North African Campaign Veterans Depart for El Alamein Monday, 15 October 2012, 3:08 pm Press Release: New Zealand Defence Force
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North African Campaign Veterans Depart for El Alamein |
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Veteran Mr Maurice Abrahams with RNZAF Medic CPL Russell Cowling wave goodbye before boarding the flight for El Alamein.
Media Release
15 October 2012
North African Campaign Veterans Depart for El Alamein
Twenty-two New Zealand veterans of the North African campaign departed for Egypt today, where they will attend commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein.
The veterans, aged between 88 and 96 will attend a New Zealand National Ceremony to mark the anniversary on 19 October 2012, followed by an International Commemoration Service on 20 October. Both ceremonies will take place at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in El Alamein.
The veterans were farewelled at RNZAF Base Whenuapai by Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Hon Nathan Guy, and Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand General Manager, Rick Ottaway.
Rick Ottaway said he was proud that a delegation of 22 veterans would attend the commemorations in El Alamein.
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Group photo of the Veterans departing for the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein, Egypt from RNZAF Base Whenuapai.
“This is a great opportunity for these brave men to return to Egypt and pay their respects to colleagues who did not return to New Zealand with them.
“It will be a very emotional time, as many have family members, colleagues or friends who rest in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in El Alamein.
“They will also have the opportunity to see some of the places they once fought, which I’m sure will bring back many memories they have of their time in North Africa,” Mr Ottaway said.
The veterans will return to New Zealand on 25 October 2012.
The RNZAF B757 carrying the New Zealand delegation to El Alamein will also transport 18 Australian veterans attending the commemorations from Dubai to El Alamein and return.
ENDS
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The Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac Class Frigate HMNZS TE KAHA and replenishment tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR will today begin a joint exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Frigate RSS STALWART off the East Coast of the North Island.
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Joint Exercise with Republic of Singapore Navy |
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HMNZS TE KAHA and ENDEAVOUR conducting Replenishment at Sea exercises.
Media Release
15 October 2012
Joint Exercise Increases Interoperability with Republic of Singapore Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac Class Frigate HMNZS TE KAHA and replenishment tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR will today begin a joint exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Frigate RSS STALWART off the East Coast of the North Island.
Exercise LION ZEAL is an annual bilateral exercise which strengthens the already close working relationship between the two Navies. It has been conducted annually since 2004 and provides a chance for the two Navies to practice their roles in maintaining regional security.
“LION ZEAL gives us a valuable opportunity to work alongside the highly regarded Republic of Singapore’s Navy,” says TE KAHA’s Commanding Officer, Commander Jon Beadsmoore.
“RSS STALWART was commissioned in 2009 and is a very technologically advanced warship. I’m looking forward to testing ourselves against her and increasing interoperability between our two Navies”.
“Our Navy’s Anzac Frigates are a valuable contributor to regional security so it’s important that we work seamlessly with other navies. It’s also important that we are interoperable and combat capable so this will be the last major exercise we undertake before TE KAHA is upgraded with latest cutting-edge technology next year,” says Commander Beadsmoore.
Exercise LION ZEAL will take place from 15 October through to 18 October. It consists of both a sea and shore phase, allowing both Navies to develop closer ties.
ENDS
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RNZ Navy band burgled during parade
Navy band burgled during parade
By Lindy Laird of The Northern Advocate
11:23 AM Monday Oct 15, 2012
New Zealand Navy Band members’ personal possessions were stolen during a weekend break-in while the band was taking part in a military parade through Whangarei.
With bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing, colours flying and swords drawn, New Zealand Defence’s 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own) and Northland Battalion Group staged the first charter parade in Whangarei for 11 years.
“It went really well, it was brilliant, but the break-in of the navy band bus left a nasty taint to the day and given them a horrible reflection of Whangarei to take away with them,” Major Roberta Wilkinson said.
Police said the door of the locked bus parked in Rust Ave was jemmied open, and wallets, cellphones and other items stolen.
Although bad weather delayed the parade’s start, many people turned out to watch the colourful and archaic ritual that acknowledges a city’s appreciation for a unit’s service to the country. A charter parade is also a way for the services to pay tribute to the support of families, friends and work colleagues that enables local soldiers to deploy on operations overseas, Ms Wilkinson said.
When the parade reached the Whangarei Library plaza in Rust Ave, Mayor Morris Cutforth was presented with his New Zealand Defence Service Medal and then he conducted the ceremonial inspection.
The parade of 100 personnel was led by Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Chris Powell, with Northland Army, Navy and Air Force Cadets forming a cordon at Rust Ave before falling into the parade.
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