| |
|
Kelso Mounted Rifles
|
The New Zealand Militia Ordinance came into force in 1845, followed by the Militia Act in 1858. Volunteer Corps were formed in Otago in 1860, with the Volunteer Act, 1865, outlining an official framework for voluntary military service. The Southland Hussars contingent, established in Tapanui on July 12th 1881, began with fifteen members. The numbers increased when a Government inspection was held in August, later that year. At the end of the Boer War there was a noticeable decline of interest in the Volunteer movement. However, the Otago District, in 1902 had thirteen companies of mounted rifles and thirty-one of infantry. The number was greater than Auckland, with a strength of 3,536 officers and men.
The Kelso Mounted Rifles awaited approval from the Defence Department to form a mounted corps in December 1900; shortly after the Tapanui Rifle Corps the same year. Earlier in the year (May) the Defence Department rejected an offer of mounted rifles at Kelso. There was talk in December of abandoning the idea, however by July 1901 the establishment of a volunteer corps was accepted. Under the command of Captain George Hepburn Stewart, with Alex Mackay as Squadron Sergeant-major; three troops were established. The Lieutenants were Alfred Squires Herbert, Kelso; C J Adams, Heriot; and John R. Mackenzie, Waikoikoi. A meeting, with large numbers of members, was held in Kelso on 20th July 1901, with a Government Drill inspector to arrange a parade ground, uniforms and corps' business.
John Francis Herbert of Ardmore donated flags for Kelso and Heriot for the "lofty" flag poles erected in February 1901.
Services of volunteers were accepted towards the New Zealand Eighth Contingent and entered Trentham Military Camp on the 1st and 2nd of January 1902. From the Kelso Mounted Rifles were: James Barron and John McKenzie. T J Quin from the Tapanui Rifles was also accepted. This was also the time the first camp was held at Brooksdale, in a paddock loaned from the owner, Mr W. J. Wadworth. With full muster in attendance, Sergeant-major Cardale was the drill instructor. The shooting was carried out with old Martinis, thirty men laying down at the same time shooting targets 200 yards in front. Of the sports event, Hurdle Racing took stage when a trooper took a tumble ending up about 20 paces in front of his horse. Neither man nor horse were hurt. In the evening a dance was held at Mr Dunnet's Hall in Kelso, which had recently been improved. The general feeling was that volunteering was here to stay.
A shooting match between the Kelso Mounted Rifles and the Tapanui Rifles took place on Wednesday 21st May 1902 at the Tapanui range. With ten men a-side and seven shots at 300 and 500 yards, two additional men were used as sighters. With twelve men per team shooting, the two lowest scores were discounted. Tapanui won with 460 points; Kelso 443 points. The men used .303 rifles. On Saturday when the Kelso troops paraded they donned a new hat, imported from England. On the public holiday, 3rd June, another programme was held with five or six events.
Toward the end of September 1902 Captain Stewart and Lieutenants Herbert and Mackay received their commissions. Sergeant Adams of Heriot was elected a Third Lieutenant in the Company. With this, there was a commissioned officer for each of Crookston, Heriot, Kelso and Waikoikoi districts. The Makarewa encampment was held between the 7th and 14th of January and proved to be the wetest camp ever held.
|
Photos: Otago Witness, Issue 2610, 23 March 1904
Bugler, Jack Dunnet, aged 12. Pony 10 1/2 hands.
Photo: Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 37
|
When the Kelso Mounted Rifles held their anniversary ball in August 1903, over one hundred couples attended. Catering was supplied by Mr Wood of Dunedin and music by the Hubener's Band of Gore. M.C. for the evening was Trooper Weir.
The Waikoikoi Troop of the Kelso Mounted Rifles held their first Ball in the Waikoikoi Hall on Friday 30th September 1904. In the morning a shooting competition had been held between members of Mataura and Kelso Rifles, with Kelso winning by eight points. The hall was decorated with flags and visitors arrived from Gore, Waikaka, Tapanui, Kelso, Pomahaka and Popotunoa. The Mataura Mounted Rifles were dressed in dark blue and gold uniforms; with the Kelso men in dark blue and scarlet. Beginning at 7 pm, the ball continued until 4 am. The music was supplied by Miss Johnson, piano (Gore) and James Cooper, violin. For two of the dances Miss Daisy and Master Jack Dunnet of Kelso played for the guests. M.C.'s for the evening were Lieut. Jenkins (Kelso), Lieut. Reid (Waikaka) and Mr H. Mackay (Waikoikoi). Songs during the evening were performed by Mr E Scoular (Pomahaka), Mr McCutcheon (Gore) and the Seventh N.Z. Contingent war cry was given by Mr J Helm, formerly a member of the Seventh. Refreshments were supplied by Mr Kingsland of Invercargill.
