Sergeant Suzanne “Sue” Gingles visited Rarotonga representing the New Zealand Remembrance Army at the unveiling of the “plaque of gratitude” for Anzac World War I heroine Ettie Rout.

She herself is heroine and a trailblazer.

After 43 years in army, in 2021 Gingles finally received the “Red Diamond” on her shoulder during a parade at Burnham Military Camp in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Back in 1978, Gingles was the first woman to successfully complete the Combat Corps Training and one of the first females to serve in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR).

At the age of 18-19, her mother had to sign her approval for Gingles to enlist.

“I came from a solo parent family so when I turned up it was amazing, you get medical, dental…,” shares Gingles.

On completion of the Combat Corps programme, the distinctive Red Diamond worn on the left shoulder of the New Zealand Army’s dress uniform is presented at the graduation parade. It identifies those soldiers who belong to the Combat Corps.

However, no red diamond was presented to her.

“I did everything with the expectation I was going to get the red diamond just like everyone else, because once you qualify with that you qualify to fight in the front line … you passed the test, you did the hard yards.”

While out on parade her peers received their Red Diamond, she was stunned to be presented a tiny plastic sword.

“I was gutted, I was so emotional, I couldn’t believe they had done that to me,” recalls Gingles.

“Why ask me to do it and then say ‘she’s a woman she can’t have it’. It was really emotional and gut wrenching.

“The guys I trained with (including Tamaiva Tuavera) were upset and everyone was so angry because it was the expectation, they were so proud of me, it was just terrible there was so much anger about it.

“I did exactly the same as the other guys but I was so fortunate we all joined up together, so you forge a bond, the brotherhood.”

Gingles believes the programme was much harder than it is today – there was no privacy back then and she just “dug in” like the rest.

Although she was posted to Wellington, she says that stigma still stayed.

Gingles went on to serve 34 years in both the Regular and Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army, retiring in 2014, without the “Red Diamond”.

Three years ago, she received a random phone call out of nowhere, “out of the blue they said ‘we’d like to right that wrong’.”

The call was from the Army Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSM) who had just received a call from Commanding Officer of 2/1 RNZIR Lieutenant Colonel Cory Neale.

Neale had just read the history book “Second to None” where he noted that Gingles never got the Red Diamond.

“So they flew me down and I got presented it on parade,” shares Gingles.

“I felt so emotional it was amazing and I didn’t realise I had so much support. I just felt proud that I actually had earnt it, because I earnt it, I had done the hard yards just like everybody else… so now this time I’ve felt like I’m a bit spoilt about it.”

Gingles still values army life, and last year she re-listed again.

“I’d say for any female to go for it, and I’d really encourage anybody to join.

“It’s an amazing life, there’s a bond they have and you make lifelong friends, everything is provided and these days girls get all personal items issued including bras…

“You have opportunities, like you have opportunities to deploy, to education.”

Gingles attained her degree in the army – a Bachelor of Administrative Leadership – at 50.

Along with the several hundred Ngāti Tūmatauenga from overseas, Gingles attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Rarotonga for the first time, on Tuesday.

“It was lovely, and the people, you feel at home there are so many similarities between Maori and Rarotonga, the people are wonderful it is amazing.”