" ROWLEY" HILL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 41, 18 February 1930, Page 13

" ROWLEY" HILL

OLDEST VETERAN PASSES

CRIMEA 'AND MUTINY

A link with the days of Garibaldi, the Indian Mutiny, the Crimean War, and the war with the Maoris was broken by the death, at Takapuna on Saturday of Mr. George Hill, known to his friends as "Eowlcy" Hill, says the "Auckland Star." Few men attain the age of 93 years who have run such risks of being killed. Mr. Hill had so many medals that it took both sides of his tunic to display them when he attended the dinners of tho Royal Naval Veterans. It was not only for war services that he had been decoratedj ho also had two medals for lifesaving. His career was a most chequered one. Mr. Hill was born at Dawlish, Devonshire, England, the county which produced so many of England's naval heroes. He joined the Royal Navy in 1851, and saw ten years' service as a bluejacket He was one of the crew of H.M.S. Leopard at the bombardment of Sebastopol during the war in the Crimea. He returned to England in 1856, and joined H.M.S. Shannon, and went on the Chin* station. When the Indian Mutiny broke out in 1857, the Shannon was ordered to Calcutta, and Hill was one of Captain Peel's famous Naval Brigade, which took a battery of 32-pounders into the heart of India, Hill fought with the Naval Brigade at *ho taking of Lucknow, being slightly rounded on that occasion. He was flear Captain Peel when that officer was killed, and was in possession of an engraving presented to him by the wife of his former commander, representing the scene of his death. WITH SIR COLIN CAMPBELL. Mr. Hill also took part in the desperate flghta at Delhi and Cawnpore, under General Sir Colin Campbell, In 1860, Mr. Hill was in the Mediterranean as on© of tho crew of H.M.S. Hannibal. At Palermo he deserted, with three shipmates, in order to join Garibaldi's Army of Liberation. He was wounded dixriog the fighting in Italy, and decided to rejoin his ship. His desertion was overlooked, as the sympathy of the English with Garibaldi was very strong. Mr. Hill next served on the Euryalua. Coming to New Zealand, Hill joined Major Yon Tempsky's Forest Bangers, and fought In many affairs at Taranaki and during the Hauhau rising on the East Coast. Later, HilJ was an Major Fraser's company of military settlers in Hawkes Bay, and then for several years was a member of the Armed Constabulary, and finally was in the submarine section of the N.Z. Permanent Foree at Auckland. In the war against Te Kooti, on the Cast Coast, Hill so distinguished himself that he was recommended by Colonel Whitmore for the New Zealand Cross, which was in due course awarded. At Hiuharama Pa, which had been aurrounded by Te Kooti'a forces, Trooper Hill, with others, managed to get in to encourage the defenders. Trooper Hill strengthened the walls of the pa with bullock chains, so that they could not be pulled over by means of tho cross-bar and rope. There were only 40 men in the pa, but they managed to hold out, and the Hauhaus were compolled to retire baffled. FINB (HUD VETEBAN. Mr. HOI was a wonderfully $rell preserved man when over 90 years of age, as his intellect seemed as sharp as ever, and his hearing was good. He had an excellent memory for affairs that occurred over 70 years ago, and his tales of the Relief of Lneknow when he was one of Captain Peel's Naval Brigade were most interesting. He waa a thorough old sailor, and right up to nearly the end insisted on doing Ms own washing. Practically the last public appearance of the veteran of co many wars was when he was presented to the late Gov-ernor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, on his last birthday. Mr. Hill Is survived by his widow and and one daughter, the latter being Mis. Valentine, of Cameron street, Takapuna,