Corporal Des Barres is wearing a ‘type 8 or 9’ basic frame (horse rampant) hat badge and quite possibly ‘Reserve Squadron’ collar badges. The Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment comprised three squadrons, each with about 180 men. Here are their badges: Bowler was appointed as one of the four military Beach Landing Officers (BLO) and is believed to be the first member of the NZEF to land on Gallipoli) The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was a brigade of the New Zealand Army during the First World War. Raised in 1914 as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, it was one of the first New Zealand units to sail for service overseas. The cap and collar badges for the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles, a horse rampant over the regimental motto. The collar badges are a smaller version of the cap badge.

It appears the New Zealand ‘Special Reserve’ were called up for service in November 1915, and consisted of 1000 men, forming two Mounted Reserve squadrons and four Infantry Reserve company’s.This Trooper is wearing a ‘type 7’ basic frame A/9 hat badge and “First Type” Mounted Rifles collar badges.

The following shows the percentage of men supplied by the four military districts to the 8th Mounted Rifles reinforcements: — In 1938, the Wellington Regiment endeavoured to establish a stronger link between the regiment and the city of Wellington. The regiment changed its name to the Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own) and was granted the freedom of the city of Wellington, which gave it the right to march "with swords drawn, colours flying and bayonets fixed" through the city. The Wellington Regiment was the first New Zealand regiment to receive such an honour. [19] Second World War [ edit ]Trooper Owen Rees Self, Serial No. 9/1235, 6th Reinforcements, Otago Mounted Rifles, Embarkation Date: 14 August 1915.

This Trooper is wearing a ‘type 8 or 9’ basic frame (horse rampant) hat badge and ‘type 5’ basic frame A/XI collar badges. Corporal James McMillan, Serial No. 7/1322, 6th Reinforcements, Canterbury Mounted Rifles, Embarkation Date: 14 August 1915. The 30th Wellington Battalion eventually became the "30th Regiment (Wellington Rifles)" in 1900, "The Wellington Rifles" in 1920, and finally "The Wellington Regiment" in 1931; disbanded in 1936 - not perpetuated by any modern Regiment, so far as I know. The Portuguese and Spanish played an important part in the war. Retrained and reorganised by Marshal William Beresford, Portugal’s soldiers fought bravely alongside those of Britain. The stubborn Spanish defence of cities and towns tied down thousands of French troops. Spanish armies, though frequently defeated, kept reappearing, forcing France to send more armies against them.Second World War: Greece, Crete, Belhamed, Minqar Qaim, El Alamein, Enfidaville, The Sangro, Cassino 1, The Senio, The Treasury Islands [24] With a full sense of responsibility and privilege we accept the custody of the Guidon of your Regiment. It gives us great pleasure and satisfaction to accede to your request because it gives further emphasis to the identity of sympathy and interest which exists between the Council representing the people of this City and the Regiment, and establishes this Chamber as the repository of one of our most precious possessions of the Regiment, the Guidon on which is embroidered the Battle Honours of the Regiment. Your Guidon immortalises all who by their sacrifice on so many scattered battle fields of the world have brought honour and renown to this Regiment. Which we of the City of Hastings are now so proud to call our own. Trooper Kelly is wearing a NZMR ‘type 6’ hat badge, ‘type 10’ basic frame C/11 hat badge and NZMR ‘type 1’ collar badges. Sergeant David Turner, Serial No. 9/2237, D Squadron, 11th Reinforcements, Otago Mounted Rifles, Embarkation Date: 1 April 1916 (Died of wounds 5 August 1917) Straight NZMR shoulder title, most likely these were made in NZ and issued to reinforcements due to shortages of the curved NZMR title. (Tinto collection)

The New Zealand Mounted Rifles is the only unit to have used higher letters than “A, B, C and D” within the 6th Reinforcements)Austin, W. S. (1924). The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Wellington: L. T. Watkins Ltd. OCLC 1016592567. Trooper Robert Scott, Serial No. 9/1353, 6th reinforcements, (Special Squadrons) Otago Mounted Rifles, Embarkation Date: 14 August 1915.