ Government during WW2.

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New Zealand WW2 Shoulder Title

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on August 1, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandHere’s a single shoulder title for New Zealand Infantry, dating from ww2. I received it in a big bunch of stuff for a guy who was in Hiroshima in 1945.

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Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps Cap Badge

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags on July 30, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is the second pattern cap badge for the New Zealand Army Service Corps. We never used to care about these guys unless they were late delivering our breakfast.

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New Zealand Cadet Corps Cap Badge

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags on July 30, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is the cap badge for the New Zealand Cadet Corps. The cadet Corps is an affiliated organization, run by the NZDF with a focus on army training for youth. There are sibling groups for the air force and navy. I use lower case here deliberately because I found them to be annoying little shits.

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Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps Collar Badges

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags on July 30, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThese are a pair of collar badges for the New Zealand Armoured Corps. Just so we are clear here, the New Zealand Armoured “Corps” is not corps sized. It’s two guys with a BBQ and a LAV III for overwatch.

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1st Canterbury Mounted Rifles Collar Dog

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on July 30, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is a WW1 era collar dog for the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, or 1st Canterbury Mounted Rifles.

The 1st (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) Regiment was officially raised on 17 March 1911. It was one of 12 regionally based mounted rifles regiments formed as part of the new Territorial Force (TF) organisation that came into existence on that day. This part-time Territorial Force and a tiny regular force of professional soldiers formed the basis of New Zealand’s army at the outbreak of the First World War.

Instead of mobilising the TF, however, the government decided to raise a separate force to send overseas to fight – the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF). In 1914 the new mounted regiments of the NZEF were given provincial names corresponding to the military district in which they were raised – Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury or Otago. This gave them some sense of regional identity.

The NZEF mounted regiments were instructed to affiliate each of the three squadrons under their command with a TF mounted rifles regiment from their military district, and to issue the regiment’s badge to the squadron. The idea was to foster linkages with the established TF regiments that were not being sent overseas. So the badge of the 1st (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry), TF, was worn by the 1st (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) Squadron of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, NZEF, throughout its service in the Gallipoli, Sinai and Palestine campaigns.

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New Zealand Army Pay Corps Collar Dogs

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags on July 28, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThese are a pair of current issue collar badges for the New Zealand Army Pay Corps.

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North Auckland Mounted Rifles Left Collar Badge

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on June 29, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis badge, for the 11th North Auckland Mounted Rifles, is the left facing collar badge. This badge is twice as rare as the right facing example since the right hand one served as both the cap badge and a collar dog. You can see these examples here.

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4th Waikato Mounted Rifles Cap Badge

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on June 9, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is a cap badge for the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles.

The 4th (Waikato) Mounted Rifles was formed on March 17, 1911. They were mobilised during World War I and formed part of the Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment, and served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I and first saw action during the Battle of Gallipoli. As a part of the larger New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (of the Anzac Mounted Division) they went on to serve in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign

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6th Manawatu Mounted Rifles Cap Badge

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on June 9, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis is a cap badge for the 6th Manawatu Mounted Rifles.

The 6th (Manawatu) Mounted Rifles was formed on March 17, 1911. They were mobilised during World War I as a squadron of the Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment. They served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I and first saw action during the Battle of Gallipoli. As a part of the larger New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (of the Anzac Mounted Division) they went on to serve in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign

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New Zealand WW1 Patriotic Tokens

Posted in Medallions & Badges, Propaganda Items with tags , on June 9, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThese are three identical patriotic tokens manufactured in New Zealand immediately after the outbreak of war in 1914. On the obverse is stamped “Patriotic New Zealand“. On the reverse is stamped “European War August 1914” and a quote from Nelson “England expects every man to do his duty“.

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Cap Badge for the New Zealand Regiment

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on June 7, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThe New Zealand Regiment was formed in 1957. The infantry has always been the heart of the New Zealand Army and the New Zealnd Regiment was raised as an organisational formation to support the deployment of New Zealand soldiers in Malaya during the Emergency there. It was reformed and renamed in 1964 as NZ withdrew from Malaya and began the deployment into Vietnam.

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3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment Collar Dog

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on June 6, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgThis is a WW1 issue collar dog for the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment. The 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Rifles was formed on March 17, 1911. They were mobilised during World War I as a squadron of the Auckland Mounted Rilfe Regiment. They served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I and first saw action during the Battle of Gallipoli. As a part of the larger New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (of the Anzac Mounted Division) they went on to serve in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.

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16th Waikato Regiment Collar Dog

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on June 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis ia a collar dog for the 16th Waikato Infantry Regiment, dating to WW1. Raised in 1915 and sent to Egypt and then Gallipoli, the 16th Waikato was slaughtered at Chunik Bair.

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Yeah that's right, pride. Meh, jingoism dates poorly

Yeah that’s right, pride. Meh, jingoism dates poorly

WW1 New Zealand Army Tunic Buttons

Posted in Accessories with tags , , on June 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThese are a pair of WW1 era New Zealand Forces tunic buttons. One of these is an infantry button and one is from an artillery uniform. They are both manufactured by Gaunt of London.

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4th Otago Regiment Cap Badge

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags , on June 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis cap badge is for the 4th Otago Rifles. The badge has the battle honour “South Africa 1901-1902” making it a pre WW1 2nd pattern badge.

The history of the 4th Battalion (Otago and Southland) Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment can be traced back to February 1860 when the Dunedin and Invercargill Militia Battalions were established. The militiamen of the day were not volunteer soldiers as all males between the age of 18 and 60 were liable for military service at that time. In 1861 the Tokomairiro and Clutha Battalions were formed. Local enthusiasm was not enough to gain Government recognition so volunteer soldiering was conducted on a quasi-official manner for some time. The first officially recognised volunteer unit in the Otago and Southland provinces was the Otago Rifle Volunteers, which was gazetted as a Company on 5th February 1862. In 1898 the 1st Battalion Otago Rifle Volunteers was established. The formation of this unit apparently stimulated further public interest as by 1892 the Battalion consisted of fifteen Rifle Companies.

During World War I the provinces produced the Otago Regiment with companies from the 4th Otago, 8th Southland, 10th North Otago and 20th South Otago battalions. The Otago Regiment served with distinction in Gallipoli and France taking particularly heavy losses in the battle of Passchendaele. New Zealand’s most decorated soldier ever, Sgt Dick Travis earned his VC and other medals serving with the Otago Regiment.

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New Zealand Logistics Corps Cap and Collar Set

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags on June 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThese are the current issue New Zealand Army Logistics Corps Cap badge and Collar Dog set. These are not as awful as the Education Officers ones, ha bloody ha.

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New Zealand Army 1990 Distinguishing Patch

Posted in Armbands & Patches with tags on June 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis patch is an official New Zealand Army distinguishing patch from the 1990’s. This was used on the Singapore extended deployment.

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New Zealand Boer War Patriotic Token

Posted in Medallions & Badges with tags , on June 3, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThis token is very similar to this one here. However in this case, instead of a New Zealand flag there is a profile of a Maori warrior. In this example the date 1899-1900 is on the reverse. On the obverse are the words “British Transvaal War”.

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New Zealand Army Education Corps Collar Dogs

Posted in Cap Badges, Collar Dogs and Shoulder Titles with tags on June 3, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_New_ZealandThese are the current collar badges for the New Zealand Army Educational Corps. They are also nasty cheap plastic. I weep at how the NZDF has turned into Walmart.

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