Time for a aniversary of a somewhat unique regiment.

MontyB

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NZ's oldest Army Regiment celebrates 150 years service


Brief Regimental History The 5th Battalion (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki) RNZIR (5WWCT) is considered the oldest unit in the New Zealand Army as it traces its history from the early years of New Zealand. It comes from two broad pathways, namely that of the Wellington West Coast Regiment and the Taranaki Regiment, both of which claim an ancestry pre-dating the official raising of armed forces in New Zealand.
The Taranaki Regiment's forbearers include the Taranaki Rifle Volunteer Corps, which is believed to have been the first unit formally raised in New Zealand. This Corps took part in the New Zealand Land Wars and so distinguished itself at the battle of Waireka (being the first British Empire reservist unit ever committed to battle) that it was granted the Battle Honour 'New Zealand'. This is a unique distinction. No other unit has ever been given its country's name as a Battle Honour in the long and colourful history of Britain, her Empire and the Commonwealth. This battle honour was subsequently in the 1960's adopted by the Regular Force Infantry battalions to demonstrate their lineage to the Territorial Force units.
The Wanganui Rifle Volunteers, renamed the Victoria Rifles, the Wanganui Bushranger Volunteers, and the Royal Rangitikei Rifles are a few of the many ancestral units associated with the Wellington West Coast Regiment, a number of which were involved in the New Zealand Wars.
In the First World War men from the Wellington West Coast and the Taranaki Regiments took part in composite battalions due to the government policy that no Regiment would fight as a unit. A similar system applied in the Second World War with soldiers taking part in 19th, 22nd, 25th and 36th Battalions. It was members of this unit, lead by Colonel Malone of the Wellington Regiment that made the now famous stand at Chunuk Bair.
In 1948 The Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiments were combined to form the Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment. Then in 1964 the New Zealand Army was again restructured with all the previous Regiments falling under the umbrella of the single Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. At this point the Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment became 5th Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (5 RNZIR). In 1974 the name was changed to 5th Battalion (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki) (5 WWCT) in order to recognise the territorial affiliations of the unit.
Unit Emblem
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The old Wellington, West Coast Regiment’s crest was a rampant lion and that of the Taranaki Regiment, Mount Taranaki (Egmont). On the amalgamation of the regiments in 1948 these emblems could not be suitably combined and a new one was therefore designed. The symbol chosen was the phoenix bird, which according to Greek mythology, used to destroy itself by fire when too old to be useful, and then be reborn from its own ashes, young and full of vigour.
The roman numerals to the left and right of the flames at the base of the crest represents the VII Wellington, West Coast and XI Taranaki Regiments - the old bird consumed by flames - whilst the young phoenix rises proudly as 5 WWCT. Brigadier D.S. Thompson MC, ED, MP former Honorary Colonel of 5th (WWCT) Battalion and a former Commanding Officer of the unit was primarily responsible for the design of this unique badge.

http://www.army.mil.nz/at-a-glance/...id={f767c0d4-b302-473a-a14b-496298aade84}.htm
 
The regiments official anniversary is in September but it was decided to bring it forward one month so that it could be commemorated alongside the death of Colonel Malone (8th Aug 1915 at Chunuk Bair).
 
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