NZ Reos

Category: Badges

New Zealand Infantry Reinforcement Unit hat badges (Page 1)


Some NZ Reinforcements wore the number of their intake as a numeral on the shoulder strap. This is NOT a full list, only a representation. These badges were also won by Australia's AIF as battalion badges and before that by AIR as hat badges.

Cap & collar badges for 1st, 2nd & 3rd reinforcements. Called Triple Ferns. Photo Shaun Aumua

New Zealand's Reinforcement badges were all un-official but accepted. They had to be privately purchased and were worn only during training.

They came in a variety of styles. Mostly the standard cap and collar badges were worn but some soldiers selected other badges.

These badges were usually only worn by reinforcements for the major branches of service, Infantry, Mounted Rifles and Rifle Brigade.

<<< "NZ Expdey. Forces" cap badge (A Coy 4th Reos)


Collar badge C Coy 4th Reos	"NZ Expdey. Forces" collar badge	Reinforcements Expedit. Force

There were 43 drafts of Infantry, Rifle Brigade & specialists reinforcements.

Initially the Rifle Brigade had separate drafts but later they were incorporated in Infantry drafts and identified by the company letter. >>>

7th Reos to Canterbury Infantry Regt >>

From 17th Reinforcements onwards a greater degree of uniformity can be seen.

This stopped with 34th Reinforcements. The 34th Reinforcements and the ones that followed used the NZ Expeditionary Force badge

Letter used. Up to 1st draft of 20th Reos		2nd draft of 20th Reos to 34th Reos	35 onwards
A	Auckland Infantry Regiment	Auckland Infantry Battalion	General Reos
B	Wellington Infantry Regiment	Wellington Infantry Battalion	General Reos
C	Canterbury Infantry Regiment	Canterbury Infantry Battalion	General Reos
D	Otago Infantry Regiment	Otago Infantry Battalion	General Reos
E	1st Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade	Infantry Company unattached	General Reos
F	2nd Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade	Infantry Company unattached	General Reos
G	3rd Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade	NZ Rifle Brigade Company unattached	General Reos
H	4th Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade	NZ Rifle Brigade Company unattached	General Reos
J	Unattached Infantry Company	NZ Rifle Brigade Company unattached	not used
K	Unattached Infantry Company	not used	not used


D Company (Otago) 7th Reinforcements		A Company (Auckland) 8th Reos with "NZ" & "R"

B (Wellington) Company 8th Reinforcements		D (Otago) Company 8th Reinforcements

A (Auckland) Company 9th Reinforcements		C (Canterbury) Company 9th Reinforcements

A Coy 8th Reos cap	Collar badge 9th Reos	A Coy 10 Reos with NZ	10 Coy 10 Reos with R


A Coy 10th Reinforcements (Auckland)	B Coy 10th Reinforcements (Wellington)

C Coy 10th Reinforcements (Canterbury)	D Coy 10th Reinforcements (Otago)


D Coy 10th Reinforcements (Otago)	B Coy 11th Reinforcements (Wellington)

C Company 11 Reinforcements (Canterbury)	11 Reinforcements

D Coy 11th Reinforcements (Otago)	11th Reinforcements (variation)


	11 Reos with NZ & crown	No crown version

E Coy 11th Reinforcements (1Bn NZRB)	Note QV Crown	B Coy 13th Reos

12th Reinforcements 2 versions

Note QVC Crown above on the A Coy collar badge and Imperial Crown left and on the standard collar.

13th Reinforcements

14th Reinforcements (generic, collar)

A Company 14th Reinforcements (2 versions)

D Coy 14th Reos		D & E Coy 14th Reos

A Coy 15th Reos & Kiwi	E Coy 16th Reos & Kiwi

15th Reinforcements collar dog 2 versions		15th Reinforcements (A & C) (No Kiwi)

G Coy 16th Reinforcements.

H Coy 16th Reinforcements.

16th Reinforcements

16th Reinforcements (variation)


17th Reinforcements cap badge	17th Reinforcements collar badges

A & C Companies 17th Reinforcements	E Company 17th Reinforcements


18th Reinforcements cap badge	18th Reinforcements collar badges


19th Reinforcements hat badge	19th Reinforcements collar badges



20th Reinforcements (note QVC) voided version & solid version.	20th Reinforcements collar badges 2 versions. Note variations in crowns.


21st Reinforcements hat badge	21st Reinforcements collar badges

The Kiwi Range of collar badges



Kiwi with rifle NZ EXPY FCS (right)	Kiwi on crossed ferns & NZ	Kiwi with rifle NZ EXPY FCS (left)

This information is provided as a guide only. No commercial decision should be based on it.
- Many images from Phillip James of New Zealand.
- Some details from Badges & Insignia of the New Zealand Army by Geoffrey P Oldham. I recommend any collector uses his publication ISBN 0-473-04378-5
- I do not buy, sell, trade or provide valuations. Any advice I gave may be commercially worthless.