BOULCOTT FARM

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11950, 22 May 1933, Page 3

BOULCOTT FARM

BUGLER ALLEN’S FAME

ANNIVERSARY MARKED. Eighty-seven years ago last week 2 company of -fifty men, principally of the 58-th Regiment, under Lieutenant Page were camped on Boulcott x fuj-in situated in the Hu It \ alley in the neighbourhood of what is no" tile entrance to the Hutt- g°*f huks, when just an hour before daylight they were surprised by a party of seventy Maoris under Maiiiuku. Tlio greater , part of the troops bad been withdrawn to Wellington bocauso of a rumour that an attack "as to be made there.

The party of Maoris went over u - y western Hutt .bills, forded the Hutt river, and were upon the camp before their presence was detected. Bugler W. Allen appears to have been the first to. observe them, when a Maori armed with a "'as already upon him. As lie raiseev the bugle to sound the alarm Allen’s -right arm was practically severed; catching the falling bugle-, in bis Eft band, he again endeavoured to- sound it, when this arm was also struckIt would then appear that ho fell to tho ground and managed, to place the bugle , between liis knees and effected hi s purpose. The clarion, call went forth, the sleeping camp aroused, and a bloody fight ensued. Bugler Allen was immediately brained by bis opponent, and in tbe fight which followed Lance-Corporal Jame s Dockrell, Privates. Thomas Bolt, Robert Brett, J. McFadden, and T. Sonliam were ’killed. Sergeant Ingram anc; Private French died of wounds, as d : d also Mr. Thomas Iloseman, a settier who took part in the fight. Undoubtedly the heroic action of Bugler Allen saved the lives of the others of tile detachment . and possibly the lives of many of the Hutt Valley settlers. The dead were buried in the Bolton -Street Cemetery. Allen’s -bugle was carried - 1 " .i\ bA the 'Maoris, wa s i afterwards found ill a deserted wliavo -m theHorokiwi Valley.' and ’it’is understood to be in'tile possession of the 58th' Regiment in England. An. cv- ' deavour was made hi bv Mr. AV • T. Strand, who was then Mayor of Lower Hutt', to'.secure- the bugle 'for the citizens of that district'. -Further efforts in ‘ this - direction; . it'is understood, will shortly bo: made,