12Th Regiment History

12th REGIMENT OF FOOT (EAST SUFFOLK)

1ST BATTALION IN AUSTRALASIA 1854 - 1867

GERALD J. ELLOTT MNZM RDP FRPSL FRPSNZ

August 2017

12 th REGIMENT (EAST SUFFOLK) 1 ST BATTALION

History – 12 th Regiment

The Regiment was first raised on 20 June 1685, as the Duke of Norfolk’s Regiment of Foot, at Norwich, some of the Companies on formation being quartered ay Yarmouth & Lynn.

The Regiment became known as the 12 th Regiment of Foot, in 1751, and a second Battalion was established in 1757. In 1758, the second Battalion was constituted as the 65th Regiment.

A new second Battalion was added to the establishment in 1812, and in 1818 was reduced and incorporated into the 1 st Battalion. In 1856 a second Battalion was established from the reserve Battalion, and returned from Australia back to England in 1858.

AUSTRALASIA

The 12 th Regiment’s involvement in Australasia started in 1854, when one Company sailed from Cork on 20 January 1854, for Van Dieman’s Land (Tasmania). On 1 July 1854, Headquarters and three Companies under the control of Major Kempt embarked on the Camperdown for Australia, arriving at Melbourne on 18 October 1854.

On 28 July 1854, two further Companies under the command of Captain Atkinson, left Cork aboard the Empress Eugene , arriving at Melbourne on 6 November 1854.

AUSTRALIA

With the arrival of Headquarters, at Melbourne, the Company which had arrived at Van Dieman’s Land were stationed at Castlemaine & Sandhurst in Victoria and on 21 October 1854, one Company had proceeded to the Goldfields at Ballarat, with a further Company leaving on the 27 October 1854 at “Full Speed” to reinforce the Detachments of both the 12 th and 40 th Regiments.

Eureka Stockade On 1 December 1854 Headquarters of both the 12 th & 49 th Regiments, proceeded to Ballarat, and on 2 December, two Companies of the 12 th and one Company of the 40 th Regiment, all under the command of Captain Thomas 40 th Regiment, attacked and destroyed the Stockade at Eureka.

Two Companies of the 12 th Regiment and One Company of the 40 th Regiment attacking and destroying the Stockade at Eureka

NEW ZEALAND

In response to a request in 1860 by the Governor of New Zealand Colonel Thomas Gore Browne CB to the Governor of New South Wales, it was decided that two Companies of the 12 th Regiment and a half a Battery of Artillery should go to assist, this being the maximum number of men available in view of the trouble being given by the Gold Diggers.

Under the command of Captain Miller, they embarked on the City of Sydney , left Sydney 10 April 1860, arriving at New Plymouth on 16 April 1860.

Puke-ta-kauere On 27 June 1860, there was very heavy fighting where both the 40 th Regiment and the local Militia suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Maoris, losing 30 killed and 34 wounded, being nearly 20% of the force engaged. It does not appear that the 12 th Regiment were involved in this particular action.

This defeat gave the Maoris more confidence and made it far more dangerous for the inhabitants of New Plymouth to venture outside the Township. Arrangements were therefore mad to evacuate the women and Children from the Town, most of them being evacuated to Nelson.

Further reinforcements being required, another Detachment of the 12 th Regiment, consisting of six Officers, four sergeants, one Drummer, and 100 Rank & File, under the command of Major Hutchins, on 16 July 1860, embarked on HMS Fawn , arriving at New Plymouth on 23 July 1860. The Detachment of the 12 th marched to Waireka to construct a Redoubt, which due to virtually continuous fire from the Maoris, was not completed until 23 August 1860

Huirangi – Mahoetahi The 12 th were part of a composite Force of over 1000 men who were involved during September 1860, in clearing the area south of New Plymouth at Huirangi, and again in October 1860, when a part of the Force of over 1400 men were given the task of removing the Maori Fortifications along the Kaihihi River, fortunately losses were restricted to one killed and one wounded.

On 6 November 1860, a Force of 1500 men composed of the 12 th , 40 th , & 65 th Regiments, engaged the Maoris at Mahoetahi, where casualties again were high on both sides. The Maoris had 50 killed and 60 wounded, with the British losses of four killed and 17 wounded, which included two killed and four wounded from the Rifle Volunteers.

