New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade

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New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
First World War
  • Gallipoli Campaign
  • Sinai and Palestine Campaign
William Meldrum
Insignia
Unit colour patch
AbbreviationNZMRB

The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was a

First World War. Raised in 1914 as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force
, it was one of the first New Zealand units to sail for service overseas.

The brigade was formed from three regiments – the

Wellington Mounted Rifles – and smaller support units. Altogether the brigade had an establishment of 1,940 men and 2,032 horses and by the end of the war over 17,700 men had served in the brigade. However, the entire brigade's dismounted rifle strength was the equivalent of only a battalion
of infantry.

By the end of 1914, the brigade had arrived in

Egyptian Revolution of 1919
, before being disbanded in June 1919.

As of 2022 one mounted rifles unit (Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles) is retained in the modern New Zealand Army.

Background

New Zealand Trooper, horse and equipment

On 4 August 1914, the British Empire declared war on the German Empire. Two days later, to assist the war effort, New Zealand offered to send a New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) to fight alongside the British Army. That offer was accepted by the Imperial Cabinet and amongst the troops asked for was a mounted infantry brigade. Which became known as the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade.[3] Being mounted infantry the brigade was expected to ride to the site of the battle, then dismounted and fight on foot, just like normal infantry.[4]

The brigade's first

Territorial Force,[5] The Territorial Force included a compulsory training system and the four New Zealand Military Districts were required to supply a mounted regiment for the NZEF. To meet that obligation the Territorial Force regiments, each provided a squadron, which kept their own regimental badges and traditions.[6] All together the brigade has an establishment of 1,940 men and 2,032 horses.[7][nb 2] However the entire brigade only had a dismounted rifle strength the equivalent of an infantry battalion.[1] Such was the nature of the fighting they were involved in, that by the end of the war over 17,700 men would serve in the brigade.[9]

Formation

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
August 1914

Initially, in 1914, the brigade comprised a Brigade Headquarters, three mounted regiments, the

Wellington Mounted Rifles, and support units, from the New Zealand Engineers, a Field Ambulance and an Ammunition Subsection.[7]
New Zealand did not supply an
Machine-Gun Squadron.[11]

Training in New Zealand

In New Zealand, the brigade's reinforcements trained at Featherston Camp north east of Wellington where about 8,000 men were housed in nearly 300 buildings, including three billiard rooms, a post office, a cinema, sixteen dining halls, six cook-houses and stables for 500 horses. The training programme included eight weeks of dismounted drill, two weeks of shooting, eight weeks of mounted drill and lectures on sanitation, military law and discipline, animal management and stable duties. All mounted reinforcements had to pass confirmatory riding tests before being cleared to go overseas.[12] Once trained the men were sent to Sydney or Melbourne in Australia, where they embarked on Australian troopships bound for Suez.[13]

Egypt

A little over two months after the declaration of war, in October 1914, the brigade sailed from New Zealand.

Hussein Kamel Pasha, as the Sultan of Egypt. Three days after his coronation the brigade, in a display of strength, marched through Cairo.[18]

The brigade used their time training, which consisted of day and night marches through the desert, combined with rifle and machine-gun practice.[19] Culminating in a four-day exercise, in February, when they marched around twenty-five miles (40 km) each day.

Gallipoli landings. Then a week later the brigade was ordered to prepare to follow the rest of the division. However, they would leave their horses behind serving in a dismounted role.[22]

Gallipoli

ANZAC beach-head area defended by the brigade

The brigade's transport ships arrived off Gallipoli on 12 May. The troops were kept on board until dark, then landed at

Royal Naval Brigade, on Walkers Ridge, brigade headquarters was set up on the highest point of the ridge, which became known as Russell's Top.[24] The Wellington Mounted Rifles were on the right, looking down into Monash Valley, the Auckland Mounted Rifles in the centre and the Canterbury Mounted rifles on their left, on the slopes down to the sea, with responsibility for the No.1 and No.2 Posts.[25] The No.2 Post was the beach-heads furthest north position, only two miles (3.2 km) from Chatham's Post the southernmost point.[26] The outlying position of the two posts meant that movement between them and the main lines, could only be done safely at night.[27]

