Memories of serving together flooded back for former members of the New Zealand Army’s Burnham-based 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment as they gathered to mark the formation of the battalion 50 years ago this month.
Among those recalling the good times, and challenges, were several men from Ashburton, including Jim Henderson and Bruce Blackburn.
Aged 55 and 67 respectively, the pair were members of the battalion for more than two decades.
Henderson served from 1987 to 2010 and Blackburn from 1975 to 1995.
He said from the moment he arrived until celebrations finished he smiled, laughed, talked, hugged, hongied, and shook hands.
‘‘It was the most awesome thing I have done in years, I caught up with people I had not seen in some cases for 35 years.
“I laughed so much at one stage I was getting cramp in my rib cartilage. It lifted my wairua and gave me something I was missing from my life,’’ Henderson said.
Blackburn said it was amazing to catch up with guys he hadn’t seen for 40 years. Within 10 minutes it was like they had never been apart.
‘‘It was awesome attending the charter parade, the visit to Burnham on Saturday along with the dinner, the memories certainly flowed,’’ he said.
The celebrations were held Matariki weekend, before the anniversary of the battalion, which formed on July 1, 1974.
It began on the Friday, with a charter parade through the Christchurch city centre.
The parade attracted a large crowd of not only former unit members, family and friends, but also members of the public, who clapped and shouted out as the march passed by.
‘‘It was humbling to have people show their appreciation to the Battalion,’’ Blackburn said.
With swords drawn, bayonets fixed and regimental colours fluttering, the New Zealand Army Band led the 250-strong New Zealand Army formation from Burnham and former battalion members in the parade.
As is tradition the New Zealand Police challenged members of the parade before inspection, and the historical charter document to acknowledge the strong relationship between the battalion and the city was read.
On the Saturday, more than 500 former battalion members were ‘‘welcomed home’’ to Burnham.
A time capsule laid while Henderson was with the Battalion 25 years ago was opened.
It contained items such as port, army pamphlets, maps, webbing, army pack, ration pack and boots.
Another capsule was put down to be opened at the 75th anniversary.
The 2nd/1st Battalion has been among the first to respond to incidents and disasters in Christchurch and the wider South Island, such as the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic.
