THE PLAINSMAN (Newsletter of the New Zealand Antique Arms Association Canterbury Incorporated)
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(Branch of NZAHAA Incorporated) THE PLAINSMAN (Newsletter of the New Zealand Antique Arms Association Canterbury Incorporated) President: [email protected] Treasurer: [email protected] or [email protected] Association Rep: [email protected] Association Meetings: last Thursday of each Month Parade Room, Riccarton Park Race Course 7.30pm (Except December, no meeting) PO Box 694, Rangiora 7440 web site: www.antiquearms.co.nz Coming events: April 14th – NZAHAA AGM & Southland Branch Auction, Invercargill 26th – MOA May 31st – Visit History Centre at Burnham, LoTM MNO June 9th – SSANZ Guns Show, Whangarei 28th – LoTM PQR – Guest Speaker John F short talk about Dresden, Dave T short report “Wot I dun on me ‘oliday” July – 21st MAMS - 26th Quiz Night, LoTM STU Aug – TBA, LoTM VWX Sep – 15th Branch Auction, Displays and Sales Tables. Frank to do adverts for E-gazette and Gazette. To attract some members to submit their high class items, advertising will be at a higher standard than usual. Friday night set up (late). Details TBA. Winning display gets annual subs paid. The dates at Riccarton Raceway are subject to confirmation. Alternate dates in September to be considered by Committee if necessary. - 27th AGM and presentation of finances followed by monthly meeting Guest Speaker TBA, LotM YZA Guest Speakers are subject to change, come to meetings to get confirmation. Meetings: New Zealand Antique Arms Association Canterbury Incorporated (Branch of NZAHAA) Committee Meeting 29 March 2018 Riccarton Park Opened: 1845hrs Present: Rod W, Mike H, David H, Murray R, Wayne W, Anders G, Graeme B, Dave T Apologies: Adam C, John A, John F, Glenn M, Paul D, Frank McK. Agenda: 1. Web site any action: Rod has contacted the person who does the Ruahine web site, project is ongoing. 2. MOA: Kat will be looking after the money at the MOA. Other positions will be sorted on the night. Graeme B will be the auctioneer. Committee to be there at 6:30pm to set up room. Open at 7pm to members to being in items. Riccarton Park have advised they will be passing on a 1.5% fee for using Credit and Debit Cards. 3. ANZAC Events if any: Does anyone know about any displays being put on for ANZAC? Ask meeting. 4. Membership/Subs: President to have a sheet for members to show what problems they are having. There was discussion regarding the payment of annual subs and it was decided that the annual account would be amended to show the total amount owing. No more split payments, everyone belongs to National and local Branch. 5. General Business: Issues about being away and having to advise the Police were discussed. Graeme brought along some yellow tags to place in the breech of a weapon are available for branch meetings to indicate a safe weapon. Closure: 7pm ~o0o~ New Zealand Antique Arms Association Canterbury Incorporated (Branch of NZAHAA) Monthly Meeting 29 March 2018 Riccarton Park Opened: 7:55pm Present: 28 Members, Visitors and Guests. Apologies: Adam C, John A, John C, John F, Alec D, Glenn M, John H, Alan C, Robbie T, Alex B, Malcolm B, Tony S, Guy B, Wayne A, John H, Bruce C, Wayne G, Frank McK, Paul D. Visitors: Brendon W, Hamish H, Phil L. The President requested that all members and visitors sign the book at the entrance, each meeting night. He also requested that everyone wear their nametags, if you don’t have a nametag contact the President. Yellow tags will also be available at the entrance for members to put in the breech of any weapon brought into a meeting. Previous Minutes: Taken as read. Matters Arising: Nil Treasurers Report: Bank Account Balances as at 27 Mar 2018: Non-profit account – $ 8113.60 Simple Saver - $ 6769.23 Unusual Expenditure: Nil Subs Owing 2018: National: $ 2420.00 Canterbury: $ 2550.00 Subs Owing 2017: National: $ 2675.00 Canterbury: $ 3306.00 Other Funds: Subs to be Banked $ 470.00 Branch Reports: Library: The book “Carvings of the Veldt” Pt3, has been borrowed already. Branch Rep: NZAHAA Half AGM is happening in Invercargill on the 14th Apr. Items from Wallace L collection plus 100 other items. Neville D spoke about Wallace and offered a ride to anyone wanting to go down. Shooting: Mai Mai Shotgun shoot and BP Muzzle Loading Rifle shoot will held at the Handloaders Range, shooting for the Rosebowl Trophy. At last months shoot the Ray Aitcheson trophy was won by Wayne A. Coming Events: 1. The ANZAC trophy shoot will be held this month, get dressed in period costume and make a day of it. 2. Members were advised that Riccarton Park are applying a 1.5% fee on all EFT POS transactions put through their account, includes Credit and Debit transactions. General Business: 1. Neville D advised he had been elected to the Sporting Shooters Committee and they were looking for members from the South Island and Canterbury in particular, provided some application forms. (Please contact Neville if you are interested.) 