The 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Rifles was formed on March 17, 1911. They were mobilised during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

as a squadron of the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment. They served in the

Middle Eastern theatre of World War I The Middle Eastern theatre of World War I saw action between 30 October 1914 and 30 October 1918. The combatants were, on one side, the Ottoman Empire, with some assistance from the other Central Powers; and on the other side, the British Em ...

and first saw action during the Battle of Gallipoli. As a part of the larger

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was a brigade of the New Zealand Army during the First World War. Raised in 1914 as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, it was one of the first New Zealand units to sail for service overseas. T ...

(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 The Battle of Romani was the last ground attack of the Central Powers on the Suez Canal at the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine campaign during the First World War. The battle was fought between 3 and 5 August 1916 near the Egyptian town o ...

* Battle of Magdhaba * Battle of Rafa *

First Battle of Gaza The First Battle of Gaza was fought on 26 March 1917 during the first attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), which was a British Empire military formation, formed on 10 March 1916 under the command of General Archibald Murray from th ...

* Second Battle of Gaza * Third Battle of Gaza * Battle of Beersheba * Battle of Megiddo (1918)

Between the Wars

They were renamed the 3rd New Zealand Mounted Rifles (Auckland) in 1921. This was later changed to Auckland (East Coast) Mounted Rifles, which became part of the 1st Armoured Regiment on 29 March 1944.

Alliances

* – 3rd The King's Own Hussars

References

{{New Zealand Great War Mounted Regiments Military units and formations established in 1911 Military units and formations disestablished in 1921 Cavalry regiments of New Zealand Military units and formations of New Zealand in World War I New Zealand in World War I History of the Auckland Region 1911 establishments in New Zealand 1921 disestablishments in New Zealand