Australian Light Horse Studies Centre

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, Roll of Honour

Citation: Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Roll of Honour

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Saturday, 21 November 2009 9:29 PM EAST

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Friday, 11 September 2009

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Contents
Topic: AIF - NZMRB - CMR

CMR Regiment

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment

Contents

Items

Canterbury Mounted Rifles, NZMRB, Outline

Structure
The Australian Light Horse – Structural outline
Australian Light Horse Order of Battle

Corps
Desert Mounted Corps (DMC)

Division
Anzac Mounted Division

Brigade
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade

Regiments
Auckland Mounted Rifles
Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Wellington Mounted Rifles

History
Bir el Abd
Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, War Diary Account

Roll of Honour

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Roll of Honour
Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

Citation: Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Contents

Posted by Project Leader at 2:36 PM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 12 September 2009 4:18 PM EADT

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Thursday, 10 September 2009

Canterbury Mounted Rifles, NZMRB, History
Topic: AIF - NZMRB - CMR

CMR Regiment

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment

Contents

Canterbury Mounted Rifles embarking from Lyttelton on the HMNZT 11 Athenic, September 1914.

[From: Auckland Weekly News, 1 October 1914, p. 38.]

Formation

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Squadron Recruitment Catchment Areas

The Canterbury Mounted Rifles utilised the Volunteer Territorial structure to recruit members into the three squadrons gazetted as establishment in August 1914. Below is a listing of the three squadrons inclusive of the distinguishing squadron badge.

1st Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Squadron

Badge for the 1st Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment

The anticedents for the 1st Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment stretched further back than 1914. The district surrounding Christchurch provided a volunteer force for many decades. Men from these formations served during the Boer War while afterwards, during the reorganisation of 1 October 1900, two new Territorial battalions were formed. In 1906, the name battalion was replaced by Regiment. The 1st Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment as a Territorial Volunteer formation came into being on 17 March 1911 when the New Zealand compulsory military training program commenced. The 1st Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Squadron was recruited from the same Territorial region which included the Christchurch metropolitan area and the central region of South Island.

8th South Canterbury Squadron

Badge for the 8th South Canterbury Regiment

The 8th South Canterbury Regiment as a Territorial Volunteer formation came into being on 17 March 1911 when the New Zealand compulsory military training program commenced. After the outbreak of the Great War the 8th South Canterbury Squadron was recruited from the same Territorial region which included the area south and west of Christchurch.

10th Nelson Squadron

Badge for the 10th Nelson Regiment

The 10th Nelson Regiment as a Territorial Volunteer formation came into being on 17 March 1911 when the New Zealand compulsory military training program commenced. After the outbreak of the Great War the 10th Nelson Squadron was recruited from the same Territorial region which included the area north and east of Christchurch and centred on the city of Nelson at the extreme north of South Island.

Machine Gun Section

The Machine Gun Section was drawn from recruits over the entirety of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles catchment area.

Embarkation

The original Canterbury Mounted Rifles embarked to Egypt on 16 October 1914.

HMNZT 4 Tahiti - Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment.
HMNZT 11 Athenic - Headquarters Mounted Rifles Brigade and Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment. (2 Squadrons)

In Egypt additional training occurred at Maadi Camp.

Gallipoli

As mounted troops, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles were considered to be unsuitable for work in Gallipoli. The mounted troops volunteered to operate as infantry and thus were sent to Gallipoli with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles landing on 12 May 1915. Only once was this regiment used for offensive activities which occurred during the two attacks on Hill 60 in August 1915. For the balance of the time the Canterbury Mounted Rifles remained at Gallipoli, the unit played a defensive role.

Defence of Egypt

In March 1916, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles was allotted as a Regiment in the newly formed Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, or more commonly called the Anzac Mounted Division. As part of the Division the Canterbury Mounted Rifles moved to join its parent brigade, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, which was taking part in the defence of the Suez Canal. The work was hot and monotonous. they remained here until moved to the Romani region to bolster the defence of that area.

Sinai

The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade played an important role in beating back the Turkish invasion of the Suez Canal zone at Romani. Now known as the Battle of Romani which lasted from 4-6 August which was quickly followed by the Battle of Katia and then Bir el Abd on 9 August. All the actions in which the Canterbury Mounted Rifles finally led to the defeat of the Ottoman Canal Expeditionary force and its retreat to Bir el Mazar.

