5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment

The 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is an Army Reserve infantry battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment with its headquarters in Trentham, New Zealand.

5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
Cap badge of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
ActiveDecember 2012 – Present
Country New Zealand
AllegianceHM The Queen
BranchArmy
TypeReserve (Territorial Force)
RoleLight Role Infantry
SizeThree companies
Garrison/HQHQ - Trentham
Wellington Company - Trentham
West Coast Company - Wanganui
East Coast Company - Napier
Motto(s)Onward
March5th Battalion -
7th Battalion -
Wellington and
The Dashing White Sergeant
Commanders
Commanding officerLieutenant Colonel Andrew Fortune
Regimental Sergeant-MajorWarrant Officer Class One Paul Mumm

History

The 7th Battalion, RNZIR was formed in 1964 during the reorganisation of the army by the amalgamation of two separate regiments:

  • 5th Wellington Regiment
  • 9th Hawke's Bay Regiment (which had earlier incorporated the 17th (Ruahine) Regiment)

In 1948 the 7th Wellington West Coast Regiment amalgamated with the 11th Taranaki Regiment to form The Wellington West Coast & Taranaki Regiment.

In 1964 The Wellington West Coast & Taranaki Regiment became the 5th Battalion, RNZIR.

In 1974 further name changes occurred to reflect each units historical links -

  • 5th (Wellington West Coast & Taranaki) Battalion, RNZIR.
  • 7th (Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay) Battalion, RNZIR.

The respective amalgamations saw the new regiments become Territorial Force battalions of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. This lasted until another reorganisation in 1999, which saw the TF battalions split from the RNZIR to become multi-function battalion groups.

Then again in 2012 the territorial force reorganised with the battalion groups splitting and the former units rejoining their parent corps and regiments. The infantry battalions were amalgamated from six to three, this included the 5th and 7th Battalions which amalgamated to form the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.[1]

Regimental bands

Until 30 June 2012, both battalions each had a regimental band or regimental pipes and drums. But funding to the territorial force bands was cut in favour of keeping the full-time New Zealand Army Band.[2] Both the former Regimental Pipes and Drums of the 5th (Wellington West Coast and Taranaki) Battalion, RNZIR and the Regimental Band of the 7th (Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay) Battalion, RNZIR continue as incorporated societies while retaining their respective uniforms, rank, instruments and band rooms. Notably, the 7th Battalion Band performed at Government House, Wellington for the territorial force amalgamation parade in March 2013.[3]

Battle honours
  • 5th (Wellington West Coast & Taranaki) Battalion
    • New Zealand
    • South Africa
    • First World War: Somme 1916–18, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Bapaume 1918, Hindenburg Line, Landing at ANZAC, France and Flanders 1916–1918, Sari Bair 1915, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915–1916
    • Second World War: Greece 1941, Crete, Sidi Rezegh 1941, Minquar Qaim, El Alamein, North Africa 1940–1943, Cassino I, The Senio, Italy 1943–45, Solomons

The 5th (Wellington West Coast & Taranaki) Battalion is one of two unique units of the Commonwealth, in that it is one of two units to have its own country's name as a battle honour. This dates from the service of the Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Corps, from which the Taranaki Regiment is descended, during the New Zealand Wars, specifically in the Battle of Waireka.

The other unit to share this honour is the Cape Town Highlanders Regiment a reserve mechanised unit of South African Army.

  • 7th (Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay) Battalion
    • South Africa 1900–02
    • First World War: Somme 1916–18, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Bapaume 1918, Hindenburg Line, Sambre (Le Quesnoy), Landing at ANZAC, France and Flanders 1916–18, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915
    • Second World War: Greece 1941, Crete, Tobruk 1941, Minquar Qaim, El Alamein, Tebaga Gap, The Sangro, Cassino I, The Senio, Solomons 1942–44

Alliances

References
  1. Broadley, Jon (December 2012). "Territorials Become More Joined Up" (PDF). NZ Army News. pp. 8–9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  2. Ray, Adam. "Military bands break up thanks to spending cuts". 3 News NZ. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  3. "Disestablished Army Band Plays On For The Army This Sunday". Scoop. Retrieved 18 May 2013.

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