BRIEF HISTORY 4th OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND BATTALION GROUP

The official history of the 4th Battalion has been traced back to 27 February 1860, when the Dunedin and Invercargill Militia Battalions were established. The militiamen of the day were not volunteer soldiers, as all males between the age of 18 and 60 were liable for military service at the time.

Volunteer activity developed as a result of public meetings held throughout Otago and Southland in 1861. From this public interest, the Tokomairiro and Cha Battalions were formed. This local enthusiasm was not sufficient however to gain government recognition. As a result, volunteer soldiering was conducted in a quasi-official manner for some time.

The first officially recognised volunteer unit in the Otago and Southland provinces was the Otago Rifle Volunteers, which was gazetted as a company on 5 February, 1862. The first commanding Officer was Major J.D.C. Richardson, the then provincial superintendent and his Adjutant was Captain W.J.B. Junor.

In 1898, a Battalion known then as the First Battalion, Otago Rifle Volunteers, was established. The formation of this unit apparently stimulated further public interest as by 1902, the Battalion consisted of 15 rifle companies.

A similar process of forming volunteer companies took place in Southland although their exact history is obscure and difficult to trace until the advent of the Defence Act, 1909 – our first compulsory training scheme.

However, between 1862 and 1898, numerous companies of Rifle Volunteers were formed throughout the Otago and Southland region. All were raised from public meetings held in the local districts. Some became well-organised whilst others disappeared after the initial burst of enthusiasm had died.

Each of the volunteer companies consisted of three officers and 60 men. The officers were elected at public meetings.

VOLUNTEER RIFLE COMPANIES FORMAL FORMATION

Some of the volunteer rifle companies established, and their dates of formal formation, are as follows:

Dunedin City Guards 1866
Bruce (Milton) 1866
East Taieri (Mosgiel) 1866
North Dunedin 1866
Invercargill City Guards 1867
Greti Rifles 1872
Queens Rifle 1883
Oamaru Rifles 1884
Awarua Rifles 1884
Dunedin Highland rifles 1885
Kaitangata Rifles 1885
Gore rifles 1886
Dunedin City Rifles 1893
Dunedin Rifles 1898
Hampden Rifles 1899
Palmerston South Rifles 1899
Mercantile Rifle 1900
Caversham Rifles 1900
Winton Rifles 1900
Wakari Rifles 1900
Queenstown Rifles 1900
Tapanui Rifles 1900
Orepiki Rifles 1900
Bluff Guards 1900
Owaka Rifles 1900
Colac Bay Rifles 1900
Alexandra South Rifles 1900
Cromwell Rifles 1900
Duntroon Rifles 1901
Green Island Rifles 1901
Clutha Rifles 1901
Popotunoa Rifles (Clinton) 1902

Distinctive uniforms were much in evidence during those early days. Scarlet tunics, white spikes helmets, white belts and scarlet piped trousers as well as full highland dress, were displayed by many companies. The volunteers were unpaid, each being required to purchase his own uniform. Arms were supplied by the government, as well as a grant of ₤2.10.00 ($5.00) paid to the company for each man who fulfilled his military obligations during that year.

The volunteer movement was at its strongest at the end of the Boer War in 1902. Although the local volunteer companies did not have an opportunity of serving in this conflict as individual units, many members enlisted as individuals in various New Zealand Territorial Regiments which were formed from the amalgamation of existing volunteer companies. This Battle Honour now occupies the position of first in precedence on 4 O South’s New Regimental colour – “South Africa, 1900 – 1902”.

The number of volunteer rifle companies led to problems of administration with the result that a change of organisation was considered necessary. This, the rifle companies were re-grouped under a battalion organisation. Hence the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions OTAGO Rifle Volunteers were formed within Otago and Southland. The headquarters of these units were located in Dunedin, Invercargill, Oamaru and Milton respectively.

The process of forming rifle companies continued until the introduction of the Defence Act, 1909. This Act was to form the basis of New Zealand’s first Compulsory Military Training schemes.

Under the terms of the Act, the infantry of Otago and Southland were re-organised on a Brigade basis consisting of Regimental Groups.

The new Territorial Regiments thus formed were:

4th (Otago) Regiment HQ Dunedin
8th (Southland) Regiment HQ Invercargill
10th (North Otago) Regiment HQ Oamaru
14th (South Otago) Regiment HQ Milton

Each of these regiments provided one Service or Territorial Battalion and one of more Cadet Battalions either at secondary schools or within the Regimental districts.

On the cessation of hostilities in 1918, the Otago Regiment marched into Germany to take up occupation duties in Cologne until its return to New Zealand in 1919.

With a return to peace and Territorial soldiering, the Unit was re-organised with the four regiments being re-formed as a single Otago Regiment of two battalions., Under this arrangement, the 4th (Otago) and 10th (North Otago) Regiments combined to become the 1st Battalion, whilst the 8th (Southland) and 14th (South Otago) Regiments amalgamated to form the 2nd Battalion. A further change took place in 1923, when the 2nd Battalion, the Otago Regiments, assumed a separate identity to become the 1st Battalion, the Southland Regiment.

