High Praise for Armourer
‘What we do speaks louder than what we say,’ said GPCAPT Greg Elliot in this month’s First Word column.
Armourer LAC Bevington. WN-08-0052-50-tn.jpg.
A fine example of this philosophy is Armourer LAC Simon Bevington’s fortnight in the Cook Islands earlier this year. Far from being a time of relaxation on a tropical island the deployment, under the auspices of the NZDF’s Mutual Assistance Training Team (MATT), was a full-on programme of hard work in tropical heat and humidity.
LAC Bevington’s professionalism and dedication to getting the job done earned him the admiration and praise of none other than the Cook Island’s Commissioner of Police Pat Tasker. In a personal note the Commissioner said that LAC Bevington had been ‘a great ambassador for the Air Force and New Zealand Defence. His work was tireless and he fitted in well around the station.’
Some of the assortment of arms checked by LAC Bevington. WN-08-0052-51-tn.jpg.
LAC Bevington’s work in the Cooks was two pronged. He was responsible for checking the Police’s arms – standard issue ex-NZ Police rifles, 9mm pistols and SLRs - ensuring their safety, serviceability and overhaul as necessary. In addition, prior to his arrival, the Cook Islands Police had widely advertised an amnesty for the public to hand in their weapons.
LAC Bevington’s job was to check the weapons for safety and operation. A record of the weapons and a report on their condition, including any recommendation for overhaul, were added to the Police’s data base. While LAC Bevington didn’t have authority to order the destruction of the weapons he prepared a detailed report on the weapon’s general condition for their owner. Most of the weapons handed in for registration were standard .22 rifles and shotguns but there were some surprises including a WW1 era Lee Enfield and an initiator set for a Claymore mine. LAC Bevington had expected to see some homemade weapons but perhaps the owners were concerned such dodgy weapons might lead to difficult questions from the Police.
Starter kit for a Claymore mine.
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Working in the Cook’s torrid heat and humidity was the hardest part of the job but he managed to get through a surprising amount of work – ‘much more than I had hoped for,’ said Commissioner Tasker.
LAC Bevington says the Cook Islanders were very hospitable and easy to get on with and he would gladly carry out similar work elsewhere in the Pacific.