2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry

12/24/2023

Christmas Greetings from the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment in Italy 80 years ago and, as the Christmas card shows, not yet dismounted. At DivCav, we look forward to a great year in 2024, starting with some exciting news (stay tuned) and an uptick in postings. All the best to you and yours!

09/09/2022

His Majesty King Charles III, King of New Zealand, Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Field Marshal of the New Zealand Army, and Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Seen here as Field Marshal at a memorial service and wreath laying at the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial at Longueval, France, on the battlefield of the Somme, September 14, 2016.

09/08/2022

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, wearing a diamond fern brooch, a 1953 gift from the women of Auckland; the insignia of the Sovereign of the Order of New Zealand; the badge of the Queen's Service Order; and the sash and star of the New Zealand Order of Merit. An official portrait released on 7 February 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

08/14/2022

This is Trooper Cyprian Lance Bridge (No. 1191) who served with A Squadron of the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry (1939-1942). Before the war, he was a bank officer at the Bank of New South Wales in Pahiatua. Cyprian enlisted at Dannevirke in 1939, joined the regiment at Ngaruawahia Camp, and embarked with the First Echelon, arriving in Egypt in February 1940. He fought in Greece, Crete, and the Western Desert in North Africa. During Operation Crusader (November-December 1941) he was part of the Divisional Cavalry screen that protected the New Zealand advance ‘across the wire’ from Egypt into Libya. The New Zealand objective was to isolate enemy forces on the coast at Bardia (also around Sollum and Fort Capuzzo) while the main British offensive attacked Rommel’s forces in the west to relieve the vital port of Tobruk.

New Zealand Brigadier James Hargest’s 5th Brigade Group was positioned on the airfield at Sidi Azeiz (about 12 miles inland from Bardia) to guard against enemy forces escaping from Bardia and to prevent their supply and reinforcement by Rommel. A and B Squadrons of the Divisional Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Nicoll (No. 20080), who was a farmer from Ashburton, patrolled in a wide circle around Sidi Aziez to make contact with any enemy forces approaching the position, determine the size and type of the formations, delay them if possible, and raise the alarm with Hargest. And that happened faster than anyone expected. After Rommel was surprised by the initial British attack, he redirected two large German armoured columns back towards the frontier to attack and destroy British forces guarding Bardia, and at the same time, disrupt British supply lines from Egypt.

At 6:30 a.m. on November 27, 1941, an A Squadron patrol reported the passive capture of a German wireless-transmission truck. As the Divisional Cavalry War Diary noted, B Squadron then identified a force of 30-40 German tanks and support troops approaching rapidly from the same direction. The German radio truck had not ‘surrendered’: it was the ‘pathfinder’ leading the way for the larger force. As Robert Loughnan wrote in the Divisional Cavalry’s official history: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Nicoll immediately drove over in his tank to Brigadier Hargest and was in the middle of warning him that a strong attack was almost upon them when the first shells began to fall. The Brigadier had no choice but to fight where he stood'.

Hargest ordered Nicoll to withdraw the Divisional Cavalry as quickly as possible, which Nicoll did. And that’s when the war came very directly to Cyprian Bridge, now a Corporal: ‘Nicoll led the balance of the regiment boldly across the enemy front as this force was deploying for assault. He suffered surprisingly small casualties in so doing … [but] some of the regiment’s B Echelon and one DR [despatch rider] were left behind; the IO’s carrier [Intelligence Officer] was hit but did not stop, though the gunner, Corporal Bridge, was wounded. Bridge sat there nursing a smashed leg which he subsequently lost, and gritted his teeth until he could be given attention when the regiment was clear’.

Cyprian came home in 1942 and was discharged with honour. He returned to work as a bank officer in Hastings, married Alice June Johnston (1919-2010), and had six children. Cyprian died at Taupo in 2004, aged 87 years.

But Cyprian also left us a record of his wartime career through his diaries and an astonishing collection of his own photographs. Thanks to the kindness of a family member who wants to share his story, we will explore Cyprian’s record, share his thoughts and images, and connect these to the Official History of the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry, as well as the Regimental War Diaries, which were kept daily throughout the war. We will also meet – and see – Cyprian’s friends, many of whom you may know from your own studies. Please note that Cyprian’s diary entries and photographs are © The Family of Cyprian Bridge.

By Ian Latham, DivCav.
Sources: R.J.M. Loughnan, Divisional Cavalry, Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939-1945 (Wellington: War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, 1963).
War Diary of NZ Div Cav, From 1 Nov 41 to 30 Nov 41. Volume 27. Archives New Zealand.

