Report on Medallic Recognition of New Zealand Military Service in South-East Asia 1950-1975
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Recommendation
- 8. Naval service in South-East Asia 1950-1975
- RNZN service off the Malay Peninsula from 1 August 1960 to 16 August 1964
- RNZN service off Borneo from 1950 to 7 December 1962
- RNZN service off Borneo from 8 December 1962 to 11 August 1966
- RNZN service in South-East Asia from 12 August 1966 to 1975
- Transits of the Straits of Taiwan (or Formosa)
- Transits of the Indonesian Straits
- 9. Air Force service in South-East Asia 1950-1975
- Live or Simulated Air strikes
- Medevacs and the delivery of medical supplies
- Other Activities by Air Force Personnel
- Peter Cooke Independent Historian
- Annex A Terms of Reference
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Deaths Overseas Deaths overseas in peacetime or outside the operational areas cannot be taken as an indication of a level of abnormal danger or threat. All came from illness or accidents, mostly vehicular. An example during exercises is Lieutenant D.M.G. Thomas, 1 RNZIR, who died on 21 February 1973 during Exercise Red Diamond. Thomas was commanding 1 Platoon, A Company, 1 RNZIR on a battalion exercise in Malaysia, when a 20 lb wooden box of blank ammunition was air-dropped from a Sioux helicopter through the jungle canopy, striking him in the head. Lieutenant Thomas died of his injuries while being flown to hospital.9 A similar death occurred during Exercise Three Bridges, in April 1975. Private Carroll of 1 RNZIR died as a result of an accident.10 Though tragic (especially for Mrs Thomas who returned to New Zealand with the casket), these were accidents during normal peacetime training. Forty-two deaths among the infantry alone are attributed to accident or illness in South-East Asia from 1958-1989.11 The Malayan Veterans’ Association Roll of Honour lists 34 deaths in South-East Asia (outside Vietnam) since the end of hostilities on 11 August 1966, and they are all accident or illness related.12 In the same period a significantly larger number of NZDF personnel have died in similar normal peacetime training or off-duty accidents in New Zealand, and therefore such deaths overseas are not an indication of operational activity or danger for which medallic recognition should be awarded. Recommendation Deaths overseas are not in themselves an indication of operational activity or danger for which medallic recognition should be awarded. SEATO Ground Exercises After the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) was formed, the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve was designated as one of its forces available for contingency planning. New Zealand units in the Reserve therefore became involved in SEATO exercises from the early 1960s. The first involvement by New Zealand ground forces, “mostly signals personnel” from the 1 New Zealand Regiment (1 NZ Regt) in Malaya, seems to have been in Exercise Rajata, an air transportation and ground CPX (Command Post Exercise) on 8-16 March 1961 in Thailand.13 This exercise predates the period in which medallic entitlement for service in Thailand begins (1962), and while it may have been staged to intimidate Communist Terrorist (CT) groups, it was not operational. In subsequent exercises New Zealand contributed small numbers of observers to the exercise HQ, irrespective of whether New Zealand forces were participating in the substantive exercise. For instance, three observers went to Exercise Pony Express, 14 April-7 May 1961, one to Ex Tulungan 2 March-12 April 1962, and two to Ex Air Cobra 23-30 April 1962.14 This pattern characterised New Zealand involvement in SEATO exercises until they ended in the mid 1970s. By then a civic action programme seemed to accompany all exercises, and had come to the fore. New Zealand for instance fielded a medical team to inoculate civilians in Exercise Nagaraj (in north-east Thailand, during the period 27 December 1974 - 5 February 1975), or sent engineers to erect “two prefab school buildings” in Exercise Damayan (Philippines, 19 January-20 February 1976).15 Even Exercise Dhanarajata in June 1963 had a Civic Affairs Support Plan, in which writing materials were given away to 20,000 children.16 Recommendation Service in Exercise Rajata and the following SEATO exercises was not operational and therefore should not qualify for medallic recognition. Exercise Dhanarajata Exercise Dhanarajata (sometimes rendered Dhana Rajata) was a SEATO exercise held in the eastern border region (Ubon province) of Thailand in mid-1963, and was the first with major participation by New Zealand ground troops. It came after the NZSAS deployment in Thailand in June-September 1962, which begins the period when operational service in Thailand qualifies for New Zealand medallic entitlement. Exercise Dhanarajata does not currently qualify for medallic recognition because it is not considered by HQ NZDF to have involved any operational service. The exercise involved 28 Commonwealth Brigade, which comprised the battalions 2 NZ Regt, 2 Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) and 1 King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (1 KOYLI) (British). 2 NZ Regt supplied a Battalion HQ and two companies from its base at Terendak Camp in Malaya. One company (Composite or C Company) had platoons drawn from the battalion’s other rifle companies and the second company was called D or Demonstration Company. In total 23 officers and 174 other ranks were sent, excluding the air element.17 These troops went in May (arriving between the 19th and 31st) directly from Terendak to Bangkok both by sea (the vehicle party by Landing Support Tender) and by air (the advanced admin party, and main body). The exercise took from 11-19 June, with all 1 RNZIR personnel arriving back in Terendak between 7 and 14 July. During the exercise all troops lived in a tented base camp near the exercise area, with its own field cookhouse (cooking for rotations of 150 personnel). Only one Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) was included in the brigade during the exercise (from 1 KOYLI), which indicates that combat casualties were not expected. Far from being operational, it was described by a SEATO committee as “largely a political exercise”.18 The New Zealand Joint Services Public Relations Officer from South-East Asia also attended the exercise.19 In the exercise area, 2 NZ Regt advanced south along Route 33 to attack 1 KOYLI (acting as enemy troops) first before Amnat Charoen on 13 June, then using a right hook to advance towards Muang Sam Sip on 18 June. There were no reports of contact with actual enemy troops during this exercise. Live ammunition is likely to have been taken with the units to Thailand, but held in reserve. There is nothing about this exercise which should qualify it as operational service. After the exercise, and while in Bangkok before returning to Singapore, New Zealand personnel took part in a parade. As well as their own 1/4-tonners they drove Thai Army trucks, but flew New Zealand flags from all vehicles. While these troops were away, however, the remaining companies of 2NZ Regt were detailed to patrol activities in Malaya’s northern border provinces. These patrols qualify for medallic entitlement (the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp ‘Malaya 1960-64’ for at least one day’s service). Confusion might arise from a casual reading of the NZ Regt’s War Diaries which relate finds of recent campsites, possibly from enemy combatants (but equally possibly from illegal fruit pickers), but these are in a border province of Malaya, not in north-eastern Thailand. In 1963 the Malay border operations became Operation Magnus, a sustained anti-incursion operation in the north of Malaya/Malaysia, which lasted from July 1963 to late 1964.20 Recommendation Service in Exercise Dhanarajata was not operational and therefore should not currently qualify for medallic recognition. Other