28 November 2006

Ted O’Brien – Big Gun Restorer

Much of the refurbishment work on the 5.5 inch gun memorial unveiled in Hamilton this week has been conducted by ex-New Zealand Army Gun Sergeant Ted O’Brien.

Ted, who lives in Hamilton, joined the battery in his twenties in 1970 and served as a member of the Waikato gunners for 22 years, retiring in 1993.

In his younger days as a member of the Territorial Force Ted attended exercises overseas including jungle training in Fiji in 1977.

Ted has played a crucial part in overseeing the gun’s placement in the park, even travelling down to Waiouru with Porter Heavy Haulage to pick up the gun and bring it back to Hamilton. The gun had been displayed outside the New Zealand Army Museum at Waiouru and Ted devoted many hours arranging sandblasting, painting and the fabrication of any missing parts to ensure the gun is at its best presentation state.

He said, “I am proud to have been involved in the memorial project and hope that future generations will remember the contribution made by the Waikato gunners.”

ENDS

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