Orders, Decorations & Medals - British

Lot 3891    SESSION 13 - 2.30PM Thursday 31 July    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $700

NEW ZEALAND MEDAL 1869, undated reverse. 3235. Driv: R.Cawthorne. 1/4. R.A. Engraved. Court mounted, hairlines, extremely fine.

The New Zealand Medal roll confirms that Robert Cawthorne served in New Zealand from 1864 to the end of the war (1866). A margin note confirms he was discharged on 31 May 1869. It can be concluded that this recipient likely took his discharge in Australia as there are no subsequent records held in New Zealand concerning him. Coincidently, the 1/4 Royal Artillery served in Australia during this period and Cawthorne may well have enlisted in Melbourne for the war too. He does not appear on Ranfury's Roll nor is there any probate held at National Archives or indeed any mention in the Cyclopedia of New Zealand. This very strongly suggests therefore that his medal was sent to him in Australia. This is certainly an interesting medal with a good scope for research and worth seeking his papers.

The Royal Artillery was vital in New Zealand during the Waikoto Campaign and Cawthorne would have served at Gate Pa and Te Ranga near Tauranga on the East Coast. On 27 and 28 April 1864 General Cameron moved his force to Pukereia Hill about 1,200 yards from the enemy position at Gate Pa. The force comprised a Naval Brigade from the Esk, Miranda and Falcon; elements of the Royal Artillery, 43rd and 68th Regiments; and a movable column of 181 officers and men drawn from the 12th, 14th, 40th and 65th Regiments making 1,695 officers and men in all. On the evening of 28 April, in order to cut off the Maori's possible line of retreat, Cameron dispatched the 68th Regiment, under Colonel Greer, to occupy the narrow neck of land between two swamps, in the rear of the Pa. At daybreak on 29 April Cameron began shelling the Pa and by 4pm had opened a breach in the defence works. He mounted a strong assault through this breach, but his men were repulsed with heavy losses. As it was too late in the day to consider a further attack, Cameron decided to renew the engagement the following morning. During the night however, small parties of Maoris taking their wounded with them, slipped through Colonel Greer's lines to safety. British casualties in the engagement were 111 killed and wounded, while the Maoris lost 25 killed and an unknown number wounded. The significance of the Gate Pa engagement was that it was the scene of the strongest artillery barrage mounted during the Maori Wars.

With copy of service roll page.