Thailand Service Some service in Thailand 1962-1971 qualifies for a non-warlike clasp to the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992. This is appropriate. As previously noted, the NZSAS were deployed to Thailand between June and September 1962. The NZSAS were supported in theatre by three RNZAF Bristol freighters with ground crew personnel. Engineers sent to Operation Crown, the Mukdahan airfield project in Thailand, 1964-65, took personal weapons with them but did not carry or need them while they worked. The side arms were stored in a central armoury. There was a minor risk from banditry but not from enemy combatants. The camp was protected by a wire fence and guarded round the clock.21 As with Operation Crown, the Thailand Feeder Road project (as it became known) was a non-warlike engineering assistance in an area considered of low threat. There was enemy activity in Thailand at the time (for example a CT attack reported on Udorn in August 1968) but the reported incidents were some distance from the feeder road project.22 The road project was an economic development project initiated by SEATO. Personnel who took their weapons with them to the site did not carry or need them while they worked. The side arms were stored in a central armoury. Thai Police provided local protection at the work site and camps. When later in the project the Stirling sub-machineguns (which fired 9mm ammunition) were replaced by M16 automatic rifles (a 5.56mm-calibre weapon), no 5.56mm ammunition was initially sent in with the replacement weapons, so they were without any ammunition (for weapons other than pistols).23 Both deaths related to these projects were due to vehicle accidents. Recommendation Other than the above service already recognised, there is no evidence of operational service in Thailand and therefore no additional medallic recognition is required. RAAF Butterworth New Zealand service at RAAF Butterworth does not currently qualify for medallic recognition. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had based air combat units there as part of its contribution to the Far East Strategic Reserve since 1958, but handed the base to Malaysia in a bilateral arrangement in March 1971.24 In support of its Malaysian ally, New Zealand offered to contribute infantry companies to perform airfield defence duties required there. The following company groups of 1 RNZIR were sent to RAAF Base Butterworth: 1971
1972
1973
Another tour was scheduled for the month 6 November to 5 December 1973, but did not eventuate. Army HQ in Wellington at the time viewed the tours to Butterworth as “providing valuable training opportunities… including ranges” for shooting practice.26 In 1969 New Zealand had been asked to commit a company for one month in four over the forthcoming couple of years, and Army HQ said “If these [training] opportunities were adequate we would be interested in accepting [a] greater proportion than 1-in-4.”27 The operational control for companies at the base was to be, first, under their own battalion commanders, until such time as an operational commitment arose when command would pass (with the permission of Commander, 28 Commonwealth Bde) to the Commander RAAF Base. In other words, until an emergency arose the company was to train under the training directive of the battalion.28 The explicit role of the company was laid out in a 1971 ‘Interim Directive to OC A Rifle Coy Detailed to Air Base Butterworth’. In this the deployments were to “provide an Australian (and NZ) Army presence in Malaysia; to assist enhancing ANZ [Australian/NZ] political and diplomatic influence in the area and assist in developing Malaysia’s armed forces. The Malaysian Army is responsible for security measures outside the perimeter of the Base.”29 The company could assist with civil disturbance or natural disaster with the permission of the Butterworth Base Commander. Finally the New Zealand Foreign Affairs office in Kuala Lumpur felt the deployments to be “vague… a political token analogous to… a kind of services balancing act intended mainly for public consumption. Some kind of training role is envisaged… no doubt it provides soldiers with a welcome break from the claustrophobia of Singapore.”30 Had they happened before 1 July 1960, these airfield defence tours at RAAF Butterworth would have qualified those involved for the same medallic recognition as given for operations during the Malayan Emergency. By 1971, however, when these tours began, the threat from the CTs in the jungle had markedly declined. There were said to be a few CTs still in the jungle, but of advancing age and very little threat. The first company deployed to Butterworth is claimed to have encountered signs of CT activity while on patrol. This patrol (by 1 Platoon, under Lieutenant C.J. Pugsley) was “rapidly extracted by helicopter” upon making this find. The patrol, however, did not see any CTs and only one female CT from this incursion was said to have been captured by Malaysian security forces. It was also far from RAAF Butterworth, north of Alor Setar over 70km away. This event warrants no mention in the official history of New Zealand forces in South-East Asia 1948-1966, by the same C.J. Pugsley, which in its Chapter 10 and Conclusion summarises the 1967-1989 service by New Zealand forces in South-East Asia.31 While there might have been slightly increased tension at the time, CT activity was of very slight significance to the New Zealand deployments to Butterworth, and did not characterise the tours there in any way. Training exercises in the jungle away from the air base continued. Some recent correspondents with the Government have argued that this duty was “operational” because live ammunition was issued. Each company obtained ammunition from its base supply in Singapore, and took it on the journey to Butterworth. The normal security regulations applied to this ammunition at Butterworth, as it did in Singapore.32 No rules of engagement were reproduced in the Commander’s Diaries governing use of this ammunition. Its use was governed by 28 ANZUK Bde and RAAF standing orders which said it was to be “for emergency or self-protection only”.33 For its patrols of the airfield perimeter, the OC of the deployed Company had the discretion to issue one box of ammunition to the patrolling platoon. It was not mandatory to do so. Other Rank veterans variously report this as being done, and officers recall it not always being done.34 Irrespective of what threat might have been expected, the Company would be at a disadvantage were it not issued with live ammunition for its journey from Singapore to Butterworth so taking ammunition was a precaution against unknown eventualities. Also when a formed unit traveled, it took recourse to some ammunition should the strategic situation change for the worse while it was away. A unit had to be prepared, in case unknown future needs required it to be sent elsewhere. Part of the Company traveled by road or train, and they had to be prepared for eventualities en route. The rest traveled by air, during which there clearly was no threat. From the deployment of W Company on 28 June 1971, though, all weapons were sent ahead with the advance party on the journey up and not with the individual soldiers in the main body, so active self-defence on the journey was no longer catered for.35 Also at this time ammunition was no longer indented for at Singapore, allowing the inference that a first-line supply was available to the company at RAAF Butterworth itself (should it be required). This is certainly expressly stated from January 1973.36 By the end of the tours the ammunition was again being taken from Singapore with the company - but was now called “training ammunition” and drawn “in accordance with its approved training programme before departure”.37 Live ammunition was still available at the air base. From 1974 the purpose of having ammunition at RAAF Butterworth became clear for the 1 RNZIR troops. The base became the venue for the Battalion Shooting Team competing for the Freyberg Trophy (which it shot for over two weeks in April 1974 and January/February 1975). Clearly the tours to Butterworth had a training function. By December 1971 the 1 RNZIR Administrative Instruction for the company was called the ‘Training Directive for Butterworth’. The directive, to illustrate the point, stated that there will be no formal training over the period 24 December 1971 to 3 January 1972: “The remainder of the period [14 December 1971 to 6 January 1972] will include the following training:
