Report on Medallic Recognition of New Zealand Military Service in South-East Asia 1950-1975
AIR FORCE SERVICE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA 1950-1975
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- CONCLUSION At the current time, no service in South-East Asia after 1966 (excluding Vietnam and north-eastern Thailand) has been assessed by the Government as “operational service”
- Peter Cooke Independent Historian
- 2. Definitions Period
- NZDF Operational Service categories
- 4. Service which already Qualifies for Medallic Recognition
- The Malayan Emergency 1948-1960
- Malay-Thai border operations 1960-1964
- Indonesian Confrontation 1962-1966
- 5. Principles for Medallic Recognition of Operational Service
- 6. Guidelines for Assessing service against Principle One
- 7. Army service in South-East Asia 1950-1975
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AIR FORCE SERVICE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA 1950-1975 (Summary of Section 9 of the report) As part of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve, New Zealand based a range of aircraft in theatre between 1950 and 1975. Hazards New Zealand aircraft crashed in South-East Asia but these crash rates were lower than the comparative crash rates in New Zealand over the same time period. RNZAF personnel serving in South-East Asia suffered from non-work-related accidents, mostly vehicular. Other deployed RNZAF personnel died of natural causes while on tours of duty. Over the same period of time, however, dozens of Air Force personnel died in New Zealand of similar causes: accident, illness or disease. Servicing Embassies New Zealand air units based in Singapore were used for a wide range of diplomatic-support purposes, such as servicing New Zealand Embassies in the region. The unit also helped Allied embassies, such as the British Embassy in Jakarta in 1968. Medevac Medevac, or the air evacuation of personnel for medical reasons, was an important humanitarian function for the RNZAF. Such tasks can be characterised as urgent, unscheduled and sometimes hazardous, and were usually assigned to the helicopters with fixed wing used mainly for repatriation flights back to Australian or New Zealand hospitals. Other Activities Long-distance flights were conducted out of the region. Regular Vietnam schedules were flown from 1964 to 1975, in support of: the New Zealand military forces deployed to Vietnam, the MFAT-funded civilian humanitarian and surgical teams at Qui Nhon, and the New Zealand Embassy in Saigon. The RNZAF personnel involved in these flights have received operational medallic recognition for their service in a war zone. VIPs also had access to RNZAF aircraft where such use was deemed to be in New Zealand’s interests. Senior Service Chiefs could also expect the RNZAF squadrons to ferry them in the region. Members of Parliament (MPs) first toured the region using RNZAF planes early in 1957. These flights continued throughout the period of review. Recommendation No service in South-East Asia between 1950 and 1975 by the RNZAF, aside from the service which has already received medallic recognition, meets the requirements for medallic recognition as operational service. CONCLUSION At the current time, no service in South-East Asia after 1966 (excluding Vietnam and north-eastern Thailand) has been assessed by the Government as “operational service” and therefore eligible for medallic recognition. Peacetime service overseas may be demanding and of strategic value, but it is generally similar to that completed in New Zealand. Under Principle 1 of the New Zealand Government’s Principles for the Medallic Recognition of Operational Service: “Medals are awarded to recognise service that is beyond the normal requirements of peacetime service in NZ”. Current guidelines from the Government clearly state that “No service is recognised by the award of a medal for operational service unless there has been operational activity involving a risk of casualties and the possibility that the use of force may be required”. So while the New Zealand military presence in South-East Asia from 1950 to 1975 was part of our contribution to strategic forward defence, only the operational service in relation to the conflicts in Malaya/Malaysia, Borneo, Thailand and Vietnam qualify for medallic recognition. I have reviewed the service outside of these operational zones and timeframes and, taking into account the medallic principles cited above, find that no aspect of this service meets the requirements for medallic recognition as operational service. Peter Cooke Independent Historian 1 July 2011 Medallic Recognition of New Zealand Military Service in South-East Asia 1950-1975 1. Introduction Some aspects of the service by New Zealand military personnel in South-East Asia between 1950 and 1975 are currently ineligible for medallic recognition. In 2005, the Minister of Defence instructed that this situation be researched and reported upon. An independent historian was contracted by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in 2006 and 2007 to research the subject, and then to present a report. The full Terms of Reference are attached as Annex A. 2. Definitions Period The period starts with New Zealand’s first major deployment in theatre and ends on 1 May 1975, the end date for the Vietnam War. Region Geographically, the region known as South-East Asia is taken to cover all land between the longitudinal edges of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and latitudes from the southern sea boundary of Indonesia to the southern sea boundary of Japan in the north, and all sea and air spaces on the internal lines of communication therein. Note: This does not include service in the Korean Peninsula and all sea and air spaces within that theatre. Specifically for New Zealand deployments the study focused on Malaya (called Malaysia from 16 September 1963), Singapore, Borneo, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan, and the Java Sea, Andaman Sea, South China Sea and East China Sea. NZDF Operational Service categories The New Zealand Defence Force defines three categories of operational service: warlike, hazardous, and non-warlike.
