Back in 2021 our daughter Medinella Fauth found a medal on the beach by the carpark at Patiti Point. I bumped into Lee Johns - Raine and Horne Real Estate the other day, which sparked a reminder to keep hunting. We still have the medal and thought by sharing this again... maybe we could find some new leads to find the owner of the medal and be able to return it to them?
An article was written by Timaru Herald reporter Esther Ashby-Coventry in 2021, and we received a letter from the community with some leads... anyone know where to look now?
The medal was in very good condition, so we don't think it was on the beach for long, maybe it fell off a uniform, maybe it was stolen and thrown away... however it was lost, we would love to return it.
The badge is an officer’s hat badge from the CMT Armoured Tank Regiment based in Timaru during the 1950s. It is distinctive because it features a silver tank, a detail unique to officers’ badges. The unit was eventually disbanded, and the tanks were dismantled and shipped to Japan as scrap. This particular badge may have belonged to one of the officers from the 3rd Armoured Unit.
A photograph was taken at the final training camp, showing several of the officers. In the front row were Bruce Johnson (at that time a sergeant, second from the left), Peter Elworthy, Mac McGregor, Dereck Triggs, Major John Rolleston, Dave Rennie, and possibly Roger DeJoux. The photograph was taken at Balmoral camp by Langwood Studios, a business that no longer exists. It is believed this photo or a similar one was published in the Timaru Herald at the time.
Bruce Johnson later transferred to the NZ Scots in Dunedin, qualified as a lieutenant, and had the same badge. After retiring, he donated his badge to the Temuka RSA for display. He does not claim the badge is his but suggests it may have belonged to one of his contemporaries from the Timaru unit.
Bruce Johnson was born in Dunedin in 1935 as one of the well-known Johnson Quads. He still has family in the South Canterbury area, including sisters in Timaru, Temuka, and Ashburton, and he visits regularly. He is also a friend of Gordon Bower, a person believed to be familiar to the local community. These connections, along with his detailed recollections, may assist in tracing the original owner of the badge.
Reply from a Timaru Herald reader "The ribbon seems to be that of the British War medal (1914-1918). As the ribbon is in very good condition I would think that a set of WW1 medals has been re ribboned relatively recently.."
25/09/2021
The Editor
Timaru Herald re Mystery Treasure sparks Search Wed Aug 25th
Dear Timaru Herald,
My sister in Ashburton sends me interesting articles from your paper frequently' and this is one of them. As you are probably aware the C M T had an Armoured Tank Regiment in Timaru in the 1950's and I was a member of that unit until it was disbanded.
The Badge in that story could be connected to that unit. It is a Hat badge and an Officer's one. Only Officers badges had a silver tank on it. At the time the unit was disbanded I transferred to The N Z Scots Dunedin, and Qualified as a Lieutenant with them and had the same badge as shown. After I retired from the Scots I kept my hat badge and donated it to the Temuka R S A for display in their collection. I am not saying it was mine.
There were quite a number of locals who were Officers in the 3rd Armoured unit and I have attached a photo taken at the last training camp with the them in the front row. I am 2nd from the left with Peter Elworthy on my right then Mac Mcgregor, Dereck Triggs.,Major John Rolleston, as well Dave Rennie was there and I think Roger DeJoux but cannot recall others. I was a Sergeant at that stage. The tanks were later cut up and sent to Japan as scrap. The photo was taken at the Balmoral camp site by Langwood Studios, which no longer exists and I am certain this photo or a similar one was published in your paper at that time.
It is a possibility the badge could have belonged to one of those from this unit .
As an aside I was quite well known in Timaru as I was one of the Johnson Quads born in Dunedin in 1935. I still have a sister in Timaru,one in Temuka and one in Ashburton. I visit your town whenever I can and spend time catching up with friends especially Gordon Bower who I think is well known to you.
I trust this Info may help in finding the owner of the Badge .
Bruce Johnson
The Timaru Herald30 Sep 2021Esther Ashby-Coventry
Officer Bruce Johnson and his peers at one of their annual Compulsory Military Training camps at Balmoral, near Lake Takapo/Tekapo in the late 1950s. They are with the rubber-tracked Stuart tanks used by the Third Armoured Tank Regiment.
A former Compulsory Military Training (CMT) officer believes he may have partially solved the mystery of a Royal NZ Armoured Corps cap badge recently discovered at Patiti Point.
In August, Timaru 6-year-old Medinella Fauth found the bronze and silver badge on the beach about a metre from the bottom car park at Patiti Point. Nearby was a military ribbon.
Her family has not received any responses to their call for the owner, or relatives, to claim it.
Bruce Johnson, who now lives in Auckland, said in the 1950s he was a member of the CMT (Compulsory Military Training), which had an Armoured Tank Regiment unit on Barnard St in Timaru, and the badge found by Medinella was the same as the one he had at the time.
‘‘It is a hat badge and an officer’s one. Only officers’ badges had a silver tank on it,’’ he said.
The officer’s badges were goldplated whereas the lower ranks’ badges were silver plated, Johnson said.
CMT in New Zealand was practised from 1950 to 1959 for all males aged 18, who had to train for 101⁄2 weeks a year.
Johnson said they went on an annual camp to Tekapo and spent weekends away in places such as Blue Cliffs.
‘‘The Stuart tanks were on rubber tracks, so we could drive them.’’
Johnson lived in High St and was in the CMT in about 1956 and 1957. He recalled how there were four troops in Timaru and each had three tanks which were parked next to the army hall.
He said there were quite a few ‘‘locals’’ who were officers in the Third Armoured Unit when he was involved.
‘‘It is possible the [discovered] badge could have belonged to one of those from this unit. The ribbon would not be related to the badge, we had a green patch behind the badge not a ribbon.’’
Johnson donated his badge to the Temuka RSA for display in its collection.
Medinella’s mother Roselyn Fauth was interested to hear what Johnson had to say and still hoped the owner of the badge or their relatives would be found.
She suspects as the the badge was discovered lying on the ground meant it had been stolen and flung from a car window.
Johnson agreed that was quite possible and hoped someone would come forward.