β¨ Military Action Report
(104)
the sick report, from a severe sprain of the
ancle, then volunteered to take command of the
stockade, having Lieutenant Trafford, 65th Regi-
ment, to assist him; the party under Lieutenant
Hay, joined Captain Hardy without loss, and
took up a commanding position, under cover,
and prevented the enemy from shewing them-
selves on our left flank.
At the commencement, unseen by the enemy,
I had thrown Lieutenant Pedder, with 20 men,
into a breastwork on the right, and drew the
upper stockade, and Lieutenant Holmes, R. N.,
of H. M. S. "Calliope," had, with the same
alacrity which he has so often evinced, detached
some men to assist in dragging the guns, and
with the remainder, and Mr. Carnegie, Midship-
man, of H. M. S. "Calliope," he manned his
gun-boat, and pushed others forward to the first
creek, 150 yards from the lower stockade, and
opened a fire of musketry, and from the 12
pound carronade, which checked a party, who,
under Mamake, were advancing by the bank of
the river, this completed the chain of posts that
protected our right flank, and they suffered no
loss.
The fighting continued with the main body,
and I determined, if possible, to draw the enemy
down, and with this view, took up a new posi-
tion with the guns; the enemy, with great
intrepidity came down to within 15 yards of the
advance, when the charge alluded to, took place;
at this time our principal loss occurred, one man
of the 58th Regiment (Weller), and another of
the 65th Regiment (Spratt), were shot dead in
the high fern, the body of the former was not
recovered. The artillery here suffered the loss
of the services of two of their men, one mortally,
(Connolly), and the other slightly wounded, and
other gallant men were here wounded of the
58th and 65th Regiments. With this advance,
Lieutenant Servantes, 6th foot, interpreter to
the forces, was present with our 3 Ngatitoa al-
lies, one of whom was wounded in the leg while
gallantly fighting.
The enemy now seemed disinclined to ad-
vance beyond the point where they were
charged, the fire in their front was heavy from
the artillery and musketry, and also on their
right, from the musketry of Captain Hardy's
party, and as evening was coming on, I returned
to camp.
Though I have to deplore the loss of 3 gallant
soldiers, and the temporary deprivation of the
services of 8 others, the enemy have suffered
more severely; we know of 3 killed, and 10
wounded by their own admission, the former
are Te Kapua, Paora te Hotite, and Te Tere
Tere, the two first chiefs; amongst the wounded,
are Jaime, the native teacher, who pursued Mr.
Macgregor on the 1st of July, down from
Shakespeare's Cliff, Wiremu Wanganui, Wi-
remu te Waruite, and a Ngatimaniapoto, who
was wounded in front of Lieutenant Holmes's,
and Lieutenant Pedder's parties. I have no
doubt that their loss far exceeds that of our pre-
sent information, which is limited to accidental
knowledge, but more than three were killed in
the charge alone, shot or bayonetted-the na-
tives having an anxiety to conceal their loss; their
women were heard last night lamenting their
loss at Mr. Harrison's, Paora te Hotite was
bayoneted by a soldier of the 58th Regiment,
named Lowry, who carried off his musket. The
body of private Weller, of the 58th Regiment,
was found and carried away by the enemy, who
read prayers over and buried him at Aramoho,
without degrading mutilation.
The Police under Mr. Chetham Strode, were
with the advance, vying with H. M. Troops.
I cannot conclude this despatch, without the
expression of admiration of the gallantry of the
officers and men engaged; the daring of the
enemy in advancing to within 15 yards of the
troops, bears me out in this, and I must beg in
addition to the enumeration of the services al-
ready detailed, to bring to your Excellency's
notice, the conduct of my Acting Brigade
Major Master, Ensign 58th Regiment, and of
Lieutenant Collinson, Royal Engineers for the
services they rendered me under fire, in con-
veying orders. The duties of the latter offi-
cer, since the formation of this post, have been
most arduous, in which he has had the valuable
assistance of Lieutenant Balneavis, 58th Regi-
ment, from the commencement, and from these
two officers, great benefit has been obtained to
many branches of the service. both in fortifying
this position (one of great difficulty), and in
every part of the Engineers department.
To Captain Henderson, commanding the Royal Ar-
tillery, and my second in command in the advance,
yesterday, I beg to offer my thanks for his assistance
and advice to Captain Hardy, commanding detach-
ment 58th Regiment, I am equally indebted, as my
second in command of the force, also to Captain
Wolf, commanding 65th detachment, in the absence
of Captain O'Connell (who prevented by an accident
from partaking in active operations, took command of
the posts, and rendered the best assistance) to Lieute-
nant Holmes, R. N., of H. M. S. "Calliope," alluded
to more than once, by Captain Laye, I am under
obligation for his unceasing exertions. I can only
refer to my preceding details, and your Excellency's
knowledge of the ground, as to the support
I received from both Officers and Men of
Her Majesty's service, and the Armed Police
under Deputy Inspector Strode, opposed to the
enemy unmasked as skirmishers. Lieut. Bar-
nard 65th regt., though wounded in the head, the ball
having remained in his cap, continued with the advance.
To Staff Surgeon Courtenay, and Assistant Sur-
geon Philson, 58th regt., both of whom were present in
the field, I have to express my thanks for their assidui-
ty and attention to the wounded.
Respecting our native allies of the Ngatitoa tribe,
though but 3 in number under Lieut. Servantes, one of
whom was wounded, I would call your Excellency's at-
tention to their gallant conduct; nor can I omit to
bring to your notice the devotion to our cause shewn by
the Putiki natives who proved their attachment to the
British Government on this occasion.
List of Killed and Wounded in action on the 19th
July, 1847.
KILLED.
Private William Weller, No. 5 Company, 58th Regt.
" Joseph Spratt, Grenadiers 65th do
WOUNDED.
Lieut. Barnard, Grenadiers, 65th regt., slightly in the
head.
Gunner William Connolly, R. A., since dead.
" Matthew Broadhurst, do slightly
Sergeant William Gibson, 58th regt., do
Corporal Francis Reilley do do
Private Henry Storey do do severely if not
dangerously, wound of shoulder joint.
Private William Dunn, 58th regt., severely, injury of
the fore arm.
Private Martin Rogers, 58th regt., slightly.
Sergeant Thomas Kells, 65th regt., do
Corporal William Allsop do severely, wound of the
thigh.
Private James Fegan do slightly
Herekiwa Ruawiwi, a Ngatitoa ally, slightly.
RECAPITULATION.
One Officer wounded, 2 men killed, and 11 wounded,
one (Royal Artillery) mortally, since dead.
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β¨ LLM interpretation of page content
π‘οΈ
Detailed account of Wanganui engagement actions and resulting casualties
(continued from previous page)
π‘οΈ Defence & Military20 July 1847
Wanganui engagement, Military action, Casualties, Commendations, 58th Regiment, 65th Regiment, Royal Artillery, Police
21 names identified
- William Weller (Private), Shot dead in action
- Joseph Spratt (Private), Shot dead in action
- William Connolly (Gunner), Mortally wounded in action
- Te Kapua, Known native chief killed
- Paora te Hotite, Known native chief killed
- Te Tere Tere, Known native killed
- Jaime, Native teacher wounded
- Wiremu Wanganui, Native wounded in action
- Wiremute te Waruite, Native wounded in action
- Ngatimaniapoto, Native wounded in action
- Lieut. Barnard (Lieutenant), Wounded slightly in the head
- Matthew Broadhurst (Gunner), Wounded slightly
- William Gibson (Sergeant), Wounded slightly
- Francis Reilley (Corporal), Wounded slightly
- Henry Storey (Private), Wounded severely
- William Dunn (Private), Wounded severely
- Martin Rogers (Private), Wounded slightly
- Thomas Kells (Sergeant), Wounded slightly
- William Allsop (Corporal), Wounded severely
- James Fegan (Private), Wounded slightly
- Herekiwa Ruawiwi, Ngatitoa ally wounded slightly
- Lieutenant Trafford, 65th Regiment
- Lieutenant Hay
- Captain Hardy
- Lieutenant Pedder
- Lieutenant Holmes, R. N., of H. M. S. "Calliope"
- Mr. Carnegie, Midshipman, of H. M. S. "Calliope"
- Lieutenant Servantes, 6th foot, interpreter to the forces
- Mr. Chetham Strode
- Master, Ensign 58th Regiment (Acting Brigade Major)
- Lieutenant Collinson, Royal Engineers
- Lieutenant Balneavis, 58th Regiment
- Captain Henderson
- Captain O'Connell
- Captain Wolf
- Deputy Inspector Strode
- Staff Surgeon Courtenay
- Assistant Surgeon Philson, 58th regiment
NZ Gazette 1847, No 19