Bruce Weir, ex V3 RNZIR, and a gunner in 16 Fd Regt has an original copy of a journal dated 1940 and titled TE WAKA O TU (The War Craft), written on board the HMT Aquitania. In it there are 3 verses called "NZ Onward" Perhaps this is where our Infantry Motto may come from :-- quote
Silently slowly slipped the convoy,
Passed the Heads and out to sea,
Gone were the hearts that would grieve in the homeland,
Gone was the land of the proud and the free.
Onwards the convoy, ships and the escort,
On to fight for the fight against wrong;
Sons of New Zealand, sail on in Youths splendour,
A smile on your lips, in your hearts a glad song.
At home they are waiting for word of your exploits;
Brave ring the deeds in the land whence you came.
Onward the Kiwi! Up the Fernleaf!
Anzacs to battle! Uphold ye the name! -unquote
There is a bit of history including a great story of a Dog called "Gunner", the pride & joy and mascot of the 5th Field Regiment, probably one of dozens of similarly named black Labradors.
To read the article click on the header.
Passed the Heads and out to sea,
Gone were the hearts that would grieve in the homeland,
Gone was the land of the proud and the free.
Onwards the convoy, ships and the escort,
On to fight for the fight against wrong;
Sons of New Zealand, sail on in Youths splendour,
A smile on your lips, in your hearts a glad song.
At home they are waiting for word of your exploits;
Brave ring the deeds in the land whence you came.
Onward the Kiwi! Up the Fernleaf!
Anzacs to battle! Uphold ye the name! -unquote
There is a bit of history including a great story of a Dog called "Gunner", the pride & joy and mascot of the 5th Field Regiment, probably one of dozens of similarly named black Labradors.
To read the article click on the header.
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