Medical Units

Page 5 – Veterinary Corps

NZVC soldiers bandage a horse's eye
NZVC soldiers bandage a horse's eye

The New Zealand Veterinary Corps sent three veterinarians to Egypt with the Main Body in October 1914. They were not attached to any particular unit. In late 1914 two ‘Veterinary Sections’ were formed. These were 115-man hospital units, one each for the infantry and the mounted rifles. Two 28-man ‘Mobile Veterinary Sections were also formed in New Zealand. These units were sent to Egypt to join the rest of the forces in December, and served as part of the New Zealand forces at Gallipoli.

In January 1916 the two Veterinary Sections (hospital units) were disbanded and absorbed into the two Mobile Veterinary Sections. No. 1 New Zealand Mobile Veterinary Section served with the New Zealand Division on the Western Front, while No. 2 served in Sinai and Palestine with the Mounted Brigade.

NameUnit attached toCampaignsFurther information
1st New Zealand Veterinary SectionNew Zealand Infantry Brigade (Dec 1914 - Jan 1916)Gallipoli, 1915 
2nd New Zealand Veterinary SectionNew Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Dec 1914 - Jan 1916)Gallipoli, 1915 
New Zealand Mobile Veterinary Section No. 1New Zealand Division (Jan 1916 - Feb 1919)Western Front:
Somme 1916 
Messines 1917;
Passchendaele 1917;  
Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory 1918.
Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand
New Zealand Mobile Veterinary Section No. 2New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Jan 1916 - Jun 1919)Sinai, 1916
Palestine, 1917–18
Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand;
Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand

Badge and shoulder title

NZVC badge

Cap and collar badges: The monogram ‘NZVC’ enclosed within an oak leaf wreath, surmounted by a crown. 

Veterinary Corps shoulder title

New Zealand Veterinary Corps shoulder title. 

Further reading

Reakes, C.J., ‘New Zealand Veterinary Corps’, in H.T.B. Drew (ed.), The war effort of New Zealand, pp. 149–62 (Auckland: Whitcombe & Tombs, 1923)

How to cite this page

'Veterinary Corps', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/medical-units/veterinary-corps, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 22-Mar-2017

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