MEMOIR OF VON TEMPSKY.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 137, 26 September 1868, Page 6

MEMOIR OF VON TEMPSKY.

A “ FRIEKD AND COMRADE ” of the late Major Von Tempsky has furnished the Grey hirer A rgus with the following brief memoir of that gallant officer : “ The late officer was by birth a Prussian, and descended from a noble family. His brother is a Colonel in the Prussian army, and was wounded in the late campaign between Prussia and Denmark. Major Von Tempsky was a soldier born, and from his earliest youth was a wanderer over all nations.. He was also a man of great literary attainments, and an expert linquist. His book of travels in South America is still read by the literati with intense interest. His youth, after service as an officer of the Prussian Hussars, was spent chiefly in South America, and afterwards on the Californian and Melbourne goldfields, and his adventures in these places, as told by himself, have beguiled many a weary hour with his comrades over the picquet fires during the late campaign in the North Island. “•After the first advance of H.M. troops beyond Drury, in 1863, the want of a body of bush-scourers was sadly felt, and Major Von Tempsky offered his services to raise a body of men, similar in equipment and tactics to those used by the South American Government against the Indians. His offer was accepted, and a reference to the files of the Auckland papers will show the immense service this corps under bis command was to the Government. At Orakau, he was on the storming party, and the ready manner in which he brought his men into action to

intercept the escape of the natives will never be forgotten by those engaged. After the suspension of hostilities in the Waikato district, Major Yon Tempsky’s services were again in requisition to accompany MajorGeneral Chute in his overland campaign to Taranaki. In this he was under fire two or three times. When Colonel Hassell fell, Von Tempsky was there, and our beloved and respected General’s order, “57th, advance ! Forest Hangers, clear the bush !” will never be forgotten. His health was much impaired by the exposure consequent on this campaign; and, to his honor may it be said, his sickness —acute rheumatism—was brought on by lying out at night in the wet and cold, when he had a comfortable warm tent to go to; but lie elected to share the same hardships as his men, declining a tent whore they had none. He, after the campaign was over, returned to Auckland to recruit, and passed a short time with his family; but as soon as he was well, his restless spirit and love of adventure took him to the Am kland goldfields, where he had been some years before, and which he always predicted would sooner or later turn up trumps. How his prophecy has been fulfilled, the present events in Auckland show. Having resided some little time in Coromandel, he returned to Auckland, and devoted his time to literature and painting. His pictures of some of the most exciting scenes in the Maori war have elicited the highest commendation. When the Armed Constabulary was formed he accepted an Inspectorship : how well he performed his duty has been lately before us, and so fresh in our memory that it is needless for me to comment on it. He is now gone, and I will say no more. I see that the account of his death says, “Von Tempsky is dead, but he nobly fell in battle.” I know all his old comrades will feel certain of this. His death is a national loss; although an alien, he zealously fought for the British flag, and, whether as a soldier or citizen, was universally beloved and respected. He has left a widow and three children as a legacy to his adopted country. As a husband and father, no man could have been more anxious for the welfare of his wife and children, or more domestic in his habits; and to have seen him playing with his little ones at home, or attending to his flowergarden, or painting, no one would have guessed him to be the terrible Von Tempsky, the terror of the Maori warriors of the Waikato, East Coast, and Taranaki.”