REMEMBERS MAORI WAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 816, 9 November 1929, Page 6

REMEMBERS MAORI WAR

VETERAN CELEBRATES 90TH BIRTHDAY LONG LIFE OF ADVENTURE Years of fighting in New Zealand are remembered by Mr. Edward William James Gregory, of 3 Seymour Street, Ponsonby, who is 90 years old today. He is still active and takes a keen interest in everyday affair?. Mr. Gregory is of a Quaker family. He was born at Tatton, near Bristol,

on November 9, 1839. Life in the Somerset Volunteer Artillery Corps, which he joined at an early age, led to a longing for adventure which was satisfied only when he emigrated to Australia. As a “soldier-settler,” he came to the Dominion on the understanding that he would receive a free grant of land after three years service? In 1863, Mr. Gregory, then holding the rank of sergeant, landed with a detachment of men at Sentry Hill, on the north Taranaki coast. The party built there the historic redoubt which repulsed an attack by the Hauhaus shortly afterward. A narrow escape at White Cliffs when a party of 30 men were ambushed, is remembered clearly. The party was forced to take refuge beneath the overhanging bluffs until relief came. It was here that the famous massacre took place. DECOYED TO BEACH “I had taken up land about three miles from the redoubt,” says Mr. Gregory. “There were only tw.o Europeans living there at the time, the armed men having been withdrawn, and these two were easily decoyed down to the beach and tomahawked. Lieutenant Gascoigne and his family were murdered and the attacking party fell on the defenceless redoubt. The Rev. John Wliitely, who had been visiting the shack where I lived with a mate, left on the Saturday afternoon for the settlement, where he was to hold service. Pie denounced the raiding party for the massacre and was himself murdered.” Mr. Gregory and his companion did not hear of the tragedy for two days, although they lived close at hand. They inspected the scene of the and helped to restore order before leaving for the next village. Four hundred men under Colonel Staff were sent out from New Plymouth to give protection from further attack. For the next two years Mr. Gregory served under Captain T. Good in the native contingent at Urenui, and later was colour-sergeant in the militia under Colonel Messenger. He settled down at Buckland, retiring 25 years ago to make his home at Ponsonby.

Mrs. Gregory is 82 years of age. There are three daughters, Mrs. J. S. Miller and Mrs. S. Maddaford, of Auckland, and Mrs. U. J. Beeche, of Hamilton.