New Zealand uniforms of WW2 inc LRDG

Captain, Royal New Zealand Artillery (anti-tank), NZEF, 1943

The famous "lemon squeezer" hat marks this Captain as a New Zealander. His badges indicate that he serves with 34 Battery 7 Anti-tank Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery.

As a Bombardier in the Regular Force he was sent to England at the outbreak of the War and helped train new recruits for the NZEF at Aldershot.

In 1940 his unit went to Maadi Camp Egypt and he quickly rose to the rank to Sergeant. During 1940 & 1941 he saw active service in Greece and Crete as part of Lustre Force. On 12 April 1941 in Greece, General Blamey declared I Australian Corps to be ANZAC Corps, much to the delight of its Australian and New Zealand formations.

That means that our Captain is officially an Anzac. This is also where he was promoted to Lieutenant. As a reminder of his roots he kept his fixed wheel ORs version of the hat badge. It is a subdued bronze NZ Artillery cap badge with Tudor (King's) Crown. The Latin word "Ubique" on the top scroll translates to "Everywhere" and indicates that the artillery are involved in all actions. It is their only Battle Honour. It sits on the blue red blue puggaree of the RNZA.

After being returned to Egypt following the evacuation of Crete he saw more fighting in the "Crusader Campaign" (Operation Crusader), the Allies' push to relieve the embattled Australian, British, Indian & Polish garrison at Tobruk.

Several successful actions took place on the move into Libya and the isolation of Bardia. The route from Bardia to Tobruk produced many confrontations including the Blockhouse, Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh.

Heavy casualties were incurred in the successful bid to take Point 175, a battle that has since been described as among the finest anti-tank actions in the war.

It was here that he was promoted to Captain and where he won the Military Cross (MC), the ribbon of which he wears on his left breast.

Post war he received other Service Awards including the 1939/45 Star, Italy Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, 1939/45 British War Medal and the New Zealand Service Medal 1939/45.

World War 2-era New Zealand Artillery officers' brass button.

Captain, Long Range Desert Group (LRDG)

"The Bearded Brigands"

The Long Range Desert Group, initially known as the Long Range Patrol, was one of the first special forces formed in World War II.

Although part of the British forces, the unit was made up mostly of New Zealanders from 2NZEF with some Rhodesians, South Africans, Brits. and the occasional Australian.

The LRDG became the forward eyes and ears of the Allies in North Africa and together with the Special Air Service played a secretive but vital role in the Allied victory.

Although the LRDG carried out many daring raids behind enemy lines, disrupting enemy communications and supply lines, it was first and foremost a reconnaissance unit. This Captain wears the primary tools of the LRDG. His Canadian-made War Office issue binoculars enable him to scan the desert horizon from afar. On his M37 webbing belt is a leather pouch containing his MT prismatic compass, vital for pinpoint bearings.

His goggles are U.S. Army skiers' goggles, whose polarized lenses, designed for cutting the glare from snow, also worked well in the harsh desert sun.

His traditional Arab headdress is regulation uniform for the LRDG, though members also wore visor caps, side-caps, ski caps and berets, usually with the unique scorpion badge of the LRDG.

More details.

Shaving was not compulsory, and was even discouraged, as the beard made for protection against the sun and the desert wind, the dreaded "khamsin" that roars in off the Sahara Desert at temperatures over 40* Celsius, (104* Farenheit) with very low humidity.

The whole unit was casual but still military in matters of appearance. Only the best can be given the latitude allowed LRDG men. Rank insignia were seldom worn. They were tiny units and everyone knew who was who. This officer displays only a pair of slip-on epaulette slides identifying him as a New Zealander serving with the LRDG. His medals, issued post war include the 1939/45 Star, Africa Star with 8th Army clasp, Italy Star, Defence medal, 1939/45 War Medal and the NZ Service Medal 39/45.