During the world wars, our troops cherished any mail they received
from home, and in return, did whatever they could to reply to their families and loved ones. Postcards – some made from fine French silk, others on the backs of cigarette boxes – were the most popular mode
of communication.
Today, our people deployed overseas send messages home
by email, skype or good old-fashioned post.
I am a Trooper in the Waikato Mounted Rifles unit, a branch of the 6th
Hauraki Battalion. I deployed to Solomon Islands as a Lead Scout in an
infantry platoon. The daily tasks and duties I've performed in the Solomons were unique compared to any work I've done in the past. It's definitely important to be flexible as a soldier, as I discovered on operations.
Every day duties varied from serving up food at the Army camp, to patrolling the streets in downtown Honiara on a Saturday night with the police.
A highlight of the tour was staying in a village called Tetere. We stayed with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in an abandoned house behind the police station.
Being typical DIY Kiwis, we repaired the house with any materials we could acquire. In 2008, I spent the year working for a carpenter, so I was able to put my skills to use building stairs for the house and
repairing some of the floors. We would play soccer with the local children in front of the police station in our downtime.
One thing that amazed me was how happy the children were kicking a ball around all day. We attended a local church one Sunday morning; this was a great way to build rapport with the locals.
Patrolling with the police though local villages was also a highlight. Taking in the culture and interacting with the locals is something money can't buy. The majority of them are appreciative of the NZ Army's
presence in their country, approaching us and happily answering any questions we might have. We were able to work through the language barrier fairly easily. Most locals speak English but we would try out phrases we learnt in Pijin when we could.
Working with the Australian and Papua New Guinean soldiers added to the experience of learning and working with new cultures. The classic New Zealand and Australian rivalry was very alive when working with each other and provided interesting topics of conversation. Watching the All Blacks smash the Aussies in a predominantly Australian camp won't be
forgotten anytime soon.
Territorial Force soldier – Trooper Eric Shipworth
Send us your messages and memories of loved ones who have served in past wars or to people currently serving in the armed forces.
You can also post a message directly in the Auckland War Memorial Museum's official Book of Remembrance.