The Kelso Mounted Rifles had a field day in August 1904, defeating a team from the Mataura Mounted Rifles. In the evening to celebrate, they held their anniversary ball. A very enjoyable night was spent with the usual good music, dancing, and refreshments.
In November 1905, at Gore, a "four-cornered" shooting match was held between Mataura, Kelso, Murihiku and Southland Mounted Rifles. The weather was not favourable with gusty winds and changeable light, however 60 men took part. The intention was to shoot at 500 and 600 yards, but running short of time to catch trains returning home, an all out shoot happened with score average considered. The results were: Southland Mounted Rifles, 10 men, 230 points average 23; Mataura Mounted Rifles 14 men 317 points, average 22.6; Kelso Mounted Rifles 10 men 200 points, average 22; Murihiku Mounted Rifles 15 men, 289 points, average 19.2. The highest scorer in each team was Trooper R Duthie S.M.R, 32; Bugler J. Dunnet K.M.R., 31; Corp. Campbell Murihiku M. R., 30; Trooper Earl Mataura M.R., 30.
At the Mataura M.R. encampment, Mandeville, a serious accident happened to Trooper Weir of Kelso in January 1904. He was riding his horse when it fell on him, bringing down two other horses and troopers who also fell on him. He sustained a broken collarbone, while Trooper Leask received brusing and had his shoulder bone split.
In May 1904 the Defence Department decided all annual training camps of volunteers would be carried out at battalion camps instead of company camps for mounted rifles and infantry. When applications to hold camps were forwarded for approval, an estimated cost of transport would also be included by the officers of commanding districts.
The Otago Hussars Camp was also held for a week in November 1905 at Tahuna Park, Dunedin. The Clutha County Challenge Shield was contested between: Owaka Rifles, Clutha Rifles, Puerua Rifle Club, Popotunoa Rifles, Clutha Mounted Rifles and Kelso Mounted Rifles. The Clutha Mounted Rifles were the previous years' winners and the Owaka Rifles, who won by four points, had been runners-up for the previous two years. Originally, in the first year, the teams consisted of seven men, however from then, in 1903, it became ten men a side.
For the encampments in 1906, volunteers were refused railway passes for the men and horses. The result of this was that many country men did not turn up for the Invercargill annual camp in February. Others rode 40 miles just to get to the event. With the up and coming event at Brooksdale for the Kelso Mounted Rifles one officer rode over 60 miles to be present.
Military sports were held at Brooksdale on the 21st February 1906; three years after the previous camp. The Kelso Mounted Rifles went into camp seven days earlier for training on the 14th. Reverend Jupp held divine service at the camp on the Sunday with the church choir in attendance. At every opportunity the Mounted Rifles held a show of patriotism and pride in their voluntary military service. Dashing uniforms, accoutrements and well groomed horses appealed to the public with a display of manoeuvres or competition and a comradeship found nowhere else in those days. In mid October 1906 the Kelso troop held a crowded church parade at Kelso with the Reverend George Henry Jupp, (1878 -1955). Jupp was ordained at Kelso, Mataura Presbytery, 10 January 1906. (A week after he married Margaret nee Shier, at Christchurch). Two weeks later the North Troop held their annual ball at Heriot.
A squadron mounted parade was held at Kelso on Saturday August 25th 1906.
In October 1906 the members of the Kelso Mounted Rifles competed in shooting for the Adams Cup. Strong winds over some of the days added a challenge with Troopers Crossan and E K Sim shooting a possible at 200 yards. Trooper Pullar was only one point behind. The results were:
Corporal Sutherland 197, Sergeant Jenkins 197, Trooper Marshall 195, Trooper Gordon 194, Trooper Pullar 191, Trooper Crossan 189, Trooper E K Sim 189, Trooper Harris 185, Trooper Kempthorne 181, Trooper McKay 177, Trooper R Sim 169, Trooper R Stewart 158, Captain Stewart 156, Sergeant Revie 154.
The highest actual scores were:
Trooper Pullar 191, Trooper Crossan 189, Trooper Harris 185, Corporal Sutherland 180, Sergeant Jenkins 172, Trooper McKay 163, Captain Stewart 150, Trooper Marshall 153, Trooper E K Sim 152, Trooper Kempthorne 135.
Range prizes:
200 yards - Trooper Crossan 1st, E K Sim 2nd
500 yards - Trooper Pullar 1st, Trooper McKay 2nd
600 yards - Trooper Pullar 1st, Sergeant Jenkins 2nd
700 yards - Sergeant Jenkins 1st, Trooper Marshall 2nd
Recruit - Trooper Marshall 195 1st, Trooper R Sim 170 2nd.
In January 1907 the Mounted Rifles camp was held at Mandeville. In attendance were the No. 2 Regiment, Otago Mounted Rifles, Mataura (Captain Wayte), Southland (Captain Gilkison), Kelso (Captain Stewart) and Murihiku (Captain Porter), as well as a detachment from the Wallace Company. Under the command of Major Bowler were a total of about two hundred officers and men.