Defence of Walker's Ridge

Further information:
Attack on Anzac Cove (1915)

In May intelligence reports indicated that Turkish reinforcements were grouping around the ANZAC positions, preparing an attack.

enfilade fire, broke up the gathering and forced them to withdraw.[30] The rest of the day was quiet, apart from both sides artillery, then on 20 May another Turkish attack began, but faltered in the face of the brigade's machine-gun fire and withdrew back to their own lines.[31] That afternoon white flags appeared above the Turkish trenches, and all the firing stopped. It appeared they wanted a truce to collect their wounded but instead started collecting arms and ammunition and bringing forward reinforcements. The brigade issued a warning that they would commence firing in ten minutes, and they returned to their trenches.[32] However an armistice was later agreed for the 24 May, between 07:30 and 16:30, so they could bury the dead.[32] The Turkish troops, were also observed improving and constructing new trenches at the Nek, Baby 700, and further north on Battleship Hill and along the Sari Bair hills.[33]

No. 3 Post with Chunuk Bair on the skyline

No.3 Post

Main article: Battle for No.3 Post

On 27 May the brigade realised the Turks were building a new position, at the base of the foothills, around 450 yards (410 m) east of the No.2 Post and when completed it would be a danger to the New Zealand post. So it would have to be captured and the task was given to the 1st Squadron, Canterbury Mounted Rifles. The squadron assembled at No.2 Post and after dark, at 22:00, 28 May assaulted the position, and by 23:30 had forced the Turkish defenders to withdraw.[34][35]

Once secured the 6th Squadron Wellington Mounted Rifles, carrying spades and picks to improve the defences, moved in to occupy the position. Now known as No.3 Post, the squadron was ordered to "hold the post till relieved".

Otago Mounted Rifles, which had been attached to the brigade, took over from the Canterbury Mounted Rifles in the front line.[43]

Battle of Chunuk Bair locations

Chunuk Bair

Further information: Battle of Chunuk Bair and Battle of Sari Bair

The objective of the British August offensive was to seize Chunuk Bair, a high point in the Sari Bair mountain range. The New Zealand and Australian Division would provide the attacking force. The initial part of the attack was to clear the Turks from the foothills, which was given to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, reinforced by a Māori Pioneer Battalion.[44]

The attack began over the night of 5/6 August the Auckland Mounted Rifles successfully captured the Old No.3 Post.[45] To their left the Canterbury and Otago Mounted rifles without firing a shot, only using their bayonets, cleared the Chailak Dere valley, then advanced to Aghyl Dere in the north. Capturing Taylor's Hollow, Walden's Point, and finally Beauchop Hill.[46] To the right the Wellington Mounted Rifles and the Māoris captured Destroyer Ridge, and then scaled the north-east face of Table Top and at 22:55 attacked the Turks from the rear capturing the position.[47]

Wellington Mounted Rifles after Chunuk Bair

The next day the Auckland and Canterbury Mounted Rifles, the

New Zealand Infantry Brigade and two British battalions, were combined as No.1 Column commanded by Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston. The Column were to hold the ground already occupied and extend their lines to the south and east. When they reported to Johnstone at "Chailak Dere", where they ordered to hold the position "to the last man". All during the following day, the attacking Turks sky-lining themselves moving over the hill, becoming easy targets for the defenders, and were engaged with enfilade fire.[48]

Holding out until they were relived on 9 August, the brigade, which was understrength to start with, had virtually ceased to exist as a fighting unit. The Auckland Mounted Rifles only had sixty-six men from a strength of 310 all ranks that had started the battle.[45] The Canterbury Mounted Rifles lost 105 men around forty percent of their strength.[49] The Wellington Mounted Rifles, had sixty-seven men left from 173 all ranks.[50]

Hill 60

Further information: Battle of Hill 60 (Gallipoli)

