✨ Military Dispatch Conclusion
(4)
of H. M. S. Castor, commanding the small-
armed seamen. To Lieutenant Falcon, of
H. M. S. Castor; Lieutenant Bland, and Mr.
Nopps, Master, of H. M. S. Racehorse; and
Lieutenant Leeds, H. E. I. C. S. Elphinstone,
who all directed the fire of the guns with such
precision and excellence; and to Lieutenant
Egerton, of H. M. S. North Star, who directed
the rockets, much of our success is to be attri-
buted. To Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, com-
manding the 58th Regt., I feel the greatest
obligation. His advice was of most use
to me on many occasions, and his personal ex-
ertions, whenever an opportunity offered, as well
as his gallantry during the assault, were most
conspicuous. To Captain Reid, commanding
the flank companies 99th Regt., and Captain
Langford, Royal Marines, (attached), much
praise is due. To Captain Marlow, Royal En-
gineers, for his exertions in constructing the
batteries; Captain Matsom, 58th Regt., who
acted as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster Ge-
neral; and Lieutenant Wilmot, Royal Artillery,
who directed the mortar battery, great praise is
also due. I have also derived great assistance
from the services of Lieutenant O'Connell, 51st
Regt., A. D. c. to Lieut.-General Sir Maurice
O'Connell, and acting Major of Brigade to this
Force. And I must not omit to notice in very
strong terms the indefatigable exertions of Capt.
Atkins and his small corps of Volunteer Pioneers,
whose conduct and services during the whole
operations have been of the greatest advantage.
Every kindness has been shewn to the
wounded men by Doctors Kidd and Pine, the
Senior Medical Officers, and all the Medical
Officers, both Naval and Military; and I have
reason to be satisfied with the exertions of the
Commissariat Department, under Dep. Ass. Com-
missary General Turner. The wounded men are
generally doing well, and the only officer
amongst them, a young midshipman of H.M.S.
North Star, Mr. Murray, whose ardour carried
him too far when the enemy were driven from
the woods.
I have now only to express the peculiar sa-
tisfaction I feel, that Your Excellency has had
an opportunity of personally witnessing the toils
and difficulties that were encountered, and the
cheerfulness with which every part of the Force
exerted itself to overcome them, and I beg to
express my own sincere thanks for the advice
and observations that you have occasionally
been kind enough to favor me with during that
period.
I should also wish to draw Your Excellency's
notice to Mr. Edward Shortland, who was pre-
vailed upon to act as my Interpreter, and who
has rendered me many important services while
acting in that capacity.
I have the honor to be.
(Signed)
Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
H. DESPARD,
Acting Colonel on the Staff,
Commanding the Troops.
His Excellency
Governor GREY,
&c., &c., &c.
CHRISTOPHER FULTON, Government Printer, Auckland.
NZ Gazette 1846, No 1
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🛡️
Dispatch detailing the successful assault on Kawiti's Pah, 11th January 1846
(continued from previous page)
🛡️ Defence & Military12 January 1846
Officer commendations, Military personnel, Rocket battery, Mortar battery, Medical officers, Pioneers, Interpreter
18 names identified
- Lieutenant Falcon, Directed fire of the guns
- Lieutenant Bland, Directed fire of the guns
- Mr. Nopps (Master), Directed fire of the guns
- Lieutenant Leeds, Directed the rockets
- Lieutenant Egerton, Directed the rockets
- Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, Commanding the 58th Regiment
- Captain Reid, Commanding the flank companies
- Captain Langford, Attached Royal Marines praise
- Captain Marlow, Exertions in constructing batteries
- Captain Matsom, Acted as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General
- Lieutenant Wilmot, Directed the mortar battery
- Lieutenant O'Connell, Acting Major of Brigade services
- Capt. Atkins, Indefatigable exertions as Volunteer Pioneer
- Doctors Kidd, Senior Medical Officer services
- Doctors Pine, Senior Medical Officer services
- Dep. Ass. Commissary General Turner, Commissariat Department performance
- Mr. Murray, Wounded midshipman of North Star
- Mr. Edward Shortland, Acted as Interpreter services
- H. Despard, Acting Colonel on the Staff, Commanding the Troops
- Governor Grey