1st Mounted Rifles

1st Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) 1911–1944 New Zealand New Zealand Crown New Zealand Army Mounted Rifles One Regiment New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade World War IThe 1st Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) were a mounted rifles regiment raised just before World War I, raised and based in the region of Canterbury. It can trace its history back to 1864 with the formation of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry.300px|thumb|right|Middle Eastern Theatre during the Great War History Origins and formation The Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry was established as a volunteer corps at Christchurch in 1864.Major R.M. Barnes, page 174 "Military Uniforms of Britain and the Empire", Sphere Books Ltd 1972 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.Pages 383-384 The Navy and Army Illustrated Dec. 23rd 1899 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.Page 431 The Navy and Army Illustrated Jan. 6th 1900 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).Major R.M. Barnes, page 174 "Military Uniforms of Britain and the Empire", Sphere Books Ltd 1972 Following this, the regiment was formed on 17 March 1911. World War I They were mobilised during World War I as a squadron of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment. They served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I and first saw action during the Battle of Gallipoli. As a part of the larger New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (of the ANZAC Mounted Division) they went on to serve in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.firstaif http://www.firstaif.info/pages/nz_mounted.htm 1 August 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080724080529/http://www.firstaif.info/pages/nz_mounted.htm 2008-07-24 dead diggerhistory http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nz/nzef.htm 1 August 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100427043043/http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nz/nzef.htm 27 April 2010 The battle they participated in were Battle of Gallipoli Battle of Romani Battle of Magdhaba Battle of Rafa First Battle of Gaza Second Battle of Gaza Third Battle of Gaza Battle of Beersheba Battle of Megiddo (1918) Between the wars In 1921 they were amalgamated with the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles and redesignated the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. By 1942, the regiment, as 1st Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles Regiment (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry), was part of the 5th Division's divisional troops, located at Ashburton.Cooke and Crawford, 2011, 275. They were absorbed into the 3rd Armoured Regiment on 29 March 1944. Alliances – 12th Royal LancersThomas Malcolm Lord Cliff 1995 New Zealand Army distinguishing patches, 1911-1991, Part 1 0473032902 169 Malcolm Thomas References Category:Cavalry regiments of New Zealand Category:Military units and formations established in 1911 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944 Category:Cavalry regiments of New Zealand in World War I Category:History of the Canterbury Region Category:1911 establishments in New Zealand Category:1944 disestablishments in New Zealand