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Story: Armed forces

Compulsory military training recruits, 1950

Video file

These 18-year-olds were called up for compulsory military training in 1950. Watch as they get their kit and enter their rather cramped quarters at the Linton army camp near Palmerston North, where they lived for the duration of their training – three-and-a-half months.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Weekly Review 448. National Film Unit, 1950

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Jim Rolfe, Armed forces – Historical overview, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/35715/compulsory-military-training-recruits-1950 (accessed 6 June 2026).

Story by Jim Rolfe, published 3 May 2012, updated 1 April 2020.

Comments

Anthony Richard Goodall
19 June 2018
Greetings to whoever it may Concern, I am interested in knowing what records or history there may be of CMT . I was in the 4th intake from Jan 4th 1951 and trained at Papakura and later did special training in Auckland for attaining rank. I was attached to ASC transport division and did some training in Tihoi (Taupo). Every good wish to you, Richard Goodall