Armed Services 1968 - 1987

           For this post, we will feature four stamp issues with military themes. The first of these is a three value set, issued in 1968, 25 years after World War II. It featured three values, one for each of the three New Zealand Armed Forces. Then we have three sets issued during the 1980s, each with four values, each depicting one of the three armed forces.
           All of these sets are shown in my Military ANZAC collection (See the bar above) but on this post, I want to look at them in more detail along with adding a few other items of interest too.

          I personally think all the stamps shown on this page have interesting and well laid out designs. The theme is a popular one and so these sets would look good in a collection of New Zealand stamps.

1968 Armed Services.

         Following a request from the New Zealand Air Force Association that there should be some form of recognition for 'Battle of Britain Day', it was decided to release a special stamp issue with a 'Services' theme in 1968. Such timing would mean the issue would coincide with the 23rd anniversary of the ending of World War II in Europe. 

        This set of three values was issued to pay tribute to those New Zealanders who served in the three armed services, both during the two world wars and up to 1968. It also marked 25 years from the beginning of New Zealand's involvement in World War II. The designs showed a modern serviceman, with a 'ghost' image of another from an earlier period, in the background. Each has the equipment they would have used. It is rather interesting looking back at these designs from 2014 when everything on all three stamps including the so-called 'modern' is now obsolete.

4c - New Zealand Army.

         This value shows an Infantryman and tank from 1968. He is wearing a light uniform and kit for use in the jungle wars of Malaya and Vietnam.  The shadow figure in the background is a WWII soldier with rifle and hard hat from that period. The New Zealand Army badge is also included in the design.

               

10c - New Zealand Air Force.                                  28c - Royal New Zealand Navy.

         The New Zealand Air Force stamp uses a similar format, but instead showing pilots, with a Canberra bomber and pilot from 1968 in the foreground, with WWII Kittyhawk and pilot in the background. The Air Force badge is also shown.

         The third value shows two sailors with their ships. The HMNZS Waikato is in the foreground and  WWII era HMNZS Achilles is in the background. The Royal New Zealand Navy badge is also included in the design.

1984 New Zealand Army.

Military History.

           In the years immediately following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, friction between the settlers and the Maori people built up over land claims and came to a violent head in 1844. It was then that North Auckland Maori Chief Hone Heke led a well-armed force to Kororareka, now called Russell, in the Bay of Islands. The township was sacked, and the general alarm at this rebellion led to the passing of the first Militia Ordinance in 1845. Under this Ordinance, all able-bodied men aged between 18 and 65 were required to hold themselves in readiness for service and for 28 days of training every year.

           This was the beginning of New Zealand based armed forces. Since then New Zealanders have seen action in other Maori Wars, South Africa Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Malaysia and South Vietnam. Since this stamp was issued, the army has been included in peacekeeping in various parts of the world.

24c - The Boer War, South Africa, 1901.

(See my post on the 1900 stamp issued depicting this war.)

          In September 1899 the New Zealand Government offered Great Britain a contingent of mounted riflemen to fight in the Second Bore War.  Ten contingents eventually sailed for South Africa.  New Zealand's contribution in proportion to population was exceeded only by Britain and Rhodesia.  At Slingersfontein, the New Zealanders held a hilltop against the Boers (South Africans of Dutch descent), eventually dispersing them with a bayonet charge.  This spot was renamed New Zealand Hill.  The Boers surrendered at the end of May 1902.  288 New Zealanders died in South Africa, with more men dying of disease than actual wounds.

         The stamp features a New Zealand mounted rifleman; in the background, a mounted rifle platoon rides across a typical Transvaal landscape.

40c - World War I, France, 1917.

          In 1915 New Zealand troops had gone through the anguish of Gallipoli suffering heavy casualties fighting the Turkish Army.  Their withdrawal to Egypt was soon followed by an order to move to France - the Western Front.  Conditions were only marginally better than at Gallipoli and the New Zealanders had little time to become accustomed to the rigours of European trench warfare before they were thrown into action against the Germans.  In just two and half years the Western Front cost New Zealand 13,250 men died of wounds or sickness, and nearly 35,000 wounded.

          This stamp features a New Zealand Engineer officer in the uniform worn at the time and the distinctive New Zealand Arm "lemon squeezer" hat.  In the background, a motor lorry negotiates a "plank" road laid by engineers across the desolate and shell-torn landscape of the Western Front.

58c - World War II, North Africa, 1942.

           At the outbreak of World War II, the New Zealand Government offered Britain support.  Major General Bernard Freyberg was appointed General Officer Commanding the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In April and May of 1941, New Zealand troops had seen action in Greece and on Crete, being forced to withdraw with more than 4000 being taken Prisoner of War.  The New Zealand Division was rushed to Egypt when the Germans advanced across North Africa.  Under the leadership of General Montgomery, the 8th Army successfully attacked at El Alamein in 1942 and started an advance that pushed the enemy westwards across the desert to their eventual surrender in Tunisia in May 1943. It is said that an attack by New Zealand and Australians turned this battle in the Allied favour.
          This stamp features the commander of a General Stuart "Honey" tank which was used by the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry.