Mata-rikoriko This was the next engagement, when the 12th under the command of Captain Miller, together with the Naval Brigade, and the 40 th & 65 th Regiments, cleared the Maoris from their Pa, so that a Stockade and Redoubt could be constructed as part of a line of redoubts protecting the area. During this operation which lasted from the 28 – 30 December 1860, losses were three killed and 20 wounded.

Additional redoubts were built at Huirangi, and fierce fighting took place at No.3 Redoubt site (Headquarters 40 th Regiment under Colonel Leslie) on 23 January 1861 and at No. 7 Redoubt on 10 February 1861. During these actions, the British losses were (23 January 1861) five killed and 11 wounded, and on (10 February 1861) two killed and 28 wounded.

One Company of the 12 th Regiment and two Companies of the 65 th Regiment who were at the No. 1 Redoubt went to the assistance of the 40 th Regiment. The whole of the Detachment of the 12th under Captain Miller (who was wounded) were involved on 10 February 1861 at the No. 7 Redoubt, together with men from the 14 th , 40 th , 57 th & 65 th Regiments and the Royal Artillery.

Te Arei During the fighting at “Pratts Long Sap” at Te Arei, the 12 th Regiment were involved in the transportation of supplies and baggage, and took no part in the action.

Waitara The fighting at the Waitara ended on the 19 March 1861, and General Cameron had decided that his Headquarters should be in Auckland, the 12 th Regiment was transferred to Auckland, together with the 14 th , 40 th , 65 th , & 70 th Regiments, leaving only the 57 th Regiment at New Plymouth under the command of Colonel Were.

A Detachment under the command of Captain Leeson with two Officers, three Sergeants, one Drummer, & 100 Rank & File, re-joined Headquarters at Sydney in October 1861.

Camp Waitara

This is the only 12 th Regiment 1d. Concession Rate Soldiers Letter, recorded from the First Taranaki War Gerald J. Ellott Collection Te Papa National Museum

9 Auckland - Military Road to Queen’s Redoubt The 12 th Regiment returned to Auckland and together with the 14 th Regiment under Colonel Sir James Alexandra, helped in the construction of the Military Road to the Waikato River at Pokeno. The camp at Otahuhu was to be the home of the 12 th Regiment for the next six months. The work at this stage was mainly felling trees, clearing on both sides of the route of the road and constructing a Stockade at Havelock, known as the “Bluff’ on the Waikato River, as well as providing picquet duty along the road. Colonel Mair, in his Memoirs of New Zealand wrote “We worked backwards towards Auckland”. Both the 12 th & 14 th Regiments worked from Pokeno towards Drury (see also under 40 th Regiment).

Men of the 12 th and 14 th Regiments digging a cutting down Pokeno Hill, on the Military road to the Waikato

Photographed between 1861 and 1864 by William Temple . Inscribed - beneath image: Road to Waikato - Cutting down Pokeno Hill – 12 th & 14 th men at work.

Date: between 1861-1864 By: Temple, William (Lieutenant-Colonel),

Selby's Farm, Pokeno, Waikato, circa 1861, with an Imperial Forces camp. Shows tents of the 2nd Battalion, 14 th & the 1st Battalion 12 th Regiment

Map of the Country between Auckland and the Waikato River The Illustrated London News

THE WAIKATO WAR

Mangatawhiri On the 9 July 1863, Sir George Grey issued an order requiring all natives in the Manukau District and on the frontier north of the Mangatawhiri Stream, to take the oath of allegiance to the Queen. A Detachment of the 12 th Regiment joined General Cameron’s forces at Drury on the 9 July 1863, and marched to the Queen’s Redoubt. General Cameron with the Headquarters of the 14 th Regiment and Detachments of the 12 th & 70 th Regiments, about 80 men left the Queen’s Redoubt at daybreak on the 12 July 1863, crossing the Mangatawhiri (The stated boundary line) and advanced into the Waikato.

Mangatawhiri Creek (Stream) – Looking south towards the Maori Rifle Pits at Kaheroa Royal Navy - Naval Brigade Camp Koheroa Three redoubts were constructed in the Koheroa Range, to protect the lines of communication back to the Queen’s Redoubt.

The first engagement with the Maoris on the Koheroa, took place on the 17 July 1863, when Lieutenant Austin and 11 privates of the 14 th Regiment were wounded and William Smith of the 14 th Regiment was killed.

