MOUNTED RIFLES IN OLD DAYS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 117, 3 June 1937, Page 6

MOUNTED RIFLES IN OLD DAYS

Served as Bodyguard to King George V. SPORTS NEXT SATURDAY The announcement of a sports meeting to b held by the Hawke's Bay branch of the W.E.C. Mounted Rifles in Hastings on Saturday has revived memories of the early days of the mounted rifles in Hastings. It was Mr W. E. Whiteley and Mr J. D. Rivers who called a meeting in May, 1900, and brought into being a squadron which becaine known as the Hawke's Bay Mounted Riflee. Mr Rivers, who now resides in Wellington, was in Hastings this morning, and he told a .Herald-Tribune reporter how the squadron was formed. The strength at the beginning Was about 1UU uien, said Mr Rivers. Mr ^now Sirj Audrew Russell was eieeted captain, and the great success oi thc squadron had been due to his efforia and " encourageinent. Among the iiiyt lieulenants were Messrs W. B. Whiteley, Edward Barber, G. L. T. Gordon and D. Oanning. A Maori squadron was also formed and piaced in command of Captain Taranaki Te Ua. Bhortly after its inception the mounted rifles won the ' ' Rioyd Lind* say" at the Hawke's Bay show, and. it was at all times successful in military sports and shooting teams, a number oi riflemen visiting Trentham and other centres with conspicuous success. Among the distinguisUed serviceS rendered by the squadron was its appointment as bodyguard to the iate Jiiug George Y. duriug his visit to New Zealand. The whole body was disbauded when General Godley came to conduct the territoriai scheme, but many of the men later served overseas in the Great War. Among them was Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, who rende'red particularly valuable service, for which he was honoured by tbe ITencli nation and knighted by King George Y. Ifc is interesting to uoto the namos of the iirst nieinuers, many of whom are still alive to-day. Records of enroliuents and other doings of the men are preserved iD the squadron 's books which are in the possession of a Q.M.S. Heighway, Hastings. According to these records the following enrolled during May and June, 1900: — Captain A. H. Russell, Lieutenants W. E. Whiteley, Edward Barber, C. L. T. Gordon, SubLieutenant D.. Canning, Sergeant-Major S. T. Pattison, Quartermaster-Sergeant G. E. Elliott, Sergeants W. B. Jones, Robert Le Quesne, Arthur Hyde, Charles Shattky, T. Powell, Taranaki. Te Ua, Lance-Corporal C. J. Baker, Corporals G. Nettleingham, J. T. Wellwood, W. G. Chapman, A. E. Meretvether, G. Purves and F. Tfcorp, Buglers Allen McCorldndale, George Tong, and N. A. ^McLean, Troopers W. A. Alexander, B. E. Armstrong, Albert Garnett, George Gotty, H. J. Gorman, D, T. Gigg, T. H. Groome, W. J. Graham, George Hay, S. J. Heighway, J. P. Hughes, R. Hawea, A. Helm, Henare Hon,> E. T. Joll, Matthew Johnson, E. W. Bousefield, H. S. Bone, J. Brown, G. H. Brown, N. W. Beharrel, J. T. Blake, H. Connop, E. W. Caulton, T. Cunningham, A. J. Ellingham, C. J. Fitzroy, H. Guthrie, James Robinson, H. W. Reeves, William Robin, William Eamsay, Te Ua Reihana, W. J. Stratton, H. De Seymour, Alexander Smith, T. H. Stewart, G. E. Sands, W. Sinclair, H. K. Thompson, D. Thompson, J. Twigg, S. J.f W. F., R. A., and Ambroso Wellwood, William Wyatt, E. A. Wells, H. W. Watkins, J. H. Murdoch, D. T. Murfitt, Rengi Manacna, W. n. MacKenzie, Whenuakura Nikera, Arthur Quartley, William Russell, J. D. Rivers, Tuahine Renata, D. J. Joll, James Kyle, Oliver, Lucas, T. W. Lewis. The permanent staff oflicers responsible for the training of the troop were Sergeant-Major Tuck, Sergeant-Major Burr and Sergdant-Major (now Major) Browne. It is hoped tbat as many as possible of these old riflemen and other3 who have served with the regiment will attend the sports meeting at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday. An anvitation is extended to them by Major-General Sir Andrew