Notes

Notwithstanding fighting alongside the United States in Korea, the New Zealand forces along with their Australian counterparts were part of a British Commonwealth division. Traditional ties with Britain would continue throughout the 1950s.

After the Second World War, the Australians had developed a Commonwealth defence contingency plan known as ANZAM—The Anglo-New Zealand-Australia-Malaya area. In 1955 New Zealand was to respond to its responsibilities under ANZAM, when the British asked for support during the Malayan Emergency. New Zealand promised to commit two frigates, a fighter bomber squadron, half a transport squadron and a Special Air Service (SAS) squadron. In announcing New Zealand’s support, Prime Minister Sidney Holland commented that New Zealand needed to pull its weight ‘in the British boat … That, is a British thing to do.’[22] No. 14 Squadron RNZAF was withdrawn from Cyprus in April 1955 to be based in Singapore, and they were re-equipped with de Havilland Venoms leased from the British. The Squadron’s first offensive action took place on 1 May when five of the Squadron’s original Vampires attacked terrorist positions.[23] The Squadron continued to fly until 1958, when it was replaced by 75 Squadron which was equipped with English Electric Canberra bombers. These aircraft flew alongside no. 45 Squadron RAF until the Emergency in Malaya ended in July 1960.[24]

The SAS squadron of 133 personnel was attached to the British 22nd SAS Regiment early in 1956, and was replaced by the 1st Battalion, the New Zealand Regiment consisting of 740 personnel. This in turn was replaced by the 2nd Battalion in 1959