LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN NEW ZEALAND COMMAND The New Zealand Command of the Legion of Frontiersmen was established in 1911 by two officers of the Legion, Captain John Cook a South African War Veteran and Captain Pat Taylor. By the end of the year, about 30 Frontiersmen had enlisted. The first Commandant in this country was Captain John Cook, resident in Christchurch at the time. In 1915, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel P. Driscoll DSO calls for the roll to be taken of Frontiersmen currently in uniform and on Active Service. More than 7,000 have enlisted and are on Active Service with a variety of Empire Units. He notes that nearly 50 per cent of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry are members of the Legion of Frontiersmen. Shortly after, the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Was raised by the Legion of Frontiersmen as a British Army Infantry Battalion and served in the East African Theatre from 1915 - 1918. In New Zealand, many members of the Legion of Frontiersmen enlisted into the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment as that was the Regiment chosen by the Commandant, Captain Frank M. Twisleton. Newspaper articles confirm that throughout the war Frontiersmen continued to enlist into the "Otago's" so that they could serve with other Frontiersmen. The Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment was made up of the 5th Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars), the 7th (Southland) Mounted Rifles, and the 12th (Otago) Mounted Rifles. The Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment saw service during the Battle of Gallipoli as part of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and was later withdrawn to Egypt. The Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment later left the Brigade and served in France with the New Zealand Division. The Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment was the only New Zealand Mounted troops to serve in France. More than 1,500 Frontiersmen, serving in a variety of Units are Killed in Action during the Gallipoli Campaign in the Dardanelles. Many are New Zealanders. The record of the Legion in the Great War is a proud one, enhanced by the fact that of the seven VCs awarded to New Zealanders five were won by its members. The Legion's roll is called throughout the British Empire for the first time since the commencement of hostilities in 1914. It is discovered that more than 9,000 members of the Legion have made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War. Their sacrifice passes in to Legion history and they become the legendary "9,000" and are remembered and toasted at every Legion of Frontiersman gathering forthwith. In New Zealand, two Memorials were raised to Honour the sacrifice made by the 9,000 and those who have followed them in subsequent conflicts. One memorial is located in National Park in the North Island, the other is at Ashburton in the South Island. Both locations were chosen as being central to the Island upon which the memorials were raised. Regards, Mike Subritzky Editor and Researcher New Zealand Command THE LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN For further information please visit: http://frontiersmen.homestead.com/timeline.html