A Rich History Celebrated in Banner Parade

15 June 2010

By Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Dunn, Director of Army Medicine.

On 20 May 2010 history was made at Linton Camp when the 102 year old Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps received its first Banner.

In times past, the banner was a rallying point for soldiers on the battlefield. Today it is a centrepiece for a Corps or Regiment and represents the physical embodiment of the spirit of the Corps.

Thirty years ago the idea of a Banner was first suggested when HRH the Queen Mother was Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps. Following her passing, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (first cousin of the Queen) kindly accepted our invitation to be Colonel-in-Chief, and it was his Banner that was presented to the RNZAMC 100-person guard.

This Banner Parade was the culmination of three years of hard work and planning, and represented a team effort. Acquiring a banner is a prolonged and strict process which needs approval from her Majesty the Queen. Along the journey funding had to be secured, Prince Richard had to design a cipher and an official painting of the Banner done. Timing was critical as the Duke was due in New Zealand in May 2010 for the 125th Anniversary of St John Ambulance (New Zealand).

Mr Clive Robinson, the Defence Force’s ceremonial uniform technical adviser, happened to be going to the United Kingdom a few weeks prior to the parade, so he was able to supervise the acquisition and preparation of the Duke’s uniform, and also to bring the Banner home with two weeks to spare.

Organising a 100-person RNZAMC guard with supernumeries, a Maori Welcome Party and a 21 Gun Salute took meticulous planning from 2HSB, and the support of various other 2LFG units, such as 2nd Engineer Regiment, 16 Field Regiment, 1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, 2nd Logistics Battalion and also 1 Military Police Company. Antique ambulances were obtained, the Army Band provided support to the parade and Air Force photographers were on hand to record the event. In addition we were very grateful for the support given by the Formation and Regimental Sergeant Majors who made the effort to assist with the practices in the days before the parade. Their mentorship and leadership was critical to the successful parade which followed.

Fortuitously it wasn’t until forty-five minutes after the Duke left Heathrow Airport, that it closed due to Icelandic volcanic ash. This parade was meant to be! Not even a dead battery in the Chief of Army’s car prior to him driving on would stop proceedings—jumper leads soon fixed that, although it did feel as if we were standing at ease for a long time.

The weather was perfect, the parade began, the band played, and the Duke, Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy, the Chief of Army, and Lieutenant Colonel Rob Krushka representing the Commander, 2 Land Force Group, arrived on parade. Also in attendance was Major General Paul Alexander, Director of the Australian Defence Health Services. The Welcome and 21 Gun Salute given, the inspection completed, the banner blessed and handed over by the Duke from Major Speedy Jacobs (the Banner Major) to Lieutenant Ron Christmas (the Banner Ensign). It was then duly paraded in slow and quick time, then Advanced in Review Order.

The day continued with a number of different luncheons, formal photographs and time for HRH to deliver a message from his wife, Colonel-in-Chief to the RNZAEC, meet the soldiers and view the medical displays in the conference hall.

That night the Banner was paraded at a celebratory ball at Awapuni Racecourse (home of a World War I memorial to Army medics), and the Banner now lies at 2 Health Support Battalion.

The Corps will always be grateful for the wide support given to us to achieve such a memorable day. We look forward to another 100 years of service to our fellow soldiers with the values represented in our Banner; a rich history of Courage, Commitment, Comradeship, and Integrity. Semper Agens Semper Quietus.