4th Battalion (Taranaki Rifles) Wellington Regiment Cap/Collar Badge

[stevjp]

Guys,
quick question.
When was the 4th Battalion (Taranaki Rifles) Wellington Regiment Cap and/or Collar worn?
Is it a Volunteer badge, pre-1911 for the 4th Battalion of the Wellington Regiment (Corbet kind of alludes that they changed their name to become post-1911 part of the 11th (Taranaki) Infantry Regiment, so then the 11th's badge was universally adopted?
Or is it post 1911, and they wore it as a distinction from their other comrades in the 11th, and until when (a hard to find badge, so I presume not for long)? Oldham has it in the Post 1911 section of his book.

Attached are a couple of examples of mine to show what I am talking about.

Many thanks in advance
James

[atillathenunns]

4th Battalion Wellington Rifle Volunteers 1901 to 1911 [Prior to 1901 it was known as the 2nd Battalion Wellington (West Coast) Rifle Volunteers]

[omok1]

I would have thought most likely still worn in WW1, as with the large increase in numbers there would not have been sufficient badge. I know this happened FOR CERTAIN with North Auckland Mounted Rifles. I inherited my great uncles military belongings that had been stored in a drawer of the old Singer sewing machine by his sister since his death in 1917. There were tunic buttons,a set of 11th NAMR badges and paybook with misc documents. The "set" of NAMR badges was in fact 2 x III AMR (Boers Head) and 1 x 11th NAMR. He had no service in NAMR prior to 1914 when he joined Territorials, but these were his issued badges, he probably never noticed or took any interest in the difference.

[atillathenunns]

I am doubtful that the Taranaki Rifles, the Taranaki Guards and the Stratford Rifles, who were all company's of the 4th Battalion Wellington Rifle Volunteers, wore anything except for the bugle horn badge up until 1911.

[woronora]

I am of the opinion that the 11th Taranaki adopted its antecedent regiment badge design with a change in the number to indicate its post 1911 unit designation. Other units who also adopted modified antecedent badges were the 5th Otago MR, 11th North Auckland MR and the 10 Otago Rifiles Regiments.

John

[atillathenunns]

Originally Posted by woronora

I am of the opinion that the 11th Taranaki adopted its antecedent regiment badge design with a change in the number to indicate its post 1911 unit designation. Other units who also adopted modified antecedent badges were the 5th Otago MR, 11th North Auckland MR and the 10 Otago Rifiles Regiments.

John

John, it is possible the 11th Taranaki adopted its antecedent regiment badge design, however I have not seen any photographic evidence to support that theory.

I do however have a document signed by Lieutenant Colonel William Malone (Officer Commanding the 4th Battalion) that is dated 4th March 1911, which states – “This Battalion has no Badge.”

Colonel Malone also submitted a badge design for approval which incorporated battle honours and a bottom scroll with – “4th Wellington Battalion.”

Malones design was approved by General Godley with the alterations that - Honours should not be on badges, suggest omission of circle re in middle of mountain – on scroll at foot “11th Taranaki Rifles.” There is no such regt as “4th Wellington Battalion.”

Thus, as James has rightly pointed out, the IV Battalion Wellington Taranaki Rifles Regiment and the XI Taranaki Rifles Regiment with honour scrolls are somewhat of an enigma.

The following picture of a clean shaven Malone was taken in 1908 during the Wellington district Easter manoeuvres.
As can be seen he is wearing a bugle horn badge with letters NZ on either side.