VETERAN CAMPAIGNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 864, 7 January 1930, Page 9

VETERAN CAMPAIGNER

“ROWLEY’’ HILL CELEBRATES 93RD BIRTHDAY A CROWDED LIFE A blue ensign fluttered gaily in the breeze from a flagpole on a Takapuna garden yesterday. Few did not know what the flying flag signalised. Mr. George (“Rowley") Hill, Crimean, Indian Mutiny, Garibaldi and Maori War veteran, was celebrating his s3rd birthday. Hale and hearty, Mr. Hill sat on tht verandah of his homo, where he was greeted by many friends and received many felicitous telegraphic messages testifying to the esteem in which he was held. Most prized was a letter from the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, aud Lady Alice Fergusson, congratulating the veteran, and expressing the hope he would enjoy health and happiness for many years to come. Best known naval veteran in New Zealand, “Rowley” Hill has lived a life crowded with incident. In reminiscent mood he can spin yarns covering a wide range of historic events in which he has participated, from the Crimean campaign to the subjugation of the rebellious Maoris. A Daw’lish, Devonshire-bred bojr # the call of the sea touched a responsive chord in him as a lad, and he entered

the naval service on H.M.S. Britannia in ISSI. After serving on several ships he had his first taste of war against the Russians in the Baltic. He was then on the paddle-wheel frigate Leopard, commanded by Sir Charles Napier. He participated in the storming of Sebastopol and when hostilities closed he wore the Baltic, Crimean and Turkish medals. He was on H.M.S. Shannon at HongKong, at the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, and when his ship rushed to the rescue of the British garrisons he was one of the brigade which participated in the Relief of Lucknow. He was wounded there and also at Cawnpore, and in this campaign he gained a medal and bar. His sympathies strong writh Garibaldi in his fight for the liberation of Italy, Mr. Hill vrith three mates was “A.W.L.” from his ship in Mediterranean waters, while he fought with the liberator’s army. He had engagements at Palermo, Capua and in the Straits of Messina. Coming to New Zealand by the troopship Empress in 1864, Mr. Hill was sc eager for the fray that he jumped overboard and swam ashore at daybreak and joined Von Tempsky’s Forest Rangers. He participated in 16 fights with the Maoris, including several skirmishes with Te Kooti, coming out of the long campaign with the New Zealand Cross, the New Zealand Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Hill has saved a life in each hemisphere, for which he was awarded two medals by the Royal Humane Society.