Stamps honour comrades in arms

Six stamps tell the stories of comradeship between cultures - Maori and Pakeha; between the services - land, sea and air; and between nations.

"All of them served together and supported each other during times of war," said Ivor Masters, general manager Stamps. "We are proud to introduce the second stamp release in The ANZAC Series following the highly popular inaugural series last year, 'Stories of Nationhood'.

The Comrades in Arms stamps span World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam, and commemorates the return of the Unknown Warrior to New Zealand five years ago. The images provide windows into the extraordinary courage and cooperation of people under fire.

One of two 50 cent stamps features the funeral procession in Wellington by the New Zealand Defence Force on Armistice Day, 2004, for New Zealand's Unknown Warrior to his final resting place at the National War Memorial.

The other 50 cent stamp shows the New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion of World War I during trench work on the Western Front. It remembers the heroism and sacrifice of Maori, Pakeha and Pacific peoples in their combat and support roles during the Great War, and recognises the unique place the Pioneer Battalion has in New Zealand military history.

The $1.00 stamp depicts a Wellington bomber and crews returning from a mission. It commemorates the No. 75 (NZ) Squadron that served in a bracket squadron with the RAF in World War II. By the end of the war this squadron had flown more sorties and suffered more casualties than any other in the European theatre, and earned more than 100 medals for gallantry, including one Victoria Cross and 88 Distinguished Flying Crosses.

More than 100,000 Kiwis flocked to parades in Auckland and Wellington when HMS Achilles and her crew of mainly sailors returned home in 1940 having played a key role in the Allies' first major naval victory of World War II, the Battle of the River Plate with Germany's Graf Spee. Later named HMNZS Achilles, the cruiser is on the $1.50 stamp.

The $2.00 stamp shows a gun crew from 'Kayforce', an army volunteer contingent of artillery and support troops serving in Korea between 1950 and 1957. Some 4,700 New Zealand soldiers served in Kayforce, which provided vital support for Commonwealth and American forces and was awarded the South Korean Presidential Citation for its role in the defence of Kap'yong.

More than 50 years after Gallipoli, the ANZACs united to serve in Vietnam. Two New Zealand infantry battalions operated under the command of an Australian regiment, in a successful joint effort. The $2.50 stamp shows ANZAC troops boarding an RAAF Iroquois helicopter in the southern part of Phuoc Tuy.