1st Mounted Rifles



The 1st Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) was formed on March 17, 1911. They were mobilised during World War I as a squadron of the Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment. They served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I and first saw action during the Battle of Gallipoli.

As a part of the larger New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (of the ANZAC Mounted Division) they went on to serve in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.

Great War Battles

 * Battle of Gallipoli
 * Battle of Romani
 * Battle of Magdhaba
 * Battle of Rafa
 * First Battle of Gaza
 * Second Battle of Gaza
 * Third Battle of Gaza
 * Battle of Beersheba
 * Battle of Megiddo (1918)

Between the wars
In 1921 they were amalgamated with the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles and redesignated the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. By 1942, the regiment, as 1st Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles Regiment (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry), was part of the 5th Division's divisional troops, located at Ashburton.

They were absorbed into the 3rd Armoured Regiment RNZAC on 29 March 1944.