07/25/2022

A timely and pointed reminder that Reserve (or Territorial) regiments are an increasingly important part of a nation's defence structure. Territorials, often called 'Reserves', were always important. But in today's budget-driven world, thanks to cost pressures and manpower and recruiting issues, they have become even more important than ever.

As always, the troops and commanders are trained and committed. But working together with fellow regiments and the national Army depends totally on shared visions, training, and organization. And the highest degrees of cohesion and communication happen when military and civil leaders see the same future and share the same goals. As this example shows, it's not just about people and relationships. When there is determination and a shared understanding -- at critical levels -- the vehicles, armament, and material can be there.

On top of that, increased pressure in the defence and security space from adversaries and potential adversaries -- notably in Europe -- and elsewhere -- brings all of this to a pressure point. This is the world we live in now. Arguably, all nations need all the resources at their disposal.

As many of you know, the Div Cav (1939-1945) was a territorial (Mounted Rifles) force, supplemented by a greater number of committed, courageous, and determined volunteers. That's why we share BZ, thanks, and admiration, not just to the Wessex and the Wilts and their cohorts -- and to QAMR at home -- but to all Territorial and Reserve units around the world. We depend on you. We are proud of you.

04/25/2022

We remember them, and we remember them today especially. Those we lost, those who came home hurt, and all who served 1914-1918, as well as the families who held the fort at home. We remember those who did it all over again 1939-1945 (several of whom served in the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry), those who joined them, and once again all who were lost in the Second World War, and in all our wars since. We add special kudos to the women and men of the New Zealand Defence Force who serve today with dedication and commitment. Not least among them the troopers, NCOs, officers, and commanders of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles and its proud squadrons. Ake Ake Kia Kaha!

04/09/2022

For manoeuvre, the ground is everything. A timely reminder that driving over ground is a skill that's learned, acquired, and understood -- which, for many troopers, can be intuitive. Arguably, one reason why so many farmers, tractor drivers, and motorcyclists were assigned to the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 is that they could read the land, knew how to drive vehicles on farms and soft ground, had a good sense of how not to get stuck, could ride a motorcycle over dirt and gravel, and knew how to make basic repairs -- or improvise repairs -- on the side of the road. All that came into play, especially in Greece and North Africa (1940-1943). Kudos to all QAMR troops who have proved that they know the same skills. Ake Ake Kia Kaha!

03/25/2022

How does the fighting happen in Ukraine? Writing in The Atlantic (a long-established literary, cultural, and political magazine in the United States), Elliot Ackerman, a former U.S. Marine and intelligence officer who fought in Afghanistan, shares a conversation he had in a Lviv hotel with an American former Marine currently serving with Ukraine troops northwest of Kyev. It's a compelling account of the power of 'anti-platform' weapons such as the Javelin missile against the Russian T-90 main battle tank, which it can destroy. Ackerman also discusses Russian command-and-control doctrine, focused on centralised, top-down command, resulting in a lack of communication and cohesion, against 'mission command', as practiced by Ukrainian troops and Western militaries, including New Zealand and Australia. If what Ackerman writes is representative, Ukraine is all about small-unit warfare by highly motivated troops, often conducted at night, under stealth -- essentially, hit and run -- against a confused, disoriented, and inexperienced military. A very good read.

It’s not technology or tactics that has given Ukrainian fighters their greatest edge.

10/08/2021

QAMR reminds teams that hand-to-hand combat matters, even in a mechanised, highly technological world. Ake Ake Kia Kaha!

09/16/2021

Happy Anniversary to the oldest New Zealand regiment extant, a founding regiment of the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry, proudly continuing the cavalry tradition in a multi-role force. All the best to troopers, NCOs, senior men, officers, and commanders. Ake Ake Kia Kaha!

09/07/2021

Very happy to confirm that the identity of the Divisional Cavalry escapee from Greece in 1941 has been confirmed (see post below). He is William Arthur Gadsby (New Zealand Service No. 12007) from New Plymouth, New Zealand. Bill Gadsby was a Trooper in the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry, assigned to Div Cav reinforcements in Greece. As we noted earlier, he would have been captured at the fishing village of Kalamata, along with hundreds of other New Zealand reinforcements in April 1941. Not under the command of New Zealand General Freyberg, these troops fell through the cracks. Despite a valiant defence against enemy attackers at Kalamata, they were overwhelmed and taken prisoner. After sorting at Salonika in Greece, they were dispersed to prison camps in Germany and Austria. We will share details of Bill’s escape story soon. Meanwhile, Stephen Hutcheon has shared his analysis that confirmed Bill Gadsby’s identity, thanks to help from Bill’s neice, Coral. He has updated the identities in the escaper photograph. And Carol has shared a new picture of Bill and his brother Raymond, obviously in the Middle East. If you recognise anyone else in that picture, please let us know.