canterbury mounted rifles regiment mounted infantry regiment new_zealand raised service world war assigned formed regiment establishment officers ranks horses formed squadrons belonging pre war territorial force regiments 1st mounted rifles canterbury 8th south canterbury 10th nelson mounted rifles included small headquarters maxim machine gun section maxim guns withdrawn regiment fire power increased war end conflict squadron hotchkiss machine guns troop mounted infantry regiment rode battle horses expected fight foot regiment fought predominantly forces involvement came gallipoli campaign december participated largest battle theatre fighting hill evacuated egypt took early battles involved included later war force occupied took raids salt final wartime operation connection capture years war regiment lost men dead causes wounded war regiment played minor role egyptian revolution disbanded june history formation raised august start world war canterbury mounted rifles regiment came new_zealand commanded lieutenant colonel composed headquarters machine gun section squadrons formed regiments included compulsory training system military districts required supply mounted regiment meet obligation regiments provided squadron kept regimental traditions regiment squadrons came 1st mounted rifles canterbury 1st squadron 8th south canterbury 8th squadron 10th nelson mounted rifles 10th squadron establishment fixed officers ranks riding horses seventy draught horses pack horses squadron men field headquarters troops officer ranks riding horses sixteen draught horses regiment horses cavalry mounted infantry expected ride battlefield fight traditional infantry attached regiment medical officers ranks eighteen horses regiment assigned serving alongside regiments september regiment left camp embarked transport ships leaving day arrived wellington afternoon disembarked troops october boarded transports set sail short stop october arrived albany anchored waiting joined australian contingent combined convoy sailed november reached november days later sailed red_sea suez_canal docking port said december alexandria day regiment disembarked december boarded train camp cairo suburb started training programme desert manoeuvres day night gallipoli egypt regiment continued training programme working horses end working day fourth night soldiers performed guard duty looked horses egypt regiment brigade came command newly formed new_zealand australian april division infantry units left egypt undisclosed destination regiment learned gallipoli landings days later regiment received news deploy gallipoli role horses officers ranks men remaining look horses boarded trains alexandria board transports arrived gallipoli peninsula started landing troops equipped role carried rifle rounds ammunition small pack mess bayonet tool ashore regiment camped night line day moved left flank north relieve trenches stretched sea included outposts regiment took extreme right squadron line squadron support trench squadron reserve line right left regiment wait got dark sending men forward man outposts combat regiment experience combat started midnight march turkish opponents opened fire trenches main assault brigade sector support regiment sent troops 1st 10th squadrons troop 8th squadron form reserve daylight men manning post group turks concentrating opened fire machine gun forcing withdraw turkish attack continued afternoon gradually later estimated turkish troops involved attack beach head end day casualties later day white flags observed turkish trenches men man land considered ruse retrieve arms ammunition dead bring forward reinforcements turks warned return trenches new going open fire real armistice arranged wounded brought safety dead buried squadrons settled routine hours posts hours main trenches hours support outposts offensive action came dark turks built outpost yards 1st squadron charged captured position secured provided garrison called difficulties defending turks launched counter attack recapture battle lasting day 10th squadron troops 8th squadron managed relieve survivors defence post shortly relief decided position abandoned casualties gradually mounted regiment replacements officers ranks arrived end june objective british august offensive seize high point mountain range new_zealand provide attacking force initial attack clear turks foothills task given reinforced regiment clear valley advance north capture taylor hollow turn east capture reduce noise maintain stealth ordered use august men regiment moved forward preparation attack start night assault started time 1st 10th squadrons forward followed 8th squadron reserve leading men met killed turks observation post yards destroyer beam lit advancing men turkish machine gun opened fire 10th squadron charged straight turkish trench 1st squadron managed manoeuvre attack machine gun rear achieved firing shot making sound advanced objective hill hill captured survivors started dig taken objectives regiment cent casualties including commanding officer wounded second command major killed digging able observe rest battle going day august turkish reinforcements arriving attack failed start battle lost men dead men wounded commanded 10th squadron regiment remained hill defence august moved entrance later moved forward yards occupied old turkish trench hill august battle hill began charging straight hill regiment suffered cent casualties command replaced major 1st squadron succeeded capturing turkish trench minutes going rest attack failed leaving regiment isolated rest force having manpower continue assault ordered dig hold position held august relieved wellington mounted rifles days later regiment returned previous position continue assault attack began august regiment leading brigade charged yards open ground turkish trench minutes way captured second trenches defended night day casualties high men started assault eighteen left commanded officer captain brigade regiments similar state remained trenches relieved dark august september brigade machine gunners relieved 5th sailed island rest regiment strength officer thirty ranks machine gunners remain gallipoli including original contingent replacements total thirty officers ranks served regiment gallipoli arrival regiment came command lieutenant colonel early october replacements started arriving bring regiment strength end month stewart evacuated sick major senior officer replacements assumed temporary command regiment november returned gallipoli camping night hill evacuation regiment spent time building winter quarters provide protection november moved line december major took command regiment second command days later order complete evacuation peninsula issued men minor left followed regiment battalion brigade chosen regiment leave meant extend lines cover men leave night december regiment numbered fourteen officers ranks reduced officers men rest batch evacuated december remainder divided groups group officers ninety men left beach day followed second smaller group officers men group officers thirty men cover regiment keeping steady rate fire moving maxim gun position support deception defences fully manned group divided parts left december followed group waited minutes withdrawing small group men left reached beach incident regiment sailed december egypt arriving alexandria december eventually returned old camp egypt reinforcements brought regiment strength plus added cent doubled size guns change appointment major commanding officer january regiment left new defensive post canal eighty seven miles east having recovered wounds returned commanding officer february march regiment ready operations moved line canal later month brigade assigned notice regiment brigade ordered thirty miles away suez_canal april reason known later turkish force attacked british positions reached hour later moved desert camping night sent reconnaissance patrols desert manned observation posts regiment ordered day patrol activity kept time troop strength involving complete brigade regiment carried reconnaissance time sighted hostile force desert manage engage day men evacuated suffering heat exhaustion temperatures reached convinced cut patrol short travelling overnight arrived early weeks patrols continued men desert travel conditions early july regiment lost machine gun section transferred form brigade july reconnaissance aircraft spotted large turkish force moving west desert midnight august 1st 2nd light horse brigades attacked regiment acting brigade vanguard advanced time hear firing distance approaching turkish position regiment opened attack 8th squadron positioned left 1st centre 10th right following support 5th light horse regiment supposed left 8th squadron arrived assault commenced supported driven turks brigade captured artillery battery prisoners regiment casualties battle dead wounded day moved believed occupied large turkish force arrival brigade forward attacking south got close regiment continued foot fighting day waited vain support assault holding ground retire return water horses casualties dead wounded turkish force withdrew time regiment reconnaissance patrol got abandoned turks heading enemy located regiment kept patrols contact overnight day turks withdrew august enemy reached established defences waiting new dawn august regiment heading brigade attack head rest division attack flanks engaged turkish defenders 8th squadron sent forward left assist immediately came fire support 1st 10th squadrons moved left 8th squadron advanced captured ridge line facing east followed soon squadrons occupying high ground west turkish defences consisted trenches supported artillery kept steady rate fire regiment turks left trenches counter attack regiment stopped small arms fire attached somerset battery royal horse artillery regiment moved downhill faced heavy turkish artillery fire stopped 1st 2nd light horse brigades left noon second turkish counter attack came waves regiment lines managed fight heavy casualties turks attacking division brigades strength 1st 2nd light horse north 3rd south began retire leaving position exposed flanks keeping heavy rate small arms artillery fire hold enemy divisional commander called attack ordered withdrawal new danger overrun withdrawal postponed dark regiment forming rearguard battle cost regiment dead wounded men missing action brigade withdrew caring wounded resting days august moved evacuated turks sending reconnaissance patrols located turkish rearguard miles west position attack observed dusk turks moved east december response reports turks evacuated regiment started moving overnight village advance patrols discovered turks withdrawn dawn december regiment reached joined rest division heading turkish position brigade ordered approach north hours later brigade reached position start attack canterbury regiment brigade left squadrons advanced turn covered machine guns yards turkish lines able charge fixed captured turkish trench turkish captured nightfall regiment casualties light dead wounded end year turkish forces pushed january orders given division attack egyptian palestine border dawn january regiment division reached border brigade attack north east 8th squadron leading regiment moving north village turkish defenders opened fire regiment forward troops captured prisoners police post remainder captured trench system prisoners german officers regiment position block turkish withdrawal east able observe main turkish defences regiment started advancing village 8th squadron left 10th 1st squadron right covered machine guns heavy turkish fire gradually moved forward foot troops took turns run forward rest squadron covered intensity battle demonstrated supporting brigade ran ammunition hours later division covering force reported turkish reinforcements approaching lieutenant general commanding attack decided simultaneously commanding brigade ordered attack covered machine guns men carried bayonet charge turks surrendered time brigades started withdraw seeing happened turned charge capturing position battle cost regiment dead nineteen wounded palestine british plan required circle night block turkish reinforcements getting town march brigade left camp heavy fog crossed miles south east soon reached positions brigade 2nd light horse 22nd mounted brigades waited infantry divisions assault town infantry having problems brigade ordered attack