NZ marked No5's

[Peter Laidler]

You're almost there Tertle. You might have taken all your kit or just taken over from those you replaced but if something goes wrong, say, your rifle needs replacing then it'll go back to Ord and be replaced by the next one, that might be a pom L1A1 and so on. If your Australian Whites 3 ton truck is cast, you'll get a new Bedford and so on. As for ammo, you just got what came next, be it CAC, Australian of RG. So the huge stockpiles were mixed. I don't know how the Ord system worked of course but know it from the RAEME/REME side though

It should be quite easy to find the NZ marked No5 (or 5's from the Ord Depot). Just find out where the weapons from the RNZEME workshop at Ngaruawahia went. At least, I HOPE it's easy because I got them a Thompson SMG and also sent Jock Annandale a Mk5 Sten via 'diplomatic' channels. The huge Northern District Ordnance Depot there also had the hand written ledgers detailing the types and serial numbers of all the rifles sent to the UK in 1939 (or 1940) AND those sent with the NZ Army to fight in the desert and those No4's shipped to NZ from Canada in the war. A really attractive girl called Susan Munns (who loved at Taupiri) who worked there showed them to me. Where did they go too...........?

Oooooops...... I meant to say LIVED at Taupiri but she might have LOVED at Taupiri too!

[Tertle]

I can see that this has brought back fond memories , was going to say something else but dont want to be too cheeky!

Ive got a bit of time off work at the moment, was actually considering heading to wellington for a couple of days and looking through the archieves up there. Ive always meant to have a look, good excuse for bit of research!

i will also make an approach to NZ Defence Forces and see what records they may have and where they are kept, one can only but ask.

And thanks for explaining the kit aspect too.

[Peter Laidler]

I just WISH that I'd taken a bit more notice of those handwritten ledgers detailing the rifles and kit sent to the UK and the Middle East. [I] don't know when the Ord Depot at Ngaruawahia opened but it must have been pre war because there were still hidden stocks of Boys .55" ammo in the ammo dump being unearthed. One day, when I've had a few, I'll mention the three hand grenades we threw into the Waikato!

The same Susan Munns showed me a box of old, brand new and unissued (were they paraffin.....?) bicycle lamps that had been found on the shelves of the depot. There were crated No4's too. Long tipped into the dump near the old Armourers 25 metre range over the road when Hopu Hopu closed - along with the ledgers I expect

[Tertle]

when I've had a few, I'll mention the three hand grenades we threw into the Waikato!

well next time your in country give us a yell, im sure that an ale or three might get some good old stories going!

[nzl1a1collector]

How much are you willing to pay for a No. 5, Mk. 1 Stamped with N/|\Z ? and how many do you want?

Just let me know. bikes, bayonets, horseshoes, and leather will cost you more...... now where did I put that useless N/|\Z stamp ...?

[MJ1]

Interesting subject so thank you for the post. Who's support system would have maintained the arms. Did NZ even have higher shops than company or division in Malaysia? What we called,"Not my yob." I wouldn't think company or battalion would be adding the NZ stamp. But I'm just asking, we marked nothing on the arm metal or wood, all notes went on a form nothing on the arm itself. Shame, before the powers cut them up the M14 could have told some stories. OMG Korean .30 carbines?