Second Thursday in the month (February to November inclusive), commencing at midday at Level 2 (Heritage Section) at the City Library.  Also, other presentations on days and venues provided.

See posters in respect of each presentation for time and venue and other needful  information.

2025

(Note: Most EPLP = Evening Public Lecture Presentations and MMMHP = Monthly Midday Military History Presentations will be held on the Mezzanine Floor of the Palmerston North City Library (PNCL).  All speakers and topics shown above are potential until confirmed and invite posters are released.  These presentations and topics may change according to speaker availability.  Also, that all the 2020-22 audio recordings and Powerpoint presentations are on the “nzsappers” website (Heritage Audio Section - see letterhead above). See previous PPTX and audio recordings on www.nzsappers.org.nz.

The Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC) as part of the RNZE Charitable Trust (RNZE CT) and in partnership with the Palmerston North City Library (PNCL), will host the following:

13 Mar (Thu - MMMHP) – “110^th Anniversary of the Defeat of the Allied Fleet in the Dardanelles”, by CDR (Rtd) Richard Jackson, RNZN

10 Apr (Thu - MMMHP) – “70^th Anniversary of RNZAF No 14 Squadron Vampires Deployed to Malaya”, by WGCDR Peter Hurly, DSD, OStJ, RNZAF.

22 Apr (Tue - EPLP) – “110^th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings”, by Dr Ian McGibbon, ONZM, former Chief Historian, Ministry of Culture and Heritage

8 May (Thu - MMMHP) – “60^th Anniversary of RNZAF No 3 Squadron Transition to Helicopters”, by WGCDR (Rtd) Ron Thacker, MNZM, RNZAF, Former CO, 3 Sqn RNZAF

12 Jun (Thu - MMMHP) - “20^th Anniversary of the Deployment of NZDF UNMOs to South Sudan”, by COL Mel Childs, Dep Sec, Governance, People and Exec Services, NZ Min Def

24 Jun (Tue - EPLP) – “110^th Anniversary – Men and Their Horses: The Sinai-Palestine Campaign, 1915-19, during the First World War”, by LTCOL Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, RNZIR

10 Jul (Thu - MMMHP) – “160^th Anniversary – A New Paradigm: The Self-Reliant Policy in the NZ Land Wars”, by LTCOL Dr Richard Taylor, RNZAEC, Director, NZ Land Wars Study Centre

14 Aug (Thu - MMMHP) – “25^th Anniversary of NZDF Women into Combat Roles”, by LTCOL Dr Amy Brosnan, RNZSigs, Director, NZDF Women Peace and Security

26 Aug (Tue - EPLP) – “80^th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945”, by RADM (Rtd) David Ledson, RNZN, former Chief of the RNZN

11 Sep (Thu - MMMHP) – “140^th Anniversary of the Russian Scare 1885 in NZ”, by LTCOL Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, RNZIR

23 Sep (Tue – EPLP and Book Launch) – “GEN Lucian Truscott, the Greatest US Field Commander in the Second World War?”, by LTCOL (Rtd) Dr Glyn Harper, QSM

9 Oct (Thu - MMMHP) – “70^th Anniversary of the Formation of the NZSAS and Malayan Emergency”, by BRIG Chris Parsons, MNZM, DSD, former Deputy Chief of the NZ Army

28 Oct (Tue – EPLP) – NZ Land Wars Month - “180^th Anniversary of the Formation of the NZ Army and the Flagstaff War”, by LTCOL Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, RNZIR,

11 Nov (Tue - EPLP) – Remembrance Day – “80th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign, the Forgotten Front in the Second World War”, by LTCOL (Rtd) Dr Glyn Harper, QSM

27 Nov (Thu – MMMHP) - “10^th Anniversary of NZDF Commitment to Iraq”, by LTCOL Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, RNZIR

OTHER EVENTS

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” (MCE) as shown below and other related military historical anniversaries, activities, and events.  This programme is based around discussions with the PNCC Mayor and CEO, PNCL Heritage team, PNCC Events team, PNDHAG members and the PNRSA Executive Committee.  The programme is very dynamic, and venues include PNCL Level 2 (Heritage Section) and Mezzanine Floor (entrance via alleyway between George Street and The Square), depending upon availability.  Following separate invitations will confirm dates, timings, and venues, together with any associated RSVP and/or health and safety requirements.

Other notable anniversaries in 2025:

110^th anniversary Anzac soldiers’ riot in Cairo (2 April 1915)

110^th anniversary loss of 10 members of New Zealand Army nursing service in sinking of Marquette (23 October 1915)

105^th anniversary New Zealand Expeditionary Force deploys to Fiji to aid colonial British government put down strikes among Indian labourers- NZ unions protest

80^th anniversary Air Vice-Marshall Leonard Isitt accepts Japanese surrender on behalf of NZ (2 September 1945)

75^th anniversary of NZ deployment to Korean War (Pukaki and Tutira depart 3 July 1950)

60^th anniversary of Operation Ice Cube- first RNZAF flight to Antarctica (27 October 1965)

60^th anniversary New Zealand combat units deployed to Vietnam War (May 1965)

55^th anniversary anti-Vietnam War protestors greet US Vice President Spiro Agnew in Auckland (15 January 1970)

40^th anniversary New Zealand government refuses permission for nuclear-capable USS Buchanan to enter New Zealand waters (4 February 1985)

40^th anniversary of attack on the Rainbow Warrior (10 July 1985)

35^th anniversary of NZDF deployment to Gulf War (HMNZS Endeavour- September 1990; RNZAF 40 Squadron-23 December 1990)

More anniversaries can be added in due course and as further information comes to hand.

2025 Notes – During Local History Week and Heritage Month (in March-April), other military heritage activities (including displays and visits) are likely to be included.

Otherwise for 2026-2030, a similar format/pattern as in previous years for both EPLP and MMMHP programmes, two major commemorative events (ANZAC Day and Remembrance (Armistice) Day), plus potential for other NZDF activities/events, provided by Linton Camp (1 (NZ) Bde) and RNZAF Base Ohakea, as Charter partners of the PNCC.

MMMHP sessions are normally held at midday on the second Thu in each month, Feb through Nov 25. EPLP sessions are normally held on Tue evenings in Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, a book launch in Sep (on the Ground Floor), Oct and Nov 25.  All presentations will be held in the PN City Library Mezzanine Floor (entrance off alleyway between George Street and The Square – 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.