TURUTURU-MOKAI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 20 July 1909, Page 5

TURUTURU-MOKAI.

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE FIGHT

tlo the Editor.)

Sir,— lii your issue of the 13th hist. I have .seen an account of the battle of Turuturu-Mokai by your Tokaora correspondent, who is to bo commended for reminding the Hawera people (lest they forget) of what had taken place on the 12th July, 1868. I will not make any comments on the statement but to say it is incorrect, and that the writer has been misinformed. For the information ;of your correspondent I enclose part copy of the Auckland Weekly News of JCorember 9th, 1895, which contains statements from several survivors and from men who were on the scene a few minutes after the battle was over. This acecrnnt, together with the plan of the redoubt, gives the most correct that has yet been published or ever will be, •as everything that is possible has already Been gleaned. — I am. etc.. J. G. BEAMISH. Patea, July 15, 1909. The story of the fight as told in the cutting sent us, is as follows. We are unable to reproduce the plan referred to, but the letterpress will nevertheless be quite intelligible:- — The account which appeared in the Herald a short time ago of an episode in the West Coast campaign, the attack on Turuturu-Mokai, and the massacre of a part of the garrison, has attracted a good deal of attention, especially among the men of the Colonial Forces who took part in that campaign. The narrative was gleaned from an eye-witness (an ex-member of No. 5 division (Major Yon Tempsky's), which left Waihi before daybreak to the help and relief of the beleaguered garrison in Turuturu-Mokai, and the flash of whose pieces could be seen in the morning gloom, as they replied to the fire of the Maori storming party. We have received several communications from survivors of the affair, but there has not hitherto been, opportunity to give them publicity. They contain particulars which will be interesting even at this date, and one of the survivors furnishes a plan of the redoubt and surroundings, which will help to elucidate the statements made. "Justice," Patea, says that seeing a ctraphic • account, in the New Zealand Herald of a recent date, of the attack on Turuturu-Mokai redoubt in the West Coast campaign, he was very much interested. He ventured to approach an old friend of his, who was ■not only an eye-witness, but a very prominent actor in the engagement, and as he ("Justice") is a believer in the adage, "Honor to whom honor is due," he forwards an account of the engagement, in his own words, with a nlan of the redoubt supplied by him. By the account, says "Justice," in the newspapers, both old and new, the engagement was fought through treachery of the natives and the bravery of a few men of the colonial forces. Glancing at a report of the battle in I the Wanganui Times of Thursday, July ' 16, 1868, the account of the battle is 'somewhat different from that of "Eyewitness,?' also that in their leader of that day, in giving "honor to the brave," they search for two names that were never mentioned. The names of Milmoe and Johnston are prominently spoken of as being two of the four men who held the redoubt, but the Wanganui Times asks further, who were the other two? "Justice" qiiestions the accuracy of the eulogy as respects one of the men. He says that paper also refers to four men who cleared from the redoubt. "An Eye-witnees" states that three men, Milmoe, Johnston and McLean, held out in one of , the angles of the redoubt, and so saved it. Well, undoubtedly they held out somewhere, but if they were in the angle they were supposed to be in, that is, angle B (undoubtedly they were not in angle A), they could not possibly command the gateway with their fire, there being; a breastwork in front ; also, how could the Maori, whom Tuffm, as he lay wounded in the guard whare, heard asking for a match to ftTe the whare, have got inside the redoubt? The same Maori is supposed to be the one that took Captain Ross's heart out and mutilated the bodies, of the other men. Surely had the watch from angle B been kept this would not have occurred. Lance-Corporal Blake and Constable J. Beamish at the first alarm made a rush to the front, and at the second or third shot poor Blake fell pierced through the brain. J. Beamish, then a lad of only 19, stuck manfully to his post, though his comrade was shot by his side, and his companions crouching under the earthworks scarcely able to move. As this report will show, Ceaistables Gill and Beamish held the redoubt, Beamish, though wounded and shot through the left shoulder, yet loading for his companion and sometimes fired himself, or pointed his carbine at the Maoris and so disconcerted their aim. Gill worked like a Trojan, yet hardly anything is mentioned of the real heroes, but the one who "reserved his fire" is put on record. Such is "honour to the brave," or "honour to whom honour is due." "One who fought at Turuturu-Mokai" writes stating that "An Eye-witness," of No. 5 division, could only have seen what really took place outside the redoubt. A full and correct report of the engagement has never appeared. What "Eye-witness" says about sending the garrison relief is pretty correct, and as to the supposed professional jealousy between Majors Hunter and Yon Tempsky, but in his opinion Yon Tempsky was to blame in not giving orders to Hunter before he left, Yon Tempsky being senior officer in command at the time, in the absence of Colonel McDonnell. Outride the redoubt, near angle B, was situate the canteen, and between B and gateway the settlors had built whares. About one hour before daylight on Sunday, July 12. 186S, the "arrison were attacked. The first intimation was from Lacy, the sentry, who was the guard placed on front of the redoubt outside. On pooitvc the Maoris coining up the incline Hop ( > to whore ho was posted, he challenged and fired. The men could hear tlio one shot, and immediately a volloy. Laooy was wounded in tho shoulder, and ran round the redoubt, and came in at the gateway. The guard insidi', on hearing the first shot, made for the front parapet. Corporal Blnke and Constable J. Beamish wore the first to

