Happy Corps Day to the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps!

We would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the highly skilled and trained service personnel of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps. These soldiers balance two professions in one – the profession of medicine and the profession of arms – to ensure the wellbeing and health of all personnel within the New Zealand Army.

The history of military medicine goes back many centuries, but for New Zealand the origins of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps begins officially 7 May 1908. It included personnel in the Permanent Force, Militia, Volunteers, Field Ambulances, and the Military Sanitary Service. It was not until 1947 that the Army Medical Corps as it stands today was formed with the inclusion of the territorial New Zealand Medical Corps into its ranks and the granting of a Royal title. 

After intensive tri-service training, personnel of the Army Medical Corps are involved in almost all military exercises and operations. They provide everything from routine medical care to pre-hospital combat casualty treatment. At times of crisis, they provide life-saving care with professionalism, calm, and courage, living up to their Corps motto: Semper Agens, Semper Quietus – Always Alert, Always Calm.

There are plenty of medical-related items in our collection, including prosthetic legs, false teeth, surgical kits, battlefield medical equipment, x-ray machines, field bandages etc. At first glance, you probably would not associate this wooden taniwha head with the Army Medical Corps. However, it has a special story and a deep historical connection to the Corps. 

This carving depicts the head of a Taniwha, an otherworldly creature believed by Māori to be at times protective guardians, and at others terrifying and destructive. The carving was made by 74676 Lance Corporal Frank William Henry Dement of B Company, 22 Field Ambulance, and was adopted as the emblem for the company throughout their service in the Pacific during WWII. They considered the role of the Taniwha as a protective guardian very appropriate for a medical field ambulance, who were tasked with the care and wellbeing of soldiers whilst they were overseas and serving in combat situations.

22 Field Ambulance was formed in March 1942 from soldiers of the 7th Field Ambulance based in Fiji under the command of 516667 Lieutenant Colonel William Francis (Bill) Shirer. Between December 1942 and January 1943 the unit was stationed at Tinipp (near Ouaco) in New Caledonia as part of the 14th Infantry Brigade. This Taniwha was carved by Frank Dement whilst the Field Ambulance was in Tinipp waiting to move up to Guadalcanal, before moving on to Vella Lavella. It was soon hung up in the front entrance of the orderly room tent during their travels around the Pacific over the next two years. When Lieutenant Colonel Shirer left the unit, the carving was presented to him as a mark of respect by the men of B Company, 22 Field Ambulance.

At the first reunion of 22 Field Ambulance in 1951, Bill Shirer presented the carving back to B Company, on the proviso that it was to be brought out at each subsequent reunion. Following the final reunion of 22 Field Ambulance in March 1995, it was decided that the carving should be donated to the National Army Museum. Today, it is on permanent display in the entranceway of the Museum’s medical tent (much like it was in the Pacific 80 years ago) guarding the memories and traditions of the brave men and women who have served in the New Zealand Medical Corps over the last 116 years.

So, from all of us here at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, happy Corps Day to all past and present of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps and thank you for your selfless service to both your medical profession and your fellow soldiers.