Trench mortars are small artillery pieces used to shell targets in a nearby enemy trench. They were basically short tubes which fired shells at steep angles.
Trench mortar units were added to the New Zealand Division around April 1916 and reorganised in September. Each infantry brigade acquired a ‘light’ trench mortar battery, while the artillery acquired several ‘medium’ and ‘heavy’ batteries.
Cloth patches, badges, shoulder titles and puggarees
Cloth patches worn by the (l to r) 1st, 2nd, 3rd light trench mortar batteries. Cloth patches showing a blue grenade on khaki were sewn on the backs of uniform jackets from October 1916 to identify which unit – or part of a unit – an individual belonged to.
Cap badge: the light trench mortar batteries wore the insignia of their infantry unit, while the heavy and medium batteries’ cap badge featured a gun surmounted by ‘NZ’ in a scroll, and a crown. Below, a scroll reading Quo fas et gloria ducunt (Where right and glory lead). Collar badges: a seven-flame grenade.
Shoulder title worn by the New Zealand trench mortar batteries.
The scarlet-on-dark blue puggaree (hatband) worn by all New Zealand Field Artillery units.
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