2. Mike H advised about an article in the Press, which had also been on TV, regarding firearm safety in schools. Children playing with sticks etc. are being given instructions on safety and they even have cardboard safes to keep their “weapons” in. Something positive in the media! 3. September Branch auction will require good advertising if we are to get good items for tender. 4. Security of your collection, if you are away for any period was discussed, provided you have storage up to the standard required by the law, you do not have to advise the Arms Office accordingly, however be careful about Police interpretation of any regulation. Discussion continued about what to do if you are away or sending an item to an auction. 5. Paul W advised there would be a military display out at Prebbleton, between the 21 – 25 April to commemorate the men/women of Prebbleton and Selwyn district who went to war. Meeting closed: 8:40pm Raffle: Paul W Guest Speaker: Graeme B spoke about training rifles. LoTM: Military uniform Jackets, Medals Name Tags: Please contact the President, at the next meeting, if you need a name tag. Presidents Pen It was good to see a good turnout at the last meeting considering Easter weekend following and some faces not seen for a long time. It was great to see some interesting medals and uniform tunics something a little different. Backing up Nevilles discussion on the Sporting Shooters Ass always good to have another group fighting the cause to protect our rights and privileges as firearm owners and all for a minimum cost to members. Another busy month ahead with the AGM and auction in Invercargill in a couple of weeks and ANZAC day at the end of the month, as I stated at the monthly meeting please let us know if any support is required for displays or re enacting for the ANZAC period. …on that note keep your powder dry Rod W President Editorial Every year we rightly commemorate the ANZAC’s at Gallipoli on the 25th of April, this year let us think about another theatre of the war, one perhaps not so well remembered. Commemoration of the Battle of Beersheba in WWI By Andrew McRae, Veterans' Affairs Reporter [email protected] The Battle of Beersheba, which was part of the Third Battle of Gaza was fought in Palestine in October 1917, over 100 years ago. New Zealand mounted troops played a major role in the World War I battle. “From o’er the sea – At England’s Call. Her brave colonial sons. Stand by the Empire one & all. The Sinai-Palestine Against the foeman’s guns!” campaign lasted from 1916 to 1918 and is described by Massey University War Studies Professor Glyn Harper as the forgotten campaign of the war. The Australian troops said New Zealand had some of the best horse soldiers in the whole "Gallipoli and then the battles of the Western Front cast a campaign. Photo: Supplied / Wairarapa Archive, 06-78/5-1 fairly large shadow leaving Sinai-Palestine largely forgotten." While casualty figures for the desert were relatively light compared to the Western Front many New Zealand soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice. Nearly 18,000 New Zealanders served in the Middle East, 640 died and over 1000 were wounded. In his book, Johnny Enzed, the New Zealand soldier in the First World War, Glyn Harper wrote: "The Sinai-Palestine campaign was little more than a side-show to the main theatre of war in France and Belgium. It was a place where hopes ran high for a cheap, easy victory over an enemy not highly regarded by the Allied leaders. Such hopes were to be cruelly dashed, as the war here dragged on and experienced an equal share of disasters before victory was finally achieved." During the Sinai-Palestine campaign, New Zealanders served as mounted rifles, engineers, gunners, and cameliers. Pacific people served as members of the Rarotongan Company of the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. The town of Beersheba was considered the key to taking the fortress town of Gaza, which was an important stronghold held by the Turkish forces. Receiving secret orders for Beersheba, 30 October 1917. Photo: Supplied / Auckland War Memorial Museum – Tamaki An attempt was made by allied forces in March and Paenga Hira, PH-ALB-213-p63-2 the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade did in fact enter the town, but the British commander pulled them out. A second attempt came in April, which Professor Glyn Harper said was a major disaster. "It was one of the most expensive battles of the whole theatre." He said six months later, British General, Sir Edmund Allenby drew up a plan which he was determined was going to be the final battle to gain Gaza.