THE CASE OF H. A. CLERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5063, 7 February 1878, Page 3

THE CASE OF H. A. CLERY.

TO THE EIHTOIi. riiu,—l have only just noticed your report of the reception of the deputation who waited ou the Huii. the Premier, during his visit to the Thames, ou behalf of Mr. li. A. Clery (not "James Chary'') who was \vo:iuded at the lmtt3 there ; aud, as it is calculated to cause a mistaken impression ou the general public, 1 take the liberty, as an old comrade of his, of asking you to insert this letter in correction thereof. Mr. 11. A. Clery originally held Her Majesty's commission in the Oxford Militia, aud when that corps was disembodied in ISOO, proceeded to China, where he was attached to the Ist regiment, and served with them to the close of the campaign, receiving medal and clasp for l J ekin. When the British troops were ordered home, Mr. Clery obtained a captaiucy in the AugloChiuesc contingent, and, in a short period, was promoted to the rank of major, serving also for some time as aide-de-camp to General or "Chinese" Gordon. He was presented by tho Chinese Government with the second-; class "Order of the Dragon." Through illhealth' from exposure, &c, Mr. Olery was reluctantly compelled to resign his position, and came to .New Zealand, where ho was given a commission in tho Taranaki Military Settlers. Ho was in several skirmishes in Taranaki, and was eventually sent to Pipiriki, Upper Wanganui, where he distinguished himself by gallantly leading a forlorn hope of twenty men, and with this small foice, in dislodging tivo limes that number of rebel natives from the summit of a hill which was precipitous aud extremely ditlicult of access, whence they were pouring iu volleys of musketry on our main redoubt and severely harrassing us, he being slightly wounded whilst doing so. For this he was promoted, and most of his comrades who, with myself, were eye-witucsses of his gallant conduct deem him wcll_worthy of the " NewZealand Cross." —I am, &c, One who Served with Him. Eden Crescent, Feb. 2, IS7S.