BADGES OF "DINKS"

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1940, Page 6

BADGES OF "DINKS"

FORMER RIFLE BRIGADE TRADITIONS PRESERVED CLASS II RESERVE MEN Many 1915-1918 war memories will be recalled by the allocation of the badges of the Earl of Liverpool's Rifle Brigade to the North Island companies of the National Military Reserve Class II. The men of the rifle brigade were usually referred to as the Dinks. The origin of this name is not certain but one of the original brigade stated last night that after a South Island paper gave them a boost as being sons of bankers, graziers and lawyers and the fifth reinforcement, which was in camp at the same time, dubbed them as "dinky" soldiers which was soon shortened to "Dinks." Many old brigadesmen serving in the present National Military Reserve were Dinks and the prospect of carrying on the traditions of the old brigade is firing them with enthusiasm. Formation of Brigade. The Rifle Brigade was fornied in New Zealand in 1915 when the supply of volunteers offering vas much in excess of the number required for the New Zealand Division. Its formation gave the New Zealand Division the unique distinction of possessing four infantry bri- I gades instead of the regulation three. The brigade, or at least part of it, had its baptism of fire on Christmas Day, 1915, against the Senussi at Mersa Matruh, a town in Egypt that has figured largely in the recent bulletins of Signor Mussolini. His air force, according to their own accounts, muit have neady blown it off the.map. The supplies of badges have arrived at area headquarters and the issue will be made shortly.