For the purposes of medallic recognition for service between 1946 and 2000 warlike campaign medals (e.g. the NZGSM 1992 Warlike) are awarded for warlike missions, while non-warlike campaign medals (e.g. the NZGSM 1992 Non-Warlike) are awarded for missions assessed as being hazardous or non-warlike. 3. Brief The instructions to the independent historian were to assess examples of military service that do not currently qualify for medallic recognition, and report on this service. The review was to include all relevant land, air and sea service, including but not limited to: Land Service
Naval Service
Air Service
Note: The independent historian was given a roving brief to report on any other example or incidence of service by New Zealanders in the region within the timeframe that might argue for - or against - medallic recognition. The research was to specifically exclude service that already qualifies for medallic entitlement, specifically land service on the Malay Peninsula from 1 August 1960 to 16 August 1964, naval service off Malaya to 31 July 1960, and any service in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.2 This service which already qualifies for medallic recognition is detailed below.3 4. Service which already Qualifies for Medallic Recognition Most service up to 1966 already qualifies for some medallic recognition from the New Zealand Government. This relates to the conflicts in the region in Malaya/Malaysia, the Indonesian confrontation, Vietnam and Thailand. This service is described below: The Malayan Emergency 1948-1960 Army and air service qualified during the period 16 June 1948 to 31 July 1960 for the (British) General Service Medal 1918-1962 with clasp ‘Malaya’, with at least one day’s service on land or one air sortie. Naval service attracted the (British) Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962 with clasp ‘Malaya’, with 28 days in ships or small craft on patrol in support of operations. This medal and the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) have been issued to personnel who served aboard HMNZ ships in theatre between November 1953 and July 1960 (PUKAKI, KANIERE, ROYALIST, ROTOITI). In addition the NZOSM has been issued on its own to personnel who served between 7 and 28 days aboard HMNZ Ships BLACK PRINCE or ROYALIST on patrol in support of operations in theatre in June to July 1955 or February to June 1959. Malay-Thai border operations 1960-1964 After the Emergency ended, further service was eligible for medallic recognition from 1 August 1960 to 16 August 1964. The Army border operations (in the four northern provinces of Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kalantan) qualified for the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp ‘Malaya 1960-64’ for one day’s service or 30 days for visitors. Thailand 1962-1971 New Zealand military personnel (Army, Air) qualify for the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Non-Warlike) with clasp ‘Thailand’ by serving in any of the 18 provinces of north-eastern Thailand between 25 May 1962 and 15 December 1971 for 30 days or flying 30 sorties in support. This medal was instituted in 2003. Indonesian Confrontation 1962-1966 Army, Navy and air service could qualify for the (British) General Service Medal as per below:
In addition the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal (PJM) was issued in 2005 by the Government of Malaysia for service by New Zealand military personnel between 31 August 1957 and 31 December 1966. There are some restrictions on qualifying dates for different types of service. Note: Some service for which the PJM medal is awarded is currently deemed to be non-operational service by New Zealand and Britain. Vietnam 1962-1975 New Zealand military personnel (Army, Air, and Navy) qualify for the Vietnam Medal and the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp ‘Vietnam’ between 1964-1973 by serving in theatre for either: one day ashore; one operational sortie; 28 days afloat; or visiting for 30 days. Those who do not qualify for the Vietnam Medal but who served between 1 December 1962 and 1 May 1975 qualify for the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp ‘Vietnam’ with between one and 30 days’ service, depending on the nature of the service. Service by civilians No research and analysis has been undertaken about the activities undertaken at Government behest by New Zealand civilians in South-East Asia, during the review period. Some such civilians were accredited to the New Zealand military forces, while others served overseas at the direction of External Affairs / Foreign Affairs. 