Palmerston North Returned
and Services Association (2014) Inc
24 Linton Street, Palmerston North 4440
Venue: Bowls PN, PNRSA Club evenings at the Bowls Lounge 4.30pm on Wednesday’s.
Office days: Monday and Friday 1.00pm – 3.00pm. Except Public Holidays
Website: www.pnrsa.org.nz PNRSA Email: rsa@inspire.net.nz Office Phone 354 8271
PNRSA TRUST
9am - 11am Tuesdays at the Senior Citizens Lounge
opposite the Globe Theatre, Main Street, Palmerston North
~ Mike O’Connor 358 9983 ~ Albie Armstrong 358 6881 ~ Trevor Gillbanks 0221052316
MAY NEWSLETTER
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~ Presidents Message ~
Greetings Everyone
Wow! Certainly has been busy this last month. Hope you are all keeping warm, although, it really hasn’t been that cold over the last few weeks – but wait! Jack Frost has something up his sleeve, yet to come!
Talking of cold we had Anzac Day on the 25th April. I got up at 0400, looked at my phone which informed me that the temperatures that day for Palmerston North would be 8 – 18 degrees! “That’s not bad” I thought, so I just wore a suit, collar and tie (and shoes and socks!)……..and froze!
Well, we had representation at Linton Camp, Te Marae O Hine – The Square, Bunnythorpe and the Māori Battalion Hall -Te Rau o Te Aroha.
Thanks to Murray Batten, who organised the refurbishing of our old wreaths as well as getting two new ones thus allowing us the lay wreaths at the previously mentioned venues. Thanks also to Palmy BID, Bernice and Tim Adlam of Speights’ Ale House for their contribution, which meant that we did not have to pay for the wreaths. Apropos that, we will be looking at having a “Cooks’ Night Off” at Speights’ next month on 17th June – see this newsletter.
On 13th May, we celebrated 110 years of the RSA in Palmerston North with a very nice meal at the Essence Café. Councillor Mark Arnott, representing the mayor, proposed a toast to the Palmerston North RSA and our long-standing member – Alan Cull - at the age of 102 years - cut the cake – see the photos!
On the 17th May, Rosemary and Joe Hollander and I represented us at the WWCT District AGM. It was disappointing to note that, out of 38 RSAs in the District, only 18 were represented. There were no members from National Office as they were in Auckland having a meeting with the Auckland dissenters.
Sadly, like most organisations, finances are hard, so this year the National Office will be increasing our capitation fee from $10.00 a member to $15.00 plus GST. This means that we will have to review our membership subscriptions.
Additionally, we learned that Associations must now align their tax year and AGM with that of National Office. So, just when we were congratulating ourselves on sorting out our new constitution, we will have to go back to the drawing board!
On the welfare front, Val Lamb and Gordon Smith remain pretty much home bound. Zilla Torrance has had a fall and is currently in hospital. Mike O’Connor also ended up in hospital but was discharged the next day. Teresa Gillbanks, who was looking forward to having her operation, has heard that it has been postponed to a later date. Elaine O’Brien has also been in hospital but is expected to be home soon. Our thoughts go out to you all!
A little bit of military history, on 17th May 1943 Operation Chastise took place. This operation was more commonly known as the Dam Busters Raid. It was a remarkable operation with Barnes Wallis designing the so called “bouncing bomb,” which allowed the explosive device to skim across the water, hitting the side of the dam wall, then sinking below the surface before exploding against the wall below the surface. Three dams in the Ruhr were earmarked; the Mohne, the Eder and the Sorpe. Roy Chadwick, adapted the large Lancaster bomber to carry the specially modified “bombs” and Edward Calvert designed a light that allowed the huge bomber to fly as low as 60 feet above the water of the dam while travelling at 240 miles an hour, it was an incredible feat of flying. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC, the raid resulted in two of the dams being breeched. Of the 133 aircrew members taking part, 53 were killed. The last member of the original Dam Busters raid was Les Munro , CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC of the Royal New Zealand Air Force who died in 2015. While the raid was successful, it also resulted in over 1500 civilian lives lost. Today, it would probably be regarded as a war crime. Nevertheless, the bravery technical ingenuity and sacrifice should be remembered.
