The following Sailors ‘Crossed the Bar’ during the month of January 2019. Details of funerals etc can be found by clicking HERE.

GRATTON, Robert Walter. Lt. Cdr (Rtd)
BROWN, Stella Adelaide QSM. 78645, WRNS, WWII

During the Vietnam War, about 240 doctors and 210 nurses worked in Vietnam under contract with the Department of External Affairs as part of Australia’s contribution to a SEATO aid program in South Vietnam between 1964 and 1972.

The program aimed to provide medical aid in Vietnamese civilian hospitals and training to local medical staff.

“It may have taken nearly 50 years, but today justice is being done as a group of brave Australian doctors and nurses are duly recognised for their selfless contribution as members of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) surgical civilian medial teams that served in Vietnam,” the Treasurer said.

The measure coming into effect is dependent on the introduction and passing of legislation. DVA is aware there are about 200 surgical and medical team members that will benefit from this measure.

“They volunteered, in the great Australian tradition, putting their lives and careers on hold to administer aid to civilians during a conflict in which more than 500 Australians lost their lives in combat,” Minister Chester said.

By Stephen Kuper of Defence Connect

Laurie and I took our two grandchildren to Wellington for an experience.  Called into the Backbenchers for lunch and saw a few well known politicians hanging about.

Also saw an iteresting way of displaying the NZ Flag on the Corner of Stout Street and Lambton Quay.

The MOD has released new projected figures on the numbers of ex-service personnel living in Great Britain over the next ten years.  Click HERE to read further…

LONGCAST

18 January 19 – Ngapona Assn Lunch at Swanson RSA
19 – 20 January 19 – Ngapona Assn Boating Weekend
28 January 19 – Auckland Anniversary Day
6 February 19 – Waitangi Day
8 February 19 – Navy Club Lunch, Remuera Club
15 February 19 – Ngapona Assn Lunch at Titirangi RSA
8 March 19 – Navy Club Lunch, Remuera Club
15 March 19 – Ngapona Assn Lunch at Waiheke RSA

MONTHLY LUNCH

Our first lunch for 2019 will be held at the Swanson RSA this Friday, 18 January. Swanson always has an excellent meal, so mark it in your diary. Look forward to seeing you there.

NGAPONA ASSOCIATION BOATING WEEKEND

The Association Boating Weekend will be held this coming weekend 19 – 20 January. Anyone with a boat is welcome to join us. We plan to meet at Waikalabubu Bay, at the northern end of Motutapu Island on Saturday afternoon and enjoy some relaxing time. Sunday a bit of fishing before departing around lunchtime. More boats the better, totally informal. Skippers should ring round and organise a crew. It will be weather dependant of course. Please advise by return email if you are planning to have your boat there or if you require a berth.

The following boats are confirmed
Scott Perry – HDML Kuparu
Wayne Smith
Terry Creagh
Bruce Lineham
Peter Goodwin

INTERESTING FACT

Due to an unusually low amount of rain in December, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced Monday that the maximum draft for a ship transiting the Neopanamax locks will be restricted to 49 feet, or 14.94 meters, as of February 11. The new restriction will decrease the maximum allowed draft in the Gatun Lake by 1 foot, or by 0.3 meter from the last maximum restriction, which was implemented June 26, 2018m at 50 feet, or 15.24 meters. The decrease in the maximum allowable draft is based on the projected water level of Gatun Lake. The ACP announced that the precipitation during December was around 90% below the historic average in the Panama Canal watershed, which caused water levels at the Gatun and Madden Lakes to drop lower than expected for the season. As a result, the ACP will implement water conservation measures to minimize the effects of the lower water levels and to delay any further seasonal draft adjustments.

Vessels with drafts exceeding 49 feet may be allowed to steam on the Gatun Lake, depending on the level of the lake at the time, according to the ACP. If water levels are too low, vessels exceeding the 49-foot draft restriction will have to trim or off-load cargo to pass. At a 49-foot draft, a Suezmax cannot transit the canal fully laden, as such dirty tankers typically require a 50-foot draft for a full 1 million barrel cargo of 43 API crude.