Two weeks later the Canterbury and Otago Mounted Rifles were selected to take part in the next battle to capture Hill 60. At 15:30 21 August the battle began, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles charging straight at the hill suffered sixty percent casualties, among them their commanding officer. They did however succeed in capturing the Turkish trench, within fifteen minutes of

going over the top. But on either side of them, the rest of the attack had failed, leaving the two regiments isolated from the rest of the force. By themselves, the two regiments did not have the manpower to continue the assault, so they were ordered to dig in and hold the position.[51][52] Which they did until 23 August when they were relieved by the Auckland and Wellington Mounted Rifles.[53]

Auckland Mounted Rifles after Hill 60

On 27 August a second attempt to capture Hill 60 began. At 17:00 the Auckland and Canterbury Mounted Rifles captured the Turkish front line. The Wellington and Otago Mounted Rifles following up, passed beyond them and captured the Turkish reserve line. On the other flanks the supporting assaults had failed, leaving the Wellington and Otago Mounted Rifles isolated on a narrow front. So the brigade consolidated the ground already captured and moved forward their machine-guns, to support the defence, the forward line of which only consisted of forty men. However, all four regiments suffered heavy casualties and had to fight off several counter-attacks. Until 29 August when they were relieved and moved to the rear.[54][55]

Evacuation

In September the brigade, now only twenty officers and 229 other ranks, was relieved by the Australians and left the peninsula for the rest camp on the island of Lemnos, arriving at Moudros on 14 September.[56] While recuperating the survivors were joined by, thirty officers and 1,060 other ranks, replacements for their casualties.[57]

On 10 November the brigade returned to Gallipoli,[58] Moving back into the front line, they were not involved in any more assaults. Then on 12 December orders for the evacuation were issued. The first men to leave were anyone with the slightest illness. Then one regiment or battalion from each brigade, the Auckland Mounted Rifles, were chosen, from the brigade.[59] This meant that the remainder had to extend their lines covering for them. The last men were due to leave over the night of 19/20 December.[60] Each regiment was divided into three groups, the first group leaving at the 17:30 19 December, followed by the second smaller group at 21:35. The last group of men having to cover for the whole brigade kept up a steady rate of fire and moved their machine-guns around the position to support the deception that all defences were fully manned. The last group was also divided into three, the first of which left at 01:45 20 December. Followed by the next group who waited ten minutes then followed them and the last small group of men left at 02:05. Once on the evacuation beach, they boarded their transport ships they sailed back to Lemnos. Then on 22 December returned to Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on 26 December, and eventually arrived back at their old camp at Zeitoun.[61] During the campaign 4,000 men served with the brigade and almost fifty percent of them, 727 dead and 1,239 wounded, became casualties.[9]

Sinai

In January 1916, the brigade left Zeitoun and headed east camping that night beside the

Sinai Desert. In February they carried out a dual role of manning trenches along the canal, dismounted, and doing long range mounted patrols into the Sinai.[62] Then in March, the brigade was assigned to the newly formed ANZAC Mounted Division, alongside the Australian 1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades.[63]

Northern Sinai Desert

Katia

Further information: Battle of Katia

Without any notice at 20:30 23 April, the brigade was ordered to

Machine-Gun Squadron. However, a shortage of equipment meant that they only had six of the newer Vickers machine guns and six older Maxim guns.[11] Four days later, reconnaissance aircraft spotted a large Turkish force moving west across the desert.[67]

Romani

Further information: Battle of Romani
Mount Royston scene of the battle of Romani in 1916

Abd

Further information: Battle of Bir el Abd
Four man mounted section, in action one man in four was assigned to hold their horses.

Magdhaba

Further information: Battle of Magdhaba

Palestine

Rafa

Further information: Battle of Rafa

Gaza

Further information:
Second battle of Gaza

Beersheba

Further information: Battle of Beersheba (1917)

Ayun Kara

Further information: Battle of Ayun Kara

River Auja

Further information: Battle of Jaffa (1917)
Brigade headquarters outside Jaffa

Jordan Valley

Brigade crossing the River Jordan

Jericho

Further information: Capture of Jericho

Amman

Further information:
Raid on Amman

Es Salt

Further information:
Raid on Es Salt

Chaytor's Force

Further information:
Capture of the Damieh bridge
The Damieh bridge, captured by the brigade

Post war

Further information:
Egyptian Revolution of 1919

The New Zealand Mounted Rifles were the probable main participants in the

Surafand Massacre
of Palestinian Arab civilians on 10 December 1918 in revenge for the murder of a New Zealand soldier and other previous incidents; some Australian and possibly British troops were also present.

