ARMY TRADITIONS IN N.Z.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14431, 1 August 1947, Page 4

ARMY TRADITIONS IN N.Z.

COMMANDOS AND VON TEMPSKY Initiative Shown In Maori Wars Bush Warfare Of Early Days ' ii. [Special to The Times] The outstanding initiative and self reliance which has typified the New Zealand soldier in recent times can be traced to the bush warfare of the early days. While the early settlers of New Zealand lacked the discipline of the Imperial troops tfiey were more adaptable to ihe conditions under which the Maoris fought. Much of the fighting about 1860 was sporadic and carried out by small groups in isolated places. The New Zealand.army developed small independent units of company strength similar to modern commandos, and called them the Forest Rangers. These soldiers could move faster through rough country than the regular infantry, and they did useful work as the §yes and ears of the main body of fighting troops. In the Waikato, Maori tribes were nursing grievances against the settlers, and bands of them roamed the bush south of Drury. Settlers, lived in constant dread of murder and pillage and many cases of isolated heroism are recorded.

At Papakura,' a stout-hearted settler, Captain Calvert, drove off a party of attacking Maoi'is singlehanded with sword and revolver after his son had been killed. On another occasion a settler drove off a party of Maoris by rushing quickly from bush to bush and firing to give the impression of a strong force. After their raids the Maoris retreated to the bush, where they could not be pursued by the Militia or the Imperial Troops, although small volunteer units often,, chased them. The New Zealand Government adapted itself to the situation by forming the BY>rest Rangers with men such as gold-diggers and adventurers, who were accustomed to hardship. In August 1863 the following proclamation was printed in the Southern Cross newspaper in Auckland:—

"ACTIVE YOUNG MEN, having some experience of New Zealand forests, may now confer a benefit upon the Colony, and also ensure a comparatively free and exciting life for themselves, by joining a Corps of FOREST VOLUNTEERS, now being enrolled in the province to act, as the Taranaki Volunteers have acted, in striking terror into the marauding natives, by operations not in the power of ordinary troops. By joining the ' Corps the routine of Militia life ■■> may be got rid of and a body of active and pleasant comrades ensured .. . ." > .

This advertisement was designed to appeal to the individualism of the of the early pioneers, and met with a ready response, just as similar appeals in the recent war brought forward much more than the required number of volunteers for commandos in the Pacific and for the Long Range Desert Group in the Middle East. There can be little doubt that the thirst for adventure and the desire for freedom from routine is unusually strong in the New Zealand character. Special Gear for Forest Work The first company of Rangers, 60 strong, was formed under the command of Lieutenant W. Jackson, a young settler of the Papakura District, while a second one was later formed under the leadership of the celebrated- Von Tempsky. The Rangers were equipped with Calisher and Terry carbines, five-shot revolvers and knives with blades nine to twelve inches long. Such a knife was sometimes called the Von Tempsky knife. Only two blankets were issued'to every four men, as equipment had to be cut down to a minimum to enable them to climb over rough country. The Rangers worked hard and were constantly wet through, crossing' rivers, and they could not light fires at night because they lived in amongst the enemy.

The Rangers had their first fight in the Wairoa ranges, when they repelled a small band of Maoris, but generally their best and most useful work lay in the information they supplied to the main body of troops. Their largest battles occurred when they fought together with the main body, often as a,kind of spear-head. Even the scouting function of the Rangers had its effect on causing the Maoris to lose confidence. The presence of Pakehas in the bush made them feel less secure in their hiding places. On one occasion when Von Tempsky and Thomas McDonnell (later Colonel McDonnell) were scouting.the Maori positions on the track from Paparata to Mer.emere. they laid a trail of broken biscuits for the Maoris to see. This so puzzled the natives that they apparently thought their stronghold was being threatened and they withdrew without.a fight. .Von Tempsky and McDonnell were each promoted captain for the information they secured, and they were highly complimented, by General Cameron, who was in charge of all the forces.

In 1864, at the seige of Paterangi Pa, Von Tempsky showed amazing coolness when he. advanced with five others and sketched the Maori fort while bullets we're landing about his feet. His five companions were expert shots who tried to keep the enemy fire down to a minimum

while Von Tempsky carried on with his sketching. Te Awamutu Headquarters The Rangers made their headquarters for a time at Te Awamutu, and from here they made sorties against the Maoris and drove them farther arid farther afield. The Rangers, with some irregular troops, drove the Ngati-Maniapoto tribe from its headquarters to- Kihikihi, three miles south-east of Te Awamutu, in February, 1864. . In the famous seige of Orakau, where the .Maoris made a brave stand until forced to retreat by overwhelming odds, the Forest Rangers led the pursuit, with "Deerfoot" Roberts (later Colonel J. M. Roberts) .in the van. After crossing the Puniu River, however, the advance was temporarily halted by a solitary Maori who knelt and pointed his rifle at the advancing Rangers yet did not return their fire. After the Maori was killed and his rifle was examined it was found that he had no ammunition but had delayed the advance by an heroic and magnificent bluff. In 1368 the Rangers were active in the Taranaki District and they fought with the Armed Constabulary in the fierce battle for the Hau Hau stockade at Te-Ngutu-O-Te-Manu. It was here that a Hau Hau warrior killed Von Tempsky with a sniping shot from 25 yards. The British forces attacked the i stockade repeatedly without success and the Maoris surrendered only after they had exhausted their ammunition.

After the Maori-wars ceased there was no further need for the Forest Rangers and they were disbanded. But their enterprising activities are deeply rooted in New Zealand army traditions and similar units appear again as soon as appropriate conditions arise.