DID YOU KNOW?

On 15th January 1942, the first class of four RNZN Cadets joined Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Of the four cadets, two, Ted Thorne and John McKenzie, would both rise to be Rear Admiral and Chief of Naval Staff.

RA EC Thorne CB CBE, CNS 1972 – 1975.

RA JF McKenzie CB CBE, CNS 1975 – 1977

Well the writing is on the wall for some clubs. Click HERE to read on.

This is to advise that Leading Signalman Johannes Nicolaas (Merry) Peters Q22531 crossed the bar on Friday, 18 January 2019.  Merry joined the RNZN 26 January 1977 and served in TAMAKI, TASMAN, CANTERBURY, PHILOMEL, TARANAKI, WAKEFIELD, WELLINGTON, OTAGO and ROTOITI.  John’s funeral will be at the Cleveland Funeral Home, 173-179 Ingestre Street, Wanganui at 1300, Wenesday 23 January 2019. John is survived by his partner Trish Grushaw and his mother.

• HON RON MARK

This was spotted at the Naval Museum recently.  Does anyone have an answer?

What is unusual is his Branch Badge.  Ian (Manga) Heperi (RIP) was a Signalman, but is wearing a Radioman badge.  Could this be the period when RO(G)s and RO(T)s wore the same badge.  If not, then it raises the question of what was he doing in a Sparker’s shirt?

Does anyone know the whereabouts of Norris Senior who served in HMNZS BELLONA?

Two further questions

Did BELLONAever  call at New Plymouth in 1951?  and

What was Norris Senior Job onboard BELLONA?

LONGCAST

6 February 19 – Waitangi Day
8 February 19 – Navy Club Lunch, Remuera Club
15 February 19 – Ngapona Assn Lunch at Titirangi RSA
8 March 19 – Navy Club Lunch, Remuera Club
15 March 19 – Ngapona Assn Lunch at Waiheke RSA
23 March 19 – Kumeu Militaria Show
6 April 19 – HMNZS OTAGO and ALL Ships Reunion – Birkenhead RSA
18 April 19 – Ngapona Assn Lunch at Henderson RSA (Thursday)
19 – 22 April 19 – Easter Weekend

HDML KUPARU

After her summer cruise to Great Barrier. Bay of Islands and around the Hauraki Gulf, her owner, Scott Perry, has secured a permanent berth in Whangarei. Kuparu can now be viewed in the Town Basin, adjacent to the Whangarei Art Museum and Claphams Clock Museum.

 Kuparu berthed at Whangarei

 DID YOU KNOW?

On 1st February 2005, Gubb Naval Tailors ceased trading at the Devonport Naval Base. Cliff Gubb joined the Navy in 1935 and served in several ships including LEANDER and GAMBIA. He commenced a tailoring apprenticeship after the war and then set up as the Base Tailor in 1947 until his death in 1990. His nephew, Trevor McKeown, then an Instructor Officer in the RNZN, took over the business until its closure 15 years later, after 57 years association with the RNZN.

A hand-cranked blind stitch sewing machine mounted on a wooden plinth.

This was used for many years by Cliff Gubb, ex RNZN tailor, for making and repairing uniforms.

The following was posted on facebook by Jack Steer, CEO RSA National on 30 January 2019.

The Mururoa Nuclear Veterans Group Inc, the RNZRSA and Veterans’ Affairs are conducting a further series of forums in 2019. These are a follow on from those conducted last year.

The purpose of the forums is to inform and enlighten Mururoa test Veterans of the progress towards research and entitlements available, and to discuss possible genetic defects and likely resolution to this possible outcome. Outlined at each forum will be veterans’ entitlements, the difference between the two acts and how transferring from the old act to the new act, should not financially disadvantage anyone and in most cases is to the veterans benefit. There will be a discussion regarding claims declined under the old act can be resubmitted as a new claim.

They are also interested in information on exposure to toxins: common sense stuff about what veterans were exposed to in daily life at sea; paint, solvents, asbestos, fumes, cigarette smoke and alcohol, all of which can lead to medical complications in later life.

An RNZRSA Advisor/Advocate, Mururoa Nuclear Veterans Group Inc Officers, a Veterans Affairs Senior Case manager and RSA District Presidents and Support Advisors will be in attendance at each location.

The meetings are open to all serving and ex serving Navy personnel. The program is as follows:

February:
Monday 25th February Motueka RSA 13.00
Wednesday 27th Westport RSA 13.00
Thursday 28th Greymouth RSA 13.00

March:
Friday 1st March Hokitika RSA 13.00
Monday 11th March Invercargill RSA 13.00
Tuesday 12th Mosgiel RSA 13.00
Wednesday 13th Timaru RSA 13.00
Thursday 14th Papanui RSA 13.00
Friday 15th March Blenhiem RSA 13.00

You will all be aware that the Minister for Vetrans Affairs, The Hon Ron Mark established a Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) last year.  Below is a copy of the Terms of Reference for the Board which makes interesting reading.  The Board is only looking at Professor Ron Patterson’s recommendation No 63 which is What is a Veteran and how is New Zealand going to recognise that Veteran.

VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD
CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION 63 OF THE PATERSON REPORT:
TERMS OF REFERENCE

Purpose of this work
1. The purpose of this work is to provide the Minister for Veterans with advice on who should be considered a veteran and how their service in the armed forces should be recognised by New Zealand.
Background
2. The Veterans’ Support Act 2014 contains a provision requiring that its operation be reviewed after it had been in operation for two years. That review, conducted by Professor Ron Paterson, has now been completed and his report has been presented . One of the recommendations arising from it (recommendation 63) was that:
The Government undertakes further work on who is a veteran and how New Zealand wants to recognise their service.
3. The Minister for Veterans has accepted this recommendation and tasked the Veterans’ Advisory Board with providing advice to him on the matter.
Objective
4. The Board is expected to develop and recommend a definition of veteran to the Minister, and also to provide advice on how those who are considered to be veterans should be recognised.
5. In developing this advice, the Board should consider the options canvassed by Professor Paterson in the chapter in his review report entitled Rethinking eligibility; but, in developing a solution to recommend to the Government, they should not be limited by those options.
6. They should consider:
a. whether there should be only one definition of veteran;
b. whether all those who meet the recommended definition of veteran should be recognised in the same way; and
c. whether all those defined as veterans should be covered by the Veterans’ Support Act 2014; or whether there may be other ways that their status should be recognised and their needs could be met.
7. As part of its deliberations, the Board should also consider:
a. the intent of the current Act to modernise support to veterans who have been injured or become ill and to focus on supporting veterans to lead full lives;
b. the systems of health, compensation and income support available to all New Zealanders, and how veterans’ needs are addressed in those systems;
c. the resourcing implications of any changes to current arrangements for recognising those considered to be veterans for the purpose of legislation;
d. non-legislative ways in which veterans are, or may be, recognised; and
e. any other matters that the Board believes are important.
8. The Board should provide recommendations to the Minister regarding:
a. who should be considered a veteran of the New Zealand armed forces;
b. whether the legal definition of veteran, for the purpose of entitlements under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, should be amended;
c. whether any additional legislative change is required to enable additional recognition of service; and
d. whether additional non-legislative initiatives are required to recognise service.
9. The following matters are out of scope:
a. matters which are being addressed elsewhere in response to the Paterson review;
b. matters which will be addressed through the current reviews of New Zealand Superannuation or the public health system or through other Government review or working parties in operation during the period of this piece of work; and
c. the medallic recognition process within the New Zealand Defence Force.
Stakeholders
10. It is expected that the Board will consult with:
a. the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association and the No Duff Charitable Trust;
b. senior officials who comprise a Senior Officials Group established for this purpose including representatives of the Ministries of Heath, Social Development, and Business, Innovation and Employment, the ACC, and Veterans’ Affairs; and
c. other individuals or groups where this is deemed necessary.
Timing and Deliverable
11. The first meeting of the Board to consider this issue must be held by Friday 31 August 2018.
12. The Veterans’ Advisory Board will deliver its final advice to the Minister, in the form of a written report, by 30 June 2019.
Support for the Board
13. The Board will be advised for the duration of this work by a group of senior officials representing the Ministries of Health, and Social Development, the ACC, Veterans’ Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.
14. Veterans’ Affairs will provide secretariat support for the Board.
Remuneration
15. Remuneration of Board members will be set by the Minister in accordance with the Cabinet Fees Framework. New Zealand Defence Force members are remunerated by the New Zealand Defence Force and will not receive daily fees.
16. Each member of the Board is entitled, in accordance with the Fees Framework, to be reimbursed for actual and reasonable travelling and other expenses incurred in carrying out his or her office as a member.

