Greetings fellow cubbies. I hope you have come to terms with your Covid 19 lockdown days and haven’t gone completely stir crazy. At the moment I feel its a little bit like waiting for that first long leave break to arrive (more of that below). As the good sergeant major might have said, as long as I don’t trip on my long hair, I think I should make it OK.
May Days
With Easter and Anzac day behind us, our cadet lives headed into the increasingly shorter days of May. By now we had probably already experienced icy parade grounds and a snowfall or two – teasers for the winter almost upon us. The barracks too, were getting nippy at night and by morning getting up was proving as attractive as the proverbial cold cup. Wrapping a towel round the waist and racing down to the showers felt decidedly like another form of punishment.
Of course, by now we would also have probably experienced the “Queen Mary” breaking down (remember the camp heating system boiler house?) and the days/weeks it sometimes took for it to get cranked back up. The delight of hearing the barrack steam pipes hissing, knocking and wheezing again was only partly spoilt by the unique aroma of wet socks getting scorched on them overnight.
Also in May, we were well into the start of winter sports and for those playing rugby the novelty of travelling for miles on the back of RL Bedfords (or whatever version was your Army truck of the day) to your Saturday match in Taihape, Utiku, ‘kune, or Raetahi, was already starting to wear off. (Unless you were in the first or second fifteens – which I never was – when wink-wink, nudge-nudge after-match drinks at the local were something to look forward to during the footy season – until someone stuffed up and ‘rules’ and the licensing laws were enforced.)
The best thing about May was that it was the month of our first long leave of the year. While we may have been away on a short guard of honour, Easter, or Anzac Day trip before then, it was the thought of getting back to our home towns and experiencing ‘normal’ life for a week or so that kept most of us going. The first few days of that break were great – catching up with old mates, going to parties and getting schicker, trying to persuade girls who we would like to have had a relationship with that we hadn’t turned into cold-hearted killers (“but would you like to see our warry gears?”) and so on. Gradually, though, the break came to an end and we more than a little reluctantly boarded the train or bus back to camp (or not). We spun a few yarns on that return journey but the closer we got to Waiouru, the quieter we got. Surely they wouldn’t have an Army Schools parade on our first morning back – would they?
The Dickson Crest
The following article on the Dickson Crest was contributed by Colin (Archie) Andrews (Kippenberger 1959). Thanks Archie.
Tribute – One of our own
Eru Hamuera Brown, MBE, Shuttleworth Class
This tribute was written by Captain (Rtd) John Fairhurst, Bennett Class. John was a long-serving physical training instructor and Staff Officer Physical Training. Following ten years in the role of the inaugural Colonel Commandant NZAPTC, the Chief of Army bestowed the rank of Honorary Colonel on John in May 2018.
The NZ Army Physical Training Corps started life in World War One as the Physical Training Staff. On 1 June 1987 it became a distinct unit, The New Zealand Army Physical Training Corps (NZAPTC). In 2016 all services amalgamated into the Joint Operational Health Group.
Every Corps in the NZ Army has a significant name or role model they can aspire to. However, few have someone who touches all ranks across the whole Army.
Eru Brown (EH) was one such person who without a doubt will resonate with almost every soldier who served with him from his tenure as a Regular Force Cadet in the mid-50’s graduating to become a Driver in the ASC, then a PTI culminating as a hugely respected RSM. He served in Malaya, Vietnam and Singapore.
During his time, Waiouru Military Camp was at the forefront of the NZ Army. It was there that Eru chose, in fact almost demanded, to spend the bulk of his entire army career, of almost 60 years, working out of a small gymnasium on the outer area of the camp boundaries. Significantly, the new state-of-the-art gym and pool in Waiouru bears the name ‘Eru Brown Gymnasium’ in recognition of his outstanding service.
It was not only the hugely exciting training environment that held his attention but also the beginning and then formation of his own beloved New Zealand Army Physical Training Corps (NZAPTC). It was here he moulded, developed and inspired almost every PTI or wannabe Physical Trainer he came in contact with. His lead from the front, strong but ‘fair, firm and friendly’ approach, made the name Eru Brown synonymous with the Army Training Group and beyond. Equally, many will remember him for his ‘C’mon team’ catch-phrase he used so often when working and encouraging those around him.
His love of sport and in particular rugby were also key to Eru’s earlier life and two of his prodigies, Henare (Buff) Milner and Peter Johns (both PTI’s), became All Blacks on his watch.
