The Mangonui Mounted Rifle Volunteers Northland New Zealand

Note: His cap badge is made up of the letters NZ in brass. C1910

Major Herbert Bismark Matthews
Mangonui Mounted Rifle Volunteers.

Herbert Bismark Matthews was born in 1873 at Aurere in New Zealand. He was the son of Robert Noble Matthews and his wife Sophia Louisa (nee: Subritzky).

He enlisted into the New Zealand Army under the Volunteer system and was a founder member of D Squadron, The Mangonui Mounted Rifles.

He was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and took part in the Inaugural Annual Camp of the Mangonui Mounted Rifles in the summer of 1900. 

True to form all of the leading lights of the district were elected as officers and NCO's and were to include Chris Dunn, Louis Matthews, Tom Smith, Bert Subritzky, Bert Matthews, Tom Ansley, Herbert Eaves, Harry McIntosh, and Alf Snelgar as Corporals; Alex Thomas and Tom Herewini as Sergeants, Mr Clody (from the bank) was the Staff Sergeant and Joe Shannon was the Troop Commander with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

The uniform they chose was that of the famous "Rough Riders" khaki uniform as worn by the New Zealanders then serving in South Africa - complete with slouch hats.  The badge (on the slouch hat), was a lion's head with a hook on it that held up the turned up (left) side of the hat on their field service uniform, and in undress a general pattern bugle horn badge was worn on a "side cap." Badge images not to scale.

The Headquarters of the Mangonui Mounted Rifles was in Kaitaia. In 1903, the Volunteers in New Zealand were organised into districts and the Mangonui Mounted Rifles became part of the 3rd Regiment of the Auckland Mounted Rifles.

• The Headquarters of this regiment was in Kawakawa and encompassed all of the Northern Volunteer Mounted Rifles:
  - A Squadron: Marsden Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Whangarei),
  - B Squadron: Otamatea Mounted Rifle Volunteers ( Paparoa),
  - C Squadron: Hokianga Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Waimaku),
  - D Squadron: Mangonui Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Kaitaia),
  - E Squadron: Northern Wairoa Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Aratapu),
  - F Squadron: Bay of Islands Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Ohaewai),
  - G Squadron: Scottish Horse Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Waipu),
  - H Squadron: Mangakahia Mounted Rifle Volunteers (Mangatapere).
  Note: C and E Squadron were disbanded in 1908.

The badge of the 3rd Regiment Auckland Mounted Rifle Volunteers was a boar's head flanked by ferns with the Roman numerals III above; the motto "Kia Tupato" (Be Cautious). (See above left) On 17 March 1911, with the reorganisation of the Volunteers into the Territorial Army, the regiment kept its organisation but was redesignated the 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles. The unit retained its boar's head cap badge except that the numeral IX replaced the III. (See left) It was also given the battle honour "South Africa 1902" in recognition of the many Volunteers from Northland who had served in the South African War.

The various small town sub-unit identities were lost at the commencement of WWI when the 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles became part of the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade, of the ANZAC Mounted Division.

Leonard August William Subritzky was born on 16 June 1891, at Awanui. Prior to his enlistment he was employed as a mariner aboard the schooner Greyhound. He was of medium build, 6ft 4ins in height and his next of kin was his father Captain Louis Anton Subritzky, Master Mariner of Awanui.

He enlisted in the New Zealand Army on 16 June 1909 under the Volunteer system and served for two years as a Trooper with the Mangonui Mounted Rifles and later the 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles. 

Upon completion of three years service he resigned on 17 June 1912.

During the First World War he volunteered for overseas service but was judged medically unfit and placed on the C. List of the Expeditionary Forces Reserve. 

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