Otago and Southland Regiment

Last updated
The Otago and Southland Regiment
Active1948–2012
CountryFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Branch NZARMYCREST34.jpg New Zealand Army
TypeInfantry
Garrison/HQ Dunedin
March
Anniversaries Infantry Day – 23 October
Insignia
Tartan MacKenzie

The Otago and Southland Regiment (1948-2012) was a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army. It saw service from 1959 to 1963 during the Malayan Emergency. [1] [2] In 1964 the unit was renamed the 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group. [3] The Regiments motto was Kia Mate Toa (Fight unto Death) and Regimental Belt had the Mackenzie Tartan pattern of the Queen's Own Highlanders. The regimental badge uniquely contained a full Māori chief. [4] [3]

Contents

Origin and integration

It was originally formed by the amalgamation of the Otago Regiment and Southland Regiment. [5] In turn, those two regiments were the heirs of the original 4th (Otago Rifles) Regiment, 10th (North Otago) Regiment, 8th (Southland Rifles) Regiment and 14th (South Otago) Regiment formed in the early 1900s.

The regiment become a TF battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in 1964 during the reorganisation of the army. This was until the later reorganisation of 1999, which saw the TF battalions split from the RNZIR to become multi-function battalion groups. The Otago and Southland Regiment became the 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group, with the following unit types:

In December 2012 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group merged with 2nd Canterbury (Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast) Battalion Group to form 2/4 Battalion. [6]

Alliances

Freedoms

The regiment was granted the following freedoms: [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Expeditionary Force</span> New Zealand military forces

The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I became known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The NZEF of World War II was known as the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Army</span> Land component of the New Zealand Defence Force

The New Zealand Army is the principal land warfare force of New Zealand, a component of the New Zealand Defence Force alongside the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is the parent administrative regiment and corps of regular and reserve infantry battalions in the New Zealand Army. It was originally formed in 1947 with a singular Regular regiment and multiple reserve regiments. Over time, the regiments were turned into battalions, the reserve units amalgamated and more regular units raised and disbanded. Currently, the Regiment currently consists of two regular and three reserve battalions. Throughout its existence, units raised in this regiment have served and deployed on operations in Malaya, Vietnam, Borneo and various United Nations peacekeeping operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hauraki Regiment</span> Military unit

The Hauraki Regiment was a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army. The regiment was formed as the 2nd (Hauraki) Battalion, Auckland Rifle Volunteers. Men of the Hauraki Regiment served during the First World War with the various Auckland Regiments, and with the 18th, 21st, 24th and 29th Battalions of the NZEF in the Second World War.

The Waikato Mounted Rifles (WMR) is the New Zealand Army's only Territorial Force squadron of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps (RNZAC). The Squadron's origins can be traced back to 1869 when the first mounted unit was raised in the Waikato. Today the Squadron is part of Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles (QAMR) where it forms the regiment's reserve squadron. WMR's role is mounted reconnaissance and surveillance.

The Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment was a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army. It was originally formed in 1948 by the amalgamation of two separate regiments:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otago Infantry Regiment (NZEF)</span> Military unit

The Otago Infantry Regiment was a military unit that served within the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in World War I during the Gallipoli Campaign (1915) and on the Western Front (1916–1919). This Regiment and the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment were composed mostly of men from Otago and Southland. The Otago Infantry Regiment represented the continuation of the Dunedin and Invercargill Militia Battalions formed in 1860.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entrenching battalions</span>

Entrenching battalions were temporary units formed in the armies of the British Empire during the First World War. Entrenching Battalions were trained as infantry, but were primarily utilized for manual labour duties such as trench repair, wire laying, road making and assisting tunnellers, pioneers, engineers and signals. The Battalions were also used as pools of men from which drafts of replacements could be drawn by conventional infantry battalions.

The 156th Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army. The brigade saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars with the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division.

The 155th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars. Assigned to the 52nd (Lowland) Division, the brigade saw active service in the Middle East and on the Western Front during the First World War. During the Second World War, now the 155th Infantry Brigade, it continued to serve with the 52nd Division in Operation Dynamo, and later in North-western Europe from late 1944 until May 1945.

The 157th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army. The brigade fought in both the First and the Second World Wars, assigned to 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is an Army Reserve infantry battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment with its headquarters in Trentham, New Zealand.