12 th REGIMENT HEADQUARTERS

Headquarters of the 12 th Regiment consisted of 14 Officers, 20 Sergeants, nine Drummers, & 22 Rank & File, under the command of Colonel Hamilton, embarked at Sydney aboard HMS Curacoa , arriving at Auckland on 2nd October 1863, dis-embarking on the 3rd October 1863 , to join the rest of the Regiment.

HMS Curacoa Built at Pembroke Dockyard, South Wales, launched 13 April 1854, BU 1869

On the 9 October 1863, the Headquarters staff under Lieutenants Crawhall, Lacy & Morris, Surgeon Bartley and Quarter Master Robert Laver , marched from Auckland to the advanced post at Koheroa where the Detachment of the 12 th under Major Miller were stationed, arriving there on 12 October 1863.

The remainder of the Battalion under Captain Downing marched from Auckland to Otahuhu, where they stayed in camp until 19 November 1863.

On 19 October 1863 a party under the command of Lieutenant Mair, consisting of one Sergeant, one Drummer, and 50 Rank & File, returned from Koheroa back to Queen’s Redoubt, en-route to Wairoa.

13 Otahuhu

Otahuhu Date Stamp

6d Chalon Adhesive Stamp, cancelled with the 5 over OTAHUHU A Obliterator

Mess Tents 12 th & 14 th Regiments Otahuhu c 1860s Mess tents at a camp for Imperial forces, at Otahuhu, Auckland.

Camp of Imperial Forces, at Otahuhu, showing the tents of the 70th, 14th, 40th and 12th Regiments. Photographed between 1860-1865. Inscriptions: Inscribed - Recto - bottom left: Military camp, Otahuhu Album page – beneath image: Camp at Otahuhu. N.Z .[From left to right across bottom of image]

70th Regt., 14th Regt., 40th Regt., 12th Regt .

QUEEN’S REDOUBT Officers of the 12 th Regiment Outside the mess (whare ) at the 12th Regiment camp, Pokeno. From left to right: Lieutenant Murphy, Lieutenant Lowry, Captain Miller, Major Hutchings, Urquhart (65th), Lieutenant Mair, and Captain Williams

Photograph taken circa 1861 by William Temple

Mere Mere On the 1 November 1863, nine Officers and 166 other ranks of the 12 th Regiment joined a mixed Force from six Regiments, were conveyed from Koheroa up the Waikato River to Mere Mere, there were no signs of the Maoris and a Redoubt for 200 men was constructed on the Flag Staff Hill, this was completed by 11 November 1863.

The Bluff Stockade, on the Waikato River. The Illustrated London News

The Pioneer anchored off Mere Mere The Illustrated London News

The Thames Expedition Captain Downing, with seven Officers & 179 men of the 12 th Regiment, joined the Thames Expedition Force under the command of Colonel Carey, leaving Otahuhu Camp on 16 November 1863.

Mere Mere By 19 November 1863 the Force at Mere Mere Redoubt was reinforced by 200 men of the 40 th & 65 th Regiments and baggage for 1200 men, conveyed there by steamers during the day.

On 20 November 1863 a mixed Force under the command of General Cameron, left Mere Mere for Rangiriri.

Rangiriri. The 12 th Regiment in the engagement suffered more than any other Regiment in proportion to its numbers. Lieutenant W. L. Murphey was killed together with five men killed and 15 wounded, out of four Officers and 107 men of the 12 th Regiment engaged in the Battle.

The Maori Fortifications - Rangiriri

The 12 th Regiment Force engaged in the Battle consisted of; one Captain, three Subalterns, five Sergeants, two Drummers, and 100 men.

The Battle of Rangiriri 20 November 1863

The following were killed: -

Lieutenant W. L. Murphy, 40 Private Ricard Needham 187 ** Thomas Osborne 425 ** Darby Shea 248 ** George Smith

The following men were wounded: -

No. Rank Name Age Service Condition 3240 Corporal Richard Norgrove 28 10 Severe 3393 Private Hugh McReynolds 29 9 Slight 184 ** Joseph Malloy 23 4 Very severe 260 ** James Yates 22 4 Very severe 3260 ** James McCammon 28 10 Slight 692 ** John Sayers 21 3 Severe 3461 ** William Baxter 26 7 Very severe 3308 ** John Douard 20 10 Severe 22 ** James Granger 24 5 Severe 213 Corporal Henry Savage 31 4:7 Severe 3483 Private Charles Boucher 26 7 Severe 3175 ** James Dornan 29 10 Severe 13 ** Edward Mead 23 6 Slight 606 ** Paul Cain 24 3 Severe 2309 ** John Wood Since Dead 3210 ** John Bozen 29 10 Slight

Ngaruawahia Headquarters of the 12 th Regiment under Colonel Hamilton, joined General Cameron at his advance post at Ngaruawahia, on 26 December 1863.

