MAORI WAR HERO

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 77, 13 March 1933, Page 9

MAORI WAR HERO

DEATH OF MR. B. BIDDLE HOLDER OF N.Z. CROSS. SIEGE OF NGATAPA RECALLED. Auckland, March 11. The last surviving holder of the New Zealand Cross, Mr Benjamin Biddle, died at Whakatane yesterday, aged 93 years. Mi Biddle, who was a well-known resident of the Bay of Plenty for the greater part of his long life, joined the Armed Constabulary at the close of the Waikato War. Alter the landing of Te Kooti near Poverty Bay in July, 1808, he was a member of the force winch set out under the command of Colonel (afterwards Major-General) Sir G. S. Whitmore, m pursuit ol the rebel leader. In December, after the frightful massacre of 32 Europeans at Matawhero, near Gisborne, Whitmore and tile loyal native leader Major Kopata succeeded in driving Te Kooti into his stronghold of Ngatapu. a formidable old lull fort which had been greatly strengthened to resist rifle tire. Seven hundred Europeans and natives took part in the siege, but their number was insufficient to surround the pa completely. STRENGTH OF FORTRESS. The fortress occupied a strong position upon a height, surrounded by cliffs and steep palisaded slopes on three sides and narrowing in the rear to a scarped ridge. It was necessary that this ridge should be occupied, as it was believed to be the only possible line of escape for the defenders. A party of 12 constabulary under Sergeant Shepherd, and including Mr Biddle, was told off for this task. To reach the crest the men had to cut steps up the face of the cliff under sharp fire from the enemy’s works. They succeeded, and eventually gained the ridge, which they held for the whole five days of the siege. Every day they were exposed to very heavy fire from the pa, which virtually commanded the spot’ where they lay. Their only protection was a low breastwork of stone and a trench barely a foot deep that had been hastily dug with bayonets and tomahawks. ESCAPE OE TE KOOTI. Meanwhile. Whitmore’s and Ropata's force kept firing into the stronghold, which was also shelled with a couple of light howitzers. On the eighth day of the siege part of the first defence line was taken, and. the final assault was deferred until the next morning. Being well aware of this, Te Kooti and the surviving rebels tore up blankets into strips, let themselves down an unguarded section of cliff and escaped in the night;. Ropata made a successful pursuit, capturing many stragglers, all of whom were summarily shot. Te Kooti, however, evaded the pursuit and disappeared for a time into the mountains. The attacking force lost 22 in killed and wounded and 132 rebels were killed in the pa and during the pursuit. For conspicuous bravery in the fight Mr Biddle and another constable named Black, a member of the same party, were awarded the New Zealand Cross. Sergeant Shepherd was already the possessor of that decoration. For a number of years Mr Bilclje and the lato Mr George (Rowley) Hill, of Auckland, shared the honour of being the only surviving holders of the New Zealand Cross.