" FOR ENGLAND, HOME AND DUTY,'

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 29, 10 December 1898, Page 4

" FOR ENGLAND, HOME AND DUTY,'

As promised last week, we give a short sketch of the life of Private T. M'Connell, who is to be presented With the Imperial medal for service in the Maori war (Bay of Islands) on Wednesday night next. Private M'Connell has suffered many hardships and known Want, so that it would be a graceful act if the Waimate people would interest themselves a little in relieving the necessities of an old soldier who has fought bravely for his country. In 1837, T. M'Connell enlisted in the 46th Begiment at Armagh, Ireland, at the age of 18. In '39, his regiment was despatched to London to take part in the parade at the Coronation ceremony. Private M'Oonnell ■was the right-hand man of his company, and the captain being a little flurried, threw his sword over his left instead of his right shoulder, destroying thd sight Of the young soldier's right eye. After having been in the hospital for some time, he was transferred in '39 to tke 58th, at the wish of his brother, also a soldier. In '43, the 58th came to the Chathams, and in '44 it conveyed prisoners to Hobart. After delivering up theie to the authorities they proceeded to Sydney, where 200 were picked to go to New Zealand, the Maori war having broken out. They landed in Auckland on the 24th March '45, but had to wait till two companies of the 99th came from Sydney to reinforce them. The troops went to the Bay of Islands and served from April '45 to January '47. Private M'Connell was in the night attack in boats up the Waikari river, when the pah was destroyed, and w»3 in the second expedition against the rebel chiefs "Johnny" Heke (grandfather of Hone Htke, M.H.E.) and Kawiti. Assisted in the capture of four pahs, the last being Buapekapeka, the capture of -which ended the Bay of Islands war. Sir George Grey was at the taking of this pa,h> , and gave the orders to the commander. Private M'Oonnell was discharged, with 300 comrades, in 1849. He went goli digging, and was at Gabriel's Gully in '61 and. '62. In '63 word came that volunteers wer« wanted to suppress the Waikato rising, and although he was making £1 to £1 5s a day, he volunteered at once, and joined the 3rd Waikatoi. Shortly after he volunteered for the front in the Transport Corps, and was at th« taking of

several pahs. At the last engagement, ths captain, whoie »ervant Private M'Gonne 1 ■was, was shot in the head. They stayed ni TeAmutitill the captain tois convalescent, wfleri they came to Otaiitau, Wnire the captain died, three rtyonths after receiving the Ground. Private 'M'Oonndl SLgain joined his company" at Te Amuti. Volunteers were called for to go to Wanganiii. l*hey marched to Perifyse, thte headquarters of the tfranspoit Corps. When u guard turn out " was called one night, M'Oorinell jumped up and Slipped on the fldor of the guardhouse. $0 save ■iimsalf ht p"ut down hia hand And had his arm broken' at th<4 wrist* H* wa9 in th 6 hospital for a. long time', but never fully recovered the u»e of hi« right arm, and has not been able to do manual labour Sindei H" is now 80 years of age. He received the New Zealand war medal for service on th 6 \VhAkaW and the other day received the In pc mi medil for 'the Of Islands; tfhis i* to be presented ton Wednesday night