regiment town right reserve regiment moved south ridge attacked garrison command approaches soon captured outlying turkish trenches forcing defenders town 10th squadron reached hill time 53rd welsh division trying day position despite having captured commanding position regiment infantry division ordered withdraw turkish reinforcements reported route overall commander believe hold captured regiment retired way come reached midnight day casualties day dead wounded line april squadrons issued hotchkiss machine guns troop british withdrawal turks built defensive line trenches sea south following route road british plan second attack involved providing flank protection reinforcements pursuing retreating turkish forces required regiment moved april forming vanguard division morning 10th squadron lead crossed opposition came enemy aircraft bombed division breaking extended line reporting turkish movements nightfall withdrew day repeat previous day dark division ordered march overnight support regiment set april brigade reserve assault ridge regiment called forward artillery bombardment machine gun section set time stop turkish counter attack british attack line called night withdrew days fighting cost regiment dead wounded regiment involvement attack began october set village brigade reached starting position ready begin assault moving open turkish flank managed approach mound east regiment right brigade line left regiment intended turkish position north assault started slowly moved hill eventually passed able engage rear turkish position confronted turkish artillery machine gun fire coming north advance managed charge capture hill captured following mounted charge regiment casualties battle dead wounded day november brigade moved north east following withdrawing turks regiment forming vanguard came machine gun fire 10th squadron charged directly position 1st squadron moved attacked flank position quickly captured thirteen prisoners machine gun taken night returned water following days rest moved november relieve mountains turkish artillery fired route wounding men position attacked morning small turkish force forced retire turkish cavalry force sighted assembling valley regiment opened fire away turkish returned attack supported artillery machine gun fire managed yards regiment lines stopped turkish artillery continued bombard regiment rest day stopping dark day fighting cost regiment dead wounded trace relief horses hours sent eventually relieved november men set rear foot meeting returning horses november brigade ordered western flank rejoin division easy task difficult terrain stage thirty miles took thirty hours cross eventually met division day rest moving november camping night morning november regiment crossed river located turkish position regiment left brigade advance left reserve regiment advanced orange engaged turkish defenders regiment held fire support position regiments attacked left fighting counter attacks brigade eventually nightfall won battle held ground overnight involved main assault regiment casualties light dead wounded day turkish force withdrawn regiment advanced occupied port november commanding officer established regimental headquarters river miles north withdrawing formed defence line crossing points bridge miles east river mouth brigade ordered assault river capture crossing november regiment 8th squadron leading crossed ford river mouth taken surprise turkish defenders retired followed regiment nearby foothills captured village rest brigade continued attack river capturing crossings support defence essex brigade moved north river dug regiment sent mounted patrols forward observe surrounding country day turkish counter attacked bridge head force attempt failed reinforced tried day eventually forced withdraw river regiment assist crossed river mouth attacked turkish right 10th squadron heading foot assist defended 10th squadron village defenders withdrew river clear followed squadron 1st 8th squadrons moved northern hills heavily attacked advancing turks managed hold line supported machine guns slowly retired troop covering troop river turkish force control northern river bank attempt force crossing despite nature battle regiment withdrawing daylight casualties light dead wounded british captured jerusalem december turkish forces held jordan valley area putting british right flank danger counter attack result regiment operation involved capture east february regiment started arriving day days later brigade started hills marching overnight tracks forced single file daylight terrain dropped thousand feet jordan valley soon brigade vanguard appeared engaged turkish defences regiment came open assist attack regiment sent turkish strong point hill 8th 10th squadrons leading 1st reserve 10th squadron problems continuing attack 1st sent forward different route noon turkish defenders withdrawing artillery machine guns turks held regiment advance narrow nightfall morning 10th squadron sent forward turks withdrawn night february regiment formed brigade vanguard started reaching regiment pushed ahead leaving 8th squadron repair road occupied 1st regiment deployed bridge held turks day spent patrolling vicinity river february western declared clear turkish forces brigade valley day started jerusalem raid operation regiment 60th london division march regiment started jordan valley heavy rain orders raid issued brigade advance mountain tracks village sir rains postponed raid march brigade crossed river jordan bridge regiment 6th london brigade started clearing area river foothills vanguard formed 1st squadron left started hills wet cold weather progress slow narrow tracks meant wheeled transport including artillery supply wagons left reached sir hours vanguard contact division remained village remainder day patrols checked area village miles away remainder division travelled different route arrived later day physical condition attack advance postponed day assault began daylight march 8th squadron moved plain progress stopped heavy turkish small arms fire squadron formed defensive line 1st squadron moved past right captured small hill turkish artillery machine gun fire grew heavier day attempt 8th squadron