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Laying up of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment colours

Dunedin (Friday, 8 April 2016) On Saturday, 16 April the New Zealand’s Scottish Regiment will pass into history as its colours are laid up at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.

The laying up of the colours marks the disbandment of the last components of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment. Toitū OSM Director Jennifer Evans says the laying up of the colours is a significant event for both the Regiment and the Museum.

“The New Zealand Scottish Regiment has had a Dunedin base since it was established. We are privileged to be taking over the care and preservation of its colours. This recognises Dunedin’s Scottish heritage, and its connections with the New Zealand Defence Force,” she says.

The New Zealand Defence Force says it is the end of an era for the Regiment who were known for their distinctive highland dress and glengarry bonnets at ceremonial events, wearing the tartan of the famous Black Watch Regiment, with whom the unit is affiliated.

“The Scots colours are not just flags – they are unique in their design and have bought New Zealanders of Scottish descent together. Under these colours they trained, bonded with each other and shared experiences. Their lineage has been recorded and the unit’s identity forged in these colours,” says Major Kevin Williams.

“There is a certain amount of sadness in laying up the colours, but instead of being laid up in a church where they will decay, we are pleased they are going to a museum where they will be well preserved for ex-members of the Regiment and future generations to view.”

The New Zealand Scottish Regiment was established in January 1939 after the New Zealand army was lobbied for a number of years to follow other Commonwealth countries in having a kilted Scottish regiment. The attraction of the highland uniform helped boost recruitment at a time when the prospect of war was growing ever closer. Units of the Regiment were set up in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland as part of the Territorial Army. Later in its history, the Regiment was converted from an infantry to an armoured corps unit.

On Saturday, 16 April the colours will be paraded through Dunedin with a 100 solider guard including New Zealand Light Armoured Vehicles, the New Zealand Army band, piper and former members of the Regiment. The parade will leave from Queens Garden at 1.15pm proceeding up Rattray Street along Princes Street to the upper Octagon, where the New Zealand Defence Force will be challenged by the New Zealand Police.

“Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles will exercise the NZ Scottish Regiment’s charter for the final time to march through the streets of Dunedin with drums beating, colours flying, swords drawn and bayonets fixed. The charter will be returned to the Dunedin City Council as part of the laying up of the colours ceremony,” says Major Williams.

From the Octagon the parade will proceed down Stuart Street to Toitū OSM where military officials and invited guests will conduct the laying up of the colours ceremony. The Regiment’s colours will then be taken behind the scenes at Toitū OSM where they will be prepared for public display at the Museum later in April.

The public can also view the colours and a Light Armoured Vehicle on display in the lower Octagon from 9am-11am on Saturday, 16 April before the parade.

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