Royal New Zealand Air Force Queen's Colour

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 8

Royal New Zealand Air Force Queen's Colour

[Specially written for The Press" by

"MEREBIMUR"]

JAN Wednesday, the Queen’s ' 7 Colour of the Royal New Zealand Air Force left Wlgram for Woodbourne. It is the custom of the Royal New Zealand Air Force that each Royal New Zealand Air Force Station shall have the honour of the safe keeping of the Colour and that it shall be lodged with the station for one year. How quickly time passes! It seems only yesterday that we witnessed the HandingOver Ceremony of the Queen’s Colour to the Ensign of the Colour Party at Wigram and its being lodged in the officers’ mess prior to the beating of retreat on station that afternoon.

Although the Air Force is the youngest of the three services and the years of traditional background are thought to be few compared with the Navy and the Army, it will come as a surprise to many to learn that two very old “mottoes” other than “Per Ardua Ad Astra” also indirectly belong to the Air Force. They are “Übique” (“Everywhere”) and “Quo fas et Gloria Ducaut” "Where Duty and Glory Lead”). Early in military history, what we now know as the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Royal Engineers really came under one head, known as the Master General of Ordnance. This remained so until 1716, when the two were separated and became distinct arms of the service.

It may be stated, however, that the Garrison Artillery have always been a more or Less permanent unit. On separation the Artillery took precedence, but both have kept the same mottoes, stated earlier. Therefore, since the Air Force are direct descendants of what became the Royal Engineers on down through the Air Battalion of the R.E.’s and the R.F.C., so the R.N.ZA.F. have a direct claim and in view of the fact that the Air Force fight or operate on all fronts, they are “Übique.”

Again, in 1622 (Markham says) the Ensign-bearer may have the pick of the billets, thus: —“He shall never lodge or dislodge them but with a guard. He may in garrison challenge the first and principal lodging.” These are but a few of many such orders of that time which make one realise just how great is. the responsibility even today, when the ensign-bearer is given charge of the precious “Colour." and if the Colour Party which left Wigram on Wednesday should have been delayed en route for any reason. then, as was the case in 1622, the Ensign has authority to choose the best lodging in the vicinity where the delay has occurred.

This ceremonial procedure did not, of course, originate yesterday and it is of interest to read instructions issued nearly 400 years ago. “In-

structions, Observations, and Orders Mylitarie,” Sir John Smithe, 1591, writing of the Ensign-bearer states: — “When he cometh neare to the place where he shall lodge, he then being on foote, must himself with great respect and reverance take and carrie the Standard, be it imperial or royal, and place it in his lodging under a strong and verie convenient guarde of soxdiers and so likewise in the morning upon the occasion of dislodging, he himselfe. being stronglie accompanied, ought to take the Standard into his own hands, and to march and take his place according to the direction of his Prince dr his Lieu-tenant-General.”

To some people nowadays all of this ceremonial means nothing, but many still remember that, but for what has passed (which is the reason for this ceremonial) none of us would be enjoying the life we do and that it is the esprit de corps of the Services, of sport, or the business of a country that makes of us a nation worth talking about.

Although we are a very young member of the Services, we are the descendants of, in fact, a continuation of those very earliest defenders of all they held dear, and he who would not stand for this belief is not worth powder and shot!