150 years of service

A World War 1 sniper and scout, who is New Zealand's most decorated soldier, is among the thousands of Otago and Southland people to have served in the military during the past 150 years.

Sergeant Richard Charles Travis was famous for his forays into no-man's-land between the New Zealand and German trenches, earning the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Belgian Croix de Guerre and the Military Medal while serving with the 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment.

On July 24, 1918, he destroyed an impassable wire block in front of enemy lines at Rossignol Wood in France, then captured two enemy machine-guns, shooting 11 Germans.

He was killed by shellfire the next day and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Another from the battalion to earn the same award was Dunedin-born farmer Sgt Donald Forrester Brown, for his gallant actions on the Somme on September 15, 1916.

In World War 2, Sgt Jack Hinton, who was born in Southland but served in the 20th Battalion (Canterbury Regiment), earned the VC for leading an assault in Greece in 1941.

Meanwhile, Southland farmer and politician Brigadier James Hargest commanded the 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade in Crete and North Africa, later escaping from an Italian prisoner of war camp by tunnelling under castle walls.

Military historian Dr Aaron Fox says British Army soldiers were in New Zealand until the 1860s but then it was decided New Zealand should be responsible for its home defence.

As a result, an armed constabulary and later volunteer units were set up.

While the New Zealand Wars were taking place further north, there was no particular threat in the South and the need for law and order related more to the gold rush.

The Dunedin and Invercargill Militia Battalions were established on February 27, 1860.

Dunedin journalist John Cosgrove, who has spent the past year with the soldiers of the 4th Otago Southland Battalion documenting their service, says the first drill hall was in the yards of the old police barracks but parades soon moved to Bell Hill, where First Church now stands.

The first officially-recognised volunteer unit in the region was the Otago Rifle Volunteers, which was gazetted as a company in 1862 and commanded by the provincial superintendent, Major J. D. C. Richardson.

In 1898, the First Battalion Otago Rifle Volunteers was formed, and in the next few years numerous rifle companies followed, some well-organised, others short-lived, as a result of public meetings around Otago and Southland.

Volunteers were unpaid and expected to buy their own uniforms.

These ranged from full Highland dress to scarlet tunics and trousers, and white spiked helmets.

In the 1870s, Russia was threatening the "North-West Frontier" (modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan) and British interests in India.