A MAORI WAR HERO

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 37, 7 August 1911, Page 3

A MAORI WAR HERO

DIES IN A WORKHOUSE. Drummer Dudley Stngpoole, V.C., a' hero of the Maori war, who was reported by cable to have died in a workhouse at Ware, England, won his Victoria Cross in an engagement at Omata on October 2nd, 1863. The Poutoko redoubt was attacked that day by a body of Maoris, from 600 to 800 strong, and they came on with great determination. Captain Wright, of the 70th Regiment, was in command of the redoubt, and he communicated with Colonel Warre, C.8., who despatched 80 men of the 57th Regiment, under Major Butlc. f o the scene, afterwards following with >'s staff, and being followed, inmu'lhteiy afterwards by Captain Shortt, with 94 men and two companies, of Bushrangers. Tlie late Dudley Stagpoole was one of this !)4, who advanced on the redoubt by the bush road near the house oit Touet, a French settler.

In his • report on tihe action, the captain said: "Shortly after we had turned down this road, I heard firing on my right in the direction of Poutoko. I at once strengthened my advance guard, and pushed on as rapidlv as I could, and became engaged with the enemy near Toilet's' house. The natives immediately retreated to the bush, and opened fire upon my party from all directions. Leaving a reserve on , Allen's Hill to protect my rear, I advanced towards the bush, .but being met with a tremendous Are, I got the men under cover behind logs, etc., and endeavored to keep down the fire of the enemy. I then charged the bush, but perceiving it was occupied by a large body of natives, I desisted, and got my men again under cover, and remained at this spot until I received orders from Colonel Warre to retire gradually; which I did, occupying Allen-s Hill with the whole of my party,"and we then retired in good order towards Poutoko.

"I bog,to bring to your notiqe the excellent conduct of the two officers with me—Ensigns Douglass and Down. Tlie latter officer volunteered and with fouT men brought in the body of a wounded imivn under a very heavy Arc. Drummer Dudley Stagpoole I would wish also to recommend most favorably to your notice; for, although "wounded in the head, he twice volunteered and brought in wounded men. I cannot, indeed, speak too highly of the conduct of all my men, as, notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy in numbers,, and the exceedingly heavy fire with which wo were assailed, they were cool and collected and obedient to orders, which enabled me to retire with such slight loss and in good order, in the face of a very lairgc body of natives, who lined the whole belt of bush to my front." In his dispatch to Lieut-General Cameron, Colonel Warre spoke of Stagpoole's gallantry in the following termf: "I should wish'to bring specially to tiue notice of the Lieut.-Generai Coinmariding the noble conduct of Ensign Down, 67th Regiment, and Drummer Dudley Ktagpoole, who, under a tremendous fire from natives not 40 yards from them, brought away wounded men at the risk of their own lives, their efforts being ably seconded hy Private Antonio Rodrigues, a mounted orderly of the Taranaki Militia, who carried two men off the field on his horse, and galloped through a party of rebel Maoris to take my order to Captain Shortt." Private Antonio Rodrigues afterwards received the New Zealand Cross.