His passion and almost obsession for running took him to all parts of the Waiouru Training Arena and beyond. It was he who initiated the ‘Round the Mountain’ relay when, almost without warning, he assembled 10 PTI’s, allocated them each a running distance whereupon they departed Waiouru at 6am heading up the Desert Road and into history.
During his tenure as the RSM Force HQ in Singapore in the early ‘80s, the legend of Eru Brown continued. Again, with his style of leadership and wish to stay close to the soldiers and yet remain totally grounded, he spent many battalion exercises in the Malaysian Jungle always insisting he take his place with the soldiers in a platoon environment. This again not only enhanced the huge respect and mana he had but demonstrated his ‘humble’ side, but never forgetting his origins.
After retirement Eru obtained a job looking after the Army’s vast training area in Waiouru. He also dedicated his time and service to the Army Marae. Without doubt the development and importance in the development of Ngati Tumatauenga were due in no small measure to his mana and close relationship with the then Chief of Army General Staff, Major General Tony Birks (Later Lieutenant General, Chief of Defence Force and now deceased) who was the driving force behind the concept.
For his services, commitment and dedication to the NZ Army and its surrounding community, Eru was awarded an MBE in the 1990 New Years Honours.
Sadly, Eru lost his loving daughter MJ followed by his sole-mate and hugely respected wife Toots, both to cancer, taken far too soon. Today they lie together in a special place at the Waiouru Cemetery no doubt waiting to one day have their warrior come and join them.
Eru currently lives with family in Taupo.
Eru’s korero at a 2015 event marking his 60 years in the Army.
A number of other ex-cadets were also physical training instructors:
Astwood, GJ Upham
Barlow, MC Monks
Bartlett, LE Upham
Blackler, MJ Monks
Brett, SW Elliott
Constable, LG Russell
Cooper, WF Burrows ‘74
Cottier, SR Monks
Davis, BN Puttick
Derwin, RJ Barrowclough
Fairhurst, G Ardagh
Fairhurst, J Bennett
Fowler, MG Webb
Furlong, CH Ardagh
Horopapera, RJ Puttick
Keno, JM Taylor ‘89
Kneepkins, EJ Firth
Mannix, NP Pearce
McAndrew, PT Shuttleworth
McCleod, ED Bennett
McMahon, CJ Andrew
Muller, GL Webb
Niall, PJ Shuttleworth
Pihema, MA Morris
Roberts, GR Morris
Rowe, LW Dittmer
Rolls, GW Firth
Rule, HW Upham
Seymour, SR Crump
Sherlock, GR Crump
Takimoana, JB Taylor ‘87
Taylor, M Puttick
Te Pou, RM Ngarimu
Turvey, DG Ardagh
Wickens, MA Firth
Top Row R-L Buff Milner (RIP), Mike Horan (RIP), Peter Niall (RIP), Geoff Fairhurst, Bill Flyger (RIP), Len Constable, John Talbot
Bottom Row R-L Bob Derwin, John Fairhurst, Eru Brown.
(Milner, Horan, Flyger, and Talbot were not ex-Cadets)
Eru was yet another ex-Cadet who realised more than the Army intended when it first established the Regular Force Cadet School. Forte Fortuna Juvat.
Thanks John for writing this article and thanks to Bob Davies for helping organise this tribute.
Military Arts
Currently, I am writing a memoir of my three years (1964-1966) as an RF Cadet. It contains poems, photos, map extracts, diagrams, and excerpts from a diary I kept in 1965, as well as more conventional prose. This is a piece for the memoir which might strike a chord:
Prohibition 1.0
-
- Thou shalt not dress in unapproved civvy clothing (boge gears).
- Thou shalt wear only your Number One civilian uniform.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears in the ceiling cavity.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears in the wall panels.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears under the barracks.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears in Gory Green or on Tank Hill.
- Thou shalt not ask soldiers who you know to keep your boge gears.
- Thou shalt not ask civilians who you know to keep your boge gears.
- Thou shalt not store boge gears in the Hobby Hut.
- If you go A.W.O.L. wearing boge gears, you will be caught when you get off the train because you have short hair and will start marching.
Buzzer time
John Fairhurst in his article on Eru Brown mentioned a couple of PTIs (not cadets) who were also All Blacks (Buff Milner and Peter Johns). I don’t think there were any ex-Cadets who wore the rugby silver fern, but there were at least three School staff members who made the hallowed ranks. Can you name them? (Photo – Buff Milner)
Greetings fellow cubbies. I hope you have come to terms with your Covid 19 lockdown days and haven’t gone completely stir crazy. At the moment I feel its a little bit like waiting for that first long leave break to arrive (more of that below). As the good sergeant major might have said, as long as I don’t trip on my long hair, I think I should make it OK.
