THE ROYAL NAVY IN NEW ZEALAND HMS Harrier 1860 – 1865 GERALD J. ELLOTT MNZM RDP FRPSL FRPSNZ NOVEMBER 2017 HMS HARRIER HMS Harrier Dates from 1804 Class of six wooden screw sloops; Alert, Cruiser, Falcon, Hornet, Fawn. Screw Sloop, 747 T, 100 HP, 17 guns, Built at Pembroke Dockyard, South Wales, launched 1854, BU 1866 Complement - Commissioned August 1854 . Commissioned at Portsmouth for the Australian Station 30 October 1860 Left Portsmouth 17 December 1860. Captain; Commander Sir Malcolm MacGregor Bart. (29 October 1860). Captain; Commander Francis William Sullivan, (9 November 1863) Succeeded later by Commander Edward Hay. Lieutenants; John T. Swann & Robert S. Hunt Master Henry C. Sedmond Surgeon William G. J. Ayre Paymaster Silas W. Parker Mate John S. Eaton Assist. Surgeon William A. Turner 1 New Zealand Bound HMS Harrier left Portsmouth on 17 December 1860, stopped at Tristan de Cunha 14 February 1861, left on 3 March 1861 for Cape of Good Hope, arriving at Simon’s Bay 15 March 1861. Arrived at Port Jackson via Cape Horn, 22 May 1861. Left Sydney for New Zealand on 28 May 1861, arrived Manukau 4 June 1861, as a replacement for HMS Fawn on the Manukau Station. 21 June 1861, discharged Royal Marines to HMS Fawn. 7 August 1861, embarked 4 officers and 108 Rank & File, 57th Regiment for Taranaki. On 8 August 1861, there was a heavy sea on the Manukau Harbour Bar, so was not able to cross the Bar until 11 August 1862, discharging the troops at New Plymouth 12 August 1861, returning next day to Manukau. Cruise Fiji Islands 19 September 1861, left New Zealand for Fiji, leaving 22 October 1861 for Norfolk Island, arrived back at Auckland 8 November 1861. 22 January 1862, left Auckland for Sydney, arrived at Farm Cove Sydney 1 February 1862. At Cockatoo Island 6 March 1862, having the ship’s bottom cleaned. Left to return to Auckland on 13 March 1862, arrived 25 March 1862. At the end of fighting in Taranaki (April 1862) when HMS Miranda and HMS Iris returned to Sydney, HMS Harrier and HMS Fawn were the only two Royal Navy ships left in New Zealand. 3 April 1862, Private Michael Machan Royal Marine received 48 lashes for drunkenness, in May 1863 he was reported as a deserter. During May 1862 to October 1862, HMS Harrier was mainly at Auckland with visits to Kawau Island, Bay of Islands, Waiheke Island, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Wellington. 16 October 1862, At Auckland, Commander Sullivan joined the ship, Commander Sir Malcolm MacGregor was discharged for return to England. 2 5 November 1862, left for Lyttleton, returning with the Avon in tow, through the Cook Strait (24 November 1862), stopped off at Taranaki 25 November 1862, arriving at Manukau 26 November 1862. 9 December 1862, left Manukau for Wellington and Taranaki, arrived Manukau 25 December 1862 Loss of HMS Orpheus HMS Harrier was anchored at Onehunga, at 10.30 pm 7 February 1863, the Paymaster of HMS Orpheus, came on board in the Pilot Boat and reported the total loss of that ship on the Manukau Bar. HMS Harrier went to assist HMS Orpheus, but got grounded and had to be re-floated. Arranged for the Avon to render assistance, and survivors where picked up next morning. On the 9 February 1863, 25 Petty officers and men survivors of the wreck were received on board. During March 1863 and early April 1863, HMS Harrier was mainly engaged on carrying troops and military supplies to Taranaki, and back to Manukau. Australia Left New Zealand for Sydney 11 April 1863, arrived 24 April 1863, leaving 30 May 1863, arriving back at the Manukau Station on 13 June 1863. Whilst at Sydney, Seaman Henry Clark, HMS Harrier, posted a letter home to his mother. Countersigned by Lieutenant John T. Swann, to qualify for the 1d for the ½ oz. - Soldier’s and Seamen’s concession letter rate. 3 Lieutenant John Thomlinson Swann who countersigned the cover was promoted to Commander (14 July 1864) in recognition of gallantry displayed by Officers of the Navy in New Zealand, especially in the action at Gate Pa. Henry Clark was killed after he received a gunshot wound in the throat at the Battle of Gate Pah on 29 April 1864. Sydney New South Wales 22 May 1863, Portsmouth 21 July 1863 In this case it does not appear to have been placed in the Navy bag, but posted in the New South Wales Postal System, and back stamped with the large unframed circular datestamp 22 May 1863 at the Sydney Post Office. It was carried on the P&O Madras, which left the same day to Galle, where the P&O Candia picked it up on 18 June, to Suez, at Alexandria on the P&O Euxine, at which stage the mail was sorted and the 1d GB Adhesive was cancelled with the Mailboat obliterator “B57”. At Malta, it was transferred to the P&O Poonah which proceeded to Southampton, arriving on 21 July 1863. 