References

Footnotes
  1. Ottoman Turkish Empire. While the terms have distinct historical meanings, within many English-language sources the term "Turkey" and "Ottoman Empire" are used synonymously, although many academic sources differ in their approaches.[2]
    The sources used in this article predominately use the term "Turkey".
  2. ^ Wilkie has the brigade strength at ninety-eight officers, 1,842 other ranks.[8]
Citations
  1. ^ a b c Kinloch 2005, p.32
  2. ^ Fewster, Basarin, Basarin 2003, pp.xi–xii
  3. ^ Kinloch 2005, p.29
  4. ^ a b Kinloch 2005, p.31
  5. ^ "Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment". New Zealand History. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  6. ^ Waite 1919, p.6
  7. ^ a b Kinloch 2005, p.30
  8. ^ Wilkie 1924, p.19
  9. ^ a b c Kinloch 2005, p.15
  10. ^ Powles 1928, p.106
  11. ^ a b Luxford 1923, pp.178–179
  12. ^ Kinloch 2005 pp. 242–3
  13. ^ Kinloch 2005 p. 243
  14. ^ Nicol 1921, p.12
  15. ^ Nicol 1921, p.20
  16. ^ Nicol 1921, p.21
  17. ^ Waite 1919, p.40
  18. ^ Waite 1919, pp.42–43
  19. ^ Powles 1928, p.15
  20. ^ Powles 1928, p.17
  21. ^ Powles 1928, p.27
  22. ^ Powles 1928, p.28
  23. ^ Wilkie 1924, p.15
  24. ^ Waite 1919, p.135
  25. ^ Wilkie 1924, p.17
  26. ^ Waite 1919, p.136
  27. ^ Powles 1928, p.29
  28. ^ a b Waite 1919, p.138
  29. ^ Nicol 1921, pp.44–45
  30. ^ Waite 1919, pp.141–142
  31. ^ Waite 1919, p.142
  32. ^ a b Powles 1928, p.32
  33. ^ Powles 1928, p.36
  34. ^ Powles 1928, pp.36–37
  35. ^ a b Nicol 1924, p.27
  36. ^ a b Powles 1928, p.37
  37. ^ Waite 1924, p.28
  38. ^ Waite 1924, pp.28–29
  39. ^ a b Waite 1924, p.29
  40. ^ Powles 1928, pp.37–38
  41. ^ Waite 1924, pp.31–32
  42. ^ Waite 1924, pp.32–33
  43. ^ Powles 1928, p.40
  44. ^ Powles 1928, p.45
  45. ^ a b Nicol 1921, p.75
  46. ^ Powles 1928, pp.46–48
  47. ^ Wilkie 1924, pp.45–46
  48. ^ Wilkie 1924, pp.51–55
  49. ^ Powles 1928, p.54
  50. ^ Waite 1924, p.57
  51. ^ Powles 1928, pp.56–57
  52. ^ Waite 1919, p.252
  53. ^ Powles 1928, p.59
  54. ^ Nicol 1921, pp.81–84
  55. ^ Wilkie 1924, pp.63–64
  56. ^ Waite 1919, p.261
  57. ^ Waite 1919, p.266
  58. ^ Wilkie 1924, p.68
  59. ^ Waite 1919, p.280
  60. ^ Powles 1928, pp.71–72
  61. ^ Powles 1928, pp.72–75
  62. ^ Briscoe Moore 1920, pp.18–19
  63. ^ Gullett, p.57
  64. ^ Powles 1928, pp.90–91
  65. ^ Powles 1928, pp.92–93
  66. ^ Powles 1928, p.95
  67. ^ Powles 1928, p.103
Bibliography

Further reading

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