Pt Chevalier Memorial RSA

A shameful time in our history. Our returning Vietnam Veterans were treated badly when they were the ones ordered to deploy and did so with honour and distinction. The Government of the day ordered them to battle. Than you for your service Vietnam Veterans.

Vietnam Veterans' Day will be commemorated on Tuesday 18 August at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, starting at 11am. For more information on the days proceedings, please visit the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website: www.mch.govt.nz/events/vietnam-veterans-day-2026

📸 Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Battle of Long Tan Documentary (Official) - Vietnam War - Danger Close Award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary, The Battle of L...

Police remove protesters attempting to block the progress of the Band of the Royal New Zealand Artillery during a civic parade in Auckland, 12 May 1971. The parade was part of a civic reception organised to welcome home 161 Battery RNZA and 4 Troop NZSAS from their deployment in Vietnam.

In the foreground of the photo are (left to right): Graham Barker, Brian Edmonds, Drum Major Tom Gannon (with protester), Bruce Cornwell, ?, Jim Cairney.

🇳🇿🇦🇺 ALFRED JOHN SHOUT VC, MC — THE WELLINGTON-BORN HERO OF LONE PINE

Today we remember one of the extraordinary New Zealand-born soldiers of Gallipoli — a man whose name is now closely associated with Australia, but whose story began in Wellington, New Zealand.

Captain Alfred John “Alf” Shout VC, MC was born in Wellington on 7 August 1881, the son of John and Agnes Shout.

As a young man of just 18, Shout went to South Africa during the Boer War. He served with the Border Horse and other South African forces and quickly established a reputation for courage.

In January 1901, under heavy fire at Thabaksberg, he helped bring a wounded artilleryman out of the firing line to safety. He was Mentioned in Despatches and rose to the rank of sergeant.

After the war Shout remained overseas. He married Australian-born Rose Howe in Cape Town and eventually settled with his family in Sydney, where he worked as a carpenter and joiner and served in the Australian militia.

When the First World War began, Shout joined the Australian Imperial Force and was appointed a second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, AIF.

He sailed from Sydney aboard HMAT Afric in October 1914.

Then came Gallipoli.

Shout landed with the Australians on 25 April 1915 and almost immediately distinguished himself.

On 27 April, despite intense enemy fire, he repeatedly exposed himself while organising and leading his men. Even after being wounded, he continued fighting.

For his gallantry he was awarded the Military Cross.

He was later Mentioned in Despatches and promoted to captain.

But it was during the terrible fighting at Lone Pine in August 1915 that the Wellington-born soldier performed the actions that would make his name legendary.

On 9 August 1915, Shout and Captain Cecil Sasse led a small party along a heavily defended Ottoman trench.

Shout went forward throwing bombs — the contemporary term for grenades — while Sasse used his rifle.

They drove the defenders back and captured part of the trench.

Later that afternoon they attacked again.

Shout continued advancing at close range, throwing bombs into the enemy positions.

During the final push he attempted to light three bombs simultaneously. Two were thrown successfully.

The third exploded prematurely.

The blast caused catastrophic injuries to his hand, face and body.

Remarkably, even while being carried from the battlefield, Shout remained cheerful and continued encouraging those around him.

He was evacuated aboard the hospital ship HS Neuralia.

Two days later, on 11 August 1915, Captain Alfred John Shout died of his wounds.

He was buried at sea.

For his extraordinary actions at Lone Pine, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

In only around fourteen weeks on Gallipoli, Shout had earned the Victoria Cross, Military Cross and a Mention in Despatches, becoming one of the most highly decorated soldiers of the campaign.

Australia rightly remembers Alfred Shout as one of its great Gallipoli heroes.

But New Zealand should remember him too.

He was born in Wellington. His first experience of war came as a young New Zealander serving in South Africa. And from Wellington beginnings, Alfred Shout went on to earn the highest award for gallantry in the British Empire.

Another remarkable New Zealand-born military story shared across the Tasman.

Captain Alfred John Shout VC, MCBorn: Wellington, New Zealand — 7 August 1881Died of wounds: 11 August 1915Buried at sea

We will remember him.

📷 Photograph: Australian War Memorial. The word “Whisper” was written on the reverse of one informal portrait — a reference to Shout's nickname.

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our friend and club member
Lotu Hassini.
Lotu was a long time supporter of the Pt Chev RSA as a Bar staff member, a volunteer on the Welfare team and a member of the Executive Committee. Always willing to help.
Many Thanks for your service Lotu.

A service will be held on
Wednesday 12th August
12.30pm
Morrisons
Henderson.
RIP Lotu.

🇳🇿 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Tonight, we simply want to say thank you.

To every New Zealander who has worn the uniform of our nation — thank you for your service.

To those who served in the New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

To those who served in war, on peacekeeping and operational deployments, at sea, in the air, overseas and here at home.

To our Regular Force, Territorial Force and Reserve personnel.

To those who served for a few years and those who gave a lifetime.

To the veterans of World War Two, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, the Middle East, the Sinai, Bosnia, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, Iraq and the many other places New Zealanders have served.

To those who returned home carrying memories few others could fully understand.

To those who never returned.

And to the families who stood behind them.

Our country has been shaped by generations of ordinary New Zealanders who were prepared to step forward and serve something greater than themselves.

Some became household names.

Most did not.

But every service mattered.

The New Zealand Remembrance Army exists to help ensure their service is remembered — through their graves, their memorials and, most importantly, their stories.

Tonight, wherever you are, if you served New Zealand in uniform:

Thank you.

And to those no longer with us:

We will remember them.

🇳🇿 Lest We Forget.

New Zealand Remembrance Army
Remembering those who served.