Royal New Zealand Artillery Association Inc. 76th Reunion, 12–14 Nov 2010 Pictorial Report Part 2 of 4 by John Osborne DTT, PhD, FSG Saturday 13 Nov 11am, RNZA A 76th Reunion participants had the opportunity to view the Officer Cadets Charter Parade in Taupo
Note; the drill cane carried by non‐commissioned officers (NCO's) when conducting drill. In this case it is carried by the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) of the Corps of Officer Cadets, WO2 Alie Henry, RNZALR.
7 Wellington, Hawkes Bay Regiment (7 WNHB) band. The Drum Major is WO1 John Hinton. Several of the Army Reserve Regiments retain their own bands. The Officer Cadet School of New Zealand has formed a relationship with the 7 WNHB band who have supported the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand at Charter Parades and Territorial Force (Army Reserve) Commissioning Course parades.
Above; The Colour Party consists of two colour ensigns (carrying the colours), the colour escorts and the colour Warrant Officer (carrying pace stick and sword). The colour party of the Officer Cadet School is comprised of Officer Cadets with the exception of the colour Warrant Officer who is the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the Officer Cadet School. The RSM is WO1 Dirk Millar, NZSAS. The RSM's pace stick was presented to the then RSM of the Officer Cadet School (WO1 K. Dodds) in 1990. It was carved and presented by OCDT M. Wirihana and is only used by the RSM when the Corps of Officer Cadets are on parade. The Colours are the Queens Colour (on the right in the senior position) and the Regimental Colour of the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand. The colours were presented to the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand on 30 October 1990 by the Governor General and Commander‐in‐Chief, His Excellency the most Reverend Sir Paul Reeves GCMG, GCVO.
Lt Col Karyn Thompson, RNZ Sigs, Charter Parade Commander and Commandant of the Officer Cadet School, Waiouru escorts the Mayor of Taupo Rick Cooper to inspect the Officer Cadets. The Charter between the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand and the Taupo District Council (from the Commandant's speech): “This association has been in place in its current form since the 7th of March 1998, when the Commander of the then Army Training Group accepted the Charter for the first time, thereby commemorating the original Freedom of the Taupo Borough privileges that were bestowed on the
Regular Force Cadet School, based in Waiouru, in 1970. Over the 21 years that followed from the Original Charter, the Regular Force Cadet School maintained close links with the Taupo Borough. This included regular involvement in ANZAC Day commemoration services, sporting occasions and Army assistance to local community groups. With the closure of the Regular Force Cadet School in December 1991, the Officer Cadet School assumed the mantle to maintain the valued association with Taupo, even though a formal Charter had not been established. It was thought in 1998 that this association should be formalised, and it was appropriate for the Officer Cadet School to become the custodians of the Freedom of the Taupo District Council. This unit has as its mandate, the preparation of young leaders for service in the Army in order to meet the needs of New Zealand.” The Charter between the Taupo District Council and the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand was formalised on 07 March 1998.
Swords Pattern 1897 Infantry Officers Swords, nickel plated steel scabbards for Colour Party, Sam Browne pattern scabbards introduced in 1899 for field use, wooden lined and covered with brown leather.
Acknowledgements and special thanks to:‐ Lt Col Karyn Thompson, RNZ Sigs, Commandant of the Officer Cadet Training School, Waiouru. Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the Officer Cadet School WO1 Dirk Millar, NZSAS. http://www.militaryheritage.com/sword19.htm