Burnham, New Zealand

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Burnham Camp
Burnham, New Zealand
Type Army base
Site information
Controlled by New Zealand Army
Site history
In use 1923–present

Burnham, also known as Burnham Camp, is the largest army base in New Zealand's South Island. It is located 28 kilometres south of Christchurch on the Canterbury Plains in the Selwyn District, close to the town of Dunsandel. Burnham was named after Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire.[1]

The senior headquarters at the camp has seen many changes. Previously Headquarters 3 Task Force, 3 Task Force Region, HQ Ready Reaction Force, and 3 Land Force Group have been based here. Most recently 3 Land Force Group was disbanded in 2011, and Headquarters Deployable Joint Task Force Headquarters - Land (DJTFHQ-L) was formed.

Units at the camp

Units at Burnham:

Medical training

Medical training for the entire NZDF is conducted in Burnham at Joint Services Health School and all medics enlisted in the Army, Navy or Air Force are sent here for training. After their intermediate training (3 month course), medics from the Army and Air Force complete 12 weeks of civilian ambulance and hospital training before being posted to their camps or bases. Navy medics are sent to Devonport where they work in the Navy Hospital which treats both sailors and civilians.

Cadet force

Burnham is also home to the Southern HQ of the New Zealand Cadet Forces. They are the Air Training Corps (Air Force), Cadet Corps (Army), and Sea Cadet Corps.

References

  1. ↑ Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4. 

Further reading

  • Latter, Edward (1992). Marching Onward: A History of 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, 1845-1992. Christchurch. ISBN 9780473015671. 
  • McFarlane, Donald (2008). Short Back and Sides: A History of Burnham Camp 1923-73. Christchurch: Caxton Press. ISBN 9780473137618. 


Ellesmere Ward
Malvern Ward
Selwyn Central Ward
Springs Ward
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