Booking the training facilities and firing ranges (a 30m range on base and three other ranges nearby) was detailed in the HQ 28 ANZUK Bde’s ‘General Instructions for Butterworth Company.’39 Advanced training opportunities, with periods spent exercising in nearby jungle, was required by 1 RNZIR while it deployed rifle companies to the war in Vietnam. The last such company, however, returned from Vietnam in December 1971, after which 1 RNZIR’s need for such training diminished. The last two tours of duty to Butterworth were openly called Exercises (Ex Summer Place and Ex Living Doll).40 During the very last tour, in June/July 1973, personnel from the company also acted as enemy forces in Exercise Suspended Bang and attended a Malaysian Brigade Skill-at-Arms competition.41 Butterworth also became a leave centre for NZ soldiers.42 Recommendation Tours of duty to RAAF Butterworth were not operational and therefore should not qualify for medallic recognition. Live Ammunition The question of live ammunition taken to RAAF Butterworth is dealt with above; however it has also been cited by some ex-service personnel as a reason why other aspects of service in South-East Asia, notably exercises, should qualify for medallic entitlement. Live ammunition was issued, for instance during Exercise Cunctator in July 1974, but this was to be “carried for life-saving purposes” in accordance with 28 Inf Bde Training Instruction No 8. However, “whenever practicable, live ammo should not be issued below Platoon Sgt level”.43 While 1 RNZIR issued live ammunition down to Section Commander level, the Administration Instructions were more specific as to its use: the live ammunition was “only to be used if confronted by Tigers and Elephants”.44 When issued, live ammunition was usually in a single magazine, taped up to indicate that the contents were live. Loaded weapons were usually not allowed in camp. Similar instructions exist for other exercises however, unless there was a particular need for live ammunition, blank ammunition was issued. Live ammunition was also carried and fired in live fire exercises. An example was Exercise Hot Barrel III, when 1 RNZIR’s mortar platoon went to Asahan Range in Malaysia in June 1974. Over five days 41 personnel fired off 207 rounds of 81mm mortar, 5,000 x 7.62 L7A1 GPMG and 3,000 x 5.56m M16 rounds, 500 live 40mm HE grenades from the M79 grenade launcher and 30 each M18A1 Claymores AP mines and M72 LAW. Only practise rounds of 84mm Medium Anti Armour weapon (the Carl Gustav) were fired. On Exercise Little Bang in May 1974 the Safety Officer was a Major in rank, with the Range Conducting Officer a Lieutenant. Normal range safety procedures were followed, leaving this type of activity far safer than the soldier’s normal driving habits.45 Even during periods which do qualify for medallic entitlement, exercises were conducted with blank ammunition (so the carriage of live ammunition at other times does not automatically qualify that service as being operational service). Exercise Hone Heke, in the Taiping-Kroh-Ayer Kala area in April 1961, for instance, tested 2 NZ Regt’s mobilisation processes and its ability to move by air in a counter-insurgency role and withdraw against a limited war background. Deploying 550 troops and four vehicles against an enemy force (provided by a company of 7 Royal Malay Regt), blank ammunition only could be fired (including by mortars of 17 Fd Bty Royal Artillery). Although live ammunition was available - at a scale of 576 rounds per company, it had to remain in boxes sealed with steel bands which were “not to be breached without specific authority of Exercise HQ”. An area 1000 yards either side of the road for the forward deployment “was cleared for digging”, and in this corridor the firing of blank ammunition and pyrotechnics was permitted (except in built up areas).46 Nothing in this suggests that contact with an enemy was expected, though contingency had been made for its possibility. Use of live ammunition during training in South-East Asia is no different to its use in New Zealand peacetime activities. Recommendation The use of live ammunition in training in South-East Asia is no different to its use in New Zealand peacetime training activities, and so should not qualify for medallic entitlement. Singapore 1966-1975 New Zealand Army personnel stationed in Singapore after the end of hostilities in the immediate region were garrison forces meeting New Zealand’s strategic obligation to alliance partners. No evidence has been located of any operational activity or threat in Singapore between 1966 and 1975. Recommendation No evidence has been located of any operational activity or threat in Singapore between 1966 and 1975, and so this service should not qualify for medallic entitlement. Jalan Ulu Exercises As well as personnel based in Singapore, the Army at times sent troops from New Zealand to participate in exercises in the Singapore / Malaysia region. A series of exercise deployments that became regular events were the Jalan Ulu exercises. They were primarily to test 1 RNZIR in jungle conditions, alongside units of the Malaysian Army.47 They also at times involved relatively large contingents (up to company size) from units in New Zealand (usually 2/1 RNZIR, but with some Territorial Force soldiers). The series started in September 1972, with a deployment of engineer troops to a Singapore exercise.48 The first deployment from New Zealand was Jalan Ulu II, 26 March–30 April 1973, when troops went to participate in Ex King Cobra, a 28 ANZUK Brigade exercise.49 B Company, 2/1 RNZIR went on Jalan Ulu V in June 1974, taking 127 all ranks from New Zealand for a month. A Territorial Force company deployed from New Zealand in Jalan Ulu VII to participate in Ex Taunga One, 15 July-7 August 1975.50 By Jalan Ulu VIII, 11 March-12 April 1976, the exercise had become an exchange, with a contingent from the Singapore Armed Forces coming to New Zealand to exercise.51 161 Battery, RNZA was the focus of the Jalan Ulu IX deployment from New Zealand for Ex Phoenix, taking three guns from 2 September–2 October 1976, but live firing by the battery was not in the end possible.52 The Jalan Ulu series continued until at least Jalan Ulu 28, 1-7 March 1986.53 At no time were these deployments or the exercises in which the units participated anything other than normal peacetime training activity. The programme for Jalan Ulu VII, for instance, used an area “ideal for introducing soldiers to jungle training”.54 Recommendation At no time were these deployments or the exercises anything other than normal peacetime training activity. Involvement in these deployments should not qualify for medallic recognition. 