May Days
With Easter and Anzac day behind us, our cadet lives headed into the increasingly shorter days of May. By now we had probably already experienced icy parade grounds and a snowfall or two – teasers for the winter almost upon us. The barracks too, were getting nippy at night and by morning getting up was proving as attractive as the proverbial cold cup. Wrapping a towel round the waist and racing down to the showers felt decidedly like another form of punishment.
Of course, by now we would also have probably experienced the “Queen Mary” breaking down (remember the camp heating system boiler house?) and the days/weeks it sometimes took for it to get cranked back up. The delight of hearing the barrack steam pipes hissing, knocking and wheezing again was only partly spoilt by the unique aroma of wet socks getting scorched on them overnight.
Also in May, we were well into the start of winter sports and for those playing rugby the novelty of travelling for miles on the back of RL Bedfords (or whatever version was your Army truck of the day) to your Saturday match in Taihape, Utiku, ‘kune, or Raetahi, was already starting to wear off. (Unless you were in the first or second fifteens – which I never was – when wink-wink, nudge-nudge after-match drinks at the local were something to look forward to during the footy season – until someone stuffed up and ‘rules’ and the licensing laws were enforced.)
The best thing about May was that it was the month of our first long leave of the year. While we may have been away on a short guard of honour, Easter, or Anzac Day trip before then, it was the thought of getting back to our home towns and experiencing ‘normal’ life for a week or so that kept most of us going. The first few days of that break were great – catching up with old mates, going to parties and getting schicker, trying to persuade girls who we would like to have had a relationship with that we hadn’t turned into cold-hearted killers (“but would you like to see our warry gears?”) and so on. Gradually, though, the break came to an end and we more than a little reluctantly boarded the train or bus back to camp (or not). We spun a few yarns on that return journey but the closer we got to Waiouru, the quieter we got. Surely they wouldn’t have an Army Schools parade on our first morning back – would they?
The Dickson Crest
The following article on the Dickson Crest was contributed by Colin (Archie) Andrews (Kippenberger 1959). Thanks Archie.
Tribute – One of our own
Eru Hamuera Brown, MBE, Shuttleworth Class
This tribute was written by Captain (Rtd) John Fairhurst, Bennett Class. John was a long-serving physical training instructor and Staff Officer Physical Training. Following ten years in the role of the inaugural Colonel Commandant NZAPTC, the Chief of Army bestowed the rank of Honorary Colonel on John in May 2018.
The NZ Army Physical Training Corps started life in World War One as the Physical Training Staff. On 1 June 1987 it became a distinct unit, The New Zealand Army Physical Training Corps (NZAPTC). In 2016 all services amalgamated into the Joint Operational Health Group.
Every Corps in the NZ Army has a significant name or role model they can aspire to. However, few have someone who touches all ranks across the whole Army.
Eru Brown (EH) was one such person who without a doubt will resonate with almost every soldier who served with him from his tenure as a Regular Force Cadet in the mid-50’s graduating to become a Driver in the ASC, then a PTI culminating as a hugely respected RSM. He served in Malaya, Vietnam and Singapore.
During his time, Waiouru Military Camp was at the forefront of the NZ Army. It was there that Eru chose, in fact almost demanded, to spend the bulk of his entire army career, of almost 60 years, working out of a small gymnasium on the outer area of the camp boundaries. Significantly, the new state-of-the-art gym and pool in Waiouru bears the name ‘Eru Brown Gymnasium’ in recognition of his outstanding service.
It was not only the hugely exciting training environment that held his attention but also the beginning and then formation of his own beloved New Zealand Army Physical Training Corps (NZAPTC). It was here he moulded, developed and inspired almost every PTI or wannabe Physical Trainer he came in contact with. His lead from the front, strong but ‘fair, firm and friendly’ approach, made the name Eru Brown synonymous with the Army Training Group and beyond. Equally, many will remember him for his ‘C’mon team’ catch-phrase he used so often when working and encouraging those around him.
His love of sport and in particular rugby were also key to Eru’s earlier life and two of his prodigies, Henare (Buff) Milner and Peter Johns (both PTI’s), became All Blacks on his watch.