70c - South-East Asian Wars,

Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam, 1950-1972. 

         In 1950 the special combat force 'Kayforce' was formed to serve with other United Nations' ground forces in Korea. A total of 3794 New Zealand soldiers served in  Korea - of these 33 died, 79 were wounded and one was taken, prisoner.  In 1955 a Special Air Service unit was sent to Malaysia.  During 17 months in jungle operations. seven of their numbers were killed in action.  A total of 3890 New Zealand troops served in Vietnam between 1964 and 1972, 35 soldiers died and a further 187 were wounded.  The last of New Zealand's combat forces were withdrawn from Vietnam in December 1971 with the headquarters withdrawing in December 1972.

        This stamp marks four post World War II campaigns in Asia - Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam.  On the left, a 25 pounder gun of the 16th Field Regiment during a Korean winter; on the right, a New Zealand infantryman on patrol in a South-East Asian jungle.

                                                                  

                                                                                        

 

70c - Red flaw by the soldier's feet.

Miniature Sheet: New Zealand Land Wars 1860s - $1.92

          This miniature sheet incorporates the four stamps from this issue set against a background illustration of a military camp set in the New Zealand bush in the 1860s.  After the New Zealand Wars broke out in 1860 the Government decided that the establishment of local forces would assist in the development of the country's 'self-reliant' policy and the first Regular Force was formed in 1862 - the New Zealand Army was born.  In 1870 the last British regiment left New Zealand shores leaving the young army that today is known and respected in many parts of the world where it has served and fought.

1985 Royal New Zealand Navy.

        From the very beginning, the history of New Zealand has been linked to first The Royal Navy and then later to the Royal New Zealand Navy which is the subject of this issue. Four ships are shown through different periods of Naval history. You will notice that I have added a second date to the last vessel which was still in active service in 1985 but was later decommissioned in 2005.

       The country was claimed for the British Crown in 1769 by Captain Cook, and even before the arrival of the first Crown-appointed governor, gunboats from Britain's Royal Navy were helping preserve law and order in the fast-growing colony.
       The Naval Defence Act of 1913 authorised the establishment of New Zealand Naval Forces and in the years to follow the seagoing service experienced the triumphs and tragedies of two World Wars and confrontations in Korea and Indonesia. The Royal New Zealand Navy has built a hard-earned reputation for efficiency and professionalism much envied by its larger counterparts.  Today the force stands as a visible safeguard to the country's national security.

25c - HMNZS Philomel 1914-1947.

Light Cruiser - Training Ship.

         The 'Cradle of the Navy', HMNZS 'Philomel', could be described as the foundation stone on which the Royal New Zealand Navy was laid.  This light cruiser was the country's first warship, obtained in 1913 as a training ship.  When World War I was declared, the cruiser went to war operating in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.  Decommissioned in 1947 the old ship's fittings and parts were removed and she was towed out to sea and ceremoniously sunk on 6 August 1949.

45c - HMNZS Achilles 1936-1946.

Leander-class Light Cruiser.

         The HMNZS 'Achilles' began her New Zealand naval life in much the same way as HMNZS 'Philomel'.  She was lent by the British Admiralty as a ship for the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and with HMS Diomede was commissioned on 31 March 1936.  Three months after the outbreak of World War II the Achilles sailed into history engaging in one of the most famous of recent naval battles  - The Battle of the River Plate - Uruguay.  She was sold to India in July 1948 and renamed INS 'Delhi' and scrapped in 1978.  One of her gun turrets plus the director control tower is on display at the Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology.

60c - HMNZS Rotoiti 1949-1965.

Loch-class anti-submarine frigate.

         Purchased in 1948 from the British Government, the HMNZS 'Rotoiti', along with five other Loch-class anti-submarine frigates provided the backbone for the Royal New Zealand Navy for well over a decade.  The 'Rotoiti' was called to service in the Korean War and served as a weather ship during peacetime at the Christmas Island nuclear test in 1957.  During the 1960s the Loch-class ships outgrew their usefulness and 'Rotoiti' was the last to be withdrawn from service in August 1965.  She was eventually sold for scrap in September 1966.

75c - HMNZS Canterbury 1971-2005.

Leander class frigate.

           The first of the wide-beamed Leander class frigates was launched in 1970.  Along with HMNZS 'Otago', the HMNZS 'Canterbury' took part in the anti-nuclear protests at Mururoa Atoll in 1973.  In 1982, her services during the Falkland Islands conflict won the 'Wilkinson Sword of Peace' award; the first time the award had been made outside the Royal Navy. 

            HMNZS 'Canterbury' was decommissioned in 2005 and after extensive works to remove potentially toxic materials, she was scuttled on 3 November 2007 at Deep Water Cove in the Bay of Islands to provide a dive wreck.

Maxi Card photo of the HMNZS Canterbury with the stamp from 1985 Navy Issue.



 Miniature Sheet - $2.05

           Incorporating the four stamps of this issue with a background design illustrating HMNZS 'Monowai' a hydrographic survey ship commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy in August 1974.