8. Naval service in South-East Asia 1950-1975 In 1955 New Zealand agreed to base a warship in Singapore as part of this country’s contribution to the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. When on station, the ship came under command of the Commander Far Eastern Fleet (COMFEF). Up to 1960 New Zealand’s warships took part in operations during the Malayan Emergency. The crews on these deployments, and on many of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) deployments to South-East Asia during the Indonesian Confrontation (8 December 1962 to 11 August 1966), have received British Commonwealth / New Zealand medallic recognition for their operational service in the Malaya/Singapore and/or Borneo operational areas. RNZN service off the Malay Peninsula from 1 August 1960 to 16 August 1964 RNZN service off the Malay Peninsula between 1 August 1960 and 16 August 1964 currently does not qualify for New Zealand medallic recognition (though the Government of Malaysia awarded in 2005 all New Zealand military personnel who served for 90 days or more in Malaysia or Singapore in this period the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal). In contrast, Army personnel on border operations qualify for the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp ‘Malaya 1960-64’ by serving only 1 day in theatre (or 30 days for visitors). For the Navy, though, this was a period of changed activity, with the Malayan Emergency having officially ended (in August 1960). New Zealand’s focus changed to participating more in the SEATO air, land and sea exercises held around the region, and flag-waving ship visits to ports in various friendly nations. A majority of the time when New Zealand ships were on station in Malaya or Singapore was spent in or near the Sembawang Naval Base in Singapore, alongside or under maintenance. This left little time to undertake service in support of Army border operations, and there are no known instances of support by naval vessels to operations in the northern border area off the Malay peninsula: whether by gunfire support, the use of landing parties, or by intercepting seagoing vessels carrying suspected Communist Terrorists. Given the long distance inland to where the CTs were operating, it seems doubtful whether the RNZN ships would have been able to provide any assistance, even if required. There is also no evidence of any threat to RNZN ships from CTs in this period. The most eventful and dangerous activities undertaken by RNZN ships off the northern Malay peninsula, or any other area of the Malay peninsula, between August 1960 and August 1964 were exercises with other navies and activities such as when HMNZS PUKAKI “rescued 2 people from [a] capsized dinghy“.55 Recommendation No operational service was undertaken off the coast of the Malay peninsula in this period, so members of ship’s complements should not qualify for a New Zealand General Service Medal or the New Zealand Operational Service Medal for service in this period. RNZN service off Borneo from 1950 to 7 December 1962 Numerous RNZN ships transited through the waters off Borneo or visited Borneo between 1950 and 7 December 1962. Some naval vessels also exercised in these waters, such as when HMNZS PUKAKI exercised with ground forces off Miri, in Sarawak, for 11 days in September 1961.56 However, such transits and exercises were not operational service. Recommendation No evidence has been located of any operational activity or threat in the waters off Borneo, on the rivers or inland waters of Borneo, or on land, between 1950 and 7 December 1962, and so this service should not qualify for medallic entitlement. RNZN service off Borneo from 8 December 1962 to 11 August 1966 No RNZN ships served off Borneo between 8 December 1962 and 23 December 1962. Therefore no RNZN ships qualified for the award of the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Brunei’. Most RNZN service off the coast of North Borneo between 24 December 1962 and 11 August 1966 does not meet the strict criteria for the General Service Medal 1962 with clasp ‘Borneo’ which is 30 days service in theatre. Qualifying days for this medal must involve “operating off the coast in support of the forces ashore and upriver”. The distance off the coast was defined as “within sight of shore” or around 20 nautical miles, to exclude high-seas sailing or activities.57 Routine visits to Labuan, where New Zealand ships called on many occasions, are exempted. A typical “short stay” visit to Labuan, for instance, would involve the ship’s company enjoying sightseeing trips to beaches and the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, as well as a variety of sports matches.58 HMNZS TARANAKI entered the operational area during her deployment in 1963-1964. She acted as escort from Singapore for HMS BULWARK which was delivering supplies to the Borneo coast near Sibu and Kuching. Under these strict criteria only four days (5 to 8 April 1964) of TARANAKI’s deployment can be counted towards the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Borneo’. Recommendation Unless the criteria for the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Borneo’ changes, such service will not entitle participants to the award of this medal. To reduce the qualifying period of time for the medal would debase the award for those who already hold it. Involvement in these deployments should not qualify for medallic recognition. RNZN service in South-East Asia from 12 August 1966 to 1975 In the period 1966-1975 the Type-12, Whitby and Leander class frigates, HMNZS TARANAKI, OTAGO, BLACKPOOL and WAIKATO, were deployed to Singapore to meet New Zealand’s obligations to the CSR (and its successors), SEATO and the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA). A routine deployment for one of these frigates in the period 1966 to 1975 in South-East Asia might include:
Recommendation The naval deployments and training in South-East Asia from 1966 to 1975, not already recognised as operational service, were no different to peacetime training activities in New Zealand, Australia or Hawaii, and should not qualify for medallic recognition. SEATO Naval Exercises SEATO was an anti-communist Cold War alliance that New Zealand joined in 1954. Among other activities New Zealand’s membership involved participation in maritime exercises which carried a small measure of risk.59 New Zealand participated in exercises over many years in support of this alliance, and with remarkably few mishaps. One mishap occurred in July 1970 when HMNZS TARANAKI suffered a fire in her gunnery electrical system while on exercise. This was probably the reason her participation in the firing exercise, scheduled for off Okinawa Island, Japan, starting on 27 July, was cancelled.60 New Zealand ships participated in anti-submarine warfare exercises. Submerged submarines in international law do not have a right of innocent passage. An unidentified submarine in an area in which there was a security interest, even in international waters, was referred to as an intruder and RNZN ships carried classified instructions detailing how the ship should respond. As well as testing the detection of submarines, anti-submarine warfare exercises practiced depth-charging them. HMNZS OTAGO practiced such a technique in September 1971 in the Sunda Strait. In conjunction with HMAS PARRAMATTA and HMS JAGUAR she streamed a splash target and circled a submarine indicator buoy while dropping several patterns of depth charges. She practiced anti-submarine procedures, including zig-zagging and a narrow weave, two-ship searches and executed a Plan Black (relating to actions in respect of intruders or submerged submarines).61 Other anti-submarine warfare exercises might include playing cat and mouse with a friendly submarine posing as the enemy. One example of this was HMNZS OTAGO’s exercises with HMS OBERON in May 1971. In Subic Bay, Philippines, the two vessels met to exchange personnel for the exercise, in the course of which a man fell overboard from the submarine, only to be rescued by the Z Craft affecting the exchange.62 This is the type of risk associated with exercising at sea. Long periods at sea especially during exercises or while attached to the Royal Navy’s Far Eastern Fleet might involve Replenishment at Sea (RAS), a maneuver not without risk. An example of the technique known as RASing involved HMNZS OTAGO rendezvousing with RFA TIDESURGE, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker on the Singapore Station. Warships would often meet the tankers coming into or leaving the anchorage, and might do so in conjunction with another vessel (in this case HMAS DUCHESS) so that two ships could replenish at one time. OTAGO altered course