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Old 02-07-19, 09:10 AM
stevjp stevjp is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Prevessin - France
Posts: 90
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Hello Corey and Keith,
Many thanks for the pic's Corey and the info Keith.
Re the NZFA
I know I am going to get shot for this, but this is a paraphrased piece from Wikipedia.... but if you live in France, it kind of hard to nip down to your local NZ bookshop... and it is at least a great starting point for discussion...;-)
- In February 1866, the first field artillery battery and naval artillery corps were formed.
- From 1878 the various field batteries were administrative grouped together as the New Zealand Regiment of Artillery Volunteers, and were designated alphabetically.
- Following the formation of the Territorial Force in 1911 the Regiment of New Zealand Field Artillery and the New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers became part of the New Zealand Artillery.
- During this time the permanent RNZA maintained an instructional and cadre role.
- During initial mobilisation for WW1 it was intended that one six-gun 18-pounder battery would form part of the initial contingent of the NZEF.
- Following large numbers volunteering for artillery, it was decided to raise the a brigade of three batteries, totaling twelve 18-pounders.
- The initial brigade departed with the rest of the Main Body on 16 October 1914.
- Eventually two New Zealand field artillery brigades (regiment-sized units) served with the New Zealand and Australian Division.
- Following the end of the war the New Zealand Artillery was renamed the Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.
Many thanks to the Wikipeadia and the original article can be found here... ;-)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_...land_Artillery

Attached are my 3 NZFA badges... the top is a White Metal Volunteers Cap badge to the NZFA... off the top of my head, worn from 1902 to 1903... I know it was a very short time, and then they moved onto Brass versions.
Bottom two Cap badge - a oxidised gilt brass cap badge on the left (there are traces of gilt to back, but the front looks chemically darkened... could be just a age thing). Bottom Right, a rather worn copper NZFA badge.
Either side are a pair of NZFA collar badges.
Other Pic's... lots of variation on shoulder title manufacture... Top two are Stokes & Sons, one is marked, while the other isn't, but has that characteristic stippling between the letters, same as the marked one.
2nd Row Left, is a tiptaft marked title - so this would indicate that they wore them in the UK/France and the Western Front?
2nd Row Right - Gaunt like, no mark... I do have Gaunt marked ones, but didn't grab on this round.
3rd Row, hand cut or locally made variations
4th Row Straight NZFA
I concur Keith that a possible link with Stokes on the Caps... certainly both my Brass and copper versions have this thick rounded lug to back, which is characteristic of Stokes made items. Would have been nice that they put a maker mark to it.
All the best
James
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_7052.JPG (79.1 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_7053.JPG (89.5 KB, 13 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_7054.JPG (101.0 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_7055.JPG (104.2 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_7056.JPG (94.8 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_7059.JPG (73.3 KB, 4 views)
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