BATTLE OF RANGIRIRI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19799, 21 November 1927, Page 11

BATTLE OF RANGIRIRI.

SIXTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY REDOUBT STOUTLY DEFENDED. MAORIS SURRENDER NEXT DAY. Sixty-four years ago yesterday the British Forces, under General Cameron, suffered their only serious reverse in the Waikato War. Nearly 1000 British troops, including a Royal Navy detachment and some field artillery, attacked the Maori entranchments at Rangiriri on November 20, 1863, but failed to carry the position by assault. To-day a motor road goes through the centre of the Kingito works, on the crown of the hill, just before Rangiriri township is entered oil the north. The trenches, with a strong redoubt in the centre, extended from the Waikato River on the west to the small Lake Kopuwera—now a wild fowl sanctuary—on the east. The long trench riverwards, on the west, is still well preserved. Imperial soldiers carried the outer works at the point of the bayonet, and the Maoris crowded into the redoubt. All the defences were earthworks —no palisading was set up. The redoubt presented a clay face, 17ft. or 18ft. in height from the bottom of the wide ditch, and this scarp resisted all the efforts of the attackers. Repeatedly General Cameron launched storming parties against this Maori citadel; but the British casualties numbered 128 before approaching darkness compelled the General to order a cessation of the attacks. In fatal casualties the defenders suffered about as much as did the soldiers and next morning 183 warriors surrend ered. Probably many of them would have continued the fight but for the fact that their ammunition was exhausted. Most of tho dead were buried in the cemetery on the river bank in Rangiriri township. The beauty of the historical burial place was considerably enhanced last year by the expenditure of a large sum of money.