and speed to intersect TIDESURGE’s course at 0722 hrs. After DUCHESS had latched on first, OTAGO came alongside the tanker’s port fuelling position at 0800 hrs. Pumping started at 0810 and stopped 57 minutes later after 255.8 tons of fuel oil had been embarked. During this time both ships had to steam perfectly parallel only a few tens of metres apart. The sea state was 3 with winds of 16 knots.63 Recommendation Activities during SEATO naval exercises were part of normal peacetime naval activities and therefore should not qualify for medallic recognition. Transits of the Straits of Taiwan (or Formosa) The Straits of Taiwan (or Formosa) were transited by ships of the RNZN at least 17 times between 1960 and 1975. It was the most direct route in either direction when traveling between Hong Kong and Japan (or Taiwan itself), where New Zealand ships often went to ‘show the flag’. Occasionally a vessel might go east of Taiwan, such as HMNZS OTAGO in November 1970, to avoid bad weather. They might also alter course within the strait to “keep clear of [Chinese] junks”, or avoid “Russian Merchant ship Ocean”, as did HMNZS TARANAKI in July 1970 and August 1972 respectively.64 Similarly New Zealand vessels would exchange identities or acknowledge allied warships encountered in the straits, as detailed in the Ships’ Logs. PUKAKI in 1961 met “Very little shipping, apart from a few trawlers, [which] were met on passage and the only company, was a U.S.Airforce Neptune [maritime patrol bomber] which flew low over the ship during the forenoon of the 28th December.”65 Earlier transits during the height of the Cold War in the early 1960s might have been slightly more tense than later transits. HMNZS ROYALIST, for instance, records having maintained third degree anti-aircraft readiness as it passed through the Straits.66 Some other ships reported their passage as being “without incident”, such as ROTOITI which transited in June 1960 “in company with H.M.S. ST BRIDE’S BAY.”67 The journey by HMNZS OTAGO in August 1969 was a typical transit of the strait. OTAGO was steaming south from Japan, after having visited two Japanese ports, and was heading for Hong Kong. She would be one of up to 15 warships under COMFEF’s control at sea around the station at the time. OTAGO made a daytime passage of the strait on the 25th noting, as she passed it, the Chinese navigation beacon of Kuan-yin Shan. As OTAGO entered the strait she signaled ‘all Hands to Action Stations’ (at 0900 hrs), and at 1015-45 hrs practiced a “Gas Attack (Exercise)”. For the exercise she slowed from 20 to 14 knots. The ship’s complement fell out from Action Stations at 1110 hrs, about an hour before passing through the narrowest part of the strait.68 At 1625 hrs another exercise, Man Overboard, was practiced. At 1926 hrs the ship started Blowing Soot for 10 minutes, a practice required to keep the funnel clear but also one used occasionally to attract attention.69 OTAGO arrived in Hong Kong in the early hours of 26 August. New Zealand warships also practiced combat-related procedures (such as a full Nuclear-Biological-Chemical-Damage (NBCD) exercise while transiting the Strait. These exercises required the crew in their action stations and the ship closed down for an over-pressurising test, checking the citadel’s effectiveness against ingress of ‘simulated’ radiation. An example is HMNZS WAIKATO which did so whilst en route from Taiwan to Hong Kong in March 1968. Three and a half hours out of Keelung, Taiwan, WAIKATO practiced “exercising action stations (nuclear) including nuclear burst shelter stations”. The exercise continued for two hours, to be followed by a flight by the Wasp helicopter and a full-power engine trial.70 HMNZS TARANAKI went to NBCD state ‘1ZA’ in August 1972 during the transit, the highest NBC state possible. This enabled her, under action stations, to be closed down “to carry out citadel test. Pressure acquired 0.7.”71 Similar exercises occurred while transiting the Korea Strait between South Korea and Japan, and in other waters.72 HMNZS WAIKATO even practiced a 2Y state off Honiara in the Solomons.73 There were two reasons for transiting the Straits of Taiwan other than to get from A-to-B. One was to assert the New Zealand Government's position that the straits were an international waterway in accordance with the law of the sea (exercising a right to sail through international waters). New Zealand's position on this was publicly stated and entirely consistent with its position at the Law of the Sea Conferences and its approach to other disputed straits, such as around Indonesia or the Philippines. The second reason for passing through this strait was intelligence gathering. Ships of the RNZN were tasked before leaving New Zealand with detailed objectives. Broadly they were to test the defence preparedness of the People’s Republic of China, which was believed to switch on its radars as foreign naval vessels approached the coast.74 As a communist country, and a country which provided military support to North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, China was seen, in a Cold War context, as being a potential enemy. But that potential never became an actuality. Recommendation From available evidence, transits of the Straits of Taiwan and onboard exercises during such transits were part of normal peacetime naval activities and therefore should not qualify for medallic recognition. Further research may be appropriate on this matter. Transits of the Indonesian Straits From the late 1950s Indonesia claimed sovereign rights over waters in its archipelago that other nations (including New Zealand) regarded as international waters. During Confrontation New Zealand military aircraft avoided Indonesian airspace but our naval vessels continued to transit waters within the Indonesian archipelago. Indonesia had first claimed waters out to the 12-mile limit in 1958, a claim which would have affected passage by other nations’ ships through a number of its straits. If accepted this would have turned the Java, Banda, Flores and Malacca seas and the Straits of Macassar into internal waterways. New Zealand responded in accordance with its Commonwealth Strategic Reserve partners, and took guidance from the Commander Far East Fleet over the passage of warships.75 Passage by RNZN warships was still made, but with heightened levels of precaution and without any visible measure that could be seen as provocative. HMNZS OTAGO for instance took some precautions going through Indonesian claimed waters on 22 February 1962. “In view of the current unsettled international situation in the area [her Captain said], I decided to take the following precautions. … on approaching the Lombok Strait itself, the ship went to Action Stations, maintaining ‘S’ band silence, and keeping a listening watch on all sonars. We reverted to Defence Stations once Bali was opened and remained in that state for the night. Care was taken that to [sic] ensure there were no overt precautions being undertaken. The ship was darkened to navigation lights only. Defence Stations were finally secured at 0330 on 24th after a completely uneventful passage.”76 HMNZS ROYALIST’s passage of the Lombok Strait in March 1963 was at increased speed (16 knots) but the reason for this was to make up time after having to return an injured crew member to Darwin (from which port the ship had departed on 12 March). Later in the same day, upon leaving the Bali Sea, ROYALIST entered the Supoedi [Sapudi] Strait “where I skirted the minefield and preserved a distance off, of 3 miles from the land on the starboard side.”77 Occasionally an Indonesian warship was seen. HMNZS TARANAKI spotted a submarine in an Indonesian exercise area when transiting the Lombok Strait in August 1962.78 In her passage in November 1963 HMNZS OTAGO reported “The passage through Indonesia was uneventful. One Indonesian Naval vessel, a Allap Class patrol vessel, was sighted South-East of Bintan Island [just out of Singapore] on the first