“ROYAL” DESIGNATION FOR N.Z. CORPS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 5

“ROYAL” DESIGNATION FOR N.Z. CORPS

APPROVAL GIVEN BY KING (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 3. The King had approved of the prefix “Royal’ ’in the titles of 10 corps of New Zealand’s land forces, said the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) today. The Minister recalled that in 1901 the designation “Royal” was granted the permanent artillery of New Zealand. In the following year its use by the engineers was sanctioned. Subsequently these corps were amalgamated into the Royal New Zealand Artillery. Recently the merits of other units had been recognised with the result that the following units would be entitled to use the “Royal” designation: the New Zealand Armoured Corps, New Zealand Engineers. New Zealand Corps of Signals, New Zealand Infantry Corps, New Zealand Army Service Corps, New Zealand Army Medical Corps, New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, New Zealand Army Dental Corps, and New Zealand Chaplains’ Department. The New Zealand Artillery was not included in the list because the Royal New Zealand Artillery had already absorbed the territorial artillery. Mr Jones said the extension of this honour to so many units which had won deserved renown in two wars would be received with pride by members of the forces and by the general public. He was confident the honour would stimulate morale and impart additional vitality and prestige.