More _of Von Tempsky

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 124, 19 February 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

More _of Von Tempsky

Though von Tempsky was a household name in colonists’ homes during the Maori wars of 1860-70, it is seldom one sees any concise account of his life. Major von Tempsky was a Pole by birth, and in his youth saw service with the Prussian Hussars. His restless nature made him resign the Prussian Army. He was next heard of in South America, where he was. employed by the Government to aid its army in fighting the Indians. The mode of warfare he adopted produced such good results that he was able to use it again and with the sa’me success against the Maori in later years. Von Tempsky’s sojourn in South America was not long. From there he made his way toxthe Californian goldfields. Not making a fortune there, as quickly as he anticipated, and hearing of a succession of gold rushes in Australia, he straightway sailed for Melbourne. Though he did not find much gold he met with plenty of adventures, and the recital of them round the campfires in his New Zealand campaign beguiled many a weary hour. In 1863, when ithe Imperial Forces first advanced bevond Drury, their ignorance of bush tactics very soon had them at a disadvantage. Maori snipers hidden in the branches of trees exacted a heavy toll as they struggled through the dense bush. At this jucture von Tempsky offered his services to raise a body of men to counteract the strategy of the Maori. He soon had all the daredevils in the colony at his disposal, and with these he scoured the bush in advance of the Imperial troops with such success that his very name from then on struct terror in the Maori heart. Von Tempsky formed one of the storming parties at Orakau, and after hositlities had ceased in the Waikato he accompanied Major General Chute in his overland campaign to Taranaki. While on the journey von Tempskys health became impaired; chiefly, it is said, by sleeping outside at nights in the wet and cold along with his men,

rather than go to the warm comfortable tent provided for him. This campaign over, he stayed a short time at Auckland with his wife and' family in order to recruit his health, and then went on again, tins time to the Coromandel goldfields. But not for long did he stay there. Back to Auckland again, where he devoted his leisure to literature and painting. The former was enriched to the extent of a book of his travels in South America, and the latter by pictures of many exciting Maori War incidents. Later he accepted an inspectorship of the then newly-formed Armed Constabulary. In September, 1868, von Tempsky met his death. Lt.-Col. McDonnell at that time had led his force of 200 men into the bush about 10 miles out of Normanby in South Taranaki to attack the Ngutu-o-te-manu Pa. The stockade only contained about 60 Maori, but in the engagement they killed 24 of McDonnell’s men and wpunded 27. McDonnell was forced to retire, and in the process von Tempsky lost his life. A survivor of his party told the writer 58 years ago that, it was heartrending to hear the shrieks of the victims, and the yells of the victorious Maori as they pursued the stragglers through the bush with mere and tomahawk. Von Tempsky’s death was regarded as a national loss, for though an alien he fought for the British flag as valiantly as any nativeborn. He left a widow and three children to the care of his adopted country. As a man he was beloved of both the Imperial and Colonial troops. The writer’s informant said that to see von Tempsky at home playing with his children, painting, or at work in his garden, no one ■would ever dream he was the terrible von Tempsky—terror , of Maori tribes in the East Coast, Wai- ; kato, and Taranaki.— J.L.M. (Island Bay).