Death of Maori War Veteran

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 September 1934, Page 6

Death of Maori War Veteran

Believed to be Last of Forest Rangers ORDERLY TO VON TEMPSKY A veteran of the Maori War and believed to be the last of the famous Forest Rangers of Von Tempsky, for whom he at one period served as orderly, Mr John Gillander died on ■Sunday at his residence, 40 Carlton Gore Road, Grafton, at the age of 86 years, says the “Auckland Herald.” Born in Nova Scotia, Canada, of Scottish parentage, he arrived in New Zealand in 1856, landing with his parents at Auckland. After farming at Waipu for a few years, they settled in Auckland .As a young man, Mr Gillander enlisted in “Pitt’s Four Hundred,” a body of militia raised for service in the Waikato. Captain Stack’s company, to which he belonged, and a. detachment of the 18th Regiment, were stationed at Ring’s Redoubt, and were engaged in patrolling the country between Otahuhu and Drury until their removal to W-hanga-marino Redoubt, near Meremere, during the operations of General Cameron, which culminated in the memorable fight at RangiTiri. MARCH ROUND EGMONT On his discharge from Pitt’s Militia, Mr Gillander joined Von Tempsky’s Forest Rangers, who formed part of the force under General Sir Trevor Chute, in his historic eight days’ inarch .round Mount -Egmont through heavy and trackless bush. Provisions ran short and three pack-horses were killed for food. Several actions were fought on the march, the most important being that at Otapawa. Owing to a temporary cessation of hostilities the troops returned to Wanganui, while the Forest Rangers were transferred to the Waikato as military settlers at Harapipi ,each man being given land grants of 50 acres and one town lot. Mr Gillander, however, sold his property and, as hostilities had broken out again in Taranaki, under the noted Titokowaru, he ■re-enlisted at Wellington. in No. 5 Division of the Armed Constabulary, under his old leader, Von Tempsky, whose orderly he became. They proceeded to Waihi, a redoubt in the Taranaki district, and were very soon involved in the heavy fighting that -ensued, both at the relief of the little garrison of Tutu-turu-Mokai and subsequently in the second attack on the bush stronghold of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, where Von Tempsky was killed. In the retreat which followed, Mr Gillander was one of the rearguard desperately fighting to cover the withdrawal of the wounded through dense forest during the night. The survivors eventually .reached Waihi Redoubt at daylight in an exhausted condition. RETIREMENT FROM MILITIA Mr Gillander shortly afterward retired from military life, and, after a few years spent on the goldfields at Hokitika, West Coast, and in various pursuits in Australia, he settled in Auckland. Not long after .retiring from the militia, Mr Gillander married Miss Annie .Stuart, daughter of Air and Mrs James Stuart, of Auckland and formerly of Inverness, Scotland. She died about 20 years ago. Air Gillander retired from business about ten years ago owing to failing health. The surviving members of the family are a son, Air J. S. Gillander, of Epsom, and three daughters—Miss L. S. Gillander, Miss E. A. Gillander and Miss Al. S. Gillander, of Carlton Gore Road.