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
APRIL NEWSLETTER
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~ Presidents Message ~
Greetings Everyone
Goodness! Halfway through April already and Anzac Day next week!
Hopefully you all had an enjoyable Easter and we can be thankful, that we in the Manawatu, came through the inclement weather relatively unscathed.
This week, we were once again privileged to enjoy Gary and Mere Fryers’ Cooks Night Off. As usual, we had a good turnout for the event and the meals were excellent!
On the 17th April – this week – will be Poppy Day. Keep an eye out for our collectors, pick up a poppy and show your support for New Zealand’s veterans of military service and their whanau.
As said, next week we will commemorate Anzac Day marking 110 years since the first Anzac day and also next month will mark 110 years of the Palmerston North RSA. We will be commemorating Anzac Day with representation at Linton Camp Dawn parade, the Dawn parade and Civic service at the cenotaph at Te Marae o Hine – the Square and also the service at Bunnythorpe.
Unfortunately, with the current fuel shortage, the RNZAF will not be conducting a fly past on Anzac Day, but we do anticipate a flypast from Brendon Deere’s Biggin Hill aircraft. You will also see that The ANZAC Equine Rehab Unit will be returning from North Canterbury with six horses and riders to participate in the various Anzac Day services about the Palmy area. They will arrive a week earlier, to visit schools in the PNCC area, from Ashhurst down to Linton Camp Schools.
For those who missed it last year, there will also be two screenings of the excellent film “Devils on Horses” at the Globe Theatre on 23 at 1800 and 26 April at 1900.
110 years
As mentioned on the last newsletter next month we will be celebrating 110 years of Palmerston North RSA and this will take the form of a Birthday Dinner at the Essence Restaurant on 13 May 2026 at 1830.
We will still meet as normal at Bowls Palmerston North and then move to the Restaurant after the Ode. Please see the information in this newsletter.
There is also a lot coming up with the Heritage Programme so see the information in this newsletter. This year also marks the anniversary of 100 years since the cenotaph was opened at Te Marae o Hine – the Square so the commemorations will focus on that as well.
That’s it for now and thanks to Craig for doing a great job in getting these out to you.
Peter
PS What is a bigamist? A thicka Italiana fog!
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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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Devils on Horses
The ANZAC Equine Rehab Unit will be returning from North Canterbury with six horses and riders to participate in the various ANZAC Day services about the Palmerston North area.
They will arrive a week earlier, to visit schools in the PNCC area, from Ashhurst down to Linton Camp Schools.
This was very popular amongst the children from the MDC and RDC areas but not held in Palmerston North last year.
For those who missed it last year, there will also be two screenings of the excellent film “Devils on Horses” at the Globe Theatre on 23 and 26 April – see details attached in the link: Performances - Devils On Horses - Globe Theatre
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WARTIME SECRETS FROM THE FAMILY HOME
By Tom McGrath
It's a good quality publication from Writes Hill Press (The Publisher) and includes content based on newly discovered source material about WW1 and WW2.
The book can be borrowed from libraries or for those wishing to purchase, ordered through Writes Hill Press (see attached flyer).
Please contact me (mcgrathtom0@gmail.com) if you have queries about this book.
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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:
17 Apr – (Fri) Poppy Day in NZ
21 Apr – next EPLP on “The First ANZAC Day Service in NZ and PNRSA 110th Anniversary” (see invite poster attached);
23 Apr – Screening of the film ‘Devils on Horses” at The Globe Theatre, at 1800hrs
24 Apr – ANZAC Day rehearsals at Te Marae o Hine/The Square from 1300hrs;
25 Apr – (Sat) ANZAC Day (Dawn and Civic) Parades and Services in Te Marae o Hine/The Square and elsewhere in Ashhurst, Bunnythorpe, Linton Camp and the Māori Battalion Hall (also incorporating Centenary Commemoration of the Unveiling of the PN Cenotaph/War Memorial in Te Marae o Hine/The Square)
26 Apr – Second screening of the film ‘Devils on Horses” at The Globe Theatre, at 1900hrs
8 May – (Fri) Victory in Europe (VE) Day, WW2 (1945)
14 May – (Thu - MMMHP) “70th Anniversary of the Suez Crisis in 1956”, by COL Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, NZ Army Standby Reserve
29 May – (Fri) International Day of UN Peacekeepers – commemorated by all who have served as UN Peacekeepers. (see invite poster attached)
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 MAY @ 4.30pm Wednesday Evenings
6 May Yap Yap
13 May Yap Yap & 110 Anniversary Dinner at Essence @1830
20 May Yap Yap 27 May Members Draw
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~ ATTENTION MEMBERS ~
110th Anniversary Dinner
To be held on
Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 1830 hrs
Venue:
Essence Restaurant (Old Breaker’s Building)
186 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North
Restaurant has an extensive menu which caters to all dietary needs.
You can check the menu on the Restaurant’s website.
https://www.essencecafepalmy.co.nz
~ Meal and Drinks at own expense. ~
RSVP to rsa@inspire.net.nz
or to Rosemary Hollander on 021 313 933
By Sunday 10 May 2026