DEATH OF VETERAN

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4417, 20 February 1930, Page 1

DEATH OF VETERAN

MR. GEORGE “ROWLEY” HILL,

LIFE OE GREAT ADVENTURE,

WAR SERVICE IN MANY LANDS,

Known thoughout tlie Dominion tor his rare record of adventure as the veteran of campaigns in many lands, Mr. George “Rowley” Hill, aged 93, died on Saturday morning at Auckland, after a .brief illness. His was a life redolent of adventure only to have been found in days far removed, and its nature is suggested in the 10 medals and three bars which his exploits earned for him.

Mr. Hill was horn at Dawlish, Devonshire, and entered the Navy as a boy on H.M.S. Britannia in August, 1851. His first action was against the Russians in the Baltic

operations during the Crimean War, when he served under Sir Charles Napier in the paddle-wheel frigate Leopard. He also saw active service on land as a member of a naval detachment which was sent ashore from the frigate after it had taken an Irish regiment to the Peninsula. He emerged from the war with a Baltic medal and a Crimean medal and bar, the latter being gained during the taking of Sebastopol. In 1855 he was awarded the Turkish medal. INDIAN MUTINY SERVICE

At the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny Mr. Hill was serving on HALS. Shannon, which was stationed at Hongkong. The ship was ordered with others to India and a naval detachment was sent ashore. Mr. Hill was attached to the brigade in the relief of the Residency of Lucknow and in the final capture of the city, afid on each occasion he gained a medal and bar. Ilis Indian Mutiny service was under Sir William Peel, and Mr. Hill possessed a portrait of Sir William, a gift from Lady Peel. He knew the late Lord Roberts as a captain in the Mutiny. He was wounded at Lucknow and Cawnpore. While his ship was in Mediterranean waters Mr. Hill deserted' and joined Garibaldi’s army. He saw service at .Palermo, Capua and in the Straits of Messina. He did not serve very long with Garibaldi, as he was caught by a naval picket and was taken back to his ship. The fact that his desertion was overlooked was attributed by Mr. Hill to the sympathy which was felt in England toward Garibaldi’s efforts.

In 1864 Mr. Hill came to New Zealand as a member of the crew of the troopship Empress, which was bringing soldiers to light in the 1 Maori Wars. Wishing to see service himself Mi-. Hill .jumped overhoard after the vessel had anchored in the Waitemata Harbour, and swam ashore. He joined up with the Forest Hangers under Major jvon Tempsky and fought in 15 engagements against the Maoris, several times against the redoubtable Te Kooti. He gained the New Zealand Cross, the Maori War medal and the New Zealand long service and good conduct medal.

FA HELD AGAINST TE KOOTI,

it was when two pas at Mohaka were being attacked by Te Kooti that Mr. Hill gained the New Zealand Cross. One of them was taken and, after destroying almost all who were in it, Te Kooti turned his attention to the other. Twenty Maoris and six white men were left to defend it, but live of them retired, and Mr. Hill was the only white man who remained. They lortilied the pa and succesfully defended it against Te Kooti, who, after a number of fruitless assaults, was forced to retire. Mr. Hill then took the news of Te Kooli's retirement to Major Toogood at YVuikere, as uoue of the Maoris would go. His medals were not all for war service, as he was twice awarded the Royal Humane Society’s medal for saving life. After successively being in charge of a Government launch, a scow and a torpedo boat, Mi-. Hill, being too old for active service, was given a position in the Government stores in O’Rprke Street, Auckland. After 10 years he retired and settled at Devonport. Mr. Hill is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. H. F. Valentine, of Cameron Street, Takapuna, at whose residence he died.