SOLDIERING PAST & PRESENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 9

SOLDIERING PAST & PRESENT

A FINE OLD CORPS! Jlost people who followed the volunteering movement have heard of the old Waimarino Mounted Rifles, who were generally recognised as a very fine corps. It was early in 1909 that a movement was made in Raetihi to form the corps.- The idea was taken up enthusiastically by the young men of the district, with the result that the Government accepted tho services of <?he Waimarino Mounted Rifles, which started under the command of Captain Stevenson, who had as his lieutenants Messrs. T. A. Harris and W. Risk. Later in the year, the squadron was augmented by the addition of a tioop of Ohnkune and Karioi men, under Lieut. Latchmorc, which raised tiio number to 84, that being then a full squadron. In those days there was no hall to drill anything like such a number of men in, and the corps was so keen on "volunteering" that it decided to nuild a hall itself. This also, was taken up so enthusiastically that sufficient money was subscribed amongst the members to build tho fine Drill Hall which the town now possesses—said to be the finest hall, outside any of the larger towns, in tho Wellington district.

. hen_ the Territorial system came into being the Waimarino Mounted Junes were amalgamated with tha Alexandra Cavalry, in Wanganui, making together A Squadiion of Oueeu Alexandra's 2nd Mounted Rifle Regiment.