15 June 2010

By Carey Clements

As thousands gathered around cenotaphs throughout New Zealand on Anzac Day to commemorate the fallen, the Wellington-based Bravo Company soldiers of 7th Wellington (City of Wellington’s Own) and Hawke’s Bay Battalion said goodbye to one of their own after an outstanding period of long service in the Territorial Force (TF).

In a career stretching back to 1973, Warrant Officer Class One Jim Hogg has been one of the real stalwarts and characters in the TF.

WO1 Hogg initially joined in 1972 and went to Fiji with the QA Waikato Wellington East Coast (Wai-Wec) Squadron before being medically discharged. However due to an incorrect medical diagnosis, he was able to rejoin on 1 January 1973.

“I am probably the only soldier who ever officially joined up on New Year’s day,” WO1 Hogg joked. As his father held a job with the Ministry of Works, WO1 Hogg was based in Waiouru at the time of joining and after completing Basic, went straight into the Queen’s Alexandra (Waikato, Wellington, East Coast) Squadron.

In the mid 1970s, WO1 Hogg moved to Masterton and remained a member of the Squadron. In the early 1980s Corporal Hogg went on his OE to Great Britain and for several years was a member of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry, a Territorial Regiment of wheeled armour.

“The biggest exercise I have ever been on in terms of sheer numbers was Exercise Lionheart in Germany where we had 20,000 mobilised including 2 Para as the enemy. This was just prior to them deploying to the Falklands,” WO1 Hogg recalled.

After returning to New Zealand in 1983, then Sergeant Hogg was posted back to Wai/Wec as a Troop Sergeant. After various appointments within Wai/Wec Squadron, SSgt Hogg was promoted to WO2 in March 1991 and became the Squadron Sergeant Major in a position he held for a number of years. With regionalisation throughout the Territorial Force in 1999, WO1 Hogg was posted to the training team at 2nd Land Force Group before receiving his final posting to Bravo Company, 7 WnHB Battalion.

WO1 Hogg deployed on CRIB 11 to Afghanistan in 2007 as the S9.

“It was a terrific experience,” he recalled, “as going overseas on operations is the pinnacle for any Territorial soldier.”

Despite being in an infantry unit for his last ten years, WO1 Hogg has no doubts as to where his true loyalty lies.

“I am a tankie and after live firing with M113 APC’s and Scorpions, the C9 just doesn’t do it for me,” WO1 Hogg said with a smile on his face.

During his 37 years, WO1 Hogg has seen many changes, but some things nevertheless remain.

“What I will treasure most will be the relationships developed as soldiers. I have known so many under various testing and trying circumstances from the good guys to the larrikins and with it came a huge esprit de corps.

“Up until East Timor in 2000 there was no opportunity for overseas deployments other than Exercises like Tasman Reserves, but today the Territorial Force soldier has a lot more opportunity as the Army has realised that we are as a vital component as the first reserve.”

WO1 Hogg said Anzac Day was a good time to end his career as he felt he has ‘paid his dues’ and like the ‘Tankie’ he so proudly is, was pleased to see an Armoured Corps presence during the Wellington Anzac Day dawn service.

“In addition to me as the Parade Marshall, we also had the presence of the Chief of the Army, Major General Jones along with the President of the Wellington RSA, Colonel (Retired) Trevor McComish which covered all bases. It was nice to hear the General slip into his speech the Ode to the Mounted Trooper.”

WO1 Hogg ended Anzac Day by again being the Parade Marshall at Taita Cemetery, which is one of the largest Returned Services cemeteries in Wellington.

“It means more to me being there (at Taita Cemetery) than just being at a brick and mortar monument as we are literally thanking those beneath us. It is quite special watching the Girl Guides and Brownies lay sprigs of rosemary and a poppy on each returned grave.”

Later in the day WO1 Hogg received a number of farewell presents and speeches at the Taita RSA, including one by Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Harker on behalf of all the Officers and soldiers of 7WNHB Battalion Group.

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