How the Kiwi's got their Lemon Squeezer back

	©Copyright Mike Subritzky 2005

Note the sweating on either side of the crown. This is not a fake, but one of the original Onward badges produced for the modern Lemon Squeezer.	The New Zealand Lemon Squeezer was abolished in about 1960, with the introduction of the khaki ski-cap (with fold down flap), which was worn for a brief period until it was replaced by the beret which is still in service today In the mid-1970's Major General Ron Hassett CB, CBE (Mil), MBE Mil), MID was appointed Chief of General Staff for the New Zealand Army. General Hassett, a Gunner has the distinction of being one of the best loved and most respected Generals of the modern New Zealand Army.

From the moment he was appointed to his post he implemented a host of sweeping changes into the New Zealand Army propelling it forward into the 21st century.

He established the appointment of Sergeant Major of the Army (the most senior NCO), and this post was first filled by WOI L.M. "Rusty" Taylor RNZIR. Rusty Taylor worked closely with the CGS and was his eyes and ears on the shop floor. Both soldiers were highly decorated and had seen Active Service in a number of theatres of conflict. Soldiers pay grades were benchmarked to that of civil servants, which resulted in immediate pay increases to All Ranks. The service dress uniforms, and dacron uniforms were issued across the board to both RF and TF soldiers, as well as Mess Kit to SNCO's.

General Hassett was at the forefront of the long awaited Queen Elizabeth II, Army Museum which was established at Waiouru and is now one of the major tourist spots in the North Island of New Zealand. One other very popular project that General Hassett and Rusty Taylor were to implement was the re-introduction (somewhat with stealth), of the cherished New Zealand Army 'Lemon Squeezer. 'The cost of re-introducing this piece of headwear across the board was considered by the bean-counters in Wellington, to be hugely expensive, however this was countered by simply getting approval for 100 hats (plus a range of sizes), to be worn on ceremonial occasions, such as the opening of parliament.

The cost of striking a whole new "ONWARD" badge with a 'Queens crown,' just for the sake of 100 badges was also considered hugely expensive. This setback was remedied immediately by approaching 1 Base Ordnance Depot in Trentham and obtaining a supply of 100 plus brass WWII Onward badges complete with King's crown, and 100 plus RNZA brass Gunner cap badges which were currently in service and bore the Queen's crown. The ever clever RNZEME Tiffy's at Trentham Camp then simply removed the King's crown from the old Onward badge, then sweated onto each Onward frame, a Queens crown and that was how the new Onward badge came into being.

The original batch of badges were then 'gold dipped' and placed on the newly arrived Lemon Squeezers, the puggaree for which is the old NZ Staff Corps red. Both General Hassett and WOI Rusty Taylor had worn the Lemon Squeezer as young soldiers and knew the many problems associated with trying to retain its 'bashed' Mount Taranaki design, and so the new Lemon Squeezer differed from its predecessor in that the edge was beaded, and as well it was produced with the complete shape, which is near permanent, and does not require being ironed with sugar and water prior to any parade.