QUEEN ALEXANDRA’S

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1921, Page 8

QUEEN ALEXANDRA’S

THE OLD REGIMENT, Few people arc aware that Queen Alexandra's 2nd (W.W.C.) Mounted Rifles originated from the Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry (first date of commission September 21, I 860) and the Alexandra Troop Wanganui Cavalry \ olunteers. If not the senior regiment, the Second Mounted Rilles is the oldest, the date of their first commission being 1860, and that of the First C.T.C. Regiment 1864. The following particulars regarding the Second Mounted Rifles will be interesting: Headquarters, Hawera; area groups, Nos. 6 and 8; badge, a punga u*oo encircled by a garter, bearing the words “2nd N.Z.M.R.”; motto, “Ake, ake, Kia kaha” (for ever and ever until the end); war honors, Taranaki (1860), New Zealand (1860-1-3), Opotiki (1865), New Zealand (1868), South Africa (1890-1902), the Great War (1914-18); uniform, khaki. The date of the accepting of the first commission was September 21, 1860. At present the 2nd Mounted Rifles’ territory covers an area from New Plymouth down the coast to Wanganui, and as far north as to include Taumarunui. In all probability uricler .the new scheme the headquarters of the unit will be 1 transferred from Hawera to Wanganui, the territory then to include tire whole of the West Coast as far south as Wellington. The latest alterations among the regimental staff are as follow: Lieut.Colonel D. Pringle, C.8.E., has been posted to the retired list. Major D. Munro has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and to command the regiment. Major E. C. Howard, M.R.C.V.S., N.Z. Veterinary Corps, has been attached as veterinary officer to the regiment Lieut. O. L.’ Ferons has been promoted from the U.L. list to be second-lieutenant in this regiment.