As many as 8000 ‘‘.nz’’ websites may be knocked offline tomorrow as a result of a software change.

Open-source software behind the Domain Name System – which is the addressing system for the internet – is being updated to make websites load faster and to help protect websites against ‘‘denial of service’’ attacks.

New Zealand’s domain name commissioner, Brent Carey, said tests indicated about 1 per cent of ‘‘.nz’’ websites used software that was not compatible with the update and would fail on Saturday unless changes were made.

The number of websites around the world that could fail on what has been dubbed ‘‘DNS Flag Day’’ might run into the millions, he believed.

However, technology experts have forecast few internet users will notice, given that the vast majority of websites that will fail will be poorly maintained sites that have few visitors.

People can test websites’ readiness at dnsflagday.net .

The Domain Name Commission (DNC) has been contacting website owners who appeared unprepared for the change.

But in doing so it had discovered about 1500 ‘‘.nz’’ sites that had been registered with false contacts details, Carey said. It had requested registrars take down those websites.

Carey said the DNC had been stepping up its crackdown on scam ‘‘.nz’’ websites that were registered with false details.

Concerns surfaced in 2017 that consumers had become too trusting of ‘‘.nz’’ internet shopping sites because they wrongly assumed they needed to be run from New Zealand or have some association with the country.

A survey by InternetNZ yesterday showed Kiwis’ trust in ‘‘.nz’’ websites was still far higher than in ‘‘.com’’ sites, but was declining at a significant rate.  Thanks John B for the heads up.

The following Sailors ‘Crossed the Bar’ during the month of February 2019. Details of funerals etc can be found by clicking HERE.

WASTNEY George Seaman

Two old matelots tell lies and enjoy each others company 12 February 2019

Well done Jim Blackburn and Peter Smith – you are both an inspiration!

All service leavers will receive a new ID card to mark their time in the armed forces.

A new ID card for armed forces veterans, which will help them access specialist support and services, has started to be issued to service leavers.

From today, any personnel who have left the military since December 2018 will automatically be given one of the new ID cards, which will allow them to maintain a tangible link to their career in the forces.

The cards allow veterans to easily verify their service to the NHS, their local authority, and charities, helping them to access support and services where needed.

All other veterans will be able to apply for a new ID card by the end of this year, to mark their time in the armed forces.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said:

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the ex-forces community, and we are working hard to ensure they receive the support they deserve.

These new cards celebrate the great commitment and dedication of those who have served this country, and I hope they can provide a further link to ex-personnel and the incredible community around them.

Veterans UK – which manages pensions and compensation payments for the armed forces – local authorities, service charities, NHS and GPs will also benefit from the change, as they will not have to conduct time-consuming checks to identify individual veterans.

The new ID card is one of three that are available to service leavers. Personnel leaving the armed forces are also able to keep their military IDs, known as the MOD Form 90, allowing them to maintain their emotional connection with their service. Additionally, veterans can access a range of discounts through the Defence Discount Service, the official MOD-endorsed service for the armed forces.

Last year saw the launch of the Strategy for our Veterans, published jointly by the UK, Welsh and Scottish Governments, which sets out the key areas of support for those who have left the armed forces. The consultation closes this Thursday (21st February).