forward failed turks counter attacked 1st squadron forced retire night patrols sent turkish positions easily attacked day dawn march entire division tried attack managed capture small trench artillery support unable forward face heavy turkish machine gun fire day night managed hold won waiting reinforcement continue attack day decided attack outside regiment holding lines provided officers ranks assault formed started forward regiment contingent forming second line assault successful line capturing objectives second line passed objectives yards turkish machine guns opened fire pressed capturing machine gun fourteen prisoners 8th squadron moved forward 4th battalion captured turkish position hill brigade settled defend hill regiment located brigade units dawn turkish artillery targeted hill turks counter attacked new stopped brigade captured machine guns addition weapons turkish artillery continued bombard hill counter attack began regiment left driven counter attack came hour later defeated rest division trying reach progress unable continue attack shortage ammunition rations division ordered withdraw brigade ordered retire sir arrival 1st squadron formed defensive line rest regiment rested 1st squadron soon engaged turkish force regiment moved support remainder night division retired line held regiment april took regiment followed division river reached jordan valley dusk moved river operation regiment lost eighteen dead thirty seven wounded man missing action brigade crossed jordan regiment camped miles south east moved west river 1st remained eastern bank forming bridge head april regiment crossed river conduct reconnaissance advancing turkish artillery fire got thousand yards turkish lines foothills remained day returning western bank salt april second raid jordan began objective capture salt time larger force involved command regiment brigade force assigned attack advanced turkish artillery fire confronted turkish strong points foothills unable progress night moved jordan having suffered dead wounded brigade corps reserve noon ordered assist 4th london brigade attack regiment crossed bridge started forward artillery fire walking increasing pace reached cover ordered return headed reached village remained overnight ordered forward support 4th defending road ford route rest force attacking salt day regiment held defensive position road moved mountains help australian mounted division australians moved past regiment walked track shelled turkish artillery moved lines held infantry forces reached safety forming rearguard arriving months spent training august brigade formed divisional reserve located september moved forward form left northern flank defences time regiment took command 1st 2nd 38th 39th larger deception force commanded divisional commander tasked convincing turks british attack forces actually realigned attack west regiment heavily involved deception carrying offensive patrolling constructing dummy camps moving forwards lines impression larger force actually present main british attack started west september regiment remained jordan valley keeping patrols close turkish positions watch withdrawal evidence observed day turks retired forward positions regiment moved join rest brigade western bank jordan day brigade started objective bridge assisted 1st squadron assaulted captured bridge bayonet charge 10th squadron arrived bridge secured followed pursuing withdrawing turks hills night regiment moved bridge leaving 1st squadron guard day brigade ordered resume advance regiment vanguard overcame obstacle turkish machine gun post reached passed town east formed defensive position hills night day captured men artillery pieces machine guns day september regiment continued advance heading joined 1st 2nd light horse brigades day miles north west came turkish covering road town brigade regiments deployed attack regiment section ordered manoeuvre assault rear midday confronted turkish troops defending ridge line regiment artillery machine gun fire assaulted captured ridge stopping consolidate position continued forward 10th squadron 8th squadron assaulted citadel bayonet charge capturing german prisoners machine guns regiment charged town capturing railway station told regiment took prisoners fourteen machine guns military stores casualties dead wounded casualties illness reduced regiment strength men struck malaria regiment remained area night september moved south secured large number prisoners october relieved 3rd light horse regiment started jordan valley october crossed valley reached jerusalem went war post war war middle_east ended october following signing armistice november regiment selected allied force occupation dardanelles peninsula going role officers ranks involved leaving egypt november disembarked december moved camps january majority regiment returned egypt rejoining brigade march brigade ordered deploy assist civil authorities dealing growing unrest egyptian civilian population regiment moved march forming column armoured cars armoured train found rioting arrested tried court headed commanding officer imposed sentences weeks rioting regiment returned camp remaining june ordered send horses depot suez_canal june embarked transport ship new_zealand regiment disbanded casualties war men regiment died causes seven months gallipoli campaign dead fourteen died illness killed action included total reported missing believed dead years accounted dead time men wounded action gallipoli wounded later campaign total wounded campaigns gallipoli dead known grave commonwealth war graves commission constructed site turks buried allied war dead following evacuation graves men identified nearby hill cemetery graves seventy identified honours men regiment recognised service british empire awards system captain later commander brigade machine gun squadron decorated awarded distinguished conduct medal mentioned despatches times invested companion order bath awarded alongside officers invested officer appointed officer order british empire member order british empire officers awarded ranks received total military medals total mentions despatches men mentioned
Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment