Maori Wars Medals

Lot 2088    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    Maori Wars Medals

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

NEW ZEALAND MEDAL, undated. Capt Alfred W East 4th Regt W M. Engraved in style of men discharged in Australia.

Ex Private Collector (USA) 1997. There were 19 medals to the 4th Waikato Militia. To date, this is the only one to have surfaced. With application papers and an ex libris copy of Armed Settlers in which he is detailed and Photographed. William East was commissioned as a Captain in the 4th Waikato Militia at Sydney, Australia on 21 January 1864. He served as the Adjutant of the Regiment and came to New Zealand ex Melbourne on the ship 'Thomas Fletcher' which departed on 3 February 1864. East was the most senior officer on board. The men on ship were military settlers and their families who had been offered grants of land for military service. Captain East was initially based at Regiment Headquarters in Onehunga and was later posted to Hamilton - where he became a founder of East Street, which was named after him. East's belongings fell into the Waikato River at the Hamilton wharf while being unloaded so for a period he was without any effects. Captain East was Adjutant to the 4th Waikato Regiment commanded by Colonel Moule. On one occasion he had a disagreement with Moule, who suggested he was feigning illness to avoid Church Parade. East suggested that if Moule was sure of his facts that he court-martial him however the matter was resolved by Headquarters. When Colonel Moule was made Commandant of all Waikato Regiments, Captain East assumed command of the 4th Waikato Regiment. The 4th Waikato Regiment served in the Wanganui Campaign from 1865 to 1866. It is not known where East saw action in order to qualify for his New Zealand Medal. The medal may have been awarded for Commissariat service however East does not appear on the roll of those Colonial officers who were attached to the Imperial Commissariat Corps. Captain East distinguished himself in local politics, farming and served as the area Magistrate and Justice of the Peace. His military land grant saw that he had a massive land holding in Hamilton and his farm was considered to be one of the most advanced in the area. In the early to mid 1870s Captain East moved back to Sydney. He was resident there when he applied for his New Zealand Medal in 1879. On 4 January 1879 he wrote to the New Zealand Defence Headquarters advising that he had fallen ill and had had to spend 6 months in the country 300 miles north of Sydney to recover from 'brain fever'. He goes on to state that whilst there he met a former Sergeant of the 4th Waikato Regiment who advised him of his medal entitlement. His medal was later sent to him care of a Pitt Street, Sydney address.