THE WAIKATO REGIMENT

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4815, 26 July 1939, Page 5

THE WAIKATO REGIMENT

A BRIEF HISTORY. The Waikato Regiment owes its origin to the necessity to repress Maori uprisings in the early settlement days of the Waikato district when the volunteer militia was established. The Ist, 2nd, and 3rd Waikato Regiments were recruited in 1863, and shortly afterwards the 4th Waikatos were formed.

The settlement of Hamilton by the pioneer 4th Waikatos is an epic of early colonial history. With the determination of British pioneers and soldiers they overcame seemingly impassable natural barriers and hardships and carried on the traditions of their forebears. Captain William Steele, the founder of the 4th Waikatos, later became known as the father of Hamilton, and was closely identified with its progress up to the time of his death in 1898.

The Waikato Regiment took its motto from the battle of Orakau, which took place early in April, 1864, when the great Maori chief, Rewi Maniapoto, supported by a small band of warriors and women, flung his now famous challenge at the strong opposing British forces, "Ka whawhai tonu, ake, ake" (We will fight on for ever and ever). When the Kitchener scheme was brought into operation in 1911, and later when the call came in 1914, it was only to be expected that the children and grandchildren of these hardy pioneers, proud of their soldier forebears, rejoicing in being able to claim that they belonged to one of the "fighting families of the Waikato," should answer the summons. Space does not permit to give even an outline of the exploits of the Waikato Regiment in the Great War, but it can safely be said that in that epic fighting, from the landing at Anzac on the 25th April, 1915, to the final victorious advance in France and Belgium to the Hindenburg line and beyond, ending in the defeat of the German Army, the Regiment truly won its spurs. The casualties were very severe but after every action there was always a nucleus of the old hands to carry on the spirit of the regiment, and the record they established in the attaining of objectives, and the capture of men and guns, is almost unique.

For its part in the Great War, His Majesty the King conferred on the Waikato Regiment the following battle honours: —

"Somme, 1916, '18," "Morval," "Le Transloy," "Passchendaele," "Arras, 1918," "Ancre, 1918," "Albert, 1918," "Bapaume, 1918," "Hindenburg Line," "Havrincourt," "Canal du Nord," "Cambrai, 1918," "Selle," "Sambre," "Messines, 1917," "Ypres, 1917," "Polygon Wood," "Broodseinde," "France and Flanders, 1916-18," "Helles," "Krithia," "Anzac," "Landing at Anzac," "Defence of Anzac," "Suvla," "Sari Bair," "Gallipoli, 1915," "Suez Canal," "Egypt, 1915-16," "FlersCourcelette." What memories do those famous battles conjure up in the minds of those ex-members of the Regiment who took part in that great adventure.

To-day the Regiment marches on, ready to play its part again in the defence of the Empire and all it stands for. It now sends out a call for recruits to the young men of this district. Young men who are to carry on and uphold the honour, name and great traditions of a famous regiment. It is a call which should not be made in vain.

TE KUITI RECRUITING WEEK. FURTHER ENROLMENTS TO DATE. Privates H. Ormsby, L. R. Voyce, R. C. Ridge, W. Lawson, D. K. Robertson, J. E. Coates, M. J. McGrath, T. E. Williams, S. Ercegg, W. E. G. Boisen, R. K. .Somerville, L. Hopkins, N. H. Remnant, J. E. Harris, W. C. Davies All, young men of Te Kuiti and district aged 18 to 32 years are reminded of a recruiting meeting which will be held to-night in the Borough Council Chambers at 8 p.m. when an address will be given by the District Recruiting Officer, Captain Pilcher.