Active 1917–1923 Branch New Zealand Army | Country New Zealand | |
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Role Supply, maintenance and repair of equipment, small arms and all stores required for the Defence Force Garrison/HQ Alexandra Military Depot, Mount Cook, Wellington 1917–1920
Trentham Military Camp 1920–1923 Notable
commanders Major T McCristell
Lieutenant Colonel H. E. Pilkington | ||
The New Zealand Army Ordnance Department (NZAOD) was the organisation of commissioned officers who were responsible for the supply, maintenance and repair of equipment, small arms and all stores required for the Defence Force from 1917 to 1923.
Contents
Establishment
Gazetted by regulations published on 1 February 1917, the NZAOD was established as part of the permanent staff of the Defence Forces of New Zealand, replacing the New Zealand Defence Stores Department, absorbing its existing staff and also those handling military equipment and stores in the districts and training camps. Previously the Defence Stores Department had been under the control of the Public Service Commission. The establishment of the new Ordnance organisations, ended the anomaly of having civilians in the army who are really outside it, and were not subject to military discipline and control, and placed staff who had worn civilian clothes into uniform and under army discipline.
Organisation
The Gazetted regulations that established the NZAOD, laid out the organisation of the department, the same Gazette also detailed the establishment of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, which was a separate organisation made up of Warrant Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, soldiers and civilians.
The NZAOD was to consist of:
Officers of the Department rank as follows:
Foundation Staff
Approved with effect 1 April 1917, the foundation staff of the NZAOD and the NZAOC on its formation were:
Operations
The NZAOD in conjunction with the NZAOC in New Zealand and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force NZAOC, would continue to support New Zealand's war effort up to the end of the war, and then play a major role in the demobilisation of New Zealand's Forces, and the return, inspection, repair and redistribution of equipment. On 14 February 1920 Lieutenant Colonel H. E. Pilkington, was appointed Staff Officer for the Ordnance Services effectively replacing McCristell as the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores, with the new title Director of Ordnance Stores. As the NZEF demobilised, the NZAOD absorbed many officers who had served with the NZEF NZAOC providing much operation experience which became invaluable as both the NZAOD and NZAOC consolidated their position and started to centralise themselves as an organisation in Trentham, Burnham and Auckland.
Amalgamation
On 3 July 1923, the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department was amalgamated with the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, resulting in one Ordnance organisation for the New Zealand Army.