DEFENDERS OF THE PAST

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 15 January 1909, Page 8

DEFENDERS OF THE PAST

REMOVAL OF SOLDIERS' REMAINS

On Thursday afternoon (says the New Plymouth News) the remains of soldiers and others that have lain so long in the Courtenay or Eliot street Cemetery were transferred to the Te Ffenui Cemetery. There was a large attendance of veterans, besides others.

The work of exhuming the bodies occupied several days. The remains of twenty-one persons were recovered. In several of the graves the coffinplates, with the inscriptions, more or less intact, were discovered. A feature of the remains was the excellent preservation of the teeth.

The identity of several of the soldiers who fell in the war or those who were massacred by the natives was made known by the disfigurement of the skulls. Several remains were exhumed the identity of which could not be traced. The coffins had long since fallen into decay, so that the remains consisted principally - of skulls and major bones, with a few metal buttons and belt buckles. These were all gathered together and placed in four coffins.

THE REMAINS.

The remains were those of the following :—: — Cofiin No. I— E. Casey and three others, unknown. Coffin No. 2 — Arthur Hassett, died May 22nd, 1859, aged 31 years ; Patrick Scully, died. March 22rd, 1862, aged 26 years. Three others — no records. Coffin 1 No. 3— Surgeon McAndrew, 57th Regiment, died September .21st, 1861, aged 38; Sergeant Peter Fahey, late 65th Regiment and Taranaki Militia, first man to "fall in action (shot through forehead) at battle of Waireka, March 28th,- 1860 ; Private John Flynn, 57th Regiment, aged 45, killed at Wairau. (Taranaki) massacre, May 4th, 1863; Private Patrick McCarthy, 57th Regiment, aged 27, killed at Wairau massacre, May 4th, 1863; Private Edward Kelly, 57th Regiment, killed at Wairau massacre, May 4th, 1863. Coffin No. 4— Private Connell, 57th Regiment, died' March 6th, 1862, aged 25, death from natural causes; Private John McQuire, died July 17th, 1861, aged 21 years; Private McLaughlan, 65th Regiment, died May sth, 1862, aged 29 years; W. Taylor, no records, and three others unknown.

AT TE HENUI CEMETERY.

The coffins were placed on the hearse and the cortege proceeded to Te Henui Cemetery. The veterans acted as bearers, ,and appeared deeply affected as they bowed their hoary heads over the remains of their fallen comrades. Some of the veterans present had participated in the fights which had laid low the comrades the remains of whom they were placing in their last resting-place. There were those present who had seen active service in other Taranaki and New Zealand fights, while some of them had seen active service in the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, and other his-tory-making campaigns.

Dean McKenna officiated at the graveside, the service being of an impressive nature.

TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTED.

After the service the Dean paid a tribute to the memory of the departed soldiers, who had, in the execution of their duties, given their lives in the cause of liberty for the land in which so much freedom was now enjoyed. He also referred in terms of eulogy to the splendid character of that self-sacri-ficing, noble priest associated with the Taranaki war, the Rev. Father Rollands. He had often met the Rev. Father, who, he said, was loud in praise of the splendid fighting qualities and endurance of the soldiers and early pioneers who had fought for their homes and existence in the troublous times.