The 2nd Infantry Brigade was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces raised for service abroad with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War. As part of the New Zealand Division, it participated in several major battles on the Western Front from 1916 to 1918 before being disbanded in 1919. There was also a 2nd Infantry Brigade in the New Zealand Territorial Force that existed from 1924 to 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taranaki Regiment</span> Military unit

The Taranaki Regiment was a territorial infantry regiment of the New Zealand Military Forces. The regiment traced its origins to the Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Company, a volunteer corps formed in 1858 and which saw service in the New Zealand Wars. The volunteer corps also provided men to the New Zealand contingents sent to South Africa during the Second Boer War and in 1911 became the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles). During the First World War, the regiment provided a company to each of the battalions of the Wellington Infantry Regiment and saw combat at Galipolli and on the Western Front. After the war the regiment was renamed the Taranaki Regiment and remained in New Zealand for home defense during the Second World War. Men from the regiment, however, served with the 19th, 22nd, 25th and 36th Battalions of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In 1948, the Taranaki Regiment was amalgamated with the Wellington West Coast Regiment and became the Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own)</span> Military unit

The Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own) was a territorial infantry regiment of the New Zealand Army. The regiment traced its origins to the Wellington Veteran Volunteer Corps, a volunteer corps formed in 1867 and which would later amalgamate with other volunteer corps to form the 5th (Wellington) Regiment in 1911. During the First World War, the regiment was first sent to capture German Samoa in August 1914 and was later affiliated with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade which saw combat on the Western Front. After the war, the regiment was renamed the Wellington Regiment and remained in New Zealand for home defence during the Second World War. Men from the regiment, however, served with the 19th, 22nd, 25th and 36th Battalions of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In 1964, the Wellington Regiment was amalgamated with the Hawke's Bay Regiment to become 7th Battalion (Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay), Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. The 7th Battalion was itself later amalgamated with the 5th Battalion and became 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in 2012. The traditions of the Wellington Regiment are now continued by Wellington Company, 5/7 RNZIR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Scottish Regiment</span> Military unit

The New Zealand Scottish Regiment was a regiment of the New Zealand Army. It was formed in 1939 as an infantry regiment and raised two battalions during the Second World War. Although the 1st Battalion was sent overseas during the war as part of the 3rd Division, it never saw combat. The regiment was reformed in 1948 as a reconnaissance regiment of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps, but by the 1960s had been reduced to two independent squadrons. Various armoured vehicles were utilised by the regiment including Daimler Dingo Scout Cars, Daimler Armoured Cars, Ferret armoured cars and M113a1 armoured personnel carriers. The regiment was eventually disbanded in 2013.

The Wellington West Coast Regiment was a territorial infantry regiment of the New Zealand Military Forces. The regiment traced its origins to the Wanganui Rifle Volunteers, a volunteer corps formed in 1860. The volunteer corps provided men to the New Zealand contingents sent to South Africa during the Second Boer War and in 1911 became the 7th Regiment. During the First World War, the regiment provided a company to each of the battalions of the Wellington Infantry Regiment, which saw combat at Galipolli and on the Western Front. After the war the regiment was renamed the Wellington West Coast Regiment and remained in New Zealand for home defence during the Second World War. Men from the regiment, however, served with the 19th, 22nd, 25th and 36th Battalions of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In 1948, the Wellington West Coast Regiment was amalgamated with the Taranaki Regiment and became the Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waikato Regiment</span> Military unit

The Waikato Regiment was a territorial infantry regiment of the New Zealand Military Forces. The Regiment was formed in 1911 as the 16th (Waikato) Regiment and provided service companies to the Auckland Infantry Regiment during the First World War. Men from the Regiment also served with the 18th, 21st, 24th and 29th battalions of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the Second World War. The regiment was absorbed by the 1st Armoured Regiment (Waikato) of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps in 1950

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northland Regiment</span> Former territorial infantry regiment of the New Zealand Military Forces

The Northland Regiment was a territorial infantry regiment of the New Zealand Military Forces. The Regiment was formed in 1911 and provided service companies to the Auckland Infantry Regiment during the First World War. Men from the Regiment also served with the 18th, 21st, 24th and 29th battalions of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the Second World War. The regiment was amalgamated with the Auckland Regiment in 1964, becoming 3rd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

References

  1. Cooke, Peter D. F.; Crawford, John A. B. (2011). The Territorials: The History of the Territorial and Volunteer Forces of New Zealand. Random House. ISBN   9781869794460.
  2. McGibbon, Ian C.; Goldstone, Paul (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780195583762.
  3. 1 2 Phillips, Carol J. (2006). The Shape of New Zealand's Regimental System. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University. p. 86.
  4. Cooke, Peter D. F.; Crawford, John A. B. (2011). The Territorials: The History of the Territorial and Volunteer Forces of New Zealand. Random House. ISBN   9781869794460.
  5. 1 2 "The Otago and Southland Regiment [New Zealand]". 2006-06-22. Archived from the original on 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  6. Broadley, Jon (December 2012). "Territorials Become More Joined Up" (PDF). Army News. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  7. "1st Battalion, Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project -". www.wartimememoriesproject.com. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  8. "Otago Infantry Regiment - Infantry units | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  9. Thomas, Malcolm (1995). New Zealand Army distinguishing patches, 1911-1991, part 2. pp. 90–91.