All relevant Government departments have a responsibility to ensure that the military community is treated fairly, and not disadvantaged by their service, as part of the Armed Forces Covenant. The new ID cards will ensure the process of validating service is as straightforward as possible, so that ex-forces personnel can access support for issues related to their service quickly, where needed.

The cards will complement the NHS’ commitment to providing specialist health support for veterans in every part of the health service, enabling ex-service personnel in England, Scotland and Wales to access treatment where they have been affected by their service. Last year, NHS England announced that dedicated mental healthcare services are up and running in every part of the country, backed by £10 million of investment, with increasing numbers of GPs and hospitals becoming ‘Veteran Aware’, in order to fully address the needs of those who have served.

Any veteran in need of support can contact the Veterans’ Gateway – the 24 hour service which signposts ex-forces personnel to the wide range of support available to them, including housing and financial advice, career guidance, and medical care from the NHS. Since being set up in 2017, the Veterans’ Gateway has already received over 20,000 contacts, advising ex-forces personnel and their families.

Drone operators have now been included in the award of a medal for their service. It is a changing landscape of military combat and the operators of the RAF Reaper crews, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, US will receive the Op Shader medal.

The announcement comes as Mr Gavin Williamson MP attends a meeting of defence ministers in Munich from nations within the Global Coalition against Daesh. Daesh is currently struggling to hold its last pocket of territory in eastern Syria, as the UK and its coalition partners continue to support the Syrian Democratic Forces on the ground.

Whilst it cannot be denied that these operators play an essential part in any conflict and the 21st century weaponry that has been developed enables these pilots to operate them hundreds of miles away in safety, the award of a medal for their services has angered many in the Veteran community who have fought for years for recognition, to be denied due to lack of Rigour or Risk.

On the 29th August 2013 at the second meeting of the Advisory Military Sub-Committee, various claims for a medal were discussed the including The British Nuclear Test Veterans (BNTVA). This was the last time the committee met and despite assurances from Gavin Williamson MP, The Rt Hon Earl Howe (Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Minister of State for Defence) and Tobias Ellwood MP, the committee is still not in operation 7 months after meeting with representatives of the BNTVA.

At the meeting, the award of a medal to the Nuclear Veterans was discussed, with the following outcome:

This committee agreed that that the Nuclear Veterans were not given a proper account of the risks they were running and have a genuine grievance. They also agreed that it was not the best way to recognise the risk. But they state that the rigour aspect was not present.

Now that the ongoing claims for compensation have ceased, there is no excuse for the medal review not to be undertaken.

Being sent to an island thousands of miles away from home, for periods of between 9 and 14 months, creating an infrastructure to allow testing in extremely hot conditions, whilst being sprayed twice daily for DDT, then after the infrastructure was completed, watching a Nuclear explosion, feeling the blast and the radioactive rain which followed is not rigorous enough.

But sitting in a air conditioned room, thousands of miles away in complete safety, flying remote drones is?

Many Veterans have complained about this award of a medal to these operators, not because the operators do not deserve it, they are performing an essential service, but how can these people be awarded a medal and Veterans who served be denied.

The full minutes of the second meeting an be found here

What is the Her Majesty the Queen’s involvement?

Last year Her Majesty The Queen approved the extension of the eligibility criteria for the medal to new groups of personnel. The Queen does not issue medals or propose different types of medals to be given to Veterans or service personnel, she will approve a recommendation, but does not recommend.

This is understandable, as she needs to remain impartial, even if her husband Prince Phillip did visit Christmas Island during the tests and saw for himself the conditions that the servicemen were working in.

Who are the People sitting on the Committee?

Sir John Holmes has been widely criticised for his handling of the Medal claims by a number of Organisations across the country. As you can see, the officials deciding on the award of the medals at the previous committee were very high ranking and the person who would be the best suited to argue the case for historic medals Professor Sir Hew Strachan was not present at the meeting.