That’s it for now and thanks to Craig for doing a great job in getting these out to you and to Al Hollins who has helped with revamping our website.
Keep warm
Peter
PS She was only a whisky distiller’s daughter, but he loved her still.
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Check out the PNRSA website to see if I have taken your photo!
All recent events have been loaded onto our website. https://pnrsa.org.nz
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There are two of the displays up on Level 2 (Heritage Sect) of the PNCL. See Display 1&2 attached. The other two displays focus on the Gallipoli Landings and the Western Front. According to library staff, they are attracting quite a bit of attention and interest.
- Joe Hollander
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PNCC MILITARY HERITAGE/HISTORY, ANNIVERSARY AND COMMEMORATION PROGRAMME FOR 2026
This programme follows on from the approved and successful previous activity listings. It includes the military history presentations known as the “Evening Public Lecture Presentations” (EPLP) and the “Monthly Midday Military History Presentations” (MMMHP) series. There are also “Major City Events” as shown below and other related NZDF and military historical anniversaries, activities, and events. Rather than a five-year rolling programme, PNDHAG members decided in 2025 to follow the annual “RNZRSA Remembrance Calendar” and significant military commemorations and historical anniversaries. Separate invitations will follow and confirm dates, timings, and venues, together with any associated booking, RSVP and/or health and safety requirements.
2026 Programme:
29 May – (Fri) International Day of UN Peacekeepers – commemorated by all who have served as UN Peacekeepers.
1 Jun – (Mon) King’s Birthday
11 Jun – (Thu - MMMHP) “180th Anniversary of the Wellington War (Attack on Boulcott’s Farm on 16 May 1866)”, by LTCOL Dr Richard Taylor, RNZAEC, Director, NZ Wars Study Centre, NZDC
9 Jul – (Thu - MMMHP) “160th Anniversary of the Third Taranaki War (in January 1866”), by LTCOL Dr Richard Taylor, RNZAC, Director, NZ Wars Study Centre, NZDC
13 Aug – (Thu - MMMHP) “80th Anniversary of HMNZS Achilles (Leander Class Cruiser) Being Decommissioned and Sold to the Indian Navy”, by RADM (Rtd) David Ledson, former Chief of the RNZN
15 Aug – (Sat) Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, WW2 (1945)
18 Aug – (Tue) – NZ National Vietnam Veterans’ Day
27 Aug – 70th Anniversary of the Granting of Freedom Charters to LMC and RNZAF Base Ohakea
Sep (dates TBA) – PNCC Local History Week (PNCL)
3 Sep – (Thu) Merchant Navy Day
10 Sep – (Thu - MMMHP) “40th Anniversary of the ANZUS Security Pact Suspension in 1986 (NZ bans Nuclear Ships in its waters)”, by Dr Nina Harding, Massey University
16 Sep – (Wed) NZ National Day of Malaya, Malaysia and Borneo Commemoration Day
22 Sep – (Tue – EPLP) “110th Anniversary of the Formation of the NZ Division on the Western Front and Activities on the Somme”, by LTCOL (Rtd) Prof Glyn Harper, QSM, PhD
1 Oct – (Thu) RNZN Day (Established in 1941)
8 Oct – (Thu - MMMHP) – “NZ Wars Month – 140th Anniversary of the Transfer of the Armed Constabulary to the Permanent militia (by the Defence Act of 1886)”, by COL Peter Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, NZ Army Standby Reserve
20 Oct – (Tue – EPLP and Book Launch) “GEN Leslie Morshead, one of the greatest Australian Army Commanders in the Second World War”, by LTCOL (Rtd0 Prof Glyn Harper, QSM, PhD. Now Postponed until 2027
28 Oct – (Wed) Te Putake o te Riri, He Ra Maumahara/National Day of Commemoration of the NZ Wars
8 Nov – Remembrance Sunday
