Hi All
NZ had limited Artillery in the country prior to WW2.
Most was from WW1 with 18 pdr, 4.5" howitzer and the 3.7" mountain gun.
Some heavier calibre guns were in country, primarily for fortress troops at the major ports. Russell mentions experimental carriages, which I think are early war attempts to mechanise heavy guns.
The 2nd NZ Div went overseas in 3 echelons largely equipped with WW1 style uniforms, webbing and rifles. They eventually assembled in Egypt once the 2nd Echelon were released from UK where they landed in the post Dunkirk period.
The Div was equipped with heavy weapons, artillery, equipment and vehicles there from British stocks. They fought in Greece, Crete, Egypt through to Tunisia, and then in Italy ending in confrontation with Titos forces in Trieste.
The 2 NZ Divisional Artillery comprised 3 field regiments, an anti tank regiment and a light anti aircraft regiment. I don't think they formed Medium regiments overseas in WW2.
The 3 NZ Div was formed in Fiji as garrison troops were reinforced with additional battalions as the threat from Japan increased. They had a similar organisation to the 2 Div Arty when they served in the Solomon campaign.
Man power shortages resulted in a 2 brigade organisation plus some Div units. I believe they kept the third field regiment. (The 6 pdr AT guns were landed to deal with Japanese destroyers and barges in case of counter attack!)
Home defence forces did get medium artillery with 5.5" guns, and Matador and Scammel artillery tractors. Likewise heavy anti aircraft batteries had 3.7" AA guns. Troops at home were mobilised for much of 1942 with 7 Brigade as the mobile force, while most other brigades were based on Territorial Battalions in their home areas. Variously organised as North, Central and South areas then 1st, 4th and 5th Divisions, then reverting back to areas!
There was a paper division in Egypt 6 NZ Div with a HQ that transmitted signals to and fro, vehicles marked with the Kiwi, and three training battalions numbered 31, 32 and 33.
In the Korean war 16 Fd regiment was deployed with a Transport Unit,
meanwhile 4 NZ Div was formed based on Territorial units to be ready to deploy to the middle east if Mother Britain called!
I was told when on a course in Waiouru that in the 1950s the full Div artillery formed up in Waiouru camp and headed out on State Highway 1 north past the three volcanoes to Turangi at the south end of Lake Taupo, then headed west and south down the other side of the mountains and back to Waiouru, As the lead elements arrived, many hours later, the tail of the divisional artillery train was just leaving!
That is to the best of my memory from decades of reading histories and hearing old soldiers stories told by them or retold by others.
Any corrections will be gratefully received!
Rob
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