afternoon, otherwise neither Indonesian ships nor aircraft were seen. As a precaution against the possible but unlikely event of attack, a modified form of Defence Watch was maintained until the ship was clear of Sunda Strait.”79 In July 1964 HMNZS ROYALIST took “precautions to avoid offence by securing the armament from daily tests in the event of being overlooked by Indonesian aircraft or ships.”80 In times of tension RNZN ships may have transited these waters while at defence stations or action stations, but to quote Rear Admiral Ian Hunter (Rtd) “no actual incidents occurred”.81 The issue came to a head in August 1964 when Indonesia attempted to close the Sunda Strait during a naval exercise. Britain challenged this attempted closure of an international waterway. Indonesia relented and thereafter Commonwealth warships were able to transit through the various Indonesian straits, provided due notice was given. New Zealand vessels continued to do so and the issue faded. The Confrontation with Indonesia ceased in August 1966 when Indonesia signed a treaty with Malaysia, which New Zealand had supported. From this time, New Zealand’s naval vessels were on cordial terms with those of this former enemy though New Zealand ships are likely to have been shadowed by Indonesian vessels or monitored electronically while transiting these waters. New Zealand’s diplomatic relations improved with Jakarta and, to illustrate this, in April 1968 HMNZS WAIKATO visited Indonesian ports on her way home through these waters, as did HMNZS BLACKPOOL in June 1969.82 In each case they paid their respects to local officials. A call made by HMNZS TARANAKI in 1973 to Surabaya, a port on the island of Java, can be taken as representative. At 0900 hrs on 18 April the ship’s officers paid a courtesy visit to an unnamed Indonesian frigate in port. Indonesian naval officers and cadets returned the compliment in the afternoon. That evening an official reception was held ashore.83 Recommendation From available evidence, transits of the Indonesian Straits and onboard exercises during such transits were part of normal peacetime naval activities and therefore should not qualify for medallic recognition. Further research may be appropriate on this matter. Soviet warships In the course of their maritime patrols New Zealand vessels occasionally came into contact with potentially-hostile vessels. An example was HMNZS TARANAKI when at sea off the east coast of Malaysia in October 1974. Heading north-east at 0812, she altered speed and course to close with a modern Russian warship and her accompanying tanker. At 0950hrs TARANAKI was two cables (about 400m) off the starboard quarter of the powerful Russian warship, which was identified as the Kresta-II-class guided missile cruiser ADMIRAL OKTYABRSKY. Having identified her, TARANAKI “piped” her. Piping is the formal and respectful acknowledging of a foreign vessel. An RAF Nimrod plane flew over the ships two hours later. HMNZS TARANAKI was still in visual contact with the Russian ship at 1330, photographing the vessel making black and white smoke, after which their courses diverged. The Russian warship might meet the criteria to be a declared or identified potential protagonist, and was certainly one with the capability to pose some form of threat. One assumes TARANAKI implemented some level of defensive preparedness (even if only electronic) during the meeting, but this meeting does not read as an encounter of foes. Earlier, and while in the vicinity of the Russian warship, TARANAKI had been relaxed enough to conduct a Steering Gear Breakdown exercise and blow soot, two procedures she would not do if in imminent danger. Other Naval Hazards RNZN ships faced other hazards while serving in South-East Asia. A number of these occurred while on exercise, which often involved live firing or simulated action. An unusual hazard encountered by HMNZS OTAGO on exercise in 1966 was transiting a Royal Thai Naval minefield. This had been laid in the approaches to Bangkok for Exercise Sea Imp in June. Thailand was an ally in the SEATO alliance and such maritime exercises were frequently conducted under realistic conditions. Exercise Sea Imp (PX-32) was SEATO’s 30th combined exercise. It was a maritime show of force (aimed at intimidating communist countries in the region) in which a large naval fleet assembled on 19 May at Manila Bay. After two days of combat training off the Philippines, the fleet convoyed to the Gulf of Thailand for exercising over the period 28 May–6 June.84 At 0240hrs on the 6th, ready to enter Bangkok, HMNZS OTAGO and USS BRIDGET met up with their guide, the Ton-class Minesweeper HMS HUBBERSTON for the transit. In calm waters, the two vessels altered course as necessary “to maintain station on M.S. HUDDERSTON during the minefield transit.” The transit began at 0302hrs, at 9 knots, and was completed by 0637hrs, after which OTAGO proceeded independently to the anchorage. Here she exchanged friendly visits with other allied ships on the exercise, USS's YORKTOWN and BRONSTEIN, and HMS's AJAX and CHICHESTER, and commenced shore leave.85 For countering a potential or actual attack on ships in harbour or at anchor by underwater saboteurs, ships would exercise self-defence procedures such as an Operation Awkward. These exercises were regularly conducted by all ships and usually incorporated into all major exercises and became an integral part of naval Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) exercises in the Malaysia/Singapore areas. HMNZS OTAGO provides an example of this exercise being carried out off Palau Tioman Island, east Malaysia on 2 August 1968. Palau Tioman was regularly used as a fleet anchorage and venue for exercise Operations Awkward using diving teams from FPDA nations as attackers. After a day at sea in company with HMAS VENDETTA and HMS GLAMORGAN (including practicing narrow weaving), and live sleeve firing of the 4.5-inch armament against allied Meteors, OTAGO anchored at 1825 hrs. Operation Awkward started five minutes later, and only ended at 2146 hrs with the divers (who posed as the enemy) being recovered.86 Other hazards were more natural. While anchored at Singapore on 11 February 1967, HMNZS BLACKPOOL’s insecticide spraying party started at 1240 hrs and ended their work almost three hours later.87 Hazards sometimes accompanied a ship at sea, such as the collision HMNZS TARANAKI suffered at 1040 hrs on 19 November 1974, just south of the Philippines. The object she hit turned out to be a whale, but was followed nonetheless by a man-overboard exercise two hours later.88 HMNZS OTAGO struck floating debris in the South China Sea in October 1970. The damage was repaired at Singapore.89 OTAGO also suffered slight damage from Typhoon ‘Rose’ in 1971.90 Hazards could also come from shore. “Visiting ships companies are to be clearly warned of the dangers,” COMFEF broadcast in June 1968. “Current increase in resistant cases of VD contracted from street walkers on Hong Kong Island is causing considerable concern.” HMNZS OTAGO had just come on station and was tied up in Singapore, but visited Hong Kong a few weeks later.91 Normal mechanical problems could be accentuated in tours on the Far East Station by time spent in adverse weather conditions, or comparatively long journeys at sea. On the other hand, excellent servicing facilities were available in Singapore and New Zealand ships spent much time there on maintenance and overhaul. One problem journey occurred for HMNZS ROYALIST on a journey home from Singapore in 1965. After eight months in Hawai’i and the Far East, her boilers suffered from salt water contamination and on 1 November the ship lost power in the Coral Sea. She had to be towed most of the way back to Auckland.92 None of the “other naval hazards” discussed above were in any way outside the scope of normal peacetime service, albeit in foreign waters. 