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Regional | ANZAC

100 horsemen remember Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment

A re-enactment in tribute of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment is set to take place over 2 days in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in North Canterbury.

The Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment was one of four mounted rifles regiments raised to serve overseas in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) during the First World War.

The CMR was part of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and left New Zealand with the Main Body of the NZEF in October 1914.  After training in Egypt the CMR fought in the Gallipoli campaign from May to December 1915.

The regiment included twenty-six officers, 523 other ranks and 600 horses collated from three squadrons belonging to pre-war Territorial Force regiments.

The 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landings will showcase 100 horsemen. 52 of these riders will be dressed in full military uniform representing the 52 soldiers from within the area who didn't return home.

On the 24th of April riders will congregate in preparation, then on the 25th of April the official commemoration will begin.

The full commemoration proceedings can be viewed here.