People

In 1916 the Government purchased James Taylor’s 1,200 acre Te Miro property for soldier settlement. Except for 2,000 acres of run-down pasture on the top terrace, known as ‘the old race course’, the block was…

The first five Cambridge men to leave for training for World War One were Tom Phillips, Robert Ferguson, Alf Swayne, Fabian Sperry and Jim Watson. They were all members of the Waikato Mounted Rifles.  …

St Andrews Anglican church World War One memorial windows were unveiled on 11 December 1923 (the same day as the cenotaph in Jubilee Gardens). Lord Jellicoe addressed the gathering and the Bishop of Auckland, Bishop…

The book ‘Cambridge R.S.A’ was published in 1997 by Eris Parker. It starts at Anzac Day 1916, follows the formation of the Association, its welfare work, through World War Two and records memories of some returned soldiers.…

Soldiers’ Stories Cliff Beech (Regt No. 46691) age 37 was a farmer on Buckland Road when his married brother Rex took over his farm. He joined the 7th Reinforcements in September 1941 and went to Trentham…

  As soon as the second World War was announced in September 1939 Cambridge people moved into action. The Patriotic Council regulated all collections of money and goods and Cambridge was asked to provide 56…

This list of ‘The Men, and Women, We Honour’, together with messages ‘To the Men who are away’ have been taken from the booklet ‘Cambridge Sends You Greetings’ published in 1940. The First Echelon 18th…

The Cambridge No 3 Company was formed in 1897 – 15 years after the disbanding of the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers. Up to 26 August 1899 the enrolments in the Waikato Mounted Rifles totalled 70. Many of these keen…

Corporal John Matson, age 23 years and 5 months, and Private Ernest James Ralph Smith age 26 of the Cambridge Troop (No. 3 Waikato Mounted Rifles) went to the South Africa War in the first contingent. They were both first class shots.…

His Excellency Governor Bowen accepted the services of 34 Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers on 13 January 1872. Captain Runciman wrote to Major Jackson (the Senior Cavalry Officer at Te Awamutu) requesting that the Cambridge Corps be given the same privileges…