THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
TORRANCE Evan John
676734, Major, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
CITATIONOfficer of the Most Excellent Order of the British EmpireGazetted 30 December 1977, Supp 47420, p44Mention in DespatchesGazetted 14 May 1971, Supp 45369, p5037Nui Dat, South Vietnam 20 November 1970Major Evan John Torrance joined the New Zealand Army on 24th January 1955 and graduated into the Royal New Zealand Infantry from the RoyalMilitary College Duntroon on 10th December 1958.Major Torrance began the raising and training of Whiskey Company 1st Battalion The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment at Terendak Camp inMay 1969. The company joined the 6th The Royal Australian Regiment/New Zealand (ANZAC) Battalion in operations in South Vietnam in November1969 and was subsequently transferred to the 2nd The Royal Australian Regiment/New Zealand (ANZAC) Battalion on 15th May 1970. During itsperiod of service in South Vietnam Whiskey Company showed itself to be a well-organised, well-trained and competent rifle company which could berelied upon to tackle aggressively any task allotted to it. The success of the company is due largely to the leadership of Major Torrance who hasshown himself to be an imaginative, determined and aggressive officer and whose cool control of his company in action has been an inspiration andhigh example to the other officers of the ANZAC Battalions.Major Torrance’s leadership, integrity and professional competency reflect great credit upon himself, his regiment and the New Zealand Army.KNOWN AWARDS
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) military
General Service Medal
MalayaQueen's Vietnam Medal
Mention in DespatchesVietnam Star
1960NOTES
Born
Died