His passion and almost obsession for running took him to all parts of the Waiouru Training Arena and beyond. It was he who initiated the ‘Round the Mountain’ relay when, almost without warning, he assembled 10 PTI’s, allocated them each a running distance whereupon they departed Waiouru at 6am heading up the Desert Road and into history.
During his tenure as the RSM Force HQ in Singapore in the early ‘80s, the legend of Eru Brown continued. Again, with his style of leadership and wish to stay close to the soldiers and yet remain totally grounded, he spent many battalion exercises in the Malaysian Jungle always insisting he take his place with the soldiers in a platoon environment. This again not only enhanced the huge respect and mana he had but demonstrated his ‘humble’ side, but never forgetting his origins.
After retirement Eru obtained a job looking after the Army’s vast training area in Waiouru. He also dedicated his time and service to the Army Marae. Without doubt the development and importance in the development of Ngati Tumatauenga were due in no small measure to his mana and close relationship with the then Chief of Army General Staff, Major General Tony Birks (Later Lieutenant General, Chief of Defence Force and now deceased) who was the driving force behind the concept.
For his services, commitment and dedication to the NZ Army and its surrounding community, Eru was awarded an MBE in the 1990 New Years Honours.
Sadly, Eru lost his loving daughter MJ followed by his sole-mate and hugely respected wife Toots, both to cancer, taken far too soon. Today they lie together in a special place at the Waiouru Cemetery no doubt waiting to one day have their warrior come and join them.
Eru currently lives with family in Taupo.
Eru’s korero at a 2015 event marking his 60 years in the Army.
A number of other ex-cadets were also physical training instructors:
Astwood, GJ Upham
Barlow, MC Monks
Bartlett, LE Upham
Blackler, MJ Monks
Brett, SW Elliott
Constable, LG Russell
Cooper, WF Burrows ‘74
Cottier, SR Monks
Davis, BN Puttick
Derwin, RJ Barrowclough
Fairhurst, G Ardagh
Fairhurst, J Bennett
Fowler, MG Webb
Furlong, CH Ardagh
Horopapera, RJ Puttick
Keno, JM Taylor ‘89
Kneepkins, EJ Firth
Mannix, NP Pearce
McAndrew, PT Shuttleworth
McCleod, ED Bennett
McMahon, CJ Andrew
Muller, GL Webb
Niall, PJ Shuttleworth
Pihema, MA Morris
Roberts, GR Morris
Rowe, LW Dittmer
Rolls, GW Firth
Rule, HW Upham
Seymour, SR Crump
Sherlock, GR Crump
Takimoana, JB Taylor ‘87
Taylor, M Puttick
Te Pou, RM Ngarimu
Turvey, DG Ardagh
Wickens, MA Firth
Top Row R-L Buff Milner (RIP), Mike Horan (RIP), Peter Niall (RIP), Geoff Fairhurst, Bill Flyger (RIP), Len Constable, John Talbot
Bottom Row R-L Bob Derwin, John Fairhurst, Eru Brown.
(Milner, Horan, Flyger, and Talbot were not ex-Cadets)
Eru was yet another ex-Cadet who realised more than the Army intended when it first established the Regular Force Cadet School. Forte Fortuna Juvat.
Thanks John for writing this article and thanks to Bob Davies for helping organise this tribute.
Military Arts
Currently, I am writing a memoir of my three years (1964-1966) as an RF Cadet. It contains poems, photos, map extracts, diagrams, and excerpts from a diary I kept in 1965, as well as more conventional prose. This is a piece for the memoir which might strike a chord:
Prohibition 1.0
-
- Thou shalt not dress in unapproved civvy clothing (boge gears).
- Thou shalt wear only your Number One civilian uniform.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears in the ceiling cavity.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears in the wall panels.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears under the barracks.
- Thou shalt not hide boge gears in Gory Green or on Tank Hill.
- Thou shalt not ask soldiers who you know to keep your boge gears.
- Thou shalt not ask civilians who you know to keep your boge gears.
- Thou shalt not store boge gears in the Hobby Hut.
- If you go A.W.O.L. wearing boge gears, you will be caught when you get off the train because you have short hair and will start marching.
Buzzer time
John Fairhurst in his article on Eru Brown mentioned a couple of PTIs (not cadets) who were also All Blacks (Buff Milner and Peter Johns). I don’t think there were any ex-Cadets who wore the rugby silver fern, but there were at least three School staff members who made the hallowed ranks. Can you name them? (Photo – Buff Milner)