Father to Lead Son in Solomon Islands

Major Nigel Gattsche with son Josef Gattsche during crowd control training at Burnham Army Camp in October.

October 26, 2006.

Christchurch soldier Josef Gattsche is used to having his dad order him around in the family home but next month the orders will become official when he comes under his fathers command for the New Zealand Army deployment to the Solomon Islands.

Josef’s father Major Nigel Gattsche will be the commanding officer for the November 27 deployment of 45 personnel to join the Australian led Regional Assistance mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

The two live together on an Ellesmere hobby farm and although Major Gattsche will have more control than ever over his 20-year-old son during the four-month rotation, Josef says he will cope.

“He will treat me the same as any other private in the Army. I’m looking forward to going,” Josef says.

The deployment will be the first time New Zealand territorial force personnel have outnumbered regular force personnel on an international mission but Josef and his father say they are confident the contingent has the right experience and training.

The majority of those deploying have been in the territorial force for more than five years or served in the regular force previously.

Major Gattsche has served for more than 20 years in the regular force and deployed to Afghanistan, the Sinai and the Middle East.

The deployment to the Solomon Islands will be his first as a senior national officer but he says he has the background, skills and support personnel to make the best of it.

“I’m looking forward to visiting a new country and a new culture. I’d like to see what we can do to promote security and better their lives.”

Outside of Army life Major Nigel Gattsche runs Kingswood Panel Limited, a company which exports hurricane resistant homes. Private Josef Gattche works as a builders labourer while studying to be a pilot.

New Zealand personnel have been supporting RAMSI since November 2004. Their jobs include patrolling, assisting RAMSI police in downtown Honiara and helping with external security at Rove Prison.