Over the next few months, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles took part in the Allied advance over the Sinai leading to the fall of Bir el Mazar, then El Arish followed by Bir el Magdhaba and finally Rafa in January 1917. The Ottoman forces were expelled from the Sinai and were poised to be tackled in Palestine.

Palestine

On 27 March 1917, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles took an adventurous role during the First Battle of Gaza. While involved in the encirclement of the city as a prelude to its capture, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles received the order to withdraw and return to the starting line. Grudgingly they did so but realised the Turks had snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat.

The Canterbury Mounted Rifles took part in the Second Battle of Gaza on 19 April 1917 and suffered the heaviest casualties since Gallipoli.

The Canterbury Mounted Rifles took part in the Battle of Beersheba and then the follow up actions that lasted until early January 1918. This included such actions as the Battle of Ayun Kara and the advance to Jaffa.

After the fall of Jerusalem the Canterbury Mounted Rifles moved to the Jordan Valley and took parts in operations in this region. This included the taking of Jericho, the attack on Amman during 27 March - 2 April 1918 and Es Salt Raid of 30 April – 4 May 1918. It's last major action prior to the breakout was to repel the German Asien Corps attack on Abu Telllul, 14 July 1918.

Amman

At the opening of the final Allied offensive on 19 September 1918, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles took part in the invasion of the Moab hills for the third time. This time Amman was captured and finally, the Ottomans called for an Armistice on 30 October 1918.

Commanders

Lieutenant Colonel John Findaly

Attachments

Formed August 1914.

Attached to the New Zealand and Australian Division from December 1914 to April 1915. Attachment ceased on the Division's deployment to Gallipoli.

Attached to the New Zealand and Australian Division at Gallipoli from May 1915 to February 1916.

Attached to the Anzac Mounted Division March 1916 until March 1919.

Campaigns

Gallipoli:
Anzac
Defence at Anzac
Suvla
Sari Bair
Gallipoli 1915-1916
Egypt:
Defence of Egypt.
Sinai:
Romani;
Sinai;
Magdhaba; and,
Rafa.
Palestine:
First Battle of Gaza;
Second Battle of Gaza;
Third Battle of Gaza;
Beersheba;
Ayun Kara;
Jerusalem;
Jericho;
First Amman;
Es Salt;
Megiddo; and,
Second Amman.

Disbandment

The Canterbury Mounted Rifles returned to New Zealand in small numbers from June to July 1919. On 17 June 1919 the main body of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles handed in their horses and moved to Chevalier Island, Ismailia, in anticipation for embarkation to New Zealand. With much ceremony at Chevalier Island, the Canterbury Mounted Rifles along with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was disbanded on 30 June 1919. The last Canterbury Mounted Rifles members embarked from Ismailia on the SS Ellenga and returned to New Zealand on 23 July 1919.

Acknowledgement: Thanks are extended to Steve Butler and Greg Bradley for the excellent site New Zealand Mounted Rifles Association and their consent to use information and images from that particular site. Steve Butler has kinldy provided the artwork for this entry.

Further Reading:

Citation: Canterbury Mounted Rifles, NZMRB, History

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 11 September 2009 2:58 PM EADT

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Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, War Diary Account
Topic: AIF - NZMRB - CMR

Bir el Abd

Sinai, 9 August 1916

CMR, War Diary Account

War Diary account of the CMR.

The transcription:

9 August

The Brigade paraded at 0400 and marched out of Debabis towards Bir el Abd. The Telegraph line was followed for on mile east of Debabis and turned slightly to the south east. Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment were the Advance Guard and came in touch with the Turkish outpost at 0515 when they were fired on. The 8th Squadron were then detailed to support the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment on their left which brought us right onto the Main Road. Firing became heavier and then our remaining two squadrons were sent to support the left of the 1st Squadron. The 8th Squadron advanced down a sandy spur and engaged the Turks drawing them off the sand spur towards Bir el Abd. The 1st and 10th Squadrons had in the meantime advanced some 300 or 400 yards on the left and driven the Turks back. The Turkish artillery fire became very heavy in the valley by the road and the 8th Squadron suffered very heavily. Never the less they advanced onto another position north east of sand spur. Here Lieutenant Menzies was killed and Major Hammond and Lieutenant Blackney were badly wounded. The position was held for some time when it became too hot to hold so we had to retire about 500 yards and there hold the enemy in check. The 5th Light horse Regiment came up and supported us on our left and during the afternoon, “A” Squadron of the Warwickshire Yeomanry came up and helped to strengthen our position. Communication was maintained throughout the day by visual and despatch riders. Good work was done by RSM Denton and the Signaller Section. It was the intention of the GOC that the 3rd Light Horse should make a flanking movement and come around in the south side of Bir el Abd and the Light Horse were to proceed round the northern flank and cut off the enemy between Bir el Abd and Salmana but neither of these Regiments accomplished their task. Artillery was brought into action and did useful work. Received order at 1800 to retire to Debabis at dusk. We commenced to retire at 1900, our retirement being covered by the Machine Gun Section under Captain Sharpe. Our casualties for the day were very heavy.

Roll of Honour

Cyril BLAKENEY
Cecil Hervey CROWE
George Harcus DAVIS
Owen Ernest Oscar FERRIS
Frank GOODRICK
William Moody GRAY
Herbert Harold HAMMOND
Gordon Gerald HARPER
Robert Harry LAMBIE
John McKAY
Jeffrey McNEILL
William Barnet MENZIES
Alexander MOORE
John Henry RAINE
William SANDERSON

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Citation: Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, War Diary Account

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 13 September 2009 12:20 AM EADT

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Sunday, 9 August 2009

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Unit History Account
Topic: AIF - NZMRB - CMR

Bir el Abd

Sinai, 9 August 1916

CMR Unit History Account

Colonel Charles Guy Powles along with Officers of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles produced in 1928 a collective work called The history of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles 1914-1919, in which included a section specifically related to the battle of Bir el Abd and is extracted below A copy of this book is available on the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Association website..

Powles, CG ed, The history of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles 1914-1919, 1928.:

The heat since leaving Hill 70 on the morning of the 4th had been steadily increasing, and officers and men suffered severely, several having to be evacuated to hospital. The 7th was a replica of the 6th, the enemy being driven back to Negiliat, whence he made great play with his guns. "We were on the move again by 3.30 a.m. on the 8th, but the enemy had again withdrawn, and was now holding a strong position at Bir el Abd. The Regiment remained all day at Debabis and finally bivouaced there for the night. This spell was very welcome to all.

Next morning, August 9th, all available mounted troops were on the move before daylight. The Turks were reported to be holding Bir el Abd in strength.

The attack was to be made from the west and. south-west, and the 1st and 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigades combined were to attack the north flank of the enemy. The 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade was ordered to pass south of the enemy, and then come into action from the direction of Salmana, thereby cutting his line of retreat, and menacing his rear. At 5.30 a.m. our advanced regiment, Auckland Mounted Rifles, was fired on, and the 8th Squadron went up in support of its left. Almost at once they were heavily engaged, and the two remaining squadrons of the Regiment came into action on the left of the 8th Squadron. The Regiment's right flank now rested on the old caravan route, the left feeling round towards the 2nd Light Horse Brigade.

The 8th Squadron pushed steadily on driving the enemy off a low sandy ridge facing east. The 1st and 10th Squadrons advanced at the same time, finally securing the high ground west of Bir el Abd, the Canterbury Regiment being on the left of the "Old Road" and the Aucklanders on the right of it, and later the 5th Light Horse Regiment, still temporarily attached to the Brigade, came up on the right of. the Auckland Regiment. The main Turkish defences could now be seen. They consisted of a series of entrenched redoubts with rifle pits in front. Later it was found that all these redoubts were connected by telephone with their artillery — three batteries of 77 mm. and one 4.2 battery and several 5.9 inch howitzers.

Against these the Anzac Mounted Division had only four batteries of 18 pounders.

The Turks had about 6,000 men in the line against our total of about 3,000 dismounted rifles. They were mostly reinforcements from El Arish who had not been engaged at Romani, while our men were suffering from extreme physical exhaustion.

The task before the British force was therefore formidable and the only chance of success was, as at Katia, that the 3rd Light Horse Brigade should succeed in beating down the enemy's extended left flank and in shaking the Bir el Abd defences by threatening the Turks communications.

