OBITUARY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 30 December 1913, Page 8

OBITUARY.

THOMAS ADAMSON (NEW ZEALAND CROSS).

The Wanganui Chronicle sayjs: There passed away on; Monday one who was, in the days gone by, when "hearths and homes"; were defended by the settlers and their sons, a prominent, though perhaps humble figure in many ways, in the person of Thomas Adami6n, a Wanganui boy who received and well earned the coveted distinction of the New Zealand Cross for gallant services Tendered in the field. At about his seventeenth year he joined the Constabulary and was later attached to the Native Contingent. He took part in the fighting on this coast in General Cameron's campaign, and was with the colonial forces on the liast Coast in 1864, where he was wounded on several occasions. Adamson seemed to bear a charmed life, and his comrades knew him as a man of indomitable pluck and nerve 2 courageous m the extreme, and never foolhardy. Often at the risk of his life, he rescued wounded comrades from certain death. A serious wound in his left hand almost incapacitated him from work, and he was awarded a military pension. During the disturbances in lobe-y (Titokowaru's raid),: Adamson joined the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers (Finnimore's Troop) and served with them for some time. Later, he joined the "Scouts " among whom were men such as Chris. Maling, Frank Williamson, William Brewer, McKerizie, . and I. Cummings (both killed at Kailwi m 1868,)y WUliani Lingard, N.Z.0., and others. These men did yeoman service in locating the enemy arid .affording valuable information to the officer then commanding, Colonel Whitmore. G,udseon?s\''Heroes of New Zealand, published in 1887, says o5 Adamson: "'Thomas Adamson, private in the \ olunteers, gained: the New Zealand Cross for good and gallant, services as a Scout and guide through the campaign of 1868-69. Continuously -undertaking hazardous and laborious reconnoitring expeditions almost alone m advance of the force, and for personal gallantry when attacked, with other guides in advance of the column beyond Ohikeru on May 7, 1869, when they unmasked an ambuscade, and Adamson,.'with others, was severely wounded, and the guide Hemi killed. 1 Comrades of Adamson assert that recognition of the coveted distinction was tardy, as he well earned it several times on the East Coast, where, on more than one occasion, taking more than ordinary risks, he rescued wounded comrades. "Tom" will always be remembered as a "born fighter and a sterling man." Vale, Tom Adamson. Messrs W. C. and S. Adamson, of Hawera, are brothers of deceased.