THE TERRITORIALS AND ALLIED IMPERIAL REGIMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15736, 12 April 1913, Page 10

THE TERRITORIALS AND ALLIED IMPERIAL REGIMENTS.

Sir,—A few days ago it' was announced through your columns that his Majesty had approved of certain New Zealand Kcgiments being allied to particular British regiments, it is • interesting und gratifying (especially to thoso who, 'iko myself, remember the Imperial troops in New Zealand during tho war, and who.lived under their protection) to know that the British regiments mentioned aro all regiments which under their old numbers were in active sen-ice in New Zealand. They had all Territorial names in those days, but wero generally known by their regimental number, and though now always spoken of by The Territorial names, the identity of the regiments and their old numbers aro still retained. A very appropriate selection has been made for the Otago Regiment, tho 4th. It is .allied to tho Bast Surrey Regiment, tho second battalion of which is the old 70th, a detachment of which camo to Dunedin in 1861'. Amongst tho regiments mentioned in t'ho announcement, the Suffolk ■was formerly the 12th, the West Yorkshire was the 14th, tho South Lancashire was the 40th, and tho old numbers of all tho other regiments can be found in tho Army List. Tho Wellington regiments are allied to two regiments very well known in New Zealand in the war. times. Ono is tho Koyal Irisli, formerly tho 18th—tho last regiment to leave New Zealand, and the best bush fiffhtinf? Im]>erial regiment we ever had. The other is tho York and Lancaster Regiment, tho old 65th, or, as the Maoris, with whom thoy wore on terms of chivalrous but warlike friendship, used to call them'. " The Hickety Pip"—that boing the Maori pronunciation of "65th." That was the regiment which, when it was tho leading regiment in an attack by several regiments on a Maori pa, received tho kindly-meant but, of course, disregarded, warning from a Maori warrior on tho parapet, " Lie down, Hickety Pip; wo'ro going to fire.'.' and it was tho same regiment wliose pickets often came in fresh and rosy from night outpost duty, whilo thoso '.of tho' other regiments were always worn and haggard—tlio nwson being that when tho sentries of. the. 65th. were posted, thoy would call out to tho Maoris to ask if there was. going to be any fighting that night, and .the' Maoris,'as 6oon as they .know it was tho 65th. would.tell them. They might give such an answer as "Not to-night.—too wot and cold; we'd. Mtor all ' go to sleep. Hickety Pip." ' And the 65th. if thoy got ah answer like that, knew the Maoris.would play the gamo. and keen their word, and they would go to sleop, knowing that they would bo aiven warning if there was to bo an attack, but that then they would havo to fight like anv other regiment.'. , When wo remember the splendid bravery of all the Imperials who served in this conntry, it is very pleasant, to think that tho New Zealand Territorials should bo allied

to such famous regiments, and wo know that our men will prove worthy of the honour.—l am, etc., J. F. Woodhocse, Honorary Territorial.