"LEST WE FORGET."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 144, 15 July 1909, Page 4

"LEST WE FORGET."

TURUTURU-MOKAI: 41st ANNIVERSARY.

Writes a correspondent of the Ilawera Star:—

On this date, 12th July, 1808, just forty-one years ago, was fought the buttle of Turuturu-Mokai. The place of engagement is not above a mile from the borough boundary, yet how few Hawera residents know anything of that important but sanguinary conflict. The season, as usual in this latitude, was midwinter, with a cold sou'-easter blowing. About four o'clock on a Sunday morning the sentry on the westerly aide of the redouibt was fired on and wounded. A rush was at once made for the incomplete shelter, but before the troops could reach their place of shelter the howling fanatical Hau-Haus wore amongst theui, aud at once felled thair officer, Captain Fred Ross, a brave and ■'aliant soldier. The Maoris cut out his heart, but were unsuccessful in carrying .t away. The captain, in extremis, gave ome incoherent command'; a few understood the order to be, ''Sauve qui pout," others again that the order was for the men to do the best they could, but in the melee that followed all was for a time utter confusion. Four men were unable to gain the redouot; two men, Wilkie and Burrows, escaped scathless; Cobb had his feet fearfully lacerated by broken bottles; Kershaw was shot in the neck and fell close to the redoubt; both these wounded men were overlooked 'by the Maoris, thus escaping the merciless tomahawk.

Those who could reach the meagre shelter of the half-erected redoubt did 60 as quickly as possible. The hundreds of Hau-Haus closed round these brave but doomed Britishers. They were successfully kept out of the enclosure; many rushed underneath the palisade, hacking away and endeavoring U> undermine the structure, at the same time keeping up a running conversation with the besieged. OUhers, again, went round, and set Are to the officers and men's quarters, the canteen and settlers' tents, thus giving a lurid light on their diabolical work. Other Hau-Haus stood some distance off, and as our men raised their heads to fire they were instantly shot down by these colored sharpshooters. In fact, one of the troopers had no less than five bullet wounds in his head, and still lives. For nearly three hours was this gallant little garrison thus besieged, the dying and wounded soldiers passing ammunition to their more fortunate comrades.

With daylight came relief, the Maoris carrying off their dead and wounded and taking a track towards Taiporo--1 henui. Of the defenders there were but Ifew unwounded men to greet their rescuers. Our dying heroes in that fatal redou'bt heard the loud hurrah

"Of victory ere they died." And this gallant little band of heroes who upheld the honor of her late Majesty's flag, and would sooner shed their last drop of blood than see that noble flag disgraced, were all, or nearly all, large and warm hearted Irishmen. This is not the first or last engagement where the sons of Erin stood shoulder to shoulder and saved the honor of our Empire.

For some years I have tried to obtain a complete and correct list of those who took part in that fateful engagement. Records did nut supply the needed information, hut Mr. William Wallace, of Meremere, a warrior of those stirring times, who took his part in whatever fighting was going on, kindly supplies me with a correct and the first complete list yet published. Tt is as follows':— Kiiled: Captain F. Ross, Sergt. MeFadden, Corporal Blake, Constables Holden, Ross, Shields, Swords, Gaynor, and Beamish,.and Storekeeper Leruion. Wounded: Privates Flanagan, Tuffin, Lacey, Connors, Beamish, and Kershaw. Sergeant Coslat, Johnston, Milmoe, Stuart, O'Brien, McLean, and Gill held the redoubt! Cobb, Wilkie, and Burrows make up the total of those engaged. Storekeeper Lennon, when the alarm was given, coolly dressed himself, laced his hoots, and saw to it that the last button on his tunic was correct. As he walked out of his whare door he was cleft in two and his heart torn but! From the Jate Mr. L. Milmoe I have heard a great deal of those exciting limes. I never for a moment, when hearing the recitals, thought that I would subsequently commit them to paper for the benefit of future historians. The more I knew of that old defender the more he rose in my estimation. I was present at the laying of the foundation-stone of the Hawera Convent, when the late Mr. Milmoe presented a framed photo to ihe Governor, Lord Ranfurly, of hinii-'elf standing on the very spot where- this conflict took place. I followed his remains to their last resting-place in Hawera cemetery. I expected to hear an oration from that master of orators, Rev. Father Power, hut that gentleman only dealt with the benevolent and philanthropic side of our departed hero's life, and, taking a last look at the casket that held his mortal remains, I saw his years were ripe, for they were three-score and seventeen. Turning away, I mentally offered a silent prayer—Requieacat in pace. There is one more of that heroic band still with us .in the person of Mr. Coslett Johnston, Mangapoua road, near Xormanby, whose residence overlooks that memorable spot, Turuturu-Mokai, 1 am sorry to record that our veteran is laid aside for repairs. Forty-one years' ago ycstcTdny this warrior manfully faced hundreds of howling, screeching, fanatical Hau-Haus, who jeered at him for his apparent ioolislrness, but at the same time longed for a portion of his heart so that they might be further fortified with the pakeha courage. All this the subject of this .paragraph bravely and unflinchingly withstood. But fell time and the germs of rheumatism contracted on that memorable cold morning when standing or crouched in an unnatural position, knee-deep in freezing mud, are doing their work more effectively than the thousands of bullets that pinged and whizzed ab6ut hrai forty-one years ago. He has now been bedridden, having lost the use of his lower limhs, for about twelve months, but is carefully attended bv his lovin" wife and dutiful daughter." I often go over to have a chat with the old veteran, anil it is refreshing to get- such a hearty handshake ami cheerful welcome. If the visitor was not aware of the fact he would think he was addressing a stalwart young man of tweutv-three summers,so vigorous is his voice,'hearty his laughter, and keen his sight, with all the latest and up-to-date literature within easy reach, for his mind is active and centred on current events.

In those way-back times farmers had :o seek protection nightly under the guns of our troops. Amongst the settlers gathered round that redoubt on that memorable night was one who on each visit r found sitting at the bedside ■..' his once protectpr, giving .what cheer !,. could, ever ready to render assistance ff required. That man was Mr. Patrick Sweeney. It appeared almost like sacrilege to disturb those sons of Erin when 'omparing notes on some long-past incident, for truly, when rightly attuned, there is no more sympathetic, conliilin" generous; true, and loval heart thali that which pulsates beneath the waistcoat of an Irishman.