           In 1980-81 HMNZS 'Monowai' carried out an extensive trans-Pacific survey to chart the route for laying the ANZCAN cable to provide New Zealand's communication links with Australia, Norfolk Island, Fiji, Hawaii and Canada and via Atlantic Ocean cables and satellites to Europe.                              

  

1987 50th Anniversary

New Zealand Air Force.

          The final issue of this three-part series appeared two years later in 1987 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the New Zealand Air Force. Again the four stamps depicted aircraft from different periods of the Air Force history. The pride of this set were the 'modern' Skyhawk fighters shown on the 85c stamp. Since then, in  2001 the Labour Government scrapped the Skyhawk wing. The aircraft sat in storage until they were sold in 2012.

         The military first considered the question of aviation in regard to the defence of New Zealand back in 1911 but it was not until 1 April 1937 that the Royal New Zealand Airforce emerged as a separate service. Until then it had been controlled and administered as part of the Army.

         The Airforce was involved in World War II with units serving in both the European and Pacific theatres. Between 1945 and 1987 there have been many airforce operations undertaken requiring skilled airmen.  RNZAF squadrons and aircrew served in hot spots from the Berlin Airlift, Malaya and Cyprus to Vietnam and the Sinai with aircraft as diverse as Vampires, Canberras, Broncos, Dakotas, Bristols, Hercules and helicopters.  The service has also flown transport missions around the globe from the Antarctic to Bangladesh and to Moscow and China.

          Since this issue, the Royal New Zealand has continued its role of protecting New Zealand and supporting New Zealand military overseas. 

40c - an AVRO 626,

RNZAF base Wigram, 1937.

         An AVRO 626 in flight against a background of RNZAF base Wigram circa 1937 - in recognition of the important role of air training. You might want to compare this view of Wigram Base with the one on the miniature sheet below.

70c - Two P40 Kittyhawks,

Typical Pacific Islands - 1944.

        Depicted against a typical pacific island backdrop are two P40 Kittyhawks.  The aircraft symbolises the RNZAF purpose of regional defence against aggression and the groundcrew represent the very necessary supporting functions of both personnel and equipment.

80c - Sunderland flying boat,

Pacific Island Lagoon, the 1950s.

         A Sunderland flying boat alighting in a pacific island lagoon - represents the RNZAF support to the Pacific Community and the far-ranging scope of activities in the post World War II period.

         The RNZAF's maritime unit, No 5 Squadron, was based for many years in Fiji, flying patrols and mercy missions throughout the South Pacific until the squadron's reliable old Sunderland flying boats were replaced with land-based Orions.

85c - Two A4 Skyhawks.

Background of Mt Ruapehu, 1987.

       Two A4 Skyhawks are depicted in flight, against a background of Mt Ruapehu - representing the RNZAF today and in the future.

        This might have been the future of 1987 but as I said above, the Labour Government scrapped the Skyhawk wing, in 2001.

        Here is an interesting block of four stamps that have suffered a massive side shift of their perforations. The plane's propeller is completely cut off and added to the adjoining stamp.

Miniature Sheet - $2.75

       Incorporates the four stamps of the airforce issue with a background design depicting a general scene of Wigram airfield circa 1923.

Miniature Sheet - $2.75 (Capex 87)

        The miniature sheet for this issue was also produced with a 'Capex'87' overprint to mark New Zealand Post's attendance at the Capex'86 World Philatelic Exhibition in Toronto, Canada.    

Technical information:- 1968 Armed Forces.

Date of Issue:	7 May 1968
Designers:	LC Mitchell, Wellington
Printers:	Thomas De La Rue, England
Stamp Size:	40mm x 24mm
Sheet Size:	100 stamps per sheet
Process:	Delacryl
Performance Gauge:	14 x 13
Paper Type:	Chalk-surfaced, NZ and star watermark

Technical information:- 1984 New Zealand Army.

Date of Issue:	7 November 1984
Designer:	R M  Conly, Waikanae
Printers:	Harrison and Sons, England
Stamp Size:	40.64mm x 29.81mm
Sheet Size:	100 stamps per sheet
Process:	Lithography
Perforation Gauge:	14.75 x 14
Paper Type:	Harrison and Sons, unwatermarked

Technical information:- 1985 Royal New Zealand Navy.

Date of Issue:	06 November 1985
Designers:	P Durrant, Christchurch
Printers:	Cambec Press, Australia
Stamp Size:	40mm x 30mm
Sheet Size:	100 stamps per sheet
Process:	Lithography
Perforation Gauge:	13.5 x 13.25
Paper Type:	Unwatermarked

Technical information:- Royal New Zealand Airforce.

Date of Issue:	15 April 1987
Designer:	P Leitch, Waikanae
Printers:	Leigh-Mardon, Australia
Stamp Size:	40mm x 28mm
Sheet Size:	100 stamps per sheet
Process:	Lithography
Perforation Gauge:	14 x 14.25
Paper Type:	Unwatermarked

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ.

You can visit their website and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/