9. Air Force service in South-East Asia 1950-1975 As part of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve, New Zealand based a fighter/light bomber squadron and half a transport squadron in theatre. The first fighter/light bomber element was No.14 Sqn RNZAF, which was based in the region from 1955-1958, carrying out missions against guerilla targets. It was replaced by No.75 Sqn RNZAF in 1958, when that squadron was relocated from Cyprus to Singapore. The squadron’s Vampires were replaced by Canberras two years later. While in Singapore it came under command of Commander Far East Air Force (COMFEAF). With the end of the Malayan Emergency, the policy of RNZAF permanent basing in Singapore was changed. No.75 Squadron left Singapore in 1962, to be replaced by periodic deployments from New Zealand (under the title of Vanguard exercises). During Confrontation, however, a fighter/bomber squadron (No.14 Sqn) was returned to be based in Singapore (September 1964) and again withdrawn (November 1966) after peace returned. From this time the RNZAF continued to deploy its Canberras from New Zealand to Malaysia for annual exercises (No.14 Sqn being replaced by No.75 Fighter Sqn and its new Skyhawks in 1971). No.41 Transport Sqn RNZAF (consisting of four Bristol Freighters for most of the period 1950-1975) was based in Singapore. Its fixed-wing capacity was halved in September 1971 when a Rotary Wing of three Bell Iroquois helicopters was added.93 No.40 Transport Sqn (Hercules) made occasional deployments from New Zealand for specific exercises or tasks. No.5 Sqn also participated in long-range maritime reconnaissance exercises in theatre, initially with Sunderlands, later P3 Orions. For example, New Zealand-based P3B Orion maritime surveillance aircraft were used in Ex Wedlock 22 in December 1974. During the exercise, the Orion departed for RAAF Butterworth for an active surveillance exercise Penangex 5.94 HQ RNZAF Singapore was formed in 1971 and it concentrated at Tengah Air Force Base along with No.41 Sqn RNZAF. Both these units came under HQ NZFORCE SE Asia in 1974. The transport squadron serviced the New Zealand forward deployment in Vietnam from Singapore, and made the final evacuations of New Zealand personnel, embassy staff and nationals in April 1975. A routine month for RNZAF personnel in South-East Asia, outside the periods of the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation (for which medallic recognition already exists), might include:
SEATO Air Exercises New Zealand fighter/light bomber and transport squadrons participated in SEATO exercises while based in Singapore, and after the withdrawal of No.75 Squadron the New Zealand contribution was in the form of Vanguard deployments. Vanguard Exercises became the method by which the deployment of air assets from New Zealand to South-East Asia could be tested. They started in October 1961 with Vanguard I, a deployment by No.14 Sqn RNZAF to participate in a COMFEAF air exercise.96 With occasional breaks, they occurred annually until the 1980s. Each was to test the RNZAF’s ability to deploy the squadron at 48-hours notice and operate immediately on arrival in theatre. In Vanguard III, for instance, the squadron deployed and participated in an air exercise that coincided with Exercise Dhanarajata in mid-1963.97 While the Vanguard deployments sometimes exceeded 30 days, they flew only training missions, with the exception of Vanguard VI. In response to the landings by Indonesian paratroopers on the Malay Peninsula on 2 September 1964, No.14 Sqn was despatched under the cover of Vanguard VI to bolster the defences of Malaysia.98 The operational service by these No.14 Sqn personnel has already been recognised by the award of the General Service Medal 1962 with clasp ‘Malay Peninsula’. Many different routes were taken (and over varying durations) on Vanguard deployments. In 1968 it was to be a one-day transit. Nine strike aircraft and an accompanying C130 took off from Ohakea on 2 November and made Amberley near Brisbane without incident. On the leg to Darwin, however, one plane ingested a bird and narrowly avoided crashing. The squadron over-nighted at Darwin where the damaged plane remained for repairs (the rest arrived safely in Singapore). This kind of risk is normal for peacetime training operations. Most of these aircraft were back in New Zealand on 30 November.99 Live or Simulated Air strikes After the end of hostilities, exercises in theatre were the main activity for New Zealand’s air units in South-East Asia. While live bombing was practiced, the planes also at times exercised with simulated bomb loads. In Exercise Gedgely in June 1967, for instance, Canberra aircraft deployed from New Zealand as the Vanguard VII detachment and in Malaysia carried simulated bombs loads. For the benefit of umpires on the ground, these simulated loads were referred to by code words. The code LION was for two full 2-inch rocket pods, armed with AP warheads. WOLF was the same load, but with HE warheads. JAY was the WOLF loading plus six 1000 lb VT-fused bombs, and FROG was the same except the bombs had nose/tail fuses.100 Exercise Gedgely was a combined exercise held in Malaysia, in which No.14 Sqn and 1RNZIR deployed forward to exercise with units of 28 Commonwealth Bde. In Singapore New Zealand aircraft carried out live bombing sorties at China Rock range. This could include level bombing or dive bombing, or dive rocketing. Interspersed with these might be naval exercises, exercises with Forward Air Controllers (FAC), or night flying. Balambangan range in North Borneo was also used for aircraft flying from Singapore, the aircraft refueling at RAF Labuan for the return journey. The squadron also practiced aerial combat with allied aircraft, such as Lightnings of No.74 Sqn RAF.101 Even transport aircraft practiced dropping munitions. A Bristol Freighter for instance conducted trials dropping 4.5-inch reconnaissance flares at China Rock Range in 1968.102 No.41 Sqn RNZAF also had to transport explosives from time to time. An example would be a 15,000 lb consignment in August 1975 taken to Tengah, of which 161 lbs was explosives, 599 lb trip flares, nine 50-lb blocks/boxes of NEX explosive and 2-lb of starting pistol caps.103 Hazards A small number of New Zealand aircraft crashed in South-East Asia. For example, RNZAF Canberra NZ6104 crashed into the sea off Singapore in November 1964, and both crewmen died. This particular crash occurred during a period of operational service and the deceased crew qualified for medallic recognition for their tour of duty. Crashes in South-East Asia during periods of non-operational service, however, must be seen in the context of other peacetime air crashes, such as the Vampire jet’s service in the RNZAF, with 21 aircraft written off in accidents (mostly in New Zealand) during the course of its service.104 Other accidents happened, as they would on any training exercise. A helicopter of No.41 Sqn RNZAF suffered a short shaft failure while lifting a gun on exercise in Malaysia in 1974. The aircraft suffered minor damage and was withdrawn from the task, but no personnel were injured.105 Personnel deployed to foreign lands suffered from non-work-related accidents, mostly vehicular. For example, two members of No.41 Sqn RNZAF were involved in a serious motor accident in Singapore in 1967. The British Army Land Rover in which they were passengers hit an RAF Bedford Truck, killing the Land Rover driver. Corporal F.R. Martin and Leading Aircraftsman W.C. Young both spent many days in hospital.106 In another accident, in 1975, Flight Sergeant A.E. Sleeman met his death by the main gate of RAF Tengah. His car collided with a lorry and he died on the way to hospital, despite attempts by RNZAF personnel to save his life en route.107 Other RNZAF personnel in South-East Asia died of natural causes while on tours of duty. Examples are Sergeant Dexter Penny in September 1971 and Flight Sergeant Denis Scott in March 1988. Over the same period of time, however, dozens of RNZAF personnel died in New Zealand of similar causes: accident or disease.108 