List of New Zealand units in the Second Boer War

New Zealand Division
Active 1899–1902
Country  New Zealand
Allegiance British Crown
Branch New Zealand Army
Type Mounted infantry
Engagements Second Boer War

New Zealand contributed ten contingents of mounted rifles towards the British Crown's efforts in the Second Boer War (also known as the South Africa War). The British Government accepted the offer by Richard Seddon – the Premier of New Zealand – for troops, and so the country became the first British colony to volunteer forces for the war.[1] A total of ten contingents departed for South Africa between October 1899 and April 1902. The volunteers of the first two contingents were mainly members of New Zealand's existing permanent or voluntary forces and were expected to supply their own equipment and horses.[2][3] The Third and Fourth Contingents were organised by regional politicians and businesspeople: the Third organised mainly from Canterbury, and the Fourth from Otago.[2][4] These two Contingents were also largely paid for through local fundraising rather than central government,[2] and together they became known as the Rough Riders.[4] The remaining contingents were funded by the British Government.[2] The Boer War was the first overseas conflict to involve New Zealand troops, and was the first conflict the nation was involved in since the New Zealand Wars had ceased in the early 1870s.[5] Over 6500 New Zealand soldiers served in South Africa with the units suffering 230 casualties – most of those from either accident or disease.[6]

Contingents

New Zealand units of the Second Boer War[4]
Name Departed Strength Commander Notes
First Contingent 21 October 1899 from Wellington 215 Major Alfred William Robin
Second Contingent 20 January 1900 from Wellington 266 Major Montagu Cradock Included a Hotchkiss machine gun detachment
Third Contingent 17 February 1900 from Lyttelton 262
Fourth Contingent
462
  • Major Frederick Francis (Otago and Southland)
  • Major Joe Sommerville (North Island)
 Divided into four Companies: 7th and 8th from the North Island, 9th and 10th from Otago and Southland
Fifth Contingent 31 March 1900 from Wellington and Lyttelton 591 Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Newall
Sixth Contingent 30 January 1901 from Auckland 602 Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Henry Banks
Seventh Contingent 6 April 1901 from Wellington 667 Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas William Porter
Eighth Contingent
1120 Colonel Richard Hutton Davies Divided into two regiments: North Island and South Island
Ninth Contingent
1071 Divided into two regiments: North Island and South Island
Tenth Contingent
1251 Divided into two regiments: North Island and South Island

See also

Citations

  1. ↑ King 2003, pp. 285–286.
  2. 1 2 3 4 King 2003, p. 287.
  3. ↑ New Zealand's response.
  4. 1 2 3 The Contingents.
  5. ↑ King 2003, pp. 284–285.
  6. ↑ Introduction.

References

  • King, Michael (2003). The Penguin History of New Zealand. North Shore, New Zealand: Penguin Group. ISBN 978-0-14-301867-4.
  • "NZ units in South Africa 1899–1902 – Introduction". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  • "NZ units in South Africa 1899–1902 – The Contingents". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  • "South African 'Boer' War – Introduction". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  • "South African 'Boer' War – New Zealand's response". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.

External sources

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