From the 7th February 1908, the Kelso Mounted Rifles held a week's training with Captain George Stewart, Lieutenants' Herbert and Adams and fifty-three men. Unfortunately owing to the early harvest three of the men had to leave camp before the week was out. Others present were three staff from the 2nd Regiment, as well as Captain Nelson of the 15th Hussars who was staff instructor for the South Island, and Sergeant-major Grant. Colonel Smyth inspected the squadron, divided into four troops, practising the new cavalry drill. Ball cartridge and distance judging were featured and a sports day on the Wednesday. The programme consisted of the following games: Night Alarm, Pace Race, Flat Gallops, Jumping competition, Rescue Race, Sectional Leading, foot races to name a few. A new short rifle was issued with the Kelso men first to use the weapon.
At Easter 1908 an encampment was held in Dunedin of volunteers in the Otago military district. Divided into two groups, against each other the intention was to simulate an army landing from ships making a raid on Dunedin. The "Blue" team, were from all the volunteer groups north of Dunedin, to Oamaru. The "Red" team under the command of Lieutenant-colonial James Boyne, V.D. consisted of B. Battery (three guns), Dunedin Engineers (half company), 1st Pioneer Company Dunedin, N.Z. Field Hospital and Bearer Company (half company), Mounted Rifles, from Southland, Mataura, Wakatipu, Kelso, Murihiku and Wallace. The Second Battalion Rifle Volunteers consisting of Invercargill City Guards, Oreti, Awarua, Bluff Guards, Orepuki, Colac Bay, Tapanui Reserve and the Battalion Band. Others included were the Fourth Battalion Rifle Volunteers from Bruce, Kaitangata, Owaka, Clutha and Popotunoa. The "enemy" (Blue team), landed a force near Palmerston with an encampment beside Shag River. The Red team quickly set up camp south of the Waikouaiti Railway Station on the property of Mr Heckler on the Main South Road. The Kelso troops under the command of Captain Stewart consisted of two officers and eighteen men. When the forces at Waikouaiti, 578 of all ranks, received a telegram stating the "enemy" were at Shag River, the entire mounted companies set off in entirety, making for the heights overlooking the advancing enemy and Palmerston District. You can read the entire account of the Easter Hostilities here.
Many of the high schools had teams of older boys join cadets. Captain Stewart was an old boy of Otago Boys High. He donated the "Stewart prize" for an annual shooting competition between the university and high school. The match held on Saturday October 31, 1908, with nine aside, resulted in a win for the high school. Seven shots were fired, with a compulsory sighter, at 200 and 500 yards with the high school team achieving 498 against university 457. Private A. Cameron of the high school won the Stewart Prize with 62 out of 70.
The Kelso Mounted Rifles held their annual ball on August 13, 1909.
Compulsory military training with professionally appointed officers came with the creation of the Territorial Forces, which replaced the whole volunteer system under the auspices of the Defence Act 1909.
An additional issue of the horses nosebag was adopted as part of the equipment for mounted troops in 1909.
Lieut.-col. Stewart, of the 12th Otago Mounted Rifles, was appointed to the 5th Reinforcements on probation, with the rank of Major. His military training, commenced with the Kelso Mounted Rifles and in command of that corps he achieved to his credit, and his squadron, the prize of 'most efficient company' at the annual Southland encampment.
Known members of the Kelso Mounted Rifles:
1907
Trooper Sutherland, Trooper Lavinder, Sergeant Revie, Trooper Pullar, Trooper Marshall, Trooper Crossan, Trooper Walker, Trooper Spittle, Trooper Harvey, Sergeant Jenkins, Trooper Herbert, Sergeant McKenzie, Corporal Kempthorne.
Fred Anthony (Waikoikoi 1902)
Lieutenant Mackay passed away at his residence "Castle Rock", Marathon Park, Lumsden on January 10th, 1907 from injuries sustained when thrown from a trap on New Years' Day. He had been suffering from a long illness and attacks of apoplexy. He gave his services and assistance in the formation of a company at Dipton and Mossburn. He was buried at Lumsden Cemetery.
John Lusk, aged 23, son of W H Lusk, Crookston, was cutting firewood with a small circular saw when he accidently cut off his thumb and first finger. Dr Robertson, called in haste, managed to stop the bleeding and the patient was taken to Dunedin Hospital. When he was almost ready to return home he suffered a complication of diseases, passing away suddenly ( 0/01/1903). He was a member of the Kelso Mounted Rifles who were unable to attend his Tapanui funeral as they were away at the Makarewa encampment. The Tapanui Rifles represented instead.
|
Kelso Mounted Rifles. _____, Alex Black, _____, ________.
Tapanui Rifle Range
|
|
|
