The return home of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (NZMR) is delayed by a shortage of shipping. The men take classes designed to ease them back onto ‘civvy street’ after up to five years in the army. They also help quell riots in Egypt, where there is anger at the lack of progress towards the independence that has been promised after the war.
January
The Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment (AMR) remains at Rafah undergoing training and education to prepare the men for a return to civilian life.
- 31st – The strength of the AMR is 24 officers and 436 other ranks. During the month one officer and 24 other ranks have been evacuated to hospital. Eight officers and 87 other ranks have arrived as reinforcements.
February
- 14th – The AMR starts to dispose of its horses. 43 D Class horses are destroyed under the supervision of the Brigade Veterinary Officer, and 100 C Class horses are sent to the Australian remount depot at Moascar.
- 28th – The AMR is still at Rafah. Its strength is now 20 officers and 369 other ranks. During the month two officers and 15 other ranks have been evacuated to hospital.
March
- 17th – The AMR leaves Rafah by train at 7 p.m. The NZMR is being rushed to Egypt to help suppress nationalist riots. Martial law has been declared.
- 18th – The AMR leaves its train at Kantara East and moves into a bivouac at Kantara West.
- 20th – The AMR obtains 337 horses from the remount depot in Kantara before boarding a train at 11.15 a.m. The regiment arrives at Tanta in the Nile Delta at 7.30 p.m. and bivouacs for the night.
- 21st – The AMR travels by train to Damanhour, 50 km south-east of Alexandria, arriving at 11 a.m.
- 27th – The AMR leaves Damanhour by train at 9 a.m. It travels the 60 km back to Tanta and bivouacs in the grounds of a school.
- 28th – The AMR, less 3rd (Auckland) Squadron, rides 25 km north-east to Mahalla el Kubra and sets up a bivouac.
- 29th – The AMR rides 25 km north-east to El Mansura, on the eastern distributary of the River Nile. It bivouacs next to the Agricultural Bank of Egypt.
- 30th – The AMR marches through El Mansura for ‘moral effect’.
- 31st – The strength of the AMR is 22 officers and 367 other ranks. During the month one officer and 18 other ranks have been evacuated to hospital. Five officers and 31 other ranks have been received as reinforcements.
April
- 1st – The 4th (Waikato) Squadron is detached and rides through villages in the surrounding district.
- 4th – The 4th (Waikato) Squadron returns from its journey.
- 5th – The 4th (Waikato) Squadron moves 25 km north-east to Shirbin and bivouacs there.
- 6th – The 3rd (Auckland) Squadron moves to Mahalla el Kubra and sets up a bivouac there.
- 7th – A Summary Military Court is set up in Shirbin to try civilians arrested during the disturbances. Those convicted of rioting are publicly flogged, fined or serve a short spell in gaol.
- 30th – The strength of the AMR is 25 officers and 360 other ranks. During the month 24 other ranks have been evacuated to hospital. Four officers and 33 other ranks have arrived as reinforcements.
May
The AMR continues garrison duties at Shirbin, Mahalla el Kubra and Talkha (across the Nile from El Mansura).
- 31st – The strength of the AMR is 23 officers and 354 other ranks. During the month one officer and 16 other ranks have been evacuated to hospital; 45 other ranks have arrived as reinforcements.
June
- 22nd – The AMR is relieved of its garrison duties and concentrates at the Demobilisation Camp at Chevalier Island, Ismailia.
- 26th – The AMR is divided into two groups. Seven officers and 193 other ranks move to the New Zealand training unit and depot at Ismailia to await transport home in July.
- 30th – The rest of the regiment embarks on HMT Ulimaroa and the AMR ceases to exist as a formed unit.
