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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 11 (February 1, 1936)

The Waikato Cavalry

The Waikato Cavalry.

The year 1871 was a particularly anxious time in the border townships and on the farms. In that year the settlers in the frontier district from Alexandra (Pirongia), Te Awamutu, Kihikihi and Orakau round the edge of the confiscated lands to Cambridge organised a cavalry corps which proved an exceedingly useful mobile defence force. Its establishment was due in the first place to the sagacious Sir Donald Maclean, Minister for Native Affairs and Defence, who visited Alexandra on his way to meet the Kingite chiefs across the border on a mission of conciliation. He suggested to Mr. Stephen Westney, a leading settler, who met him on questions concerning the Militia, that the best means of maintaining a frontier patrol would be the establishment of page 22 page 23
A Waikato River Gunboat in Major Jackson's day, the armoured sternwheeler Rangiriri. The first military settlers of the present town of Hamilton were taken up the river by this steamer in 1864.

A Waikato River Gunboat in Major Jackson's day, the armoured sternwheeler Rangiriri. The first military settlers of the present town of Hamilton were taken up the river by this steamer in 1864.

a mounted corps, which the Government would arm with the most efficient weapons.

So the Waikato Cavalry Volunteers came into being, consisting of two troops, one based on Te Awamutu and the other on Cambridge, and by common consent Major Jackson commanded the whole force, besides captaining the Te Awamutu troop (in which my father and his neighbour Andrew Kay, of Orakau, were the lieutenants). Captain James Runciman commanded the Cambridge troop. That was the beginning of a smart and efficient frontier corps of settlers and their sons, well-mounted and armed with Snider carbines, revolvers and swords. More than once the corps was called out for field service, though the alarms never developed into fighting; there was no doubt that the sight of these active soldier-settlers moving about the country, and also the Armed Constabulary posts along the border, prevented any Kingite plans of raid and reconquest being carried into effect.

Jackson commanded the force for many years, until the firm establishment of peace in the middle ‘Eighties.

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