Veterans celebrate formation of unit

Press, 19 October 1989, Page 6

Veterans celebrate formation of unit

By

DAVE WILSON

This year has special significance for war veterans, with several war-time units marking the fiftieth anniversary of their formation. One such group is the 27th Machine Gun and Infantry Battalion, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary reunion in the city between tomorrow and Monday. Throughout the various social and nostalgic events arranged for the veterans, the conversation will focus on the period between October 3, 1939, when the unit was formed at Burnham Military Camp, to August 7, 1947, in Japan when the unit became 3 Battalion, New Zealand Regiment. The reunion programme includes a bus trip to Bumham on Saturday where the soldiers of the Ready Reaction Force will demonstrate today’s weapons and military tactics. A church parade and wreath laying ceremony will be held on

Sunday, with a round of parties and formal dinners throughout Labour Day week-end. Mr Evan Williams, of Christchurch, who served with the 27th Machine Gun Battalion, has taken a deep interest in its history. He said the battalion shared a record with the Divisional Cavalry of serving overseas longer than any other unit of the 2nd New Zeland Expeditionary Force. The battalion was one of the first units of the New Zealand Division to go into action in the Greek campaign of 1941, and it also saw action in Crete, the Western Desert, and Italy. Mr Williams said the battalion’s gunners spent little time together as a unit, but were seconded to other units in support roles. “Nevertheless, the ties of the battalion and the loyalties of its former members have not dimmed after 50 years.”