The
New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Own), affectionately known as
The Dinks, was formed on 1 May 1915 as the 3rd
Brigade of the
New Zealand Division, part of the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During the
first World War it fought in
Egypt, against the
Senussi, and then on the
Western Front. It was disbanded on 4 February 1919.
History
When the first World War commenced New Zealand only had sufficient infantry battalions to form a single brigade and this was combined with an Australian brigade to form the
New Zealand and Australian Division. New Zealand had also been recruiting reinforcements to fill the ranks of soldiers killed and wounded and after the defeat of the
Ottoman Empire Suez Offensive with minimal losses, it became clear that additional units could be formed.
Formation
The decision was taken to use the three battalions of reinforcements in Egypt, with another inbound, to form the 2nd New Zealand Brigade. The 5th Reinforcements were still in New Zealand and were nominated to form the nucleus of a new infantry unit that was initially designated as the
Trentham Infantry Regiment, after the camp where it was formed. Consisting of two battalions and commanded by a British Army officer, Lt Col H.T. Fulton
DSO, it did not become the New Zealand Rifle Brigade until 1 Oct 1915 shortly after a 3rd and 4th Battalion had been added.
Egypt
Two
battalions left
Wellington on 8 October 1915 eventually arriving in......
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