The third Queen’s Colour, the last to be presented to the RNZAF by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has arrived at the Air Force Museum Te Whakairinga Mutu to rest for all time as a reminder of duty well done.
The original Queen’s Colour was first presented to the RNZAF by Her Majesty the Queen in December 1953, and is regarded as the RNZAF’s most precious treasures.
The first Colour was retired and laid up in 1976 at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. The second Colour is laid up at the Chapel of St Mark at RNZAF base Woodbourne.
And the third now resides with the Air Force Museum for lodging, safekeeping and display.
The bearer party included Squadron Leader Dan Garnett, the last bearer to carry this Colour on parade, Warrant Officer Chris Wilson, previous Queen’s Colour Warrant Officer, and Warrant Officer Phil Wansbrough, a previous Queen’s Colour Escort.
The party was called into the Atrium by Kaikaranga Flight Sergeant Wai Paenga, accompanied by our RNZAF piper. The Colour was received by Museum Director Wing Commander Brett Marshall.
After the ceremony the colour party offered a toast to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and then read a traditional verse from poet and soldier Sir Edward Hamley about the significance of the Colours was read out:
“A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole, it doesn’t look likely to stir a man’s soul; ‘Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag; ‘When that pole was a staff and the rag was a flag.”
The first Colour was retired and laid up in 1976 at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. The second Colour is laid up at the Chapel of St Mark at RNZAF base Woodbourne.
And the third Colour now resides with the Air Force Museum for lodging, safekeeping and display.
