DEATH OF COLONEL NOAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 166, 13 January 1914, Page 2

DEATH OF COLONEL NOAKE.

A TARANAKI VETERAN, I HIS S'l'lßßlXC CAREER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, January 11. [ A veteran who witnessed the/painful | scenes during the famine in Ireland in \ 1847 and 1848, was also in Tippcrary j during the Smith O'Brien escapade, sub- j (seuuently assisted to ijuell the Chartist riots iu Yorkshire, charged with the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava, served during the Indian Mutiny, and linally did good service during the .Maori war, died this morning at Epsom. | The veteran referred to is Colonel | Maillard Xoake, who was 84 years of | age. When only 1G lie went from i 'boarding-school and joined a cavalry regiment in the south of Ireland, where, lie was a witness of the fearful famino and the Smith O'Brien all'air. His j next appearance, was in Yorkshire during the Chartist riots, but his real service started when his regiment formed part of the. Heavy Brigade, at the Crimea during the war with Russia. In the unsuccessful defense of the advanced redoubt by the Turkish troops, the regiment to which Colonel Xoake ] belonged was supporting, and he had bis horse wounded and his sword scabbard broken by tlie bursting of a shell fired by the Russians. He was also pre- ■ sent with the. Heavy Brigade in the charge that repulsed the Russian attack on Balaclava. The celebrated charge of the. Light Brigade was supported In- the .Scots Greys, to which Colonel Xoake then belonged. 1I« had bis sword knocked out of liio band, bis revolver torn from his side, and one leg smashed in this business, and, although lie received a medal for distinguished conduct in the field, his wound unfortunately caused him to be invalided home and be was discharged. Some time afterwards ho was presented with a commission in a militia regiment in Ireland, in which lie was riding master, and then appointed to a military train. A few months later the Indian Mutiny broke out, and Colonel Xoake was sent out with a new regiment to Calcutta, but was prevented .from active service by being stationed in Madras. In 18G3 Colonel Noake came to New Zealand. He was appointed a captain in the militia, being subsequently transferred to the. Defence Department at Wellington, where be did g»od service in organising. Later he commanded a force in the liangitikei district, and at the close of the Waikato war was appointed resident magistrate of the Upper Wanganui district. In his ollicial position lie attached himself to the relief expedition lo Pipiriki in 18liS. During the war at Wanganui Colonel Noakc was appointed adjutant, and, having offered his services as escort of cavalry to Colonel Whitmore, was at the disastrous nll'aiii at Motnroa. Being given command of the district, Colonel Xoake conducted an expedition after the rebel Natives up the Waitotara River, and later at the Whenuakura and Patea Rivers. He captured the Pukekohe, tribe and the chief Tauroa, sending in 180 prisoners, lie was complimented for this service <by (lie Government. Later, Colonel Xoake was occupied with the garrison of Ngatiporou, built blockhouses, and was appointed resident magistrate. Colonel Xoake was subsequently dispatched to Patea, where Te Whiti's men began ploughing up the settlers' lands, and retained that command until the Maori prophet was taken prisoner. Of late years Colonel Xoake lias resided at Epsom.