digby edward cardale

Miles Cardale Posted: 27 Feb 2012

Digby Cardale was the son of Alfred Cardale an early settler in the central South Island.

He was educated at Christs College, along with Erskine Cardale one his brothers.The Cardales were top athletes and after leaving school between them won many races at Athletics Meeting around the country.

He became an exceptional Mounted Soldier and
on the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria a "Jubilee" contingent of soldiers from Australia and New Zealand was invited to London to represent our armed services and country.

As a Sergeant Major he went to the "South African War" with the 1st Contingent where he served with great distinction. He survived a pom-pom shell exploding directly under his horse. His diary of events of the "Boer War" is housed at the Alexander Turnbull Museum in Wellington.

He left the Army 1n 1907 on his return to NZ but was commissioned and trained militia around the country. He was recalled (As Captain Cardale) on the outbreak of World War 1, where he took charge of training Mounted Troops at Trentham Military Camp.

As shortages of men grew as the war progressed,in 1917 Captain Digby Cardale went to Egypt, and again as the requirement for mounted troops fell he was appointed as Town Major of Suez.

Unfortunately, he became very sick and was repatriated shortly before the war. He was discharged from the Army in 1919 but never really recovered and died in 1933.

In October 1907 The New Zealand Free Lance described Digby Cardale as "The Beau idea of a Peoples Soldier", A "large dashing looking Squadron Sergeant-Major" who can hold his own with anything in a saddle.

He is leaving the Army but is about to annex the NZ Golf championship and is also a noted footballer and athlete.

Permalink

What do you know?

Can you tell us more about the information on this page? Perhaps you have a related experience you would like to share?

Your name

Email The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Comments will be reviewed prior to posting. Not all comments posted. Tell me more...

digby edward cardale

Service records online

What do you know?

Comment HTML

Culture & Society

Politics & Government

War & Society

Te Akomanga

Hands On History

Media Library

General