5. Principles for Medallic Recognition of Operational Service The assessment of operations for medallic recognition takes into account the Government's eight principles for recognising operational service. These principles were approved by Cabinet in 2000. All eight principles are relevant for reviewing un-recognised service in South-East Asia between 1950 and 1989. They are: • Principle One – Service that goes beyond the normal requirements of peacetime service is eligible for recognition. Medallic recognition will be provided only where NZDF units or personnel are engaged in operations, whether warlike or non-warlike. In this context, non-warlike operations include peacekeeping operations or other hazardous activities. (Also see the Definitions on p.17 above). The nature of the service performed will be the primary consideration for the medallic recognition of operational service. Additional considerations include details of the area of operations, enemy faced or parties dealt with, and time served in the location. Awards may be either a specific New Zealand campaign medal or the New Zealand General Service Medal in silver or bronze. • Principle Two – Deserving service by New Zealand personnel should be recognised by a New Zealand award. Where New Zealand personnel are involved in an operation that meets the definitions described in Principle One, that service is to be recognised by a New Zealand award. • Principle Three – A balance must be kept between maintaining the exclusivity of awards and recognising significant service. While service that meets the requirements of these principles will be recognised, the prestige of awards depends to a degree on their exclusiveness. Service associated with a particular operation or operational area will not necessarily qualify for the recognition extended to personnel serving in that operation or operational area. For example, recognition might not be appropriate for logistic support to a deployed force or planning activities in a headquarters outside the operational area. • Principle Four – There should be only one New Zealand medal to recognise each period of operational service, in all but exceptional circumstances. Awards made under the Imperial system, prior to the establishment of the New Zealand General Service Medal, remain New Zealand medals that were awarded on the advice of the New Zealand Government. Specific New Zealand medals will not be awarded in respect of service already recognised by an existing New Zealand or Imperial award. • Principle Five – Awards will be continued only where the service rendered continues to meet all other requirements for the award of a medal. One crucial consideration must be the end date of a period of medallic recognition. This applies particularly to long-running operations where the situation that originally merited the award of a medal changes to the extent that such recognition is no longer appropriate, especially where the service no longer meets the definitions of warlike or non-warlike operations. • Principle Six – Medals for operational service should be open for award to civilians in appropriate circumstances. These circumstances will include situations where the New Zealand Government deploys Police or other civilians to operations or where civilians are working with the NZDF or other New Zealand Government contribution as part of a deployed force. • Principle Seven – The fairness and integrity of any award must be transparent, and such awards should also be timely. Where an award has not been created in the five years following service, as for all service reviewed in this paper, there should be evidence of a substantial grievance that requires redress, claims from individuals should be verifiable from official records, and a significant number of participants should be able to claim a medal personally. • Principle Eight – Approval will be sought to wear foreign medals where the service performed is consistent with principles above. 6. Guidelines for Assessing service against Principle One The Medallic Recognition Joint Working Group (JWG) recognises the difficulty of objectively assessing events decades in the past against criteria developed more recently. To make the current review as objective as possible the JWG has developed the following guidelines to more objectively assess which service between 1950 and 1989 was operational service, that is beyond the normal requirements of peacetime service.4 To be assessed as operational service in accordance with Principle One, all of the following criteria should have been met:
It is important to note that for Principle One to apply actual combat does not have to occur, only that a credible expectation of it exists. 7. Army service in South-East Asia 1950-1975 Service by the New Zealand Army in South-East Asia (after the initial deployment of the NZSAS Squadron from 1955-1957) revolved around the infantry battalion based in Malaysia (until 1969) and Singapore, with small attachments of supporting services. The battalion detached rifle companies to Borneo (in the period 1962-1966) and Vietnam (in the period 1967-1972) and RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia (1971-1973), and welcomed them upon their return. It also provided the major New Zealand land component to South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) exercises (early 1960s to 1976) often held in Thailand, and to Commonwealth Strategic Reserve (CSR) (to 1971) and ANZUK (1971-74) exercises, usually in Malaysia. From 31 January 1974 it was under command of HQ NZ FORCE, South-East Asia (NZFORCESEA). After the battalion’s relocation from Terendak Camp, Malaysia, to Dieppe Barracks in Singapore, the battalion was strongly associated with that city-state, being informally referred to as the ‘Singapore battalion’. It continued, however, to travel into Malaysia to train. The battalion received regular drafts of reinforcements and rotated the unit regularly with the typical tour of duty being two years. Married personnel had families accompany them with accommodation provided. The battalion (1 RNZIR) remained in Singapore until 1989. Occasionally, formed units of soldiers traveled from New Zealand to Singapore to undergo training (such as 2/1 RNZIR and 161 Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery on Jalan Ulu deployments), and small numbers of New Zealand personnel have participated in many SEATO exercise in co-ordination roles, or as umpires or observers. Outside the operational areas and time periods (as discussed in section 4 above), a routine month for the battalion in South-East Asia might include:
Borneo While the cutoff date for medallic recognition in Borneo is 11 August 1966, isolated incidents occurred after this date. One such is a reported sighting in the Balai Ringin area, western Sarawak, by 7 Platoon, 1 RNZIR, on 23 August 1966 of “one enemy dressed in OG [Olive Greens]”. An Intelligence Report said this may have been connected with attempts by enemy combatants to rendezvous with local Chinese civilians or be taken across the border to Sarawak. Intensive searches by the rest of the battalion found no-one. No confirmation of the status of the person seen appeared in the battalion archives, and the official historian suggests this incident was an example of “a sense almost of desperation in the desire to contact the enemy before the battalion withdrew” from Borneo. This it did after handing over operational control of the area to a Malaysian unit on 10 September.5 The unit records may also give the impression of contact with the enemy when such was not the case. An example is of a convoy moving to Batu Pahat in Malaysia, March 1967, when the unit diary recorded on 14 March “one incident en route when C Coy contacted and cleared Company-sized ambush.” This was in fact part of Exercise Carshalton, for which live ammunition was available, and the diary did not identify it as an exercise-related event. The training area had been cleared beforehand for the exercise.6 Local Threats Even during peacetime deployments to South-East Asia, some threats were expected from local causes. With a contentious election pending, the Malaysian Police briefed the Commanding Officer (CO) 1 RNZIR based in Terendak on the “security situation in the nearby Malacca area” on 21 April 1969. Naval personnel had earlier been warned to “keep clear of any meetings, gatherings or crowds” during Nomination Day.7 The Brigade Commander briefed the battalion at 1230 on 15 May 1969 on “measures to be taken to meet threat from Post Election Civil Disturbances.” Half an hour later a platoon was placed on 60-minutes stand-by to move to Kuala Lumpur “to protect NZ personnel”. Malacca was placed under curfew at 2200hrs that night “and all pers confined to Garrison”. The following day 1 RNZIR was made responsible for families living west and south of Klebang, and a party left for Kuala Lumpur on the 17th “to assist in food distribution to NZ/Aust/Brit families”. Until the 24th the situation was described as “still tense but not worsening”, and the “platoon was to remain on stand-by”.8 In the event the threat was not directed at the New Zealand forces, which were not required to intervene in any extraordinary way. As with similar incidents while the New Zealand forces were based in Singapore, these types of event are a normal hazard of living in another country. Yüklə 304,65 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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