THE "BLACK CUFFS"

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 14

THE "BLACK CUFFS"

USE OF POISON GAS.

FIRST TIME IN DOMINION. STRATEGY THAT FAILED. (TT.) 1110 second little in which the '"Black Cuffs. ' the 59th Imperial Regiment, took part in New Zcniand, was the assault upon Ohaeawai, near Kaikohe. in June, 184."). It was in this sorry engagement that there was the first «~nd only instance of the use of poison gas in the Dominion. The massive Maori stockade was constructed of heavy timbers, and with ( lie battery not more than 100 yards from the stockade, the jruns of the British made no impression. The only casualties were those suffered by the troops. At last Colonel Despard, who was in charge, of all the troops in tile colony, and had organised the expedition, sent to the Hazard, anchored in the mouth of the Kerikeri River, for a 32-pounder. Meanwhile an ingenious artilleryman, racking hi* wits, for means of more effective attack, remembered the empty shell cases. Could they be converted into stench bombs or balls, with short time fuses, and fired from the mortals? Relating the incident, says James Cowan, Colour-Sergeant R. Hattaway, of the 52tli, said that two old soldiers v/cre sent to assist in the manufacture of the balls or shells. The experiment was regarded with high hopes the artillery officers. '•The shells," wrote Hattaway, "contained some poisonous substance, the effect of which was expected to deprive the rebels of all animation, and leave them a prcv to the European victors. As day by day passed away and nothing happened to disturb the natives in their jstronghold, it was concluded that the [project had been a failure.'" Ito 111 Effects.

The composition of the poison gas remains a mystery unknown, also, is the number of these shells delivered to the Maoris by vertical fire. The speculation was that the mortars, with tlicir 45 degrees angle of fire, would land the poison shells within the trenches or the dugouts, where their explosion would produce "stupefaction as well as consternation." Wherever they exploded they failed to produce any noticeable illeffect upon the Maoris. It is interesting to note that though a modern field gun would have reduced the palisade to splinters, little impression was made upon it by the artillery of 90 years ago. Even the 32-pounder failed to have any noticeable effect. The heroic defence of this pa by a force of 100 Maoris is - graphically described by Cowan. Against all advice, Despard ordered an assault to be made on the stockade. It was a forlorn but gallant attempt, doomed to ignominious failure. The men of the 58tli, 99th and J the Pioneers stormed the fortress. Many, fell as they charged across the bulletswept plain. They could make no impression on the heavy timbers of the barricade, though they plucked at the lashings with their fingers and slashed with bayonets. Fierce Assault. One-third of the troops fell. The large-calibre bullets inflicted smashing wounds, and in many cases the combat was at such close quarters that the clothing of the soldiers was scorched by the gunpowder flash. The men charged in their full kit, like King George the Third's troops in the first assault on Bunker's Hill. The retreat sounded. Not all the wounded were carried off; all the dead were left where thy fell. The siege was carried on sporadically, but it was the custom of the Maoris to abandon a fighting pa when blood had been spilt within it, and early on the morning of July 11 it was found to have been evacuated during the night. The total Xgapuhi loss was not known, but was believed not to have exceeded ten killed. The Black Cuffs served with distinction later 111 Wellington and Wangantii. When the regiment returned to England Colonel Cyprian Bridie was appointed to the command. He was uncle to Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, G.C.8., who commanded H.M.S. Espiegle> in the Pacific from 1882 to 1885, and was Admiral in charge of the Australian station in 1885-97.