Canterbury History
Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment
The Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment was a mounted infantry regiment from New Zealand, raised for service during the First World War. It was assigned to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, and formed part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
The regiment, with an establishment of twenty-six officers, 523 other ranks and 600 horses, was formed from three squadrons belonging to pre-war Territorial Force regiments: the 1st Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry), the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles and the 10th (Nelson) Mounted Rifles.
It also included a small headquarters and, until 1916, a Maxim machine-gun section. The Maxim guns were withdrawn but the regiment's fire-power increased during the war, and by the end of the conflict each squadron had four Hotchkiss machine-guns, one per troop.
Being mounted infantry the regiment rode into battle on their horses, but were expected to dismount and fight on foot. The regiment fought predominantly against the forces of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Their first involvement came in the Gallipoli Campaign between May and December 1915, during which they participated in the largest battle of that theatre at Chunuk Bair and the fighting for Hill 60.
Evacuated to Egypt, they then took part in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign from 1916 to 1918. The early battles they were involved in included those at Romani, Gaza and Beersheba. Later in the war they were part of the force that occupied the Jordan Valley, and took part in the raids on Amman and Es Salt. Their final wartime operation was in connection with the capture of the Turkish Fourth Army.
During the four years of war the regiment lost 334 men dead from all causes, while another 720 were wounded or debilitated. After the war, the regiment played a minor role in the Egyptian Revolution of 1919, before being disbanded in June 1919.
Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry
The Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry was established as a volunteer corps at Christchurch in 1864. It was the oldest of twelve light cavalry units raised in New Zealand during the second half of the nineteenth century, using the British Yeomanry regiments as a model.
While numbering less than 100 men, scattered in small detachments across Canterbury Province, the unit earned a reputation for well drilled smartness and provided honour guards and ceremonial escorts as required.
It was brought together for a training camp of eight days each year. A scarlet and blue uniform was worn with black facings and a red plumed helmet.
With the introduction of a conscription-based territorial system in 1911-12, the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry became "A" Squadron of the 1st Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry).
- Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry
- Timaru Naval Artillery
- C Battery, N.Z. Regiment of Artillery
- Timaru Rifles
- Temuka Rifles
- Geraldine Rifles
- Waimate Rifles
- Timaru Cadets
- Temuka Cadets.
- The Corps North of Timaru
Canterbury Battalion
The Canterbury Battalion served at Gallipoli in 1915, before being divided into 1st Canterbury and 2nd Canterbury Infantry Battalion in March 1916. An additional battalion, 3rd Canterbury Infantry Battalion, existed between March 1917 and February 1918. The regiment served on the Western Front from 1916 until 1918.
This image shows original volunteers of the Canterbury Regiment in New Zealand in 1914. The regiment took part in the landings a century ago.
The first troops of the New Zealand Brigade to land were the Auckland Battalion, at noon, and the Headquarters and 1st and 2nd Companies of the Canterbury Battalion, at 12.30 p.m. These were immediately ordered to reinforce the left flank of the 3rd Australian Brigade, and to fill the gap between that flank and the sea. While the order was in process of being carried out, the two Canterbury Companies became separated on Plugge’s Plateau, a quarter of a mile east of the beach.
There was great confusion, as the men of the various companies had not only become mixed with one another, but in some cases had attached themselves to the Auckland and various Australian Battalions; while Aucklanders and Australians were picked up by the officers commanding the various Canterbury parties.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart with the 2nd Company got well forward, and took up a position on the upper portion of Walker’s Ridge, which ran north-east from near Pope’s Hill down to the sea. They immediately became involved in heavy fighting, and Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, going back to bring up reinforcements, collected a large party of Australians, and was killed while exposing himself in leading them up to the firing line. There the 2nd Company and the Australian reinforcements repulsed with the bayonet three Turkish attacks, and then withdrew slightly to more suitable ground, where they dug in.
These men were among those who paved the trail of New Zealand immortality and legend a century ago: we must always remember the NZ in ANZAC.