New Zealand Mounted Rifle Reinforcement Drafts from World War 1
The 12 New Zealand Mounted Rifle Regiment left with the main body of men in October 1914.
They too, would need specialised reinforcements, which would need to be trained in and around New Zealand.
Like their Infantry, and later, Rife Brigade counterparts, their Reinforcement drafts wore a privately purchased cap badge, which varied and depended upon personal taste and what was available.
Like the Infantry, the 1st Reinforcements left with the Main Body of men, while the 2nd followed suit, soon after. Upon arrival in training camp in early 1915, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Mounted Rifle Reinforcements adopted a Squadron system with the following letters:
- A Squadron (Auckland)
- B Squadron (Wellington)
- C Squadron (Canterbury)
- D Squadron (Otago)
This followed the Infantry's Area system which divided NZ up into four Area's.
It also meant that the Mounted Rifle Reinforcements wore the same two piece lettered/numbered badges as their Infantry counterparts.
They too, would need specialised reinforcements, which would need to be trained in and around New Zealand.
Like their Infantry, and later, Rife Brigade counterparts, their Reinforcement drafts wore a privately purchased cap badge, which varied and depended upon personal taste and what was available.
Like the Infantry, the 1st Reinforcements left with the Main Body of men, while the 2nd followed suit, soon after. Upon arrival in training camp in early 1915, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Mounted Rifle Reinforcements adopted a Squadron system with the following letters:
- A Squadron (Auckland)
- B Squadron (Wellington)
- C Squadron (Canterbury)
- D Squadron (Otago)
This followed the Infantry's Area system which divided NZ up into four Area's.
It also meant that the Mounted Rifle Reinforcements wore the same two piece lettered/numbered badges as their Infantry counterparts.
6th to 10th Mounted Reinforcements
The 6th and 7th Reinforcements were merged to train together (and thus just became the 6th Mounted Reinforcements), to increase the rate of trained men leaving NZ at the time. Therefore E, F, G, H and J were used as well as A, B, C, and D.
A new 7th Reinforcements was then called into camp and they were lettered A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.
The 7th also shared E and F companies with the newly raised (at the time) NZ Rifle Brigade.
The 8th to 10th Reinforcements used A, B, C and D only and there badges are the same as what is covered in the Infantry section on the website.
A new 7th Reinforcements was then called into camp and they were lettered A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.
The 7th also shared E and F companies with the newly raised (at the time) NZ Rifle Brigade.
The 8th to 10th Reinforcements used A, B, C and D only and there badges are the same as what is covered in the Infantry section on the website.
11th to 14th Mounted Reinforcements
The 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Reinforcements were still in New Zealand when the Allies withdrew from the Gallipoli Peninsular. Up until that time, all Mounted Rifles had fought as dismounted Infantry.
It was decided in April 1916, not to have all 12 Mounted Rifles Regiments fight in the Middle East. The Otago Mounted Rifles (which consisted of the three regiments - 5th (Otago Hussars) Mounted Rifles, - 7th (Southland) Mounted Rifles, - 12th (Otago) Mounted Rifles) would instead continue to fight as dismounted Infantry in Europe. Surplus men were also absorbed into other units destined for France, which were greatly expanded at the time, .i.e. NZ Field Artillery, Pioneer Corps NZ Army Service Corps etc.
It meant too, that in NZ, there was a over-supply of Mounted Rifle Reinforcements.
The men of the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th MR Reinforcement also became Infantry, Field Artillery or joined newly created units, such as the Pioneer Battalion or NZ Cyclist Battalion. Some did chose not to, and held back until MR Reinforcements were needed.
- Opposite: A Cap badge to the 14th Mounted Rifle Reinforcements.
It was decided in April 1916, not to have all 12 Mounted Rifles Regiments fight in the Middle East. The Otago Mounted Rifles (which consisted of the three regiments - 5th (Otago Hussars) Mounted Rifles, - 7th (Southland) Mounted Rifles, - 12th (Otago) Mounted Rifles) would instead continue to fight as dismounted Infantry in Europe. Surplus men were also absorbed into other units destined for France, which were greatly expanded at the time, .i.e. NZ Field Artillery, Pioneer Corps NZ Army Service Corps etc.
It meant too, that in NZ, there was a over-supply of Mounted Rifle Reinforcements.
The men of the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th MR Reinforcement also became Infantry, Field Artillery or joined newly created units, such as the Pioneer Battalion or NZ Cyclist Battalion. Some did chose not to, and held back until MR Reinforcements were needed.
- Opposite: A Cap badge to the 14th Mounted Rifle Reinforcements.
- Opposite: A pair of Cap badges to the J Company, 14th Mounted Rifles Reinforcements. Note a non-void (lugged) and void (brooch fitted to back) version.
15th to the 18th Mounted Reinforcements
The 15th to the 18th Mounted Reinforcements continued to wear the badges covered in the Infantry section on the website. They also wore generic Mounted Reinforcement badges which are covered further down the page.