Up till now their artillery had been annoying, but did not cause much damage, but once the high ridge facing the Oasis was crossed our men were in full view of their gunners. The 8th Squadron were in the most exposed position and suffered severely. Lieutenant Menzies, signalling officer, was killed, and Major Hammond and Lieutenant Blakeney dangerously wounded.

Early in the fight the Turks began to disclose their strength. Soon after 6 o 'clock they advanced with the bayonet in their first counter attack, but were stopped by the Canterburys and Aucklanders, aided by the splendid shooting of the Somerset Battery, which, as usual, fought with the N.Z.M.R. Brigade.

The line was again advanced until the Canterbury and Auckland Regiments were well down the forward slopes leading to the wells, but by 10.30 a.m. the enemy guns showed increased activity, severely handling the combined 1st and 2nd Light Horse Brigades on the left.

The Warwickshire Yeomanry now came up to reinforce the N.Z.M.R. Brigade, and the increased activity apparent among the Turks indicated that they were making every effort to get away their supplies and transport.

Shortly before noon came the second counter-attack, and the full force was received by the Regiment, but every man held firmly to his ground, and by accurate and deliberate fire, aided most effectively by the fine shooting of the machine guns, the successive waves of enemy infantry were shattered.

By 2 p.m. the enemy's counter-attack was in full progress along the whole of the line, and both the Light Horse Brigades on the left and the 3rd Light Horse Brigade on the right began to give round, the regiments retiring for about a mile under heavy punishment with every available man in the line. As the Turks recognised the possibility of overwhelming the British force, their gun fire gathered intensity until it reached a degree of severity unknown either at Romani or on Gallipoli.

The New Zealand Brigade was now in a very difficult position in being well down the forward slopes with both flanks exposed, and had it not been for the accurate shooting of each individual man, backed up by the machine guns and the Somerset Battery, the entire Brigade would have been overwhelmed.

65 At 5.30 p.m. General Chauvel ordered a general withdrawal. It was recognised that this would be a difficult task, but. provided the horses could be reached, the heavy ground would save the regiments from a hand to hand encounter with superior forces of the enemy's fresh troops. As soon as the movement was perceived the Turks assaulted strongly, and such was the position of the N.Z.M.R. Brigade that General Chaytor decided that the better course was to hang on until dark.

Just at dusk after a very heavy attack which fell chiefly upon the Aucklanders, the latter withdrew with the 5th Light Horse Regiment and the Yeomanry, leaving the Canterbury Regiment as rear guard.

A great fight had been put up by the machine guns, and under their cover the Regiment slowly withdrew. Lieutenant Gordon Harper, the gallant commander of the section of guns attached to the Regiment, was mortally wounded and brought out with great difficulty by his famous brother Captain Robin Harper, O.C. Machine Gun Squadron, who had all guns available playing on the advancing Turks, breaking up their attack when within 100 yards of the New Zealand position.

As has been already told, Captain Hammond of the 8th Squadron had been wounded earlier in the day. Though suffering from illness on the morning of the battle and recommended for evacuation to hospital, he insisted on remaining with and leading his squadron, and fought his men with great brilliancy and determination throughout the long day.

Colonel Findlay, on hearing that Captain Hammond had been severely wounded and could not be moved, worked his way up to the firing line, and, though managing to escape the heavy machine gun and rifle fire, was wounded in the hand by a piece of the shell which mortally wounded Lieutenant Gordon Harper. The care and evacuation of the wounded was an exceedingly difficult task, and much praise was due to the M.O., Captain R.

Orbell, and his stretcher bearers, for the excellent work they performed throughout these trying days. Visual signalling was out of the question at Bir el Abd, but the signallers carried out all that was required of them as runners; and for the maintenance of communications throughout the day R.S.M.

Denton deserves great praise, and as a runner Trooper Graham Scales did yeoman service.

The Brigade withdrew to Debabis, carrying back the wounded, who were sent to Railhead at Romani by camel cacolets, and suffered extremely from the jolting.

Further Reading:

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Roll of Honour

Battle of Romani, Sinai, August 4 to 5, 1916

Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916

Citation: Bir el Abd, Sinai, 9 August 1916, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Unit History Account

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 19 September 2009 5:13 PM EADT