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PAGES FROM THE PAST.

TURUTURUMOKAI. ALMOST A COMPLETE MASSACRE,

(By

r “Juvenis.”>

In the Taranaki wars there was a good deal of misunderstanding and blundering and many brave lives were lost that may have been saved if the advice of those who knew the Maoris’ methods and character and the local conditions had been heeded, and there existed a different spirit between some of the officers. Thp Maori was a wily and enterprising foe, who believed himself the equal to, if not the superior of. any Imperial soldier. Indeed, in the attack on the Imperial forces at the Huirangi (Te Arei) redoubt, each Maori undertook to meet and dispatch three well armed and well protected white soldiers. He had, however, a greater respect for the militia man, the bushranger, who w’as conversant with- the conditions of bush fighting, and played the Maori at his own game, only with more success, due to his better equipment and training. Turuturumofeai was the scene of one of the disasters that beset the British forces. It lies about three miles this side of Hawera, north of the railway line, and is very properly reserved and cared for by the citizens of Hawera and the settlers of the district. It is a historical spot that deserves to be preserved, if for nothing else than as a reminder of the grim struggles and real heroism that took place in the past and made possible the comparatively easy and prosperous conditions that we enjoy to-day.

Turning over some old books and papers lately, 1 came across an account of what transpired at Turuturumokai, by a member of No. 5 division, under Major Von Tempsky. The division was stationed in the Waikato district when news arrived of murders of settlers in the Taranaki district. The division were ordered to Taranaki, arriving at Patea, and then started for Waihi, near the present Normanby, which was the headquarters of the colonial troops in South Taranaki. Let the soldier tell the story in his own language: THE TROUBLE COMMENCES. We scarcely had time to settle ourselves in our new quarters when our troubles commenced. Major Hunter had been in command of the post, in the absence of Colonel Macdonell. Major Von Tempsky arrived on tfhe Friday or Saturday morning, and became senior officer, and it was rumored that some coolness had arisen between them, arising out of. it is supposed, some professional jealousy. This much is necessary to explain the sequel, but whether this was so or not, Major Hunter’s conduct has never been satisfactorily explained even to this day.

On Sunday morning, July 12, about an hour before daybreak, we were aroused by one of the guard coming to the tents and saying, “Get up boys, there’s firing going on across the plains.” On the men waking up, Major Von Tempsky was already on the alert, and going round the tents, striking them with the flat of his sword, calling out, “Fall in. No. 5.” The sound of firing could not be heard, the wind blowing towards Turuturumokai, but the frequent flashes in the morning gloom showed that heavy firing was" going on. At the same time that No. 5 fell in, the cavalry turned out. saddled and bridled, and fell in near Major Hunter’s tent, awaiting orders. As soon as Major Von Tempsky had got some 50 together, he did not wait to number the men, but simply giving the -word, “Righ turn, double,” wont off for Turuturumokai, leaving with* giving any order to Major Hunter. Most of the division had fallen in only partly dressed, but with their arms and accoutrements, which consisted of short breechloading carbines and revolvers. CUN FIRE. The flash of the guns at Turuturumokai was the only guide in the darkness. Major Von Tempsky took a bush track between Turuturumokai and the bush with a view to cutting off thp retreat of the native attacking party. The distance to be covered was about three miles or more, the ground hard and frosty, and a creek to be forded. About a mile from Waihi we met one of the fugitives from Turuturumokai in his shirt only, who informed Major Von Tempsky that the garrison had been :uassacred, and he believed himself the only one saved. He was sent back to W aihi under escort. At this time we could see the whares near the redoubt in flames. A mile further on wc came to a creek, into which, though there was a heavy frost on, the men plunged without hesitation, and floundered through. As we topped the rising ground on the banks, the daylight set in, and we svere received by heavy volleys from the Maoris, whom we could see' hurrying away from the redoubt, crossing our front to the left, evidently making for a piece of bush a thousand yards distant, to prevent being cut off by the relieving force. No. 5 division, advanced in skirmishing order, pursuing the Maoris close up to the bush. In the hurry of their retreat, they abandoned kits, arms, ammunition, and their track of retreat was marked by gouts of blood at intervals. A HORRIBLE SIGHT. As it was not known whether another party of the Maoris was not in possession of Turuturumokai redoubt, it was decided not to go into the bush, but to proceed thither to ascertain the true state of affairs. On our way we saw blood on th’e ice, showing that the Maoris had not got off scot free. Just before reaching the redoubt the cavalry passed us. On reaching the redoubt a horrible sight presented itself. The first thing we saw was a dead Maori lying half in the ditch. Poor Captain Ross was lying dead in his shirt in the entrance. He had been shot, tomahawked, and his heart taken out, but the natives, owing to their sudden retreat, had not been able to take it away with them. Several other bodies lay close to him, and three in an angle of the redoubt with their arms in their hands. Only seven effective men of the garrison were left. THREE MEN HOLD OUT. Three men held out in one of the angles of the redoubt —Milmoe and Johnson (Volunteer Militia), and McLean, of No. 2 division. Most of the men were undressed. Lacey, the sentry, who had given the alarm, was killed as ' he retired to the entrance of the redoubt. The whole of the non-commis-sioned officers were killed. All the shares outside the redoubt were burn-

ed down. The canteen-keeper, Lennon (a civilian), was lying at the back of his sod chimney, fully dressed, with his boots on, but not laced. He had been tomahawked and his heart taken out. In his inside breast pocket a roll of notes was found of considerable amount.

MAORIS HELD BACK. Owing to the three men mentioned defending the angle of the redoubt, which covered the entrance, the Maori attacking party never got inside the redoubt. Had they been able to fire the building inside, these men would either have been burned to death or driven to surrender. As it -was, they stated they could only have held out a few • minutes longer but for the timely advance of Von Tempsky’s force between the redoubt and the bush, which caused the native war party to draw off. The natives had early in the attack got into the ditch, and cut steps up the parapet, but as soon as any of them showed their heads over at the angle held by the three men they were bayoneted. Nothing but Von Tempsky’s timely advance had saved the whole garrison from being massacred. As it, was there were eight killed and nearly as many wounded, out of 25 men, two of the letter dying of their wounds —yo,ung Beamish and Connors. A patftetic incident w r as told of one of the brothers Beamish, both of whom were wounded, one mortally. The poor young fellow, though dymg, when not able to load his piece, opened his pouch and handed out cartridges to his comrades.. The dead were taken to Waingongoro, where after life’s fitful fever they sleep well.

“TOO LATE.” Had the cavalry left Waihi at the time -No. 5 division did, a lamentable loss of life would have been averted. After waiting under Sergeant-Major Anderson for orders. Major Hunter ordered them to dismount and feed their horses, although the men were eager to go to the relief of their comrades. After some altercation they were allowed to go, and arrived “too late”—an ominous word in New Zealand campaigns—to be of service. A court-martial was held. Major Hunter’s defence being that he was left w’ithout orders, and had the safety of the post to look to. Both ns and Von Tempsky were regarded as hlameable in some quarters —the one for going off without giving orders, and the other for not taking in the situation and accepting the responsibility entailed in an emergency. Though honorably acquitted, Major Hunter’s -'sensitive spirit never got over the imputations east upon him. Whatever were his reasons for acting as he did on the memorable morning can never be known, as aecusors and accused are now silent in death. At Moturoa later on he begged Colonel Whitmore’s permission to lead the stormers. and expiated his error of judgment with his life. In the excitement and hurry of going away Major Von Tempsky perhaps may have forgotten to leave instructions as he advanced without w’aitirig for all the men to fall in. He was a born guerilla leader, and hated the pipeclay and formalities of the regular service.

THE GRAVE OF MILITARY GLORY

The moral of the disaster or turuturumokai was. nojt far to seek, for as General Cameron once said. “New’ Zealand was the grave of military glory.” Although the redoubt was a frontier outpost, erected in a previous campaign by H.M. 14th Regiment, its defences had not been repaired. The entrance had not even a gate, and at night the bridge or plank giving access to the redoubt was not withdrawn. The officer commanding slept outside the redoubt—it was stated through want of accommodation—and to increase the vigilance of the garrison and keep them fit for duty, the defence authorities had judiciously established a canteen at the little post. To crown all, when the assault came most of the men were undressed, and when they got hold of their arms in the dark, had no loose ammunition opened out. On the evening before the massacre the natives were playing games near the canteen with the men, and the latter having noted the arrangements at the redoubt and the strength of the force, retired for. the night to make their dispositions for the attack on the, following morning. Three of the natives shot in the attack were so-called friendly native's, who had been also in Waihi on the previous day. Captain Ross, brave soldier that he was, defended his post to the last, and atoned for his error of judgment in allowing himself to be lulled into a sense of false security by the natives trading at and visiting his post for a week or two, by laying down his life. His record in the service had been an excellent one. and his brother also served with distinction.

ESCORT ATTACKED. A few’ days after our return to camp a detachment of our men, under Captain Brown, was sent to, Hawera, and we were camped on Mr. Bradshaw’s farm for the purpose of protecting the settlers in the neighbourhood, the Maoris being in the habit of turning out at night and burning the homesteads in the district. We had to send an escort to Waihi twice a week for rations, and the men , not employed in escort duty were employed in building a stockade round Bradshaw's house. The escort usually returned about noon, but on July 28 we were all alarmed at their not making an appearance till about an hour before dusk, when a mounted civilian rode into camp with the news that the escort had been attacked about a. mile from Waihi. Half an hour later the detachment arrived in camp. It appeared that the escort left Waihi at the usual time, escorting our ration cart and six empty drays returning to Patea. also a spring cart with rations for Turuturumokai. The escort consisted of one sergeant and thirteen men. Thorp were also onp sergeant and two mounted men to escort the carts to Turuturumokai from the cross road where they were to leave us. At about a mile distant from Waihi there was a piece of bush of about 15 or 20 acres, which went by the name of the Round Bush, on the left, about 100 yards from the road.« The -country round was studded with flaxbushes and low scrub on both sides of the road. The escort, got on all right after leaving Waihi till they came opposite the Round Bush, when just as the leading dray was topping the rising ground some SO or 100 Maoris jumped up right across the road and opened a heavy fire from the flax bushes and whatever cover they cou.i’ find. DASHED THROUGH THE MAORIS. The spring cart, with the sergeant and two mounted men, dashed right through the Maoris, and apparently got clear away. Sergeant Toovey, in charge of the escort, immediately ordered all the drays to the rear, and getting his escort together, commenced to reply to the native fire; but they were beaten back some ten or twenty yards, where they again halted, and taking what cover they could find, kept up a neayy fire on the enemy. One poor fellow of the escort was left in the middle of the

tound wounded. He called out two or three times, “Oh, don’t leave me, boys,” and a Maori was seen coming out from the flax, brandishing his tomahawk and cheering his men on. evidently with the intention of tomahawking the poor fellow where he lay.

Our men, seeing this, at once ran to the front, shot the Maori, and dragged theii wounded comrade back to the main body. Things were getting very seri-

ous for the escort, who ad to hold the ground against upwards of 100 Maoris, when Major Von Tempsky (who had been watching the escort from the parapet at Waihi, came on the scene with reinforcements from the redoubt. This

soon altered the state of affairs, and in a very short time the Maoris were driven back to the main bush, some two miles distant. There was no loss on

our side, but one man was seriously wounded and one slightly. There was not the slightest doubt if it had not been for the watchfulness of Major Von Tempsky, who, seeing with his glasses the first of the attack, at once marched to the assistance of the party, all must) Uave been

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19220128.2.86

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 9

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,486

PAGES FROM THE PAST. Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST. Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 9

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