- Opposite: A specific Cap badge to the 17th Mounted Rifle Reinforcements, featuring a Mounted Rifles Trooper inside a Stirrup.
- Opposite: A specific Cap badge to the 17th Mounted Rifle Reinforcements, featuring a Mounted Rifles Trooper inside a Stirrup.
19th to the 22nd Mounted Reinforcements
As mentioned above, these MR Reinforcement drafts wore either Infantry style or generic MR style badges while training in their drafts. The 19th it appears did have their own Cap badge and collars. Here are a pair of collars, one which has been silver washed, and is void (though has lugs to back), and the other, non-void and gilt brass.
23rd and 24th Mounted Reinforcements
Probably my most favorite Reinforcement badge. The 23rd had their own unique Cap and Collar Badge. I don't have a cap badge to the 23rd, but on the top row is a pair of collars, one with lugs and one brooch fitted.
The 24th adopted the same badge, but instead of re-striking a new badge with "24" to bottom center, the Jeweler just made a small round plaque, and sweated this over the "23". This increment of draft number on a base frame with a small plaque, became the basis for Mounted Rifle Reinforcement badges going forward.
The 24th adopted the same badge, but instead of re-striking a new badge with "24" to bottom center, the Jeweler just made a small round plaque, and sweated this over the "23". This increment of draft number on a base frame with a small plaque, became the basis for Mounted Rifle Reinforcement badges going forward.
25th to 47th Mounted Reinforcement Drafts
Opposite are the two basic numbered frame types used from the 25th to 47th Reinforcement drafts.
- Top: Frame type used by the 25th to 47th MR Reinforcement drafts. Referred to as the "Low Tail" as the horses tail, is down on this due to its stance. There are also matching opposing collars. All have a white metal wing, sweated onto the body of the horse.
They usually have hex type lugs to back.
- Bottom: The other frame type, used by the 31st to 47th MR Reinforcement drafts. This is the scarcer "High Tail" type, again based on how the tail sits. The example here has a small round "41" brass disk sweated over the top of a 31st MR Reio frame. Like their other counterparts, they too have matching opposing collars.
Usually found with copper wire lugs to back.
- Top: Frame type used by the 25th to 47th MR Reinforcement drafts. Referred to as the "Low Tail" as the horses tail, is down on this due to its stance. There are also matching opposing collars. All have a white metal wing, sweated onto the body of the horse.
They usually have hex type lugs to back.
- Bottom: The other frame type, used by the 31st to 47th MR Reinforcement drafts. This is the scarcer "High Tail" type, again based on how the tail sits. The example here has a small round "41" brass disk sweated over the top of a 31st MR Reio frame. Like their other counterparts, they too have matching opposing collars.
Usually found with copper wire lugs to back.
- Opposite: The picture shows the Cap badges to the 25th to 30th MR Reinforcement drafts. Note the 25th MR Reio frame, which has no numbered disks sweated over the top. Subsequent drafts have a numbered disc covering the "25". My 27th has been converted into a sweethearts badge, with the addition of a broach fitting to back and is heavily gilded.
- Opposite: Cap badges to the 31st to 36th MR Reio. Note the 34th is a "High Tail" frame type.
- Opposite: Cap badges to the 37th to 41st MR Reio. My two 41st are both types found, but the "Low Tail" version suffers from loss of white metal wing to front. It also has a broach fitting to back.
- Opposite: Cap badges to the 42nd to 47th MR Reio. Apparently badges to the 48th to 50th were made, but I have not yet come across examples.
Generic Mounted Reinforcement Draft Badges
From about the 10th MR Reinforcements onwards, a generic cap and/or collar was also worn with either specific Mounted Reio Badges or the frame types covered in the Infantry Section on the website. Opposite is a selection of what is described as the 1st type Generic MR Reio badge, and is based on the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Cap badge, but instead of a motto at the base, just has "N.Z.M.R".
There is some slight variations in opposing collar detail.
All have copper wire lugs or hex type brass to back.
There is some slight variations in opposing collar detail.
All have copper wire lugs or hex type brass to back.
A selection of Cap and a single collar badge.
- Top Left: A bi-metal cap badge, with white metal horse to center.
- Top Right: A two piece brass version of the same badge
- Bottom Left: A frame type of around the 16th/17th Reinforcements, with the addition of a rampant horse to center.
- Middle: A Rare 2 piece, brass collar badge
- Bottom Right: A frame type used by the 34th Reinforcements and onwards, with rampant horse added to center.
- Top Left: A bi-metal cap badge, with white metal horse to center.
- Top Right: A two piece brass version of the same badge
- Bottom Left: A frame type of around the 16th/17th Reinforcements, with the addition of a rampant horse to center.
- Middle: A Rare 2 piece, brass collar badge
- Bottom Right: A frame type used by the 34th Reinforcements and onwards, with rampant horse added to center.