11 Nov – (Wed) Remembrance (Armistice and Poppy Places) Day Parade and Service in Te Marae o Hine/The Square
11 Nov – (Wed – EPLP) Remembrance Day- “110th Anniversary of the Engineer Tunneling Company Operating on the Western Front”, by Peter Cooke, Renowned NZ military Historian and Author
24 Nov – (Thu - MMMHP) “60th Anniversary of 161 Battery, RNZA, Supporting 1 ATF at the Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam”, by WO1 (Rtd) Dave Hayward, MBE, RNZIR, former Sergeant Major of the NZ Army and Renowned NZ Author
Other notable anniversaries in 2026:
180th anniversary of the Wellington Campaign in 1846
160th anniversary of the British Campaign in Taranaki in 1866
110th anniversary of the formation of the NZ Division (1 Mar 1916) in Armentieres and the Battle of the Somme
110th anniversary loss of NZ Engineer Tunnelling Company operations on the Western Front
110th anniversary of the ANZAC Mounted Rifle Brigade in action (Battle of Romani – 3 Aug 1916) with the ANZAC Mounted Division in the Sinai-Palestine Campaign
110th anniversary of the first ANZAC Day service in NZ (1st meeting of Provisional Executive)
110th anniversary of HMNZS New Zealand taking part in the Battle of Jutland
110th anniversary the Battle of Flers-Courcelette: NZ’s first day on the Somme
85th anniversary of NZ troops engaged in Greece, during WW2
80th anniversary of the disbandment of 2NZEF and HQ, 2 (NZ) Div in Jan 1946
80th anniversary of the return of the 28th Maori Battalion to NZ
80th anniversary of NZ involvement in “J Force”, during WW2
80th anniversary of Sir B. C. Freyberg becoming the Governor-General of NZ
80th anniversary of the Mutual Aid (Lend-Lease) Agreement with the USA being terminated
80th anniversary of the clothing rationing in NZ being abolished
80th anniversary of the National Airways Corporation (NAC) begins flying operations in NZ
80th anniversary of NZ’s trusteeship agreements for Western Samoa are approved by the UN General Assembly
70th anniversary of the Suez Crisis in 1956
70th anniversary of the Granting of the Freedom Charter of Palmerston North to Linton Military Camp and RNZAF Base (Station) Ohakea (27 Aug 1956)
70th anniversary of the Malayan Emergency: NZSAS begins its first operational patrol as part of OP GABES SOUTH (in 1956)
60th anniversary during Confrontation with Indonesia, HMNZS Hickleton opens fire on a sampan carrying armed infiltrators in the approaches to Singapore (in 1966)
50th anniversary of the appointment of “Sergeant Major of the NZ Army”, created on 8 Dec 1976
30th anniversary of the formation of the RNZALR, combining the RNZCT, RNZAAOC and RNZEME
20th anniversary of NZDF involvement in the war in Somalia
10th anniversary of NZDF elements being deployed to Timor as part of the International Stabilisation Force (2006-2012)
MMMHP sessions are normally held at midday on the second Thu in each month, Feb through Nov 26. EPLP sessions are being held on Tue evenings in Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct and Nov 2026. All presentations will be held in the PN City Library Mezzanine Floor (unless advised otherwise). Other military history presentations by visiting historians and book launches/releases are also programmed throughout each year and will be advised separately. Event invite posters will confirm all timings and venues for these activities.
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COMING UP IN JUNE @ 4.30pm Wednesday Evenings
3 June Yap Yap 10 June Yap Yap
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17 June
Cook’s Night Off
Speight’s Ale House @ 6.30pm
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24 June Members Draw