Anzac Day - Boar’s head sign of pride for Mounted Rifles

NOT FORGOTTEN: Dennise Brownlie and Diane Macdonald add some finishing touches to the new North Auckland Mounted Rifles display.

The Kauri Museum’s latest exhibition is nearing completion in time for it’s official opening on Anzac Day. 

The base of the display has come from a collection that belonged to the 3rd Auckland and Northland Battalion Trust, and with local memorabilia from the museum’s own collection, will record this part of history. 

Mounted Rifles were different from the more common ‘cavalry’ forces as they rode horses into battles. They were known to dismount undercover and would then fight on foot with rifles and bayonets. 

Men from rural areas of Northland, who had lived on farms and had grown up with horses, often joined the Mounted Rifles.

The South African (Boer) War 1899-1902 had inspired a wave of patriotism in Northland. Volunteers came together to form five companies: The Marsden Mounted Rifles based in Whangarei; the Otamatea Mounted Rifles, based in Maungaturoto; the Northern Wairoa Mounted Rifles, based in Dargaville; the Mangonui Mounted Rifles based in Mangonui; and the Hokianga Mounted Rifles based in Waimamaku. 

Later additions were from Kawakawa, Mangakahia and the Scottish Horse Mounted Rifle Volunteers from Waipu.

The Kauri Museum’s evocative exhibition tells stories of the men of the North Auckland Mounted Rifles and records their important history so that they will not be forgotten by future generations.

Some members of these companies joined contingents that went to South Africa. With the onset of WWI the North Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment supplied a squadron to the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade which fought at  Gallipoli, Sinai and Palestine.

The boar’s head insignia badge was worn with pride on the front of the hat and also worn on points of each collar. It also features on the North Auckland Mounted Rifles regimental flag.