RNZIR Territorial Force Reorganisation

[Quicksilver]

Late last year a friend asked me what badges are worn by 2/4 Bn RNZIR. As I have not kept up with the subject of NZ Army badges and insignia for the past 19 years I had no idea at all. The result of my research for him is here. If you look into the word doc you will find some more pix including a new collar badge for 2/4 Bn RNZIR. The task was made easy by assistance from the RSMs of all three battalions of the RNZIR Army Reserve.
Quicksilver

Note. 4 O South patchS are listed as Recce but are Recon. Only the NZ Scottish was Recon

[2/1kiwi]

Heres he old ones before the introduction of MCU.



Do you have any to trade Quicksilver?

[Quicksilver]

Hi 2/1Kiwi,
Regret I don't have any badges to sell or trade as I don't collect NZ badges, only badges of Aden and the Gulf States with a Brit connection. Sometimes I get the odd badge or two but currently have nothing. Thanks for posting your pix. Hoped the post would generate some more info for collectors. Interesting items you have shown.
BRgds Cliff Lord

[2/1kiwi]

I have a few of the new type patches in DPM and MCU, will post on here if there is interest.

[2/1kiwi]

Now if only Nichollg will part with his Armyband patch I will nearly have the lot.....!

[Quicksilver]

I am sure we would all be pleased to see any of your patches 2/1Kiwi if you have time to scan them.
BRgds
Cliff

[Quicksilver]

Since first writing about the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment's Territorial Battalions more information has come to light and some minor amendments have been added. Also I had trouble understanding what happened to the battalions in the 1999 NZ Army Reorganisation. Please see separate research for this as well when the battalions became Battalion Groups from 1999 to 2012. I would like to thank the members of the NZDF for their assistance with this information. Note the illustrations referred to are as the previous post.

RNZIR Territorial Force Amalgamation of 2012 and its Origins
By Cliff Lord
As at April 2015

The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment consists of two Regular Force Infantry Battalions. They are: 1 Battalion and 2/1 Battalion. An additional battalion, known as the 3/1st Battalion RNZIR was occasionally formed as a composite battalion from the Territorial Battalions during exercises. Associated with the Regular Battalions are the Reserve Battalions, formerly known as Territorial Force Battalion’s. On 7 December 2012, the New Zealand Army’s six Territorial Force battalions of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment amalgamated to form three new battalions. It was stated that the reason for the reduction in battalions was to deliver a more operationally focused and sustainable reserve capability for the Army. The Territorial Force became known as the Army Reserve.

The new Reserve Battalions of the RNZIR were formed from the former Territorial Force battalions shown below:

2nd Battalion (Canterbury and Nelson-Marlborough and
West Coast Regiment) combined with 4th Battalion
(Otago and Southland Regiment) to form:
2/4 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
(2/4 RNZIR).

5th Battalion (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki
Regiment) and 7th Battalion (Wellington [City of
Wellington’s Own], Hawkes Bay Regiment) combined to form:
5/7 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
(5/7 RNZIR).

3rd Battalion (Auckland [Countess of Ranfurly’s Own]
and Northland Regiment) are combined with 6th Battalion
(Hauraki Regiment) to form:
3/6 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
(3/6 RNZIR).

A snapshot of the three new battalions in January 2015 is as follows:

2/4 Bn RNZIR

Bn HQ located at Burnham
A Coy located Christchurch and Timaru (ex 2 Cant)
B Coy located Dunedin (ex 4 0 South)
C Coy located Nelson, West Coast (ex 2 Cant) Cromwell and Invercargill (ex 4 O South)

