Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweed
I wonder if this NZ version can be dated ?
Kind regards Chay
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This pattern of this badge was originally used by the Ordnance Corps in the NZEF between 1916-19 (Oldham Ref 8/259) with a different badge adopted for use by Ordnance in New Zealand (Oldham Ref 8/257), the NZ pattern badge would remain in use from 1917 to 1937.
The NZEF Ordnance pattern badge was not in wide use during the interwar period. Photographic evidence shows that it was still used by some individuals who served in Ordnance in the NZEF who then resumed service in the peacetime army. By 1936 stocks of the NZ pattern Ordnance badge had been exhausted and with 180 of the original NZEF Ordnance Badges in stock (and 319 of the collar badges) permission was sought to officially reintroduce the NZEF Ordnance badge back into service. Instead of adopting the NZEF pattern badge a new Ordnance badge resembling the RAOC badge was adopted for the NZAOC (Oldham 8/261). As an interim measure until the new badges were produced the NZEF Pattern badge was approved for temporary wear.
With the advent of the 2nd World War, the New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC) was created as the Territorial Army element of the NZAOC with the NZEF Pattern badge adopted as the NZOC Badge. With a strength of several hundred members, stocks of existing badges would have soon been exhausted and local manufacture was undertaken. The example pictures has a makers mark for Mayer & Keane, a Wellington badge Manufacture, so at as an assumption, I would date this bade from sometime between 1941-44.