“THE FIRST”

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11658, 24 October 1923, Page 7

“THE FIRST”

GERM OF N.Z.E.F,

FIRST N.Z. MOUNTED RIFLES TWEfNTW-FOUR YEARS AGO. AN OLD ASSOCIATION. Nelson Kay. October 21st. is remembered in New Zealand mainly because the Navy League does not forget it (says a writer in the Auckland “Star”). On Nelson Day, some year© ago, a Minister of the Crown, speaking at a very large social function, made no mention whatever of the fact that it .was Trafalgar Kay, although the whole of his speech, was about the Navy. Nelson Kay is the 'beginning of everything, as far as the modern British Navy is concerned. As a navy must have a nucleus, so must an army, and from the point of view of land defence Nelson Kay is an anniversary in New Zealand of some importance, for it was on that day, twenty-four years ago, the first New Zealand troops to be dispatched overseas on active service, left Wellington by the Waiwera for Capetown. The first New Zealand Contingent was the genesis of the New Zealand fighting forces, both of 1899 and of 1914. The Now Zealand troops were the first colonial troops to land, with the exception. of the New South Wales Lancers, who were then lying in London undergoing cavalry training. It was because they were so near Africa that they were in the field first. The first New Zealand Mounted Rifles were in action at Rensburg early in December, 1899, as were the New South Wales Lanosra. ALL TRAINED MEIN.

The little corps, which was mobilised at Karori, Wellington, was selected from already trained cavalry or mounted rifle men, and all others were rejected. The total strength was 214 officers, non-coms, and men, although as the years go by and more of the original strength die, those who claim to have belonged grow in number. An authority computes that of the 214 in the original corps (of whom GO are dead) several thousand still remain, if one accepts the claims of those who declare theinselvos part of "the smallest regiment in British history." The corps was equipped in about a fortnight, and had some strenuous training at Karori. The men were magnificently mounted and commanded by Major A. W, Robin, then of the Otago Hussars, now Major-General Sir A. W. Robin, C. 8., who commanded the forces in New Zealand for so many years. The corps was trained by the late Captain C. P. Rogers, formerly of the Sixteenth Lancers, who was the regimental sergeant-major. He accompanied the oorps to Africa, and had the reputation of being one of the finest cavalry instructors in the Empire’s service. The second in command was Captain R. Hutton Davies, afterwards for many years of the British Army, and general commanding a brigade in the retirement from Mons. He was afterwards appointed G.O.C. Cannock Chase (Northern) Division in England. General Davies died in England of pneumonia supervening on his experiences in France. Other officers were Captain W. N. R. Aladocks, then in New Zealand from the Royal Artillery. He it was who behaved with singular and gallant devotion at New Zealand Hill, killing the Boer commandant and commanding the YorkI shires and the New Zealanders who repulsed one of the bravest attacks ever made by the enemy. Hero of New Zealand Hill, Captain Madocks commanded a brigade of artillery in the Great War, and was promoted to major-general. It is of interest that he married a daughter of the late Sir Walter Buller, the distinguished naturalist. Captain H. D. O. Ward was an officer of the first New Zealand Mounted Rifles, also from tho Royal Artillery. He was an aide-de'-camp in New Zealand, and immediately asked for special employment. Ho was esteemed as one of the coolest and most intrepid men who left New Zealand. He had distinguished service in the Great War, and is now a major-general. Captain E. Bartlett, D. 5.0., was another officer who had a remarkable facility for veldt fighting. He was h Hawera man, greatly esteemed for his courage and with an unusual eye for country. He settled down at Boksburg in the Transvaal, and again fought in German East Africa with Botha’s forces. Ho also had 9omo striking adventures with the Chinos© coolies who ran amok in Johannesburg, the settlors having to stand armed attacks of these men who were of the large lusty variety. THE GALLANT "JACKIE." Another officer of especial interest is Colonel J. Gethin Hughes, C.M.G., D.S.O. who greatly distinguished himself and who was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in the field. He, with a small body of N.Z.M.R., saved a section of guns in the vicinity of Cole-sburg when a squadron of the Eleventh Hussars were forced to abandon them. He (with Captain Madocks) displayed conspicuous gallantry at New Zealand Hill, when the Ne v Zealanders came to the rescue of the Yorks, who were suddenly attacked by tho Boers. He commanded the Canterbury Regiment in the Great War. Lieutenant M. E. Lindsay, quite a young man, was especially esteemed for his capacity rnd coolness. Ho was exchanger! late in the South African War into the Seventh Dragoon Guards, and has since served in many theatres of war. Ho was adjutant of his regiment and a very notable sportsman, the crack polo player of the corps and a terror among the tigers in Tndia. Colonel Lindsay has now married a Miss Riddiford', daughter of the well-known Wairarapn land-owner.