18 Whata Whata & Tuhikareamea On the 31 December 1863, Headquarters Detachment consisting of four Officers, five Sergeants, & 100 Rank & File, under Colonel Hamilton, marched to Whata Whata, and next day 1 January 1864 marched on to Tuhikareamea, to join General Cameron. On 9 January 1864, the remainder of the 12 th Regiment arrived at Whata Whata, from Sydney.

Whata Whata Cemetery is located on Cemetery Road

Private Joseph Clarkson 1st Battalion, 12th Regiment, died on 25 April 1865. According to the Cemetery records cause of death is currently unknown, however he was severely wounded in the left elbow at the Battle of Orakau, 31 March to 2 April 1864.

Te Rore On 27 January 1864, the Force now numbering nearly 1200 men moved off to Te Rore, where further Redoubts were constructed on both sides of the Waipa River at Ngahinapouri, by a Detachment of the 12 th consisting of four Officers and 136 men, under Captain Vereker.

Headquarters of the 12 th Regiment stayed at Te Rore, garrisoning three Redoubts and a Detachment to Paterangi, after the evacuation.

This is the only 12 th Regiment 1d. Concession Rate Soldiers Letter, recorded from the Waikato War Gerald J. Ellott Collection Te Papa National Museum

20 Te Rore On 23 May 1864, a Detachment of 100 Rank & File under Major Miller, left Headquarters at Te Rore for Ngahinapouri, and at the same time a similar Detachment under Captain Downing marched to Raglan.

On 13 October 1864, the 12 th Regiment under Colonel Hamilton left Te Rore for Ngaruawahia, leaving three Detachments at Stations on the line of communications between Auckland and Headquarters.

This memorial obelisk is located on farmland on Kakaramea Road (State Highway 39), about 6 km north of Pirongia. The memorial marks the graves of three British troops who died in 1864, as well as others whose names are now unknown. John O’Hanlon and John Wilson were privates in the 1st Battalion, 12th Regiment. According to the official casualty lists, Wilson died at Te Rore on 4 July 1864. His background and the circumstances of his death are currently unknown. O’Hanlon was born in Cork; the Irishman worked as a labourer before enlisting in the British Army on 8 June 1852. O’Hanlon died in Te Rore 12 years later, on 18 June 1864. Again, the circumstances of his death are currently unknown.

21 Ngaruawahia

Ngaruawahia The main advanced Camp

On 15 October 1864, Headquarters of the 12 th Regiment were augmented by the return of the Detachment which had been with the Flying Column, and on 27 October 1864 by the return from the detachment at Whata Whata. Next day 28 October 1864 four Officers and 145 other ranks left for the Queen’s Redoubt, leaving the strength of Headquarters to seven Officers and 282 Rank & File.

On 17 November 1864, Captain Vereker’s Detachment re-joined Headquarters at Ngaruawahia.

On 2 January 1865, a Detachment went to Whata Whata, and on 29 April 1865 constructed a Redoubt at Taupiri.

On 21 July 1865, the Detachment at Otahuhu was strengthened by a party of 53 all Ranks from the Queen’s Redoubt.

On 8 November 1865, the Detachment constructing the Redoubt at Taupiri returned to Headquarters.

On 4 December 1865, Headquarters under the command of Colonel Hamilton left Ngaruawahia for Otahuhu, en-route to Napier.

22 The Battle at Orakau 31 March 1864 On 31 March 1864, a Detachment of the 12 th under Captain Vereker, joined General Cameron’s Force at Orakau. (Battle of Orakau)

The Battle of Orakau As depicted in the French “L’ILLUSTRATION, Journal Universal 22 Annee Vol XLIV. No. 1120. 13 Aout 1864

The Force from the 12 th Regiment included; One Captain, one Subaltern, three Sergeants, one Drummer, 92 Rank & File.

Lieutenant Hurst acted as Engineer, and prepared a sketch of the enemy’s work and approaches to it, as well as a rough sketch of the country between this and the enemy’s position, showing the combined movement of the Force on the night of the 30 th ult. Lieutenant Hurst was mentioned in despatches for “favourable notice.”

Private Joseph Clarkson, was wounded severely in the left elbow.

Private James Bevill, was wounded slightly in the right shoulder.

23 The Battle at Gate Pa – 29 April 1864 On the 29 April 1864, a Detachment under Captain O’Shaughnessy, attached to the Flying Column were engaged at Gate Pa (Battle of Gate Pa)

Watercolour by Lieutenant Horatio Robley 65 th Regiment Alexander Turnbull Library Ref. ½-019993 - G

Private William Brissington Regt. No. 3479 was killed; Gunshot wound through the chest. (Died 29 April 1864)

Private Patrick Monaghan Regt. No. 619, age 23 (3 years service) was wounded; Gunshot wound through the right thigh (Severe).

Private Andrew Mitchell Regt. No. 268, age 22 (5 years service) was wounded; Gunshot wound through the right arm (Slight).

Otahuhu On 6 December 1865, the Detachments at Whata Whata, Rangariri, and Queen’s Redoubt, arrived at Otahuhu Camp.

Headquarters marched from Otahuhu to Auckland, arriving on 9 December 1865, embarking on board HMS Esk, arriving at Napier on 11 December 1865, occupying the Barracks there.

On 15 December 1865, the remainder of the Battalion under Brevet- Major Miller embarked on HMS Eclipse , joining Headquarters at Napier on 17 December 1865. A subalterns Detachment was left at Otahuhu.

Wairoa On 31 January 1866, a Detachment went to Wairoa.

Tauranga

Te Papa Main Camp – Tauranga J. Kinder January 1865

Tauranga

On 17 February 1866, a Detachment went to Tauranga, with Headquarters under the command of Colonel Hamilton, arriving on 24 February 1866.

Between 9 March 1866 and 23 May 1866, Officers and men from three Outposts under Ensigns Taylor, Turner & Bolton, and the Detachment under Captain O’Shaughnessy, from Raglan re-joined Headquarters at Tauranga.

Officers Mess Huts - Tauranga http://dingeengoete.blogspot.com/

East Coast On 28 August 1866, a party of Officers from the Detachment in Napier, under Lieutenant Hurst, left for Waipawa.

On 9 November 1866, the 12 th Regiment assisted the Colonial Service, about 15 miles from Turanga in the hill country, and on the 10 November 1866, a similar Detachment of Officers and 200 men marched to the Wairoa River.

Early in 1867, the Regiment gave support to the Colonial Services, Colonel Hamilton with a party of seven Officers & 225 men, assisted the Militia and Awaras in destroying three Maori villages, after which they returned to Tauranga, leaving Captain Sillery with 175 men at the Redoubt on the Wairoa River.

Gore Browne Barracks, Napier D. R. Barnes 14 th Regiment Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery and Museum

Homeward Bound On 13 February 1867, orders were received to embark for England. At short notice, the whole of the Regiment had regrouped at Tauranga by the 9 April 1867.

On 2 May 1867 Five Companies, 11 Officers & 285 other Ranks under Captain Sillery embarked at Auckland on board the Transport ship England.

On 17 May 1867, Headquarters and the remaining five Companies under Colonel Hamilton embarked at Auckland in the Transport ship Mary Shepherd.

SUMMARY 12 TH Regiment Headquarters

Arrived New Zealand 3 October 1863 At Auckland 9 October 1863 en-route Koheroa Camp 12 October 1863 Ngaruawahia 26 December 1863 – 31 December 1863 Whata Whata 1 January 1864 – Tuhikaramea 2 January 1864 Te Rore 27 January 1864 - 13 October 1864 Ngaruawahia 15 October 1864 – 4 December 1865 Otahuhu 6 December 1865 en-route Auckland 9 December 1865 en-route Napier 11 December 1865 – Tauranga 24 February 1866 – 9 April 1867 Auckland en- route Home Left New Zealand 17 May 1867 192 Men were discharged in New Zealand

HAMILTON

Whilst the “History of the 12 th Regiment by Lieut-Colonel E.A.H. Webb, suggests that the Waikato Township of Hamilton was named after Colonel Hamilton 12 th Regiment, it is generally accepted that the Town was named after Captain John Charles Fame Hamilton, Royal Navy, Commander of HMS Esk, who was killed leading the Naval Brigade at the Battle of Gate Pa.