Home Images and media photos The attack of the Otago Mounted Rifles at Messines, 2010

The attack of the Otago Mounted Rifles at Messines, 2010

<em>The attack of the Otago Mounted Rifles at Messines</em>, 2010

The attack of the Otago Mounted Rifles at Messines, 7 June 1917, painted by Captain Matt Gauldie, official New Zealand Army Artist, in 2010.

Gauldie’s dramatic painting shows a charge by a squadron of the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment during the Battle of Messines in June 1917. These horsemen advanced nearly a kilometre ahead of the infantry on Messines Ridge, capturing several German prisoners and two field guns. Casualties for troopers and horses were similar: seven or eight killed and more than 30 wounded.

This painting is currently on display at the Toitū Otago Settlers Musuem in Dunedin.

This image Appears In 2 Articles:

Keywords

WW1
horses
battle of messines
war art
painting
Credit

This image is copyright and may not be downloaded, copied or reproduced in any form without the written permission in advance of the Estate of Dr Don Mackay.

How to cite this page

'The attack of the Otago Mounted Rifles at Messines, 2010', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/attack-otago-mounted-rifles-messines-2010, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 11-Oct-2021

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2 comments have been posted about The attack of the Otago Mounted Rifles at Messines, 2010

What do you know?

Jeff McNeill

Posted: 29 Aug 2022

Although impressive looking, the afternoon trot took place around 6:30pm. Sunset was not until around 9:30 pm by which time the OMR were at Keepaway Farm, well behind the former front line.

Ian McGibbon

Posted: 09 Jun 2017

Calling it a 'charge' misrepresents what happened. The mounted riflemen went forward to reconnoitre enemy positions in the evening of 7 June. They were forced to dismount after 800 yards. They brought back some useful information for the Australians whose task it was to push the front forward to the Oosttaverne Line.