Newspaper Article 2017 – Long road to Thailand service medals

Long road to Thailand service medals

By Doug Laing
[email protected]

A 12-month stint seconded from the Ministry of Works to a Colombo Plan road-building project in Thailand almost half a century ago was recognised in a medal presentation in Hastings yesterday.

Hastings man Russell Smith, who celebrated his 80th birthday the previous day, was presented with the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM), and the New Zealand General Service Medal with Thailand Bar at Clubs Hastings, the home of the Hastings RSA.

The presentation, with wife Barbara and their son and daughter present, was one of the last official duties for retiring Tukituki MP Craig Foss, deputising for Minister of Veterans’ Affairs David Bennett.

The NZOSM was instituted in 2002 for the New Zealanders who have undertaken operational service since the end of World War II, with more than 24,000 veterans, current military personnel and civilians now recognised.

The General Service Medal was instituted in 1992 to recognise service in non-warlike operations for which there was no separate New Zealand, British Commonwealth, United Nations or Nato campaign medal.  Clasps have been issued for operations since 1954 in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.

Mr Smith was working for the MoW in Gisborne when he accepted an appointment as construction engineer with the Thai-New Zealand Feeder Road Project in Northeast Thailand, otherwise known as Isan.

He worked with the 5th Specialist Team, Royal New Zealand Engineers, on the Borabu to Buri-Ram Highway, remunerated at the sum of $2585 per year.

Mr Smith was enlisted for his knowledge of sealing and asphalting and became an important part of the co-operation required in what New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand and Laos and former Tamaki MP Eric Halstead described at the highway’s opening ceremony as a road which would “provide lasting service to the local community, an instrument in the economic development of the region and a permanent symbol of Thai-New Zealand co-operation for peace and prosperity.”

After Thailand, Mr Smith returned to Gisborne, and spent another 31 years in roading with the MoW until it was “wound up” in 1985, and then with Transit before his retirement in 2002, after about 20 years as Highways Superintendent for the area “north of the Bombay Hills” – Auckland and Northland.

He then returned to Hastings where he grew up, going to Parkvale, Mahora and Hastings Boys’ High schools.

As a civilian just doing his job he never expected to be recognised in such a way as yesterday’s formalities.  He had applied earlier this year, and was able at the same time to add the names of three others who were with him in the hope they will also be recognised.

Photo caption – RECOGNITION: Russell Smith is given his medals in recognition of his service in Thailand by Craig Foss, outgoing National Tukituki MP, as Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Wood looks on.
PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND