Australian Singles

Lot 4587    Session 15 ( 7.30pm Thursday 20th November)    Australian Singles

Estimate $1,200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,400

NEW ZEALAND MEDAL 1869, with 1867-1868 ghost dates. J. McKenna, No 4 Co Tar. Mil. Settlers. Chisel engraved, officially renamed. Very fine

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 80 (lot 2080).

Mentioned in For Glory and a Farm. Part of the Melbourne Contingent. James McKenna was born in Monaghan in 1837. He enlisted in the Taranaki Military Settlers in Melbourne, Australia and arrived in New Zealand aboard the ship Choice. He served at Kaitake Ranges on 24 March 1864 and later took part in the engagement at Te Ahuahu on 6 April 1864 where he was one of five men of the Melbourne Contingent who were wounded. His wound comprised a rifle ball in the left side while his commanding officer (Captain Lloyd of the 57th Regiment) was killed. 43 men of the Taranaki Military Settlers took part in the engagement. This was the first Hau Hau action and the mutilation of the dead and wounded was horrific. Cannibalistic rites were performed by the Hau Hau Maori. Private McKenna was later involved in outpost duty and again came under fire. He took his discharge from the Taranaki Military Settlers in April 1865, presumably having served the one year required before joining the Taranaki Cavalry Volunteers.

In 1882 McKenna, by now having settled on his farm land grant, was presented with his New Zealand Medal by Premier Sir Harry Atkinson. In 1897 McKenna sold his grant and his war pension and settled in South Africa where he sought his fortune on the gold fields. He caught malaria and was hospitalized in the Bulawayo Field Hospital. In his absence natives looted his camp and took all his possessions including his New Zealand Medal and discharge papers. Perhaps to earn a fare back to New Zealand McKenna served as a mercenary during the Boer War - following which he returned to New Zealand. At some stage upon his return to New Zealand McKenna resided in Wellington. In 1912 he applied for a replacement New Zealand Medal in order to obtain a Military Pension. The medal was duly issued to McKenna, who was in very poor health. McKenna was admitted to the O'Connor Memorial Institute Home at Westport where he died a pauper in September or October 1919. He was buried in a pauper's grave and despite efforts by the Home he was not accorded a military funeral. The New Zealand Medal is the replacement issued to McKenna in 1912 after the theft of his original medal in South Africa. There were 214 New Zealand War Medals awarded to the Taranaki Military Settlers.

With comprehensive research papers.