| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL31673 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Badge |
| Physical description | Brass |
| Maker |
J R Gaunt & Sons |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | c 1914-1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
1st New Zealand Mounted Rifles cap badge : Private H R Stephens, 2 Field Ambulance, AIF
Description
Brass cap badge of the 1st Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) showing two fern leaves containing the lettere 'CYC', the motto 'PRO FOCIS ET PATRIA' and the date '1864', all surmounted by a ram's head.
History / Summary
This badge was collected on Gallipoli by Private Harold Roy Stephens of 2 Field Ambulance, AIF. He served with 7 Australian Garrison Artillery between 1912 and 1915, before enlisting for service in the First World War on 17 May 1915 with the service number 4107. Later in the war Stephens transferred to 16 Dental Unit where he reached the rank of staff sergeant. He returned to Australia on 5 July 1919. After the war he trained and graduated as a dentist. The 1st New Zealand Mounted Rifles (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) formed part of the Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment that fought on Gallipoli. In 1916 they were joined with the Auckland and Wellington Regiments to form the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade of the ANZAC Mounted Division, which fought in Sinai and Palestine until 1919.