Kings and Regimental Colours were presented to both Regiments in March 1927. The Southland Regiment was honoured at its annual camp at Castlerock. The Otago Regiment received its colours on the Oval, Dunedin, on the unit’s return from annual camp at Matarae.

With the abolition of Compulsory Military Training in 1931, the Battalions went through a very difficult period prior to the Second World War.

During the Second World War, the identity of Territorial Units was lost following the decision to number all battalions in the division. Consequently, Otago and Southland personnel served mainly with the 20th, 23rtd, and 26th Battalions 2 NZ Div in the Middle East and with the 30th and 37th Battalions 3 NZ Div in the Pacific. The Battle Honours for the present Unit were adopted from actions in which those Battalions took part.

In 1948, the Otago Regiment and the Southland were amalgamated to form the 1st Battalion, the Otago and Southland Regiment. The re-introduction of Compulsory Military Training in 1950 allowed the Battalion to flourish until the abolition of that scheme in 1959. With the introduction of yet another volunteer scheme in 1959, the Unit strength dropped to 170 but this number gradually increased until the strength was over 500.

The introduction of the National Military Service Act, 1961 saw the Unit strength rise to 622 all ranks; its full peace establishment.

The Defence Act 1909 was wide ranging in its application calling on various age groups to render service. Its general requirements were as follows:

Those from 12 to 5 years of age served in the Junior Cadets, drilling for 52 hours per year.

Those from 14 to 18 years of age served in the Senior Cadets, attending 50 drill parades, six half-day parades and firing a prescribed Musketry Course.

Those from 18 to 25 years of age served in the Senior Cadets, attending 30 drills (20 of which were to be out of doors) 12 half days or six whole day parades (all of which were to be exercises in the field), seven days in camp and firing of a prescribed Musketry Course.

Those from 25 to 30 served on the Reserve, attending only two half day parades.

Thus set the organisation which was to carry the four regiments through to the outbreak of war in 1914.

Within four days of the Declaration of War on 4 August 1914, the first draft of seven officers and between 60 and 70 other ranks marched into the districts mobilisation camp at Tahuna Park, Dunedin.

Otago Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force

The provinces of Otago and Southland were required to provide one district battalion. The Territorial units were to contribute one company each to a formation which was titled the Otago Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The companies were titled according to their Regimental name, being listed as 4th Otago Company, 8th Southland Company, 10th Northern Otago Company and 14th South Otago Company, the Otago Regiment NZEF.

The Otago Regiment left New Zealand in October 1914 and subsequently took part in the defence of Egypt and the Gallipoli Campaign. In early 1916, the Regiment along with the rest of the New Zealand Division sailed to Marseilles, France. From this point on, the Regiment now expanded to three Battalions, took part in most of the major campaigns in France and Belgium. During the four and a half years of conflict, two Victoria Crosses were awarded to members of the Regiment. The recipients were Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown and Sergeant Richard Charles Travis.

Shortly after the return of national Service Training, 1 O South changed its name to become the 4th Battalion (Otago and Southland) Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. The Battalion was generally known by its shortened title of 4 RNZIR.

Although the Battalion continues under its full title, a return of regional identity has recently been deemed desirable. Thus, the short title 4 O South as opposed to 4 RNZIR is in current use to identify Otago and Southland’s own infantry battalion.

In 1948, the Southland Regiment became affiliated with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders and this affiliation was transferred to the present unit on amalgamation.

In 1960, the Cameron Highlanders (Seaforth and Cameron) and 4 O South enjoys affiliation with this unit along with regimental affiliations to the Kings Regiment and the Royal South Australian Regiment.

The unit has been honoured to receive the freedom of Invercargill (22 January 1959); Dunedin (21 January 1961) and Oamaru (20 January 1962). The latter ceremony marked the first time that a Territorial Force Unit has been granted the Freedom of a Borough in the South Island.

The unit badge incorporates features from the two old units. The Maori warrior on the scroll bearing the motto “Kia Mate Toa”, meaning ‘Fight unto Death’ was the badge of the Southland Regiment, while the fern leaves, which now surround the Maori, came from the badge of the Otago Regiment.

A new set of Colours to replace the separate colours of the two Regiments from which 4 O South was formed, were presented in 1975.

Battle Honours

The Regimental Colour has the following battle honours emblazoned upon it:

South Africa 1900 - 1902
Somme 1916 - 1918
Messines 1917
Ypres 1917
Passchendaele
Bapaume 1918
Cambrai 1918
France and Flanders 1916-18
ANZAC
Gallipoli
Egypt 1915-16
Mount Olympus
Galatas
Sidi Rezegh 1941
El Ala mein
Tebag a Gap
Orsogna
Cassino 1
The Senio
Solomons

As part of a recent Army re-organisation, 4 O South, on 24 May 1979, took over the function of Otago and Southland Army Area, which was disbanded.