Of the men in the ranks many have since achieved field rank. Colonel George Mitchell, D. 5.0.,, formerly a Wellington M.P. was a trooper. He won his distinctions in the Great "War, and was very severely injured. Major Edwin Harrowell. \rlw) was second in command of the Auckland Infantry Regiment in Egypt, and who was very severely wounded, was a sergeant of the First N.Z.M.R. SOME GOOD SOLDIERS. Colonel H. Whyte, D. 5.0., 0.C.D., Wellington, was the youngest recruit to ioin. He was a post office cadet in Auckland at the time. Ho is regarded as one of the finest soldiers in New Zealand, and has been a professional soldier for twenty years. Major H. W. Smith, who commanded the combined Australian and Now Zealand Anzac Transport in Egypt, rnd who distinguished himself on Gallipoli, was a. trooper in the First. He also fought in the Natal Rebellion, and has had in all seven years’ war service. Another trooper was the late Lieut. "Tiny" Emmcrson, who was killed on Gallipoli, a very gallant gentleman incapable of fear He. battled the breakers at Napier for thirty-five minutes to .-nve a drowning woman, hut was unable ro snve her lif-v Tic brought her nr Lore dead. His fellow officers on Gallipoli declared that the task he was sent to do on Gallipoli was impossible, but "Tiny" did his best. Of the remnant nf the First Ouitingont 110 lieoamo officers. A trooner, A. L© Coste Bnrtrop. is major of police on the Ronn. He was in charge of the police in the mining riots. A trooper. C. Enderby. was detailed as slationmastcr in Pretoria dur-

ing the last military occupation. The late J. Thorpe, also a trooper in the' corps, greatly distinguished himself as a civil engineer in South Africa after his war service was finished. He solved the problem of a difficult Tailway deviation from Watervaal Onder to Boven, after other distinguished engineers had given it up. The late Mr Thorpe, who died in New Zealand during the great epidemic, had remarkable success a 6 a railway engineer in China, and often had to organise his gangs to fight bands of raiders. An officer of the oorps wa« Mr Neave, who had joined the First Contingent to give him experience, it being his intention to join the Imperial Army. He was early transferred and was extremely popular with the "Tommies" of his regiment, for he was fearless and a splendid sportsman. He was killed at Paardeburg while standing up in a trench to observe the enemy’s line. FRENCH’S ESTIMATE.

The First New Zealand Mounted Rifles were regarded by General John French (now Lord Ypres) with special affection, although previously he had expressed contempt for soldiers who were not permanent and professional. He declared this corps to be composed of the best horsemen he had ever used and experimented with them to the extent of trying a bayonet charge on horseback. He regarded it as of no value. .The corps covered many thousands of miles in the parts of three years it was in Africa, and was constantly fighting. Its record was fourteen fights in thirteen days. With the First Queensland M.R. the First N.Z.M.R. were the first troops into Kimberley, having made a forced march over burning veldt and through thorn-bush. It fought in the actions at Paardeburg, Poplar Grove and Dfiefontein, and was distinguished for its action at Sanna’s Christian De Wet and Botha trapped a large British force and captured hundreds of prisoners and miles of supplies. Seventeen New Zealanders were captured here. The corps fought at Johannesburg, Reit Vlei, Tigerpoort, Taiboschlaagte and Orange River, and many other places, and was in French’s unparalleled forced march over the {treat mountain to Barberton on the Swaziland border. The march is said to be one of the cavalry feats of British history. Only selected men and horses were used. New Zealand troops held Barberton for six AT BARBERTON. There were six thousand Boer women in this town whose husbands were fighting. No disorders of any kind took place after the first day, and the whole place was most amicably run. The first man into Barberton was Captain "Barney" Todd, of Auckland, and afterwards a Brigadier-General in the Australian Imperial Force. Captain Todd was given the D.S.O. for the Barberton work. On the completion of their service the corps returned to New Zealand and one hundred men of the ranks wore recommended- for commissions. Most of these men returned to South Africa in later regiments. On the troopship returning from South Africa an association was formed and has been in existence ever since. Survivors meet every year in Wellington on October 21st or on the nearest suitable date and dine. They met at Dustin’s last night. During the whole of the time since the return of the First Contingent a paper has been periodically published containing matters of interest to the member* of the association. For the past twelve years it has been published in Auckland, and the editor (who is also the secretary) has not been changed in twenty-two years.