Weather produced dangers for New Zealand aviators. A training flight from Singapore to Japan in 1972 was half way when typhoon Hilda “blocked the airways to Japan with strong winds and heavy rain”. The Bristol Freighter reached Okinawa, from where it diverted to Hong Kong on a revised schedule.109 Servicing Embassies New Zealand air units in Singapore were also used for diplomatic-support purposes, such as servicing New Zealand Embassies in the region. One such type of service was transporting Embassy furniture and items for the Ministry of External Affairs (later known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). An example is on 4 December 1975 when transport planes of No.41 Sqn RNZAF carried 4,000 lbs of floor tiles and freight (550 cubic feet) for the New Zealand Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Twice in December 1975 the plane returned to Tengah from Jakarta “with Embassy freight”. One journey took 4200 lbs of freight to the Embassy, and brought out 2400 lbs.110 Regular monthly servicing flights to the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta started on 25 July 1974 with a No.41 Sqn aircraft landing at Kemoyaran airfield. Bangkok was already served in this manner.111 Planes also took the newly-appointed ambassador (Mr. R.L. Jermyn) and party on tour around eastern Indonesia, deemed a ‘national task’.112 In the mid-1970s the RNZAF flew new communications equipment to all the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offices in the region (Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul). This service coincided with the planned establishment of a New Zealand Embassy in Baghdad.113 No.41 Sqn also helped Allied embassies, such as carting a 7ft by 7ft coat of arms for the British Embassy in Jakarta in 1968.114 Medevacs and the delivery of medical supplies Medevac, or 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 of rotary wing. An example is a medevac task assigned to No.41 Sqn in May 1972. The squadron had been told of the task late one evening but because of poor light it was not able to get under way until the early hours of 11 May. Flight Lieutenant G. Oldfield took off with two crew for the Panti Ridge area, where a soldier was suffering from extreme exhaustion. The patient was winched to the helicopter from 150ft and delivered to Changi hospital, Singapore.115 An emergency casualty evacuation on 3 August was to the Indonesian airfield of Palembang in Sumatra.116 Similar work was entailed in the delivery of medical supplies to neighbouring countries. One such was a gift of 26,000 lbs of medical supplies made to the Cambodian Government in 1970. No.41 Sqn RNZAF flew five sorties to deliver this aid to Phnom Penh in July, which was well received by the Cambodian Government.117 Other Activities by Air Force Personnel At other times the transport squadron might carry members of the armed forces’ sports teams around the region, such as the New Zealand Defence Force Squash Team to Bangkok in December 1975.118 No.41 Sqn carried New Zealand troops to Indonesia. This was part of a warming of relations with Indonesia and, as with naval contact, a growth in links between the armed services. An example is on 8 December 1975 when NZ5909 took A Company, 1 RNZIR to Bandung via Jakarta to exercise with Indonesian troops. At other times it might also uplift soldiers of allied forces, such as Malaysian troops, for regional exercises.119 Long-distance flights were conducted out of the region. Regular Vietnam schedules were flown from 1964 to 1975, in support of:
Medallic recognition for service by RNZAF personnel in Vietnam is provided by the Vietnam Medal and/or the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp ‘Vietnam’. More unusual were four-day round trips to Kathmandu, via Car Nicobar Island and Calcutta. In 1968 one of these was described as a training flight that carried food and medical supplies to a hospital. Another flight there later in 1968 was to carry freight to an in-country Ghurka military camp.121 Flights to Thailand would in comparison be seen as short-range and routine. They had supported New Zealand forces and aid teams in Thailand since 1962. One flight took the New Zealand Army Band to Korat for the 1971 opening ceremony of the feeder road built by New Zealand Army Engineers. This project, on which New Zealand personnel had been deployed over the years 1965-1971, had been regularly serviced by No.41 Sqn.122 Flights for the media were part of No.41 Sqn’s tasks. “A group of pressmen arrived from New Zealand”, the squadron’s history sheet said for April 1970. “In the course of the month the Squadron carried them to Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, where as well as meeting local dignitaries they were able to see some of the local colour.”123 Most of these trips would have been the regular services carried out by the squadron. 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 squadron to ferry them anywhere in the region. Not all trips were strictly necessary. For instance Chief of Air Staff C.A. Turner made a tour of the region in April 1969 immediately prior to retiring.124 Members of Parliament (MPs) had toured the region using RNZAF planes from early in the period, such that by 1967 a tour by six MPs was described in the squadron history sheet as “just another fact finding tour”.125 Six New Zealand MPs in a Bristol Freighter flew to Cambodia and Vietnam in 1970 (the plane was “fraught with unserviceabilities on the second day”).126 No.41 Sqn carried the former Sultan of Brunei to Brunei in August 1972. It was described as a “rush job for a special VIP”.127 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. 10. Conclusion The terms of reference for this review were to identify any service which meets the requirements for medallic recognition as operational service. At the current time, no service in South-East Asia (excluding Vietnam and north-eastern Thailand) after 1966 has been assessed by past or current Governments 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 “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 possible of use of force may be required”. So while New Zealand’s 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. Eligibility for other awards (gallantry, distinguished or meritorious service) is not covered by this report. Unless the criteria for the medals listed above are changed, or “operational service” is redefined, the current New Zealand Operational Service Medal or New Zealand General Service Medal cannot be issued to New Zealand forces serving in peacetime under alliance obligations. This will therefore exclude the New Zealand forces based in Malaysia/Singapore from 1966. I have also taken into account Principle Three cited above “that care should be taken in redefining current entitlements or changing current definitions in order to preserve the integrity of the award system”. Peter Cooke Independent Historian 27 September 2007 Reviewed and confirmed. 1 July 2011 11. Disclaimer This has been a survey of known activities by New Zealand forces in South-East Asia over the period 1950-1975. It is intended to give an idea of the types of activity New Zealand military forces were engaged in. There may have been activities other than those detailed in this document, for which medallic entitlement should also be assessed on a case by case basis, when and if such activities are brought to the attention of the Medallic Recognition Joint Working Group and/or the New Zealand Defence Force. 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. Service in the period since 1 May 1975 has not been examined in detail as part of the review. Annex A Terms of Reference Unrecognised Service in South-East Asia between 1950 and 1975 - Overview of Service which is still to be Researched and Assessed against the Government’s Principles for Medallic Recognition: Yüklə 304,65 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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