New Zealand Medal - Second Maori War 1860-1866

[Bill93185]

Hello
Please help Second Maori War 1860-1866

My relative, Patrick CROKE (Service No.1386) served in the 2nd Battalion 18th Royal Irish Foot Regiment. He served in New Zealand and the Second Maori War during 1865 - 1868.

The New Zealand Medal awarded to Patrick at this time is unusual in having the recipients "dates of service" on the reverse.
Patrick's "dates of service" are between 1863 & 1866.

I understand.... "This medal was issued to the survivors only who had taken part in the New Zealand Wars (also known as the Maori Wars, Anglo-Maori Wars or Land Wars) in North Island 1845 - 1846, South Island 1847, and service in New Zealand between 1860 - 1866."

I understand.... "The 18th Regiment saw service at the Maori village of Nukumaru Jan 1865 where a "Victoria Cross" and three individual "Silver Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field" were awarded."

My question is his Medal Record shows the word "Nukumaru" where he served and would like to know more about this entry on his record, particularly if he served at the place. Anything related to his service would be most welcome. I have attached his Medal Record.

Thanks
Bill Croke - Australia

[Mick_Dolan86]

The Nukumaru VC was awarded to Captain Hugh Shaw.

24th January 1865 - New Zealand. Captain Hugh Shaw won the Victoria Cross.

Hugh Shaw was born on 4th February 1839 in Madras, India, the son of James Shaw, Inspector General of Hospitals, and Ann, nee Hay. He was educated at Sandhurst and joined the 18th Regiment of Foot as an Ensign on 10th May 1855. He served in the Crimea from December 1855 until the end of the war.
Shaw then served with the regiment as a Lieutenant in the Indian Mutiny. In 1859, he became the Adjutant, an appointment he held until 1864, when he was promoted to command his own company. In 1864, he was posted with his battalion to New Zealand to fight in the Second Maori War.

On 24th January 1865, at Nukumaru, the British camp was attacked by Maoris, with the men on picket duty  involved in the first attacks. Private Connolly of the Royal Irish fell wounded and Captain Shaw went out, with four men who had volunteered to join him, under heavy fire. They moved forward to within thirty yards of the enemy positions in the bush and succeeded in taking Connolly to safety. Shaw’s VC was gazetted on 28th November 1865, and he was presented with his medal in New Zealand sometime in 1866. The men were awarded the DCM. British losses in the fighting were 16 killed and 32 wounded. Four of the dead and 11 wounded were men of the 18th, Royal Irish Regiment. Private J. Brien who had assisted Captain Shaw in rescuing Private Connolly, was killed on 25th January, while Connolly himself died of his wounds.

Shaw married Emily Sheffield at Holy Trinity Church, Bedford on 21st June 1870. They had three daughters - Nina Jane b.1871, Dolores Evangeline and Mabel Annie b.1877. He was Adjutant of the North Tipperary Militia from Jun 1873 to Feb 1878 during which time he was promoted to Major on 1st October 1877. On 22nd May 1878 Shaw rejoined the Royal Irish Regiment and then went on the Afghanistan Campaign with the Kabul Field Force. In September 1881 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and subsequently served in the Sudan Campaign. He was promoted Colonel in September 1885 and Major-General in 1887, shortly before he retired from active soldiering. Shaw died on 25th August 1904 in Southsea, Hampshire, aged 65.

From Instagram account 18th_foot

[spades]

Hi Bill,

See this article on New Zealand's historical newspaper database, Papers Past:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01sck/
There are also other articles discussing this battle. Here is an after-action report listing casualties:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18650211.2.15
 
Also see:
https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cow02NewZ-c5.html
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/wanganui-war/1865-campaign
https://collection.pukeariki.com/objects/171917/lt-to-johnston-40th-regt-killed-nukumaru-jan-1865

The primary genealogists's guide for Imperial soldiers who took their discharge in New Zealand is the book Discharged in New Zealand by H & L Hughes (1988). I have searched my CD-ROM copy of this book and Patrick CROKE's name does not appear (although I am aware of a small number of omissions from my own research).

Do you know where Patrick took his discharge? Could it have been Australia?

Regards,

Spades

[spades]

Extract from Discharged in New Zealand, page 19:

2/18th (ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT
The 18th Regiment ("Paddy's Blackguards") formed a second battalion in
Ireland in 1858; when it was up to strength it moved to Aldershot (1859) and
later Portsmouth (1861) before going to the Channel Islands in May-June 1862.
It is interesting to note here the rates of pay applicable to the army at this
period; a Sergeant Major received 3s2d per day, Colour Sergeant 2s6d, Sergeant
2s, Corporal 1s4d, Private is and a Boy 10d. The battalion Schoolmaster got 4
shillings a day, but the 'Schoolmistress, 3rd class' only received 24 pounds
per annum.
In February 1863 the battalion moved to the Isle of Wight preparatory to
embarking at Portsmouth for New Zealand. On arrival at Auckland the 2/18th went
first to Otahuhu camp and then took part in various engagements along the route
of the Great South Road, eventually culminating in the action at Orakau (March-April 1864). After a brief return to Otahuhu the regiment sailed from Onehunga
to Wanganui early in 1865 and stayed in that area until November 1867 when they
returned to Auckland, except for two companies at New Plymouth and two sent to
Napier. In February 1870 they sailed for Australia, being the last Imperial
Regiment to leave New Zealand, and later that year they arrived back in England.
In the list of discharges an asterisk after the regimental number indicates
a soldier on the Married Establishment, recorded from April 1868; their marital
details are on page 22. It is interesting to note that in July 1869 the list
showed a total of 92 wives (12 of them named 'Mary Anne') and 238 children.

Spades

ADDENDUM:
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/nukumaru-nz-wars-memorial-whanganui
https://collection.pukeariki.com/persons/12848/218th-royal-irish-regiment

[Bill93185]

Hello Mick_Dolan86
Thanks very much for providing this detail, I have now read some more and I'm becoming more interested.

Cheers Bill Croke
Australia

[Bill93185]

Hi Bill,

See this article on New Zealand's historical newspaper database, Papers Past:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01sck/
There are also other articles discussing this battle. Here is an after-action report listing casualties:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18650211.2.15
 
Also see:
https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cow02NewZ-c5.html
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/wanganui-war/1865-campaign
https://collection.pukeariki.com/objects/171917/lt-to-johnston-40th-regt-killed-nukumaru-jan-1865

The primary genealogists's guide for Imperial soldiers who took their discharge in New Zealand is the book Discharged in New Zealand by H & L Hughes (1988). I have searched my CD-ROM copy of this book and Patrick CROKE's name does not appear (although I am aware of a small number of omissions from my own research).

Do you know where Patrick took his discharge? Could it have been Australia?

Regards,

Spades

[Bill93185]

Hello Spades

You have come up "trumps"

Thanks very much for your post it has provided more than I thought I could get on my own.  I will now be occupied for some time looking at the newspaper and page links you have provided.

Spades, about his discharge, he served until is death in Ireland.

Regiment on route to Australia from New Zealand.
Muster record shows Patrick and family "on route to Sydney" from New Zealand in 1869 with a detachment under "Major RP Bishopp" who was very well known in the Regiment and around the New Zealand Society.  Patrick with wife and 4 children, sons Thomas Francis, James, John Patrick (born NZ) and daughter Mary Ellen (born NZ), accompanied him on the voyage to Australia.

Regiment on route to Devonport UK
Patrick, age 34 with wife Ellen and their children are stationed in Melbourne Australia. They left Melbourne by ship for Devonport, England, arriving 15th Nov 1870.

Patrick continued his military career
Patrick continued his military career for the next 10 years.

Patrick died on 1 Dec 1880
Patrick died on 1 Dec 1880 in Clonmel, Tipperary, found drowned in the River Suir, still in his service uniform age 44.

Thanks again for your assistance
Bill Croke
Australia

[Bill93185]

Extract from Discharged in New Zealand, page 19:

2/18th (ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT
The 18th Regiment ("Paddy's Blackguards") formed a second battalion in
Ireland in 1858; when it was up to strength it moved to Aldershot (1859) and
later Portsmouth (1861) before going to the Channel Islands in May-June 1862.
It is interesting to note here the rates of pay applicable to the army at this
period; a Sergeant Major received 3s2d per day, Colour Sergeant 2s6d, Sergeant
2s, Corporal 1s4d, Private is and a Boy 10d. The battalion Schoolmaster got 4
shillings a day, but the 'Schoolmistress, 3rd class' only received 24 pounds
per annum.
In February 1863 the battalion moved to the Isle of Wight preparatory to
embarking at Portsmouth for New Zealand. On arrival at Auckland the 2/18th went
first to Otahuhu camp and then took part in various engagements along the route
of the Great South Road, eventually culminating in the action at Orakau (March-April 1864). After a brief return to Otahuhu the regiment sailed from Onehunga
to Wanganui early in 1865 and stayed in that area until November 1867 when they
returned to Auckland, except for two companies at New Plymouth and two sent to
Napier. In February 1870 they sailed for Australia, being the last Imperial
Regiment to leave New Zealand, and later that year they arrived back in England.
In the list of discharges an asterisk after the regimental number indicates
a soldier on the Married Establishment, recorded from April 1868; their marital
details are on page 22. It is interesting to note that in July 1869 the list
showed a total of 92 wives (12 of them named 'Mary Anne') and 238 children.

Spades

ADDENDUM:
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/nukumaru-nz-wars-memorial-whanganui
https://collection.pukeariki.com/persons/12848/218th-royal-irish-regiment

[Bill93185]

Hello Spades

Again, good post

I have enjoyed the the amount of good information available.
I just need to put it together for Patrick's history.

Cheers Bill Croke
Australia