1880: Defeat of the Southland Hussars
February 26, 2021
By AHNZ
On 9 September, 1880, the Southland Hussars were ambushed by pranksters while on their way to Mataura. They were a volunteer militia cavalry corps formed that same year. What we now call Territorials but created by the people themselves rather than being a government institution.
Mataura was recently in the news as the toxic dump site of aluminium smelter bi-product. But this was still about 100 years in the future when the Hussars were out on manoeuvres back in their day.
Some of the Southland Hussars (later called the Otago Hussars) were confronted by a gun powder ambush that was intended to spook their horses into bolting. Instead, the Hussars carefully led their horses further along. Fortunately, this allowed them to avoid being dismounted by a trip-wire rope crossing the road. Whoever had planned this ambush now pelted the detachment with stones!
“Southland now possesses a cavalry corps. The newly-fledged troopers have dubbed themselves the “Southland Hussars.””- Southland Times, 28/4/1880
“…Hussars were proceeding from Wyndham to Matanra – some larrikins laid a train of gunpowder across the road, and fired it with the object of clearing the riders out of their pigskins. The attempt proved unsuccessful. The men, however, dismounted, and led their horses. A little further on they found a rope stretched across the road on posts at a sufficient height to catch the riders.” – South Canterbury Times (1880); Papers Past
“Stronach was the first captain, and at its formation, the corps numbered seventy-nine men… “the horses and equipments were excellent, the drill good, and the outpost work carried on with great intelligence.”” – Ref. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] (1905,) NZETC
The Hussars do not appear to have apprehended the larrikins but instead dodged further conflict by taking the back-roads. My opinion is that the perpetrators were some Honour Culture free-lancers who had a distaste for the fancy horsemen in their tailored uniforms made in London. 1880 Was a time of Dignity Culture, a time of respect and prestige for men like the Southland Hussars. This was bound to be resented by some of the rough and rude back country diggers and bushmen who would be only to glad to teach these jodhpur-wearing gallopers a trick.
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Image ref. Otago Hussars; Burton Bros. Cabinet photo; Hocken Collections; Coloured up a bit by AHNZ (2020)
https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/18451
Ref. South Canterbury Times (1880); Papers Past
Updated 2024
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