On 16 September 1864, the Alexandra Troop of the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers was accepted for service by the New Zealand Government. The troop was named after Princess Alexandra, the Princess of Wales. The troop saw active service in the New Zealand Wars, mainly on patrolling and despatch riding duties, before being disbanded in late 1865. Reformed as the Alexandra Cavalry Volunteers, the troop guarded Wanganui during the Titokowaru campaign (1868), and took part in the Parihaka operation (1881).
In 1868, Trooper William Lingard, a founding member of the Alexandra Troop, won the New Zealand Cross for rescuing a comrade under enemy fire at Titokowaru's pa at Tauranga Ika. In 1897 the unit was renamed the Alexandra Mounted Rifles. Volunteers from Alexandra Mounted Rifles served in South Africa during the Boer War, where Farrier Sergeant Major William James Hardham won the Victoria Cross at Naauwpoort, in January 1901, where he rescued a wounded comrade while under heavy enemy fire. In 1911 the unit became the 2nd (Wellington West Coast) Mounted Rifles.
The squadron of 158 men and 169 horses was initially commanded by Major Jim Elmslie. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was sent from Egypt to Gallipoli in May 1915, without its horses. On Gallipoli the mounted riflemen gained a reputation as excellent scouts and hard fighters. New Zealand's mounted regiments were particularly prominent in battles fought at Outpost No 3, Table Top, Chunuk Bair and Hill 60. For his gallantry on Chunuk Bair, Major Elmslie was recommended for a posthumous Victoria Cross.
The New Zealand Rough Riders marching through Christchurch before leaving for the Boer War. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 69-2.
Following the Hill 60 battle the 2nd Squadron could only muster 14 fit men. After the evacuation of Gallipoli in December 1915, the squadron spent the remainder of the war on horseback, fighting the Turkish Army in the Sinai Desert and in Palestine, as part of the ANZAC Mounted Division. Notable battles were fought at Rumani, Rafa, Magdhaba, Gaza, Beersheba, Ayun Kara, in the Jordan Valley and at Amman.[1]
The regiment received its first guidon in 1929, at Waverley. During the Second World War (1939–1945) many volunteers from Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles served overseas in various units, particularly in the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment. This regiment fought in Greece, Crete, North Africa and Italy. Some men also served in the Long Range Desert Group.
Later in the war some men of the regiment saw active service with the 3rd New Zealand Division's Special Army Tank Squadron Group in the Pacific, and with the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade in Italy. Some men of the Divisional Cavalry Regiment performed occupation force duties in Japan after the war. Men of the regiment also served in New Zealand during the war, firstly on horses and then in a wide variety of light armoured vehicles. In January 1942 the New Zealand Armoured Corps was formed. It included the 2nd Light Armoured Fighting Vehicle Regiment (Queen Alexandra's Wellington West Coast Mounted Rifles). In 1947 the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps (RNZAC) was formed.
Following the Second World War the regiment underwent a series of name, role changes and amalgamations. Some men of the unit served with British Centurion-equipped tank regiments during the Korean War. In November 1964 the Regimental Guidon was paraded for Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace, by a composite group of 140 members of the New Zealand Army. In 1992 the unit, as Queen Alexandra's Squadron, RNZAC received a new Guidon.
A year later the unit regained the title of Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles, Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps. From 1994 until 2002 most members of the regiment gained operational experience operating M113A1 armoured vehicles in Bosnia-Herzegovina and East Timor. Many other officers and soldiers also crewed British armoured vehicles with British Army regiments in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Over this prolonged period, the regiment sustained a higher operational tempo than any other unit of the New Zealand Army. In 2004, the unit downsized to a squadron, began re-equipping with the NZLAV, a version of the LAV III armoured vehicle especially developed for the New Zealand Army. In 2005 the unit moved to Burnham Military Camp.
In December 2011, Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles was formally re-formed as a regiment from its previous squadron size, with the sub-unit formally known as QAMR being dubbed NZ Scottish (NZ Scots) Squadron.
Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles is the oldest serving Regular Force unit of the New Zealand Army.
Current composition
Currently the regiment is made up of:
Regimental Headquarters (RHQ)
New Zealand Scottish (NZ Scots)
Wellington East Coast (WEC)
Waikato Mounted Rifles (WMR)
Support Squadron
Each Squadron Headquarters operates NZLAV in the command role, while each cavalry troop consists of between 4 and 6 NZLAV. Support Squadron is a combination of the Quartermasters Store who operate MHOV (RMMV HX range of tactical trucks) and LOV (Pinzgauer) and the Workshop who provide 1st line repair and recovery (LAV-R and LOV or MHOV). The regiment also operates Armoured LOV in a reconnaissance and surveillance role when needed.
Guidon, Battle Honours, and Flag
The Guidon or regimental colours, are the memorial of the regimental deeds and the symbol of its spirit. At one time they were carried on active service and were the rallying point of the regiment. The colours of a cavalry regiment are traditionally in the form of a Guidon or swallow-tailed flag which derived its name from the French Guyd-homme ("guide man"), who would lead by carrying a flag. These banners were always carried into battle under the guard of an armed escort. In recent times, the use of the Guidon as a rallying point has no longer been necessary, yet even today when they are paraded they are always under the guard of an armed escort. It is now taken on ceremonial parades and inspections to mark a unit's achievements, and displayed to soldiers and spectators that it may provide a memorial to the men of all ranks who served under it and to afford an inspiration for patriotic service and sacrifice to all who may behold it.
The QAMR Guidon
The QAMR Guidon is made of silk and embodies the regimental colours, amber and black. It is unique in that most armoured regiments carry a guidon with a crimson background. With an amber background, the Guidon is surrounded by a fringe of amber and black. In the centre is the unit badge in colour, this in the centre of a black-edged gold circlet inscribed with Queen Alexandra's Squadron, RNZAC. This is surrounded by a wreath of two fern leaves embroidered in dark green and the unit motto, Ake Ake Kia Kaha (For ever and ever be strong). The union wreath is a wreath of a national plant (Canada – maple, Australia – wattle, South Africa – protea). Over the badge appears the Royal Crown.
In the first and fourth corners appears the White Horse of Hanover. The horse signifies that the unit had its origins as a horsed cavalry regiment (Mounted Rifles). Units that started as infantry have goats in the corners of their guidons. The Roman numerals II/VI appear in the second and third corners within two fern leaves. These signify the amalgamation of the 2nd Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles Regiment (Queen Alexandra's Wellington West Coast Mounted Rifles) and the 6th Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles Regiment (Manawatu Mounted Rifles) to form the 2nd N.Z. Armoured Regiment in 1944. (The 9th Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles Regiment (Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles) was also part of the regiment, however in 1953 split to be become the Divisional Regiment)
Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles has 36 battle honours, though only 22 battle honours are shown on the Guidon. The battle honours of the unit which have been approved for emblazonment appear on either side of the central emblem in small gold scrolls, their chronology being from left to right, beginning at the top with the exception of the battle honours "New Zealand" and "South Africa 1899–1902", which appear beneath the unit motto.
The QAMR Guidon is carried by the Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM), with an escort of two Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCO).
The regimental flag has six horizontal bands, three each alternately of amber and black. In the top left hand corner is a square of amber on which is embroidered the regimental badge.
9WECMR Guidon being retrieved from Hastings District Council on Armistice Day 2021.
In August 1959 the 9WECMR Guidon was placed in the Hastings City Council Chambers for public display and safekeeping. Over the years the Guidon has been retrieved by the successive units of the Armoured Corps that have inherited Freedom of the City and District of Hastings. For some time the Guidon was also used by the Queen Alexandra’s Squadron because no replacement Guidon had been sourced since it was laid up in Hawera.
The WEC Squadron most recently retrieved the 9WECMR from Hastings District Council on Armistice Day 2021.
Uniform and insignia
The regimental badge is of a punga tree encircled by a baggage strap, bearing (above) Queen Alexandra's and (below) 2nd W.W.C (Wellington West Coast) Mtd Rifles. Below this is the regiments motto "Ake Ake Kia Kaha" meaning "For ever and ever, be strong". This was derived from the war-cry of the Third (Rough Riders) Contingent of the South African Volunteers (Boer War). The original prototypes were made of solid copper, but when issued were of blackened gunmetal. The badge is worn on the New Zealand Army rifle green beret, with RNZAC personnel wearing the badge over the RNZAC green patch. Collar badges of the same pattern are worn with No.2 Dress (mess kit), and No.4 Dress (service dress). The QAMR belt has horizontal stripes of black, amber, black. These colours are those of the Taranaki provincial colours which were adopted by the regiment. In 1993, for ceremonial purposes, the traditional mounted rifles slouch hat was reintroduced with a khaki/green/khaki puggaree. The scarlet and blue mess uniform is that of the RNZAC.[2]
Freedom of the District of Hastings
1958 Charter Granting Freedom of the City of Hastings
At a Ceremonial Parade on 7th September 1958, Hastings formally adopted the 4th Armoured Regiment in a colourful ceremony entitling them to receive the Freedom of the City. The then Mayor Sir Edwin Bate gave the Commanding Officer, Major C. C. Jordan, the Charter which gives the Regiment ‘the right and privilege without further permission being obtained, of marching at all times with drums beating, band playing, colour flying, bayonets fixed and swords drawn through the streets of the City of Hastings.’
The granting of Freedom of the City acknowledges the historic relationship of the unit from its first formation as the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Regiment TF, officially raised on 17 March 1911. In 1914 the NZEF Mounted Regiments wanted to foster linkages with the established Territorial Force Regiments that were not being sent overseas. So the badge of the of the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Regiment TF was worn by the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Squadron of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment NZEF throughout its service in the Gallipoli, Sinai, and Palestine campaigns.
1994 Charter Parade Russell Street Hastings, armoured vehicle followed by the Hastings Citizens Band.
In 1921 the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Regiment became the 7th (Wellington East Coast) Mounted Rifles Regiment, and later the Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles, which was absorbed into the newly established 2nd Armoured Regiment on 29th March 1944.
Hawke’s Bay was a big source for troops and leaders in the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry in the Second World War. They excelled, they supported each other, and they stuck together like glue.
On 1st April 1956 the unit was renamed the 4th Armoured Regiment (Wellington East Coast) RNZAC with the Headquarters based in Hastings. On being granted the Freedom of the City of Hastings on 7th September 1958 the unit name was adjusted to 4th ARMOURED REGIMENT (WELLINGTON EAST COAST – CITY OF HASTINGS OWN) RNZAC.
In 1963 the unit was amalgamated into 1 Armoured Squadron (Queen Alexandra’s) and on 1st September 1970 it was renamed Queen Alexandra’s (Waikato/Wellington East Coast) Squadron RNZAC with its Headquarters based in at Waiouru.
On 4th June 1982 Waikato and Wellington East Coast Squadron (WaiWEC) RNZAC became part of the newly formed 1 Armoured Group and over the next 11 years was manned with a combination of both Regular Force and Territorial Force personnel. Upon the activation of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles as a Regiment in 1993, it was decided to rename the Squadrons to A, B, and Support Squadron with the Territorial Force component being WaiWEC Squadron.
In 2003 WaiWEC Squadron underwent a title change to better identify the geographic location of its Territorial Force members and the title of Waikato Mounted Rifles was approved by the then Chief of Army. In this approval letter the Chief of Army also directed that the Wellington East Coast Guidon be formally laid up and kept in the preserve of Hastings District Council.
MEANING OF THE FREEDOM OF THE DISTRICT TO HASTINGS DISTRICT AND THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA’S MOUNTED RIFLES REGIMENT
1958 presentation of the Charter granting Freedom of the City of Hastings to the RNZAC
The key words in the Charter presented by the District of Hastings are that both parties ‘are desirous of establishing mutual relations.’ All else that follows is proof of the existence of mutual confidence, harmony, goodwill and trust.
The Regiment is to have ‘the right and privilege without further permission being obtained, of marching at all times with drums beating, band playing, colour flying, bayonets fixed and swords drawn through the streets of the City.’ That is the Districts gift. It means that the Mayor, Councillors and Residents have such confidence in the integrity of the Regiment that in future, permission will not have to be sought to march through the streets in the panoply of war.
The Regiment on its part is to confer on the Mayor and Councillors the honour of viewing a parade once a year, for the purpose of inspection by the Mayor. It is also to provide two officers in uniform to attend the Mayor on all official important occasions.
These honours also have a meaning. The first means that the Regiment and its operation are as an open book to the Mayor and Councillors. The second symbolises the Regiment’s particular interest in the protection of the City.
Between the Regiment and the District of Hastings there has been an exchange of rights, privileges and honours not lightly to be sought of lightly granted for they are steeped in history.
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↑ Malcolm Thomas and Cliff Lord, pages 62-63 New Zealand Army Distinguishing Patches 1911-1911, part two – Corps and Regimental Distinctions, ISBN0-473-03290-2
Kiwi Trooper: The Story of Queen Alexandra's Own by Ted Andrews
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