Back Issues: When the Manchester Rifles were at the ready
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Between 1879 and 1909, a unit of New Zealand's volunteer defence force practised drills in Stafford Street, Feilding. This group of volunteers was a respected and important part of the Feilding community. Their only only military campaign came in 1881 when the Rifles marched on to Parihaka. They served as reserve troops for the armed constabulary that invaded Parihaka.
Voluntary military groups were common throughout Aotearoa at this time. The units were disbanded when compulsory military training was introduced in 1909.