Captain William Scott Canavan, of the Marlborough Mounted Rifles. New Zealand Militia, joined the Nelson City Rifles in the year 1880. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, and resigned from the corps in 1881. Two years later, he joined the Blenheim Rifles. was appointed sergeant, and was transferred to the Marlborough Hussars in 1889. He resigned in the year 1892, and in 1896 joined the Marlborough Mounted Rifles with the rank of lieutenant. Captain Canavan served as lieutenant in the First New Zealand Contingent in the late South African war. and was present at many of the fiercest engagements during the earlier stages of the campaign. He returned to New Zealand in the year 1900, and on Captain Chaytor's promotion to Major, in 1903, was elected Captain of the Marlborough Mounted Rifles.