Dress distinctions
The RNZIR cap badge is worn by all the Rifle Companies without a backing.
As at January 2015 the collar badges worn are those of the former 4 O South and 2 Cant NMWC. A new set of collar badges was approved for wear by all companies of the Battalion on 14 December 2014. The design is a crossed bayonet and taiaha. The taiaha recalls the 4 O South origins.
4 O South or 2 Cant stable belts are worn by the companies originating from those battalions.
All companies and platoons wear the 2/4 Bn cloth arm flash and on the Mounted Rifles Hat (MRH).
Other patches include: The 3 companies still wear the cloth patches which they wore prior to the amalgamation, which maintains their historical links to the units prior to 2 Cant. In the photograph the patch is worn by personnel from Christchurch, 2nd by personnel on the West coast, 3rd by Nelson, 4th by Blenhiem, 5th by Timaru. Prior to the reorganisation a black bayonet on dark green was worn by 4 O South, and a red bayonet on dark green by the NZ Scottish (Recon) Troop, authorised in January 2004. These patches are worn by B Company 2/4 Bn although the Recon patch is expected to have wasted out in 2015.
A ramshead patch was worn on the MRH by 3 Bn RNZIR. It is now obsolete.

3/6 Bn RNZIR

Battalion HQ, located in Arch Hill Auckland
Auckland & Northland Company (AN), located and working out of Arch Hill Auckland, includes:
HQ for AN Company Arch Hill
Auckland Platoon Arch Hill
South Auckland Platoon Papakura
Whangarei Platoon, located in Whangarei and working out of Auckland & Northland Company. Under Auckland Company – Whangarei Pl (Whangarei).
Hauraki Company (HAU), located and working out of Tauranga.
Hauraki Coy HQ (HAU),Tauranga
Tauranga Platoon, Tauranga
Hamilton Platoon, Hamilton
Rotorua Platoon, Rotorua
Each Pl work & report to their respective locations under their Cadres.

Training is carried out in Auckland except for the Hauraki Pl which train in Tauranga.
AN and HAU Coys work throughout the entire upper North Island from Waiouru North individual training and both Islands for collective training depending where 1 Brigade collective training/exercises are being conducted.

Dress distinctions:
Battalion HQ wear bayonet collar badges.
Auckland & Northland Company wear the cap badge of RNZIR with a plastic backing of red/black/white which was introduced when Hats Mounted Rifles were issued to all units. The Company is entitled to wear the collar badges of the 3 Auckland Regiment (mailed arm and wheatsheaf) but due to shortages the bayonet is also worn.
Collar badges are the RNZIR bayonets except Whangarei Platoon.
Whangarei Platoon wear the cap badge of RNZIR (without backing) and the collars of the former 15 Northland Regiment
Hauraki Company wear the old Hauraki cap badge and Hauraki collar badges.

All companies and platoons wear the 3/6 Bn cloth arm flash
Auckland and Northland units wear the former 3 Bn RNZIR stable belt. (black stable belt with narrow horizontal bands of red black white black red black white black replacing the former red black and white belt worn from 1972 to 1998).
Hauraki Company wear the former 6 Bn RNZIR stable belt of royal blue, Dutch gold, royal blue with a chromed plate buckle featuring the badge of the 6 Hauraki Infantry Regiment.

5/7 Bn RNZIR

Battalion HQ located in Trentham
Wellington Company located and working from HMNZS Olphert in Wellington
East Coast Company located and working out of the old 7 WnHB HQ in Napier
West Coast Company Located and working out of the old 5 WWCT HQ in Whanganui

Dress distinctions:
All companies wear the RNZIR cap badge.
Wellington and East Coast Companies wear a black blaze behind the badge on the beret, and wear 7 WnHB Bn RNZIR Collar badges (Stags Head), and 7 WnHB Bn RNZIR stable belt
West Coast Company wear the former 5 WWCT Bn RNZIR Collar badges (The Phoenix), and the old 5 Bn WWCT RNZIR stable belt. Consideration is being given to a new stable belt for the battalion to reflect both former 5 and 7 battalions.
All companies and platoons wear the 5/7 Bn cloth arm flash.