The official report of Sir John Holmes investigation can be found here.

– Sir Jon Thompson is no longer in his post as Permanent Secretary to the MoD.

– Vice Admiral Robert George Cooling CB is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff.

– Major-General Nicholas Jeremy Cottam CB OBE was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary and thereafter Registrar of St Paul’s Cathedral. Retired in 2015.

– Air Vice-Marshall Tony Stables was the Chairman of COBSEO and founded the Forces in Mind Trust.

– Sir John Holmes GCVO KBE CMG is a British former diplomat who is the current Chair of the Electoral Commission.

– Professor Sir Hew Strachan is currently Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, and a council member of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland.Since May 2014, he has been Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale. Before moving to St Andrews, Strachan was the Chichele Professor of the History of War at All Souls College, Oxford.

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Question – Not wishing to take anything away from this gallantry award to 161 Battery but why does the NZ Government now recognise this award, made by the Australian Government when it does not recognise other awards made by that same Government? 

The Government has agreed that Royal New Zealand Artillery personnel who served in the Vietnam War will be awarded the Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry.

The award affects around 120 members of 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, who participated in the Battles of Coral and Balmoral in Vietnam between 12 May and 6 June 1968, as well as other New Zealand Armed Forces personnel directly involved in one or both battles.

“The Battles of Coral and Balmoral were among the largest and most protracted fought by the Australian Task Force in the Vietnam War. The 161 Battery gunners received high praise for the accuracy and volume of fire support they provided at critical stages of attacks on the Australian battalion positions,” says Ron Mark.

“The Australian Government last year awarded the Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry in recognition of the ‘extraordinary gallantry’ the Australian units provided during the battles at Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral between 12 May and 6 June 1968. The award was also offered by the Australian Government to 161 Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery.

“The Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry is awarded to a unit for ‘extraordinary gallantry’ as a team in warlike operations. It is not awarded for acts of gallantry performed by an individual or by small groups of personnel.

“A formal presentation by representatives of the Australian Government of this award is being planned at Linton Military Camp in March 2019,” says Ron Mark.

Eligible veterans who are not in contact with the Royal New Zealand Artillery Association should provide their contact details to New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Archives and Medals, Private Bag 905, Upper Hutt 5140.

Email: NZDF.pam@nzdf.mil.nz or telephone: 04 527 5280.

ENDS

Background Notes

History

161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery initially deployed to Vietnam near Bien Hoa in July 1965. They moved to Nui Dat in the neighbouring Phuoc Tuy province as part of the newly formed 1st Australian Task Force on 23 May 1966, and provided continuous fire support to successive Australian and New Zealand battalions from that date until withdrawn in May 1971.

One of the first major operations for the 1st Australian Task Force was to deploy 120 kilometres from their Nui Dat base to an area in Bien Hoa Province designated “Area of Operation Surfers”. This was an area important to the North Vietnamese Army offensive operations being conducted against Saigon in 1968. The Task Force established Fire Support Bases named Coral and Balmoral.

The battles that followed were among the largest and most protracted fought by the Australian Task Force in the Vietnam War. The gunners of 161 Battery received high praise for the accuracy and volume of fire support they provided at critical stages of attacks on the Australian battalion positions.

This is the first Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry offered to a New Zealand military unit. In 2010, approval was given for three New Zealand Army personnel who were attached to D Company, 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment at the Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam in 1966 to accept and wear the Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry awarded to D Company.

Eligibility

Authority to wear the insignia associated with this unit citation is only for those veterans who participated in the battles, none of whom are serving New Zealand Defence Force military personnel. Current personnel of 161 Battery will not wear the insignia as a dress embellishment.

Information about the planned presentation in March 2019 will be sent to eligible veterans through the Royal New Zealand Artillery Association email and social media networks. Eligible veterans who are not in contact with the Royal New Zealand Artillery Association should provide their contact details to New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Archives and Medals, Private Bag 905, Upper Hutt 5140. Email: NZDF.pam@nzdf.mil.nz or telephone: 04 527 5280.