13 June 1863, back at Manukau, discharged stores to HMS Eclipse. 24 June 1863, lent Officers and men to the Colonial Steamer Sandfly. 28 June 1863, carried supplies to New Plymouth, heavy swell, delayed landing supplies till 30 June 1863, returned Manukau 2 July 1863, HMS Eclipse still in port. 9 July 1863, sent the ship’s cutter to Drury with the Captain and 25 men to take charge of the gun boats on the Waikato River. 4 Copy of the map drawn by Midshipman Cecil Foljambe HMS Curacoa 5 13 July 1863, purchased 6 Rowboats and 23 sets of oars for work on the Waikato River. The Captain having returned from Drury took the boats plus stores, 200 blankets and 290 pairs of socks for the Naval Brigade, back to Drury. The Armstrong Gun was also sent, to be used for service by the Avon, on the river. Naval Brigade 17 July 1863, the ship’s Pinnace and the Orpheus Pinnace proceeded to Drury with 8 Officers and 66 men for service in the Naval Brigade. A Naval Force of 200 men, led by Commander Francis William Sullivan, of HMS Harrier was encamped at Drury, to protect the overland supply convoys. Royal Navy Camp near Mangatawhiri Creek The squadron which consisted of the Curacoa, Eclipse, Esk, Harrier and Miranda provided men for servicing the “Waikato Flotilla” consisting of the Avon, Pioneer, Ant, Chub, Flirt and Midge. Commander Francis William Sullivan, of HMS Harrier was in command of the Avon, whilst on a reconnaissance up the Waikato river near Mere mere, in August 1863, when she was fired on by the Maoris for the first time. During the rest of July and early August 1863, the ship’s cutter was regularly carrying supplies to Drury, on 9 August Commander Francis William Sullivan, returned from the Front. 6 In early September 1863, men of HMS Harrier conveyed troops to Cameron Town, where about 100 Maoris had attacked the British Field Headquarters (7 September 1863) On 12 October 1863, embarking guns for the Gun boat Waikato On 18 October 1863, HMS Eclipse left Onehunga with the Gun boat Pioneer. Men from HMS Harrier were part of the 250 Naval Brigade which took part in the battle of Mere Mere on 31 October 1863. 7 November 1863, loading two cutters with coats for the Front, also coal. Rangiriri At the battle of Rangiriri on 20 November 1863, when General Cameron called for an assault party of seamen armed with cutlasses and revolvers to try and storm the fortress, 90 men from the Curacoa, Eclipse, Harrier and Miranda, answered the call, commanded by Commander Mayne HMS Eclipse. HMS Harrier losses at Rangiriri (20 November 1863) included: - David Downer Private RMI, Frederick R. Osborne 2nd Captain Foretop. Also wounded and since died was Able Seaman Charles Stevenson. On the 19 January 1864, Benjamin Bailey Ordinary Seaman 2nd class received 48 lashes for smuggling spirits on to the ship. Pinnace (ex Orpheus) and cutter embarked Marines on board steamer Alexandra for service at the front. Next day boats embarking Marines from HMS Curacoa, for service at the front. Commander Edward Hay, appointed vice Commander Francis William Sullivan promoted. Ship’s Carpenters engaged on repairing the Whaleboat of HMS Eclipse, 24 to 26 February 1864. Lieutenant Frederick Esther from HMS Harrier commanded the Avon when she carried stores up the River, when General Cameron’s Headquarters was at Te Rore in March 1864. HMS Eclipse arrived on 14 April 1864 with the Commodore and party of seamen and Marines from the Front. 7 On the 18 April 1864, all the Marines from HMS Harrier were discharged to HMS Curacoa received 22 men from HMS Eclipse. HMS Harrier, left Onehunga on 19 April 1864 for Auckland, arriving on 24 April 1864. Lieutenant Hunt, Mr. Allan, Engineer plus 32 men from HMS Curacoa. Part of the Naval Brigade landed for service at the Front (Tauranga) 24 April 1864, HMS Falcon left Auckland for Tauranga. HMS Harrier left Auckland for Tauranga, arrived 26 April 1864, where HMS Esk, Miranda and Falcon had also arrived. Disembarked troops to the Sandfly. 27 April 1864, Disembarked stores and baggage. Captain and two Lieutenants, Gunner, plus 51 men landed for service with the Naval Brigade. 28/29 April 1864, Heavy firing heard from the direction of the Camp (Te Papa), all available men landed at 6.30 p.m. on 29 April 1864. Gate Pah Commander Edward Hay, HMS Harrier, was in command of the Naval Brigade of 80 seamen and 70 Marines which took part in the storming of the Maori fortifications at Gate Pah, Tauranga on 29 April 1864.