General comment

Standard New Zealand Army buttons and NEW ZEALAND cloth titles are worn by all battalions.
All TF Bands were disbanded upon the amalgamations of 12 December 2012.
The Army Reserve have been issued with the new MCU uniform which replaces Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) and Desert Disruptive Pattern Material (DDPM) uniforms that were previously worn by the Army. This dress, known as Multi-Terrain Camouflage Uniform (MCU), is worn by all ranks of the NZ Army and by New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on operations. The new uniform is worn with shirts out and the trouser belt loops were purposely made small so as not to take Corps or Regiment belts. Consequently the only time a Corps/regiment belt is worn is with Service Dress 1D. This is Service Dress with a short sleeve shirt, no jacket or tie. AR do not get issued with the short sleeve shirt as it is only for office use therefore making the Corps/Regiment belt virtually redundant.


Figure 1 RNZIR cap badge
Figure 2 2/4 Bn Collar badge due to be issued April 2 015. Top scroll 2/4 Battalion, bottom scroll RNZI.
Figure 3 2/4 Bn patches worn by personnel from the former 2 Bn RNZIR. L to R Christchurch, West Coast, Nelson, Blenhiem, Timaru. Note: The original 3 Bn also had a Battalion HQ patch nd Logistics Company patch, which are now obsolete..


Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR)
A brief history of the RNZIR Territorial Battalions

The regiment received its present name on 1 April 1964, when all of the Territorial Force battalions were absorbed into its structure, receiving battalion numbers:
• 1st Battalion – Regulars
• 2/1st Battalion – Regulars (1973 The Regimental Depot was redesignated as 2/1st Battalion, RNZIR)
• 3/1st Battalion - Occasionally formed as a composite battalion from the Territorial Battalions during exercises
• 2nd Battalion – Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast Regiment
• 3rd Battalion – Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Regiment
• 4th Battalion – Otago and Southland Regiment
• 5th Battalion – Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment
• 6th Battalion – Hauraki Regiment
• 7th Battalion – Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Regiment[6]

In 1964 the Territorial Infantry Regiments in New Zealand underwent amalgamations and reformed as a Battalions under the umbrella of a single Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.
With the New Zealand Army reorganisation of 1999, Territorial Force Infantry battalions split from the RNZIR to become multi-function battalion groups.

2nd Canterbury (Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast) Battalion Group
The 2nd Battalion (Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast) RNZIR became the 2nd Canterbury (Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast) Battalion Group, with the following sub-unit types:
• Infantry – North Canterbury Company, South Canterbury Company, Nelson Company, Marlborough Company, West Coast Company
• Artillery – 32 (Observation Post) Battery, RNZA
• Engineers – Support Company
• Medical
• Signals – Support Company
• Logistics – Logistics Company
• Brass Band

3rd Auckland and Northland Battalion Group
The Auckland and Northland Regiment became the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Battalion Group.
• Infantry – Alpha Company (Northland), Charlie Company (Auckland), Delta Company (Support)
• Artillery – 11/4 Battery, RNZA Attached to Papakura Military Camp
• Engineers – 1 North Troop; 1 Field Squadron, RNZE
• Medical – HST,1 Health Company, RNZAMC
• Logistics – 1 Logistics Company, RNZALR
• Band - Royal New Zealand Artillery Band (Band Of The Royal Regiment Of New Zealand Artillery)
• Signallers – 24 Sig Troop, 2 Sig Squadron, RNZSigs
4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group
The Otago and Southland Regiment RNZIR became the 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group, with the following unit types:
• Infantry – Otago Company, Southland Company, New Zealand Scottish Company (formerly unit of Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps)
• Medical – Field Surgical Team, Otago University Medical Company
• Logistics – Unit Supply Team
• Band
5th Wellington, West Coast and Taranaki Battalion Group
The Wellington, West Coast and Taranaki Regiment became the 5th Wellington, West Coast and Taranaki Battalion Group, with the following unit types:
• Engineers – 1 Field Squadron, RNZE
• Infantry
• Medical
• Logistics
• Pipes and Drums of the Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment

6th Hauraki Battalion Group
The Hauraki Regiment became the 6th Hauraki Battalion Group, with the following unit types:
• Armoured Reconnaissance – 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles
• Infantry
• Medical
• Logistics
The Hauraki Regiment included an armoured squadron, which is descended from the Waikato Regiment. This is designated as the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles.

7th Wellington and Hawke's Bay Battalion Group
The Wellington and Hawke's Bay Regiment became the 7th Wellington and Hawke's Bay Battalion Group, with the following unit types:
• Infantry
o Alpha Company, was based in Gisborne
o Bravo Company, was based at Trentham Camp Wellington
o Charlie Company, was based in Napier
• Artillery – 22(D) Battery, RNZA Wellington
• Medical – later under 2nd Health Services Battalion (2HSB) Linton
• Logistics
• Band

[5WWCT]

Are you planning on an updated NZ Army Distingushing Patches "1992 - 2015" books?

[Quicksilver]

Funny but I discussed it with Malcolm Thomas about a month ago. Don't think he was too keen to do it. He also said someone else was putting a patch book together, but no idea how that is coming along. The answer is probably not. If we did, it would be a reprint of the old book with colour and some modern insignia. Perhaps some of the wings out of my wings book but a real challenge would be RNZAF and RNZN badges insignia and the odd hat tally or two.
Rgds Cliff

[5WWCT]

Thanks, I've noticed in the Army News, the CO and a few other officers on a 5/7 charter parade wearing the RNZIR bayonets as well, also has WWC Coy of 5/7 stopped wearing the Phoenix collar badges on working dress?

[Quicksilver]

Good questions which I don't know the answer to. What I do know is that RNZIR Regular Force (or whatever they are called today) who are attached to the Reserve Bns wear the bayonet, and I suspect, but cant confirm, the Bn HQ Coys wear bayonet collars dogs. As regards WWC Coy of 5/7 wearing the Phoenix collar badges on working dress, I was not aware that they did. It was not mentioned by their RSM.
Rgds Quicksilver

Originally Posted by 5WWCT

Thanks, I've noticed in the Army News, the CO and a few other officers on a 5/7 charter parade wearing the RNZIR bayonets as well, also has WWC Coy of 5/7 stopped wearing the Phoenix collar badges on working dress?

[batessean]

West Coast Company did wear sewn-on phoenix patches on the DPM, but I'm not sure if they're carrying those over to the MCU.

[5WWCT]

Thanks for the input, I've found out that if you are (Reserves) but not posted on the strength of a Reserve Unit and say you are posted to Tradoc or Army General staff you revert to the RNZIR Bayonet collars and stable belt, I think the CO and his HQ staff wear the bayonet collars to be fair on both units.

Yes of course when the MCU came in I remember para wings, Aumangea patch and anything else sewn on ceased to be worn.

[5WWCT]

Just to add about the former bands, most of the former TF bands are still functioning but as civilian incorporated bands, they still perform at regimental functions and when they do their expenses are paid by the unit.

The bands still wear their dress uniforms but slight changes have come about since the 2012 reorg, here's an example of the pipes and drums 5WWCT, the RNZIR Badge and "Ngati Tumatauenga" crest on the one Army belt are not allowed, being replaced with the WWCT cap badge on lemon squeezers and berets, the latter being the blackened version on a red background.

Current issue service dress, SNCO sashes and lemon squeezers are still worn and issued/replaced by a unit pool.

[NZEF]

Here are the current TF badges, 2/4 3rd row right hand side, below that current 5/7 RNZIR collars.Both 2/4 & 5/7 still wear the RNZIR cap Badge.The bottom row, current Cap & collar for 3/6 RNZIR companies.Note the Auckland company, center bottom, have a kings crown (unlike Northland Company, bottom right) maybe they are future proofing there badge.