reach it. and commenced firing at a large crowd of Maoris making towards the* redoubt. While in the act of firing the second shot Blake was hit in the head, death being instantaneous. Captain Ross could be seen in his shirt running round the tents and exhortino- the men to defend the gateway By this time the Maoris were ali round the front and left of the redoubt, and keeping up a heavy fire, which was returned. They kept gradually working up to the gateway, and it was near the gateway that Captain; Ross, Constables Sword, Gaynor and Houlden were killed, and • Flannagan and Tuffin wounded, and A. Beamish mortally wounded. After "heavy loss here, four men of the garrison jumped the parapet and made towards Waihi, whilst, Sergeant McFadden, Constables Boss, Shields, Gill, J. Beamish, and Connors took up their position in angle A, commanding the gateway, and kept up a continual fire which kept the Maoris at bay. The first to enter the angle were Ross and Beamish, Captain Ross had his whare built on the outside of the redoubt, not far from the gateway. This was set on fire, and shortly afterwards the canteen and the other whares outside the redoubt, all the buildings being totally destroyed. Some of the inmates narrowly escaped being tomahawked. By the light given by the flames of the burning whare, the garrison were able to make some good shots at the Maoris who were standing near Captain Ross's whare. They were by this time all round the redoubt and in the trenches, the whole place being illuminated. The awe-in-spiring grandeur of the scene' can only be imagined, not described. The flames of the burning buildings lit up the dense bush back-ground, and the indistinct forms of the treacherous assaulting party, some of whom perhaps had joined in the previous day's sports round the canteen, were lurking like so many hideous fiends, waiting, not only to massacre the garrison, but to hack and mutilate the bodies of the slain. Until this there had been great uncertainty as to the condition of the garrison, the 'darkness of the night compelling them to fight by instinct. As the flames arose, however, and the scene became illuminated, the horrors of the dreadful panorama passed before them, the blazing whares and the yelling demons outside hammering at the parapet with their tomahawks, trying to effect an entrance. The sight of the dead lying mutilated, and of the wounded writhing in agony, ever and anon giving vent to fearful groans and cries, added to the horror of the scene. Poor Tuffin', wounded on the head at the outset, and who had crept into the guard whare for protection, hearing a Maori call for a match to fire the whare, rushed across to angle A in an absolutely dazed condition, only to receive four more wounds from head to heel. His piteous expression and cries, and the picture, of a horrible death at the hands of the hideous savages, who almost surrounded the redoubt, was enough to strike fear into the staunchest heart. The men knew that they had not only to fight for their lives, but to fight their hardest. Not one ever thought they would get out of the redoubt alive, being so completely hemmed in. The tents intercepted the view in angle A of the opposite angle (B) into which the others had retired, and with the exception of O'Brien, it was not known whether they' were dead or alive. O'Brien was seen once close to the parapet, and a Maori leaning over to tomahawk him, when Beamish and Bill both fired at the Maori, and so saved O'Brien. The little band in angle A were now getting very small. Sergeant McFadden, Constables Shields and Ross, lay dead, and Connors and Beamish wounded. Tuffin had remained in the angle only to receive four more wounds, and had gone to one of the tents. At daylight they foutid that they had been receiving a cross fire from the front and right. This would account for the heavy loss in this .angle (A). The Maori whom Tuffin heard asking for a match to fire the guard whare must have been the one that took Cant. Ross's heart out, and

mutilated Gaynor's face, as both of them lay close to the guard whare, where they fell defending the gateway. Connors by this time retired to a tent to bind up his wound, and Gill was the only one out of the seven who was not wounded. Beamish, although severely wounded, kept his post with ©ill, loading for him, and occasionally firing. It was now broad daylight, and the men could sco the black heads jx)pping up all round the parapet. The Maoris kept firing at the garrison, but ■the- men. in angle A. watched closely, and as soon as they caught sight of a Maori taking aim at a constable, they would point their carbines at him. Oftentimes they were unloaded, as they had not always time to load, but by this means they managed to baulk their aim, and prevented them from hitting any of the men. At last the garrison found that the Maoris were retiring, and those that were able went outside the redoubt after them. The Maoris were about one hundred yards distant, and the men fired at them and saw one drop, but the others carried him away. Afterwards the men saw some blood where he fell. Very shortly afterwards No. 3 mounted men came up, and thus ended the engagement of Turuturu-Mokai. On looking round after the Maoris retired, I>nnon, canteen-keeper, was found frightfully mutilated, Keershaw was lying wounded about a chain from the re&flibt. $»eaT ifce StokA oi ibe parapet lay one Maori dead, and in the trench under the gateway were two others dead. On going into the redoubt Captain Ross, Sergeant McFadden, Corporal Blake, Constables Houlden, Ross, Shields and Sword were found dead, and Gavnor, A. Beamish, Flannagan, Tuffin. Lacq and Connors wounded. A. beamish diod shortly afterwards. The cir-nO were buried at Waihi. It will be seen by the plan where the men fell, and what part they took in the en- 1 ffagoment. Thorp is no doubt Captain Ross fought bravely. The great error lay in not having the redoubt secured. There were no loopholes or sandbags in the angles — in fact, very little protection, the parapet being very low down. This was the cause of the Maoris gettino: into the trenches. There is no doubt but that under the terrible circumstances every one did his best, but of all others Gill deserves special mention, as he Avas in tho. most perilous position during the wholn engsiiremont, and acted with true bravery.

"A Member of No. 3 Mounted Constabulary" gives his account of the affair : —

On the morning of the 12th July, 1868, at Waihi, the constabulary of No. 3 Division (half of whom were mounted) and No. 5 (infantry), and possibly some of no division, were on parade, as was usual every morning, two hours before daylight, to guard against a sunrise attack. On that morning the parade had been dismissed and some of the men had gone mta their tents to put away their arms, when firing was heard in the direction of Turuturu-Mokai. The men rushed out of their tents, and could then see the smoke and hear the reports of the rifles. Major Yon Tempsky, the senior officer in charge of the parade, sang out "No. 5 this way," and immediately walked out of the camp, followed by his Division No. 5, numbering about sixty men. Each division was composed of about that strength, leaving No 3 Division (mounted and foot), and probably about a dozen of No. 2 Division The mounted portion of No. 6 went for their horses in the stables, fell in and numbered off, when Major Hunter came from his whare, which was situate about half-way between the Constabulary redoubt and the Kupapa's redoubt. He gave the word to ''dismount and feed the horses " Major Hunter not being on parade that morning had no communication with Major Yon Tempsky, who had left the camp without giving any orders whatever If the 30 mounted men had lelt for Turuturu-Mokai there would not have been more than about 40 men left to auard the stores and ammunition, and undoubtedly Major Hunter was under the impression that it was a ruse on the part of the Maoris to draw the men from Waihi, and so enable them to capture the stores and ammunition. This would justify Major Hunter in keeping the men back, but this illusion was soos dispelled by one of the men from Turuturu-Mokai being seen making towards Waihi clothed only in a white shirt and paper collar. Soon afterwards Lacy, the sentry at Turuturu-Mokai, came in with a wounded shoulder. Major Hunter then gave the orders for the mounted men to go, and they passed No. 5 close to the redoubt at Turuturu-Mokai. A member of No. 3, M.C.," states:— He had no chance of seeing the details of the engagement as he and two others were despatched to Patea to inform Colonel McDonnell of the attack." "A Non-commissioned Officer of No. 3 Mounted Constabulary" gives his version: — All the men at Waihi were on duty each morning from 3 a.m. until daylight manning the parapets, and were so employed on the eventful morning of the attack on Turuturu-Mokai. As to the mounted men, they saddled their horses, but did not, he thinks, take them from the stables, as if not on patrol they had to man the parapets with the infantry. With regard to Major Yon Tempsky having been in such a great hurry that he left no orders for Major Hunter, he states he can positively assert that he heard that officer order Major Hunter to allow no man to leave the Waihi redoubt, as it might only be a feint with the object of drawing off the men from Waihi so that the natives might attack it, and get possession of the ammunition. He says he would not write about the affair only that an hon. gentleman and a gallant officer had been grossly maligned, and through the attacks made upon him had thrown away his life at Moturoa a short time afterwards. The country lost the services of her bpst disciplinarians when she wanted them. The order given by Major Yon Tempsky was made through a member of No. 3 division (the late Mr George Blake) requesting permission from Major Yon Tempsky to accompany him. but he would not allow him to go as guide. With reference to the defence, of Turuturu-Mokai, a "Non-com." states he knows Messrs Mimoe, McLean, and Johnston well, and was always on good terms with them. From all the statements he heard from the survivors on that morning, Mr Johnston deserved any extra kudos that was earned on that eventful occasion. He being sentry outside the redoubt at the left front, perceived the Maoris "oming up, and imm«diately ran across the front of the redoubt, entered, and took his position in one of the bastions, which he held for some time until he was assisted by his comrades. "Non-Corn." states his only reason for writing is in defence of the memory of the gallant Hunter, more especially as he with twelve others were placed under arrest on the morning of Turu-turu-Mokai for calling Major Hunter a coward in the hoa/fc of the momont, owing to his preventing the mounted men of No. 3 division from aoina; to the relief of the garrison at TuruturuMokai at the first moment of the alarm."

"Another Eye-witness," now in. Auckland, who was in the redoubt on the eventful morning, to whom the plan was submitted for inspection, states that it is in some respects incorrect, which might be expected, as a quarter of a century has elapsed since the fight and! it is drawn from memory. The redoubt, he states, during the truce time between the two campaigns had been used for sheep by Mr Morri- j son, a settler, and had been allowed to fall into disrepair. Its parapet was too low to give protection, as the men would have to kneel on the banquette to protect themselves from fire. The garrison were getting materials together to repair the redoubt, and iwigbAeTV t\vc: pwrwv-t. OS tViis "the natives were perfectly aware, and made the attack before this could be done. Most of the men were shot or wounded through standing up in getting to their j positions, being unprotected through the lowness of the parapet. Three times the natives got into the redoubt, and it was in the last repulse Captain Ross was killed close to the gateway, and fell at the edge of the ditch. All the barrels of his revolver had been discharged, and even in death he clenched the weapon so firmly that, it

was with difficulty removed from his hands. A native laj' between him and the interior of the redoubt, evidently shot by Roes, as his skin was blistered by the closeness with which the charge had been fired at him. In the opinion of "Eye-witness" the redoubt was sav-t-d that night principally through the, exertions and bravery of Constables Oill and Beamish, Gill firing and Beamish loading for him. The natives dug a hnlo through tin- parapet to where. Oill i'\t? stationed, with the intention of shooting through at him, hut he,

used the dead bodies of McFadden and Shields as a rampart, and to stop up the hole. The Maoris, in firing through the aperture, actually scorched the body of McFadden by the explosion of the powder from their pieces. There was no doubt that the garrison were ( surprised in their sleep, and that accounted for some of them bolting over the parapet at the first volley and the first onset. The episode, like most of those which occurred in our "little colonial wars," was an exhibition of mingled bravery, bungling and incapacity. As usual, the men who deserved most credit got the least. "Another Eye-witness" states that if «ver a man deserved the Victoria Cross it was Constable Gill. To add to the general muddle, he states that a small wooden building" had been put up in the interior of the redoubt as a commissariat store, which by its position prevented the men in the angle bastions having an interior or raking fire in the redoubt. If the Maoris had succeeded in forcing their way to the building and firing it, the men in the bastions would have been smoked or scorched out, the redoubt of necessity captured, and the whole garrison massacred.