Gunners of a military battery formed in Dunedin are gathering in the city this weekend for the 150th anniversary of its establishment.
B Battery NZFA (New Zealand Field Artillery) was formed at the Provincial Hotel in Dunedin on September 9, 1863.
More recently known as 31B Battery RNZA (Royal New Zealand Artillery), its members included Otago and Southland men who served in various wars over the years.
The battery was officially disestablished in the 1980s, although a group of past gunners called Gunners Incorporated has held monthly meetings in Dunedin for its 30-odd members.
They organised a formal ''dining in'' to be held at the Customhouse on Saturday, celebrating the 150th anniversary, co-ordinator Alan Riddle said.
A gun salute will be fired at 7.45pm before the dinner starts.
About 70 people from throughout New Zealand were expected for the black tie occasion.
Mr Riddle, who was a battery member for about 24 years, said the artillery had a long and proud history in Dunedin and the wider Otago and Southland regions.
''A lot of men from the province have served. My dad was a gunner in Germany in World War 2 and he was a member of the battery. And I'm led to believe that one noted member was Sir Keith Park.''
Known as the Defender of London during World War 1 and World War 2, Sir